Fran Curci replaced promises with performance as the Wildcats inaugurated glistening Commonwealth Stadium. The 'Cats had an explosive first half with a 31-26 victory over VPI before 48,000 fans.
by ALAN GROGAN
HEN Commonwealth Stadium was nothing but building specifications and dollar signs, the head coach of Kentucky's Wildcats was an eternal optomist. John Ray promised Kentuckians bowl bids and winning seasons, when much less would have satisfied them.
Ray pushed for the new stadium, convinced politicians and administrators of its importance, and was eventually rewarded for his efforts.
First, by the state legislature, which approved the construction of the 58,000 seat stadium in the summer of 72; and then by the UK Board of Trustees who fired him after a dismal 3-8 record the following season.
Ray left and in came Fran Curci, head coach and former Ail-American quarterback at the University of Miami.
Curci was low-key from the start making no promises or pre-i   ' 1 wctjons. A'ided byil&feWopise of t **ww-4ew $8felium during*the recrait-ing season, Curci' signed several vbluechippers, among them 6-7, 230 lbs. Warren Bryant, running , back Greg,Woods," and quarterbacks  -Kent   Reyes   atpd 4imike
esem'ffe fisUf Ray;s ight plaWrs; Alfred" Collins, Mc-Collar- , a^PDarryl Bish-fld evert'tfiou^BrCurci wasn't ing   the\fap|  knew   things -Id only improve.* itially, there was a possibility that^e/stadium would not be ready for theiSeptember 15 opener with Virginia Tech. Construe ion workers put in manv extra hours or the $12 million structure, and though some finishing HfoePP^Mpacking, the stadi-Jf was ready. J 3
labama's seasoned*coac h Paul ar" Bryant, whose experience arij| vfisdom makes him an adequate judge of stadiums said of Commonwealth Stadium,/Jjjjfe is one      +t>rt rir-ii^r*- r-n-;i;*i,-ir