1996 Kentucky Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 football 1996 Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky Wildcats logo (1984-2005).png 100 Southeastern Conference Eastern Division SEC 4–7 3–5 Bill Curry 7th Elliot Uzelac 2nd Multiple Rick Smith 1st 4–3 Commonwealth Stadium The 1996 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 138 points while allowing 322 points; they opened the season with 1 win and 6 losses, and then after the firing of head coach Bill Curry was announced, the Wildcats won three straight SEC games before losing their final game to finish 4–7.1996 Kentucky Wildcats results http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1996 jhowell.net https://web.archive.org/web/20091006084341/http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm October 6, 2009 dead October 3, 2009 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.209 Kentucky opened with a 38–14 loss to Louisville, then lost 24–3 at Cincinnati due to repeated special teams breakdowns. A game in a driving rainstorm against Indiana remained a scoreless tie until the final seconds when a Kentucky field goal led to a 3–0 win. A 65–0 loss at Florida and 35–7 loss at Alabama were followed by Kentucky blowing a second half lead to lose 25–14 to South Carolina. After a 41–14 loss at LSU, Kentucky stood at 1–5 on the season and the firing of head coach Bill Curry was announced. The Wildcats responded by reeling off three victories in a row: 24–17 against Georgia, 24–21 against Mississippi State and 25–0 against Vanderbilt. A 56–10 loss to Tennessee ended the season with the Wildcats at 4–7.1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.2091996 Kentucky Wildcats scores http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1996 jhowell.ent https://web.archive.org/web/20091006084341/http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm October 6, 2009 dead October 3, 2009 Kentucky's victories over Georgia and Mississippi State kept those two teams out of bowl games, as each finished 5–6 due to their losses to Kentucky. Kentucky's 25–0 shutout of Vanderbilt on November 16 was the team's first shutout since a 21–0 win against #25 Ole Miss on October 2, 1993.1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.2091996 Kentucky Wildcats scores http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1996 jhowell.ent https://web.archive.org/web/20091006084341/http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm October 6, 2009 dead October 3, 2009 Kentucky played four road games against ranked teams in 1996.1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209 Kentucky's three game SEC win streak (Georgia, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt) was its first since 1993 (South Carolina, Ole Miss, LSU).1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.2091996 Kentucky Wildcats scores http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1996 jhowell.net https://web.archive.org/web/20091006084341/http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm October 6, 2009 dead October 3, 2009 This was the first college season for highly touted freshman quarterback Tim Couch, who later went on to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and was the #1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft.1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide Schedule 1996 AP Eastern August 31 6:30 p.m. l y Louisville Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY Governor's Cup 14–38 59,384 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-advocate-messenger-red-alert-cardin/140676593/ The Advocate-Messenger Red alert, Cardinals expose Cats' weakness in 38–14 victory September 1, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 7 3:30 p.m. l y y Cincinnati Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH 3–24 30,729 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-lifeless-kentucky-ge/140676749/ The Courier-Journal Lifeless Kentucky gets 24–3 burial from Cincinnati September 8, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 21 7:00 p.m. w y Indiana Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY rivalry 3–0 40,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-late-field-goal-li/140676867/ The Indianapolis Star Late field goal lifts Kentucky over IU September 22, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 28 3:30 p.m. l y Florida 1 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL rivalry CBS 0–65 85,422 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-florida-has-reason-to-cro/140669865/ The Tennessean Florida has reason to crow September 29, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 5 2:00 p.m. l y Alabama 13 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL PPV 7–35 70,123 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71628636/uk-no-mystery-to-riddle-as-alabama/ The Courier-Journal UK no mystery to Riddle as Alabama erupts 35–7 October 6, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 12 7:00 p.m. l South Carolina Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 14–25 50,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-gamecocks-rally-to-be/140675025/ Messenger-Inquirer Gamecocks rally to beat Cats, 25–14 October 13, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 19 8:00 p.m. l y LSU 17 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA PPV 14–41 79,660 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-herald-tigers-trounce-wildcats-4114/140646423/ The Sun Herald Tigers trounce Wildcats 41–14 October 20, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 26 7:00 p.m. w Georgia Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 24–17 34,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-kentucky-beats-georg/140677090/ The Greenville News Kentucky beats Georgia behind lame-duck coach October 27, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 9 1:30 p.m. w Mississippi State Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 24–21 26,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-tilghman-alumni-lead-uk/140649111/ The Paducah Sun Tilghman alumni lead UK to 3rd win November 10, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 16 12:30 p.m. w Vanderbilt Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY rivalry JPS 25–0 33,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-kentucky-ends-dr/140677257/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Kentucky ends drought against Vanderbilt 25–0 November 17, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 23 3:30 p.m. l y Tennessee 9 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry CBS 10–56 102,534 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-journal-tennessee-rolls-past-w/140673187/ The State Journal Tennessee rolls past Wildcats 56–10 November 24, 1996 February 10, 2024 Newspapers.com College Football Reference http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=184&season=1996 jhowell.net https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214740/http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=184&season=1976 2016-03-03 dead October 3, 2009 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 2091996 Kentucky football scores https://web.archive.org/web/20091006084341/http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm 2009-10-06 Roster 1996 Kentucky Wildcats y 2 Fr Tim Couch QB y 7 Jr Billy Jack Haskins QB y 17 Jr Van Hiles DB y 47 Sr Chris Ward DE Bill Curry (Georgia Tech) Elliot UzelacOffensive Coordinator Rick SmithDefensive Coordinator Team players in the 1997 NFL draft 1997 NFL draft 2 Kentucky Wildcats Player Position Round Pick NFL club Van Hiles Defensive back 5 141 Chicago Bears Chris WardDefensive end 7 205 Baltimore Ravens 1997 NFL Draft Listing https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1997.htm Pro Football Reference https://web.archive.org/web/20090527000715/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1984.htm May 27, 2009 dead October 3, 2009 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.166 Postseason Leading rusher Derick Logan, the SEC Freshman Player of the Year, did not return. Head coach Bill Curry was replaced by Hal Mumme. Sometime-starting quarterback Billy Jack Haskins transferred to Rhode Island after Mumme announced that Tim Couch would take the starting spot.1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide References Kentucky Category:Kentucky Wildcats football seasons Kentucky Wildcats football