&ay&23
Back Thru The Yftldcat Years |(
Five Years Ago
Kentucky football coach Jerry Claiborne gave his Wildcats a few days off before getting down to business in preparation for the Dec. 22 clash against West Virginia in the Hall of Fame Bowl at Birmingham. Claiborne and his 'Cats said they were excited about making UK's first trip to postseason action since 1976.
It was just last season when Kentucky recorded an 0-10-1 record in Claiborne's first season as Kentucky's head coach.
i^The Kentucky basketball team flexed its muscles in rolling to a convincing win over Louisville 65-44 in the season opener for both schools at Rupp Arena. Built up as a dream game of sorts, the Wildcats roared out to a big lead in the first half and never looked back as Sam Bowie returned to the lineup
much to the delight of the 23,000-plus at Rupp Arena.
(^Following UK's win over Louisville, Sports Illustrated pictured Sam Bowie rejecting a Jeff Hall shot on the cover. The story went on to talk about the Cardinals' plea for years to play the game and how the 'Cats finally agreed under political pressure.
Nine Years Ago
i^With Kyle Macy and Sam Bowie leading the way, Kentucky captured the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Alaska, by turning back Iona in the championship game.
Earlier in the tourney, the Wildcats knocked off Bradley and Alaska-Anchorage to advance to the finals as they improved their season record to 3-1.
In the finals, the Wildcats won a hard-earned 57-50 decision over Iona. The Gaels
led through much of the game and were up 33-29 at intermission. Iona was in control until UK's Kyle Macy hit a 20-footer to give the 'Cats the lead for good at 51-50. Moments later, the senior guard made a steal and layup for a 55-50 lead with 1:10 left. Freshman Derrick Hord hit some key second-half baskets while classmate Dirk Minniefield also sparked the 'Cats, coming off the bench.
Macy finished with 15 points and Dwight Anderson 12. Glenn Vickers scored 16 for Iona while All-American center Jeff Ruland was held to 14. In the tourney's first round, UK outscored Bradley 49-33 in the second half in posting a 79-58 victory.
The 'Cats led by only five at the half. Fred Cowan and Sam Bowie each scored 16 points for UK while Anderson added 14.
In the second round, the Big Blue routed host team Alaska 97-68. The Wildcats led 49-32 at the half. Cowan led UK with 19 points while Anderson scored 17, Chuck Verderber 11, Macy and LaVon Williams 10 apiece.
Macy and Cowan were named to the all-tournament team.
ix'For the second straight season, Fran Curci's Wildcats failed to post a winning mark, but hopes were high that the football 'Cats would bounce back in 1980 with a bowl-contending team. Sophomore Randy Jenkins would be returning at quarterback and the offense should be in high gear.
^Although Joe B. Hall's Wildcats were young, it included veteran All-American Kyle Macy and a highly-recruited freshman crop. With the Mideast Regional slated for Rupp Arena, Kentucky fans were hoping for immediate maturity and a possible trip to the Final Four, which will be held at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.
Thirteen Years Ago
(^University of Kentucky football players Sonny Collins and Warren Bryant were named to the DPI All-Southeastern Conference team. However. Collins failed to win the league's rushing title for the third straight year, although he did set a conference career rushing mark of 3,835 yards.
He was the only offensive performer named to the team for the third straight year.
Bryant, an offensive tackle, was one of five people picked for tji^e^ond._year_in a row.
^^fieTKentucky wrestling team won its second match in as many tries, defeating the Athletes in Action 24-16. Freshman Jim Means paced the 'Cats along with Kurt Mock, Tim Mousetis, Dwight Dale, Kerry Corth and Joe Carr.
i^The Wildcat basketball team dropped its first season opener since 1962 when Northwestern shocked the 'Cats 89-77 in a game played at Northwestern. Billy McKinney led the winners with 31 points. Northwestern pulled out to a 65-42 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The sixth-ranked 'Cats were led by Rick Robey with 24 points and Jack Givens with 15 points.
Eighteen Years Ago
^Kentucky led by 17 points at one time but had to fight to hold on and defeat West Virginia 106-100. UK got 24 points from Tom Parker, 23 from Kent Hollenbeck, and 19 rebounds from Tom Payne. Mike Casey also scored 19 points as 13,232 fans watched the largest crowd to ever see a basketball game in West Virginia.
Wil Robinson scored a game-high 29 points for West Virginia.
(-'Kentucky defensive tackle Dave Roller was named to the Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football team. Pat
Sullivan of Auburn edged out Archie Manning of Mississippi for the quarterback spot on the first-team. UK defensive end Dave Hardt was named to the second team.
^Kentucky forward Larry Steele will miss two to three weeks of action with a fractured thumb. A native Hoosier, Steele will miss UK's long awaited upcoming clash with Indiana. Sophomore Larry Stamper replaces Steele in the starting lineup.
^Kentucky is ranked fourth in the Associated Press poll, with UCLA holding down the top spot, the 'Cats received one first place vote.
i/In a game in which Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp said his team showed a "lot of courage," UK nipped Indiana 95-93 in an overtime thriller in Bloomington. Indiana appeared to win when John Ritter swished a 60-footer with seconds left in regulation but Indiana had called a timeout seconds earlier.
In overtime, Kentucky was leading by one when George McGinnis drove the lane for a driving shot which missed. UK's Tom Parker then hit a foul shot for one of his nine overtime points.
Parker paced UK with 24 points while Kent Hollenbeck scored 19. Mike Casey 18, Tom Payne and Mark Soderburg 13 each. McGinnis had 38 points and 20 rebounds for coach Lou Watson's Indiana team.
Thirty Two Years Ago
i^-Coach Adolph Rupp's 26th Kentucky basketball team opened its season with a vic^ tory, just as the Baron's other 25 teams did. The victim this time around was Washington & Lee, which bowed 94-66 before a near capacity crowd of 11,300 at Memorial Coliseum.
UK came out running and sizzling, hitting a record 61.5 percent of its shots in the first half to take a commanding 58-25 lead. UK unleashed a torrid fastbreak. Vern Hatton paced the 'Cats with 26 points, scored 14 and sophomore Johnny Cox scored 10 in his first varsity appearance.
Other starters were Ed Beck and John Crigler. In the preliminary game, Don Mills tabbed 31 points as the Kittens downed the Transy JV 71-65.
?UK tackle Lou Michaels was named SEC Lineman of the Year by the Bimiin^ani ~!vrtjTiday~Morning Quarterback Club. Dave Kuhn and J. T. Frankenberger was named second team All-SEC by the AP poll. Bob Dougherty made the third team.
Thirty Three Years Ago
(^Kentucky end Howard Schnellenberger beat out some great ends in being named to the 1955 11-man All-America team. Schnellenberger caught 20 passes for 287 yards and six touchdowns the past year.
He played high school ball at Flaget High in Louisville. The All-America team averaged 178 pounds in the backfield and 210 along the offensive line. UK's Lou Michaels and Bob Hardy received honorable mention.
i-'The University of Kentucky basketball team won its 14th straight game over LSU as the 'Cats opened the year with a rough and tumble 62-52 win at Baton Rouge. LSU has never beaten a UK basketball team but put a scare in UK late in this one.
(^One of the most highly sought backfield prospects in the state, All-State quarterback Lowell Hughes of Prestonsburg, has signed to play at UK next year.
(^Proposed expansion of the 12-team Southeastern Conference is expected to supply controversy at the upcoming SEC meeting. Houston, Miami, Mississippi Southern and Florida State have applied for membership.
WILDCAT QUIZ
Big Four Classic
1. Which team won last season when Kentucky played Notre Dame?
2. Who is Notre Dame's top returning scorer?
a) Joe Frederick
b) Keith Robinson (9.6)
c) Scott Paddock
d) Jamere Jackson
3. True or False? Digger Phelps has coached 20 years at Notre Dame.
4. Which of the following Notre Dame players is from Kentucky
a) Scott Paddock
b) Joe Frederick
c) Kevin Ellery
d) Keith Robinson
5. Who was the leading scorer in last season's Notre Dame-UK game?
a) David Rivers
b) Ed Davender
c) Rex Chapman
d) LeRon Ellis
6. True or False? Last year's Big Four Classic was held at the Indiana Hoosier Dome, the same place where the Baltimore Colts play?
7. Who was the leading scorer in the first game of the Bank One Big Four Classic?
a) Pervis Ellison
b) Herbert Crook
c) David Rivers
d) Felton Spencer
8. Which player had the most rebounds of last year's Big Four Classic (either game)?
a) Cedric Jenkins
b) Rick Calloway
c) Pervis Ellison
d) Eric Manuel
9. Which of the following players had the most assists (either game)?
a) David Rivers
b) Steve Ey
c) Ed Davender
d) Both b and c
10. True or False? NtoretJnaij^OOO fans "attended-last year's initial Big Four
Classic.
Answers
(I09'P) ssm 01
'3Alf pV1\ 1(303 /AJ pUD A3pil3ADQ ft
(ib\oniud)i sa vimtpuj) i(omo/jdj p/y 
(Simod 1) SJ3Al}f plAVQ 'i
s)]oj 3Aomu\vq
31(1 IOU 'SIJOJ SljOdDUVipilJ 31(1 fo 3W0U
3ijl sji mq 'suiOQ j3isoou 31(1 w psiv\d
SVM 3UWS 31(1 '3nt   'Vl(310Q)   -3S(VJ X) (SlUWd Z) J3pU3ADQ C UIA3)f -p (SJV3 U) 3SJVJ 
(g~6) uosuiqcy i(}i3)i 7 169-81) wmuBx 7