1984 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1984 Kentucky Wildcats football
Hall of Fame Classic, W 20–19 vs. Wisconsin
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 19
AP	No. 19
Record	9–3 (3–3 SEC)
Head coach	Jerry Claiborne (4th season)
Offensive scheme	I formation
Base defense	Wide-Tackle Six
Home stadium	Commonwealth Stadium
Seasons ←  1983 1985  →

1984 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Florida	5	–	0	–	1			9	–	1	–	1
No. 15 LSU	4	–	1	–	1			8	–	3	–	1
No. 14 Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	4	–	0
Georgia	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	1
No. 19 Kentucky	3	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Tennessee	3	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	1
Vanderbilt	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Alabama	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Mississippi State	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Florida was assessed a postseason ban following an NCAA investigation, and the SEC subsequently vacated any championship. The Sugar Bowl automatic bid for the conference champion was awarded to LSU. Under modern rules, LSU would be credited with the conference championship. Rankings from AP Poll

The 1984 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 293 points while allowing 221 points. ^[1] Kentucky won the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl.

Kentucky opened with a 42–0 win over Kent State, followed by a 48–14 win at Indiana. A 30–26 win at Tulane was followed by a 27–14 win over Rutgers, which put Kentucky into the AP poll at #19. The Wildcats then won their conference opener at Mississippi State, 17–13, to improve to 5–0 for the first time since 1950. Kentucky was then ranked #16 in the AP poll. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Kentucky then dropped two conference games against ranked opponents, to #10 LSU 36–10 and to #13 Georgia 37–7. The Wildcats clinched a winning season with a 31–7 win against North Texas and then defeated Vanderbilt 27–18. A 25–17 loss to #5 Florida followed. Kentucky then closed out the regular season with a 17–12 victory at Tennessee. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Kentucky closed its season with a 20–19 victory over #19 Wisconsin in the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl. As a result, Kentucky finished the season ranked #19 in the final AP poll, with a record of 9–3. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 8	Kent State *		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY		W 42–0	56,402	[11]
September 15	at Indiana *		Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (rivalry)		W 48–14	44,389	[12]
September 22	at Tulane *		Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA		W 30–26	16,505	[13]
October 6	Rutgers *		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY		W 27–14	58,010	[14]
October 13	Mississippi State	No. 19	Scott Field Starkville, MS		W 17–13	30,395	[15]
October 20	No. 10 LSU	No. 16	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	ABC	L 10–36	57,252	[16]
October 27	No. 13 Georgia		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY		L 7–37	56,032	[17]
November 3	North Texas State *		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY		W 31–7	54,328	[18]
November 10	Vanderbilt		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry)		W 27–18	53,112	[19]
November 17	No. 5 Florida		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry)		L 17–25	52,823	[20]
November 24	at Tennessee		Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)		W 17–12	93,791	[21]
December 29	vs. No. 19 Wisconsin *		Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Hall of Fame Classic)		W 20–19	47,300	[22]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[23]

Team players in the 1985 NFL Draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
George Adams	Running back	1	19	New York Giants
Cam Jacobs	Linebacker	5	136	Pittsburgh Steelers
Oliver White	Tight end	10	268	Pittsburgh Steelers
Jeff Smith	Defensive tackle	11	291	San Diego Chargers

^{[24] [25]}

References

1. "1984 Kentucky Wildcats results". Archived from the original on October 6, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
2. "1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores". Archived from the original on October 6, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
3. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.209
4. "Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
5. "1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores". Archived from the original on October 6, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
6. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209
7. "Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
8. "1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores". Archived from the original on October 6, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
9. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209
10. "Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
11. "Kentucky runs wild over Kent State 42–0". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 9, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Hoosiers fall to Kentucky". Sunday Herald-Times. September 16, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
13. "UK Wildcats narrowly defeat Tulane to keep spotless record". The Park City Daily News. September 23, 1984. Retrieved October 20, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
14. "Unbeaten 'Cats claw RU, 27–14". The Sunday Home News. October 7, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
15. "'Cats remain unbeaten". Victoria Advocate. October 14, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
16. "Hillard gang decks Kentucky". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 21, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
17. "Peaches and creamed: Georgia whips UK 37–7". The Courier-Journal. October 28, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
18. "UK routs outmanned North Texas". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 4, 1984. Retrieved October 30, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
19. "Kentucky, Gators' next foe, defeats Vanderbilt 27–18". St. Petersburg Times. November 11, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
20. "Gators get the glory". The Messenger-Inquirer. November 18, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
21. "Cats bowl bound after hanging on to tip Volunteers". Messenger-Inquirer. November 25, 1984. Retrieved October 5, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
22. "Miscue dooms UW in 'Fame' Bowl". The Post-Crescent. December 30, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
23. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168
24. "1984 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
25. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.166