1984 Hall of Fame Classic

August 2023 March 2026 1984 Hall of Fame Classic 1984 Wisconsin Badgers University of Wisconsin Kentucky Wildcats University of Kentucky 7–3–1 8–3 Dave McClain Jerry Claiborne 20 17 10 6 3 0 0 7 10 3 December 29 Legion Field Birmingham, Alabama RB Mark Logan (Kentucky) PK Todd Gregoire (Wisconsin)http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Bowls.pdf Bowl/All-Star Game Records: Most Valuable Players in Former Major Bowls National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records 100 NCAA.org October 1, 2011 PDF Wisconsin favored by 3 Thomas Thamert (CIFOA) 47,300 WTBS List of announcers of major college bowl games Bob Neal and Tim Foley All-American Bowl The 1984 Hall of Fame Classic was the eighth edition of the Hall of Fame Classic. The game featured the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference and the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin (7-3-1 entering the game, 5-3-1 in the Big Ten) was ranked #20 in the AP poll prior to the game.December 4, 1984 AP poll at AP Poll Archive.com http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=587 https://web.archive.org/web/20120229045515/http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=587 2012-02-29 dead 2009-05-31 Kentucky (8–3, 3-3 SEC) had been ranked as high as #16 in the AP poll during the season but was unranked entering the game.October 16, 1984 AP poll at AP Poll Archive.com http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?seasonid=1984&appollid=580 https://web.archive.org/web/20120229045555/http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?seasonid=1984&appollid=580 2012-02-29 dead 2009-05-31 Kentucky had appeared in the same bowl game the year before, losing to #16 West Virginia 20–16. Wisconsin was favored by 3 points over Kentucky.Phil Steele's 1998 College Football Preview, p.67 Wisconsin scored twice to take a 10–0 lead at the end of the first quarter.1997 University of Kentucky football media guide, p.171 Less than four minutes into the game Todd Gregoire hit a 40-yard field goal. Michael Howard then threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Thad McFadden and Gregoire converted the extra point with 5:34 left in the first quarter. In the second quarter Gregoire hit a 27-yard field goal with 7:05 left in the half to give Wisconsin a 13–0 lead. Then Howard threw a pass that was intercepted by Kentucky safety (and punter) Paul Calhoun. Kentucky took possession at the Wisconsin 42 and five plays later Marc Logan took the ball in from the Wisconsin 9 for a touchdown. Joey Worley connected on the PAT with 1:29 left in the first half to make it 13–7. Wisconsin then took the ball to the Kentucky 3, with 0:02 left in the half, on four running plays, two pass plays and a 15-yard penalty against Kentucky. Gregoire then hit a 20-yard field goal. The halftime score was Wisconsin 16, Kentucky 7. With 11:28 left in the third quarter Worley hit a 22-yard field goal for Kentucky to make it 16-10 but two minutes later Gregoire hit a 40-yard field goal to keep Wisconsin ahead 19–10. Kentucky quarterback Bill Ransdell then led an 82-yard drive in 11 plays, culminating in a Ransdell to Logan screen pass for a 27-yard touchdown. Worley connected on the point after with 0:26 left in the third quarter to make it Wisconsin 19, Kentucky 17. Kentucky's next possession began on its own 22. Running back Mark Higgs took handoffs on four consecutive plays, and then running back George Adams took handoffs on four consecutive plays. in the fourth quarter Wisconsin's defense was unable to stop the two NFL-bound backs. Kentucky eventually ended up with the ball on the Wisconsin 34 on fourth down with two yards to go. Worley connected on a 52-yard field goal with 8:55 left in the game to put Kentucky ahead for the first time, 20–19. Wisconsin then drove to the Kentucky 8 with under two minutes left in the game. On fourth down and 6 yards to go Gregoire took the field for his fifth field goal attempt of the game but the snap was bobbled and Kentucky then ran out the clock for the win. Joker Phillips, then a Kentucky wide receiver and later Kentucky's head football coach, had 6 receptions for 55 yards in the game; Kentucky quarterback Bill Ransdell connected on 18 of 34 passes for 188 yards. Aftermath In the final AP poll for the season Wisconsin, finishing 7–4–1, dropped out from its #20 ranking;http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=588 Final 1984 AP Poll at AP Poll Archive.com 2009-05-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20120229045548/http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=588 2012-02-29 dead Kentucky, at 9–3, advanced to finish the season ranked #19. Kentucky also finished the season ranked #19 in the UPI Poll.College Football Poll.com final polls page http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/polls_1936_present_f.html https://web.archive.org/web/20090520011116/http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/polls_1936_present_f.html 2009-05-20 dead 2009-05-31 References Hall of Fame Classic Category:Wisconsin Badgers football bowl games Category:Kentucky Wildcats football bowl games Category:All-American Bowl Category:December 1984 sports events in the United States