Not Your Father's Kentucky Football

[Coldstream]

It is September 29th and we already have 5 wins and we are just shy of 1 win for bowl eligibility!

[BigBlueAngus]

Yes it is me and my dad listened to it on the radio today.

[Tom Blevins]

Actually, the Cats went undefeated the year my father was born. the Kentucky football team went 7-0 'way back in 1898!

[Coldstream]

The day is far from over, but KY climbs up to #10 in the live RPI rankings.

http://www.realtimerpi.com/

[Blue4ever]

Actually it is my father's Kentucky football. My father went to UK during the Bryant years.

[Coldstream]

Actually it is my father's Kentucky football. My father went to UK during the Bryant years.
Bear Bryant had some decent season but I don't think he ever start out the season 5 and 0. Much less have a team rank in the top 15 in the country. My only point is that it has been a very long time we have seen this kind of resiliency from a KY team and they dominated an inferior team like a top 15 team should.

By the way, they are up to #8. A little high but is interesting to watch (ranked #13 before the start of today's games).

[jwade]

Bear Bryant had some decent season but I don't think he ever start out the season 5 and 0. Much less have a team rank in the top 15 in the country. My only point is that it has been a very long time we have seen this kind of resiliency from a KY team and they dominated an inferior team like a top 15 team should.

By the way, they are up to #8. A little high but is interesting to watch (ranked #13 before the start of today's games).


Bryant coached for 8 seasons, 1946 through 1953. He indeed had some "pretty decent seasons."

Bryant's 1949 team won its first 5 games of the season and finished 9-3. They spent 9 weeks in the AP Top 20. 8 of those 9 weeks they were ranked #15 or higher. They finished at #11.

Bryant's 1950 team won their first 10 games in a row before losing 7-0 to UT in the regular season finale, then upsetting #1 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. They were a preseason AP #13. They spent all 9 weeks in the AP Top 10, never falling below #7 or rising higher than #3. They finished at #7 in both the AP and the UPI polls. Sagarin awards this team the National Championship and that award is recognized by the NCAA (other polls awarded the 1950 NC to Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Princeton - the NCAA also recognizes these teams in addition to UK).

Bryant's 1951 team was a preseason AP #6. They spent 8 weeks in the AP Top 20, bouncing between #9 and #17. They finished at #15 in the AP, and at #17 in the UPI.

Bryant's 1952 team spent 2 weeks in the AP Top 20. They finished at #20 in the AP and at #19 in the UPI.

Bryant's 1953 team spent 7 weeks in the AP Top 20. They finished at #16 in the AP and at #15 in the UPI.


Jim

[Coldstream]

Bryant coached for 8 seasons, 1946 through 1953. He indeed had some "pretty decent seasons."

Bryant's 1949 team won its first 5 games of the season and finished 9-3. They spent 9 weeks in the AP Top 20. 8 of those 9 weeks they were ranked #15 or higher. They finished at #11.

Bryant's 1950 team won their first 10 games in a row before losing 7-0 to UT in the regular season finale, then upsetting #1 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. They were a preseason AP #13. They spent all 9 weeks in the AP Top 10, never falling below #7 or rising higher than #3. They finished at #7 in both the AP and the UPI polls. Sagarin awards this team the National Championship and that award is recognized by the NCAA (other polls awarded the 1950 NC to Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Princeton - the NCAA also recognizes these teams in addition to UK).

Bryant's 1951 team was a preseason AP #6. They spent 8 weeks in the AP Top 20, bouncing between #9 and #17. They finished at #15 in the AP, and at #17 in the UPI.

Bryant's 1952 team spent 2 weeks in the AP Top 20. They finished at #20 in the AP and at #19 in the UPI.

Bryant's 1953 team spent 7 weeks in the AP Top 20. They finished at #16 in the AP and at #15 in the UPI.


Jim


I probably should have said "some of your father's". My dad was born in 1953 and was the oldest son. I imagine there are quite a few people out there that still remember those days while the rest of us have very little "good" memories of KY football if at all. Every time I reminded of Bear Bryant's accomplishments, I just shake my head... what were we thinking to let him get away.

[matt colvin]

Every time I reminded of Bear Bryant's accomplishments, I just shake my head... what were we thinking to let him get away.



Wasn't enough room here for him and Rupp.

[MakeItEight]

Wasn't enough room here for him and Rupp.
But there is enough room for Brooks and Gillispie.

[JawadtheChinchilla]

We're up to #7 in the Realtime RPI now.

[largebluej]

regarding the title of the thread, I've been telling my friends "this isn't your younger-selves Kentucky football team"

[johnkyblue]

If UF can win a National Championship in both - why can't we?

[LAcat]

I probably should have said "some of your father's". My dad was born in 1953 and was the oldest son. I imagine there are quite a few people out there that still remember those days while the rest of us have very little "good" memories of KY football if at all. Every time I reminded of Bear Bryant's accomplishments, I just shake my head... what were we thinking to let him get away.

The ole cigarette lighter-Cadillac story.

[matt colvin]

But there is enough room for Brooks and Gillispie.


Yes there is :thumbup:

[Coldstream]

The ole cigarette lighter-Cadillac story.

Thought it was a watch that he got while Rupp got the Cadillac?

[LAcat]

Thought it was a watch that he got while Rupp got the Cadillac?

You could be right. Anyway Bryant was so offended he bolted for Texas A&M and Kentucky football never recovered.

[matt colvin]

Thought it was a watch that he got while Rupp got the Cadillac?

Cigarette lighter. I think it was at least a nice one, lol. Probably engraved or something.

The funny part was that Bear said he still had it, and pulled out a plastic one, lol. They didn't make plastic cigarette lighters when he would have received his.

[matt colvin]

It's on Jon Scott's site too. Good little read: http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/bearbryant.html

[Wildcat Larry]

Russell Rice claims that Bryant left because President Donovan made a decree that he must recruit a certain percentage of Kentucky players and Bryant didn't think that he could win with Kentucky players. That decree only lasted two years, but by then Bryant was there.

Rupp had the same decree, but he could win with Kentucky players, but he's the one that got the decree rescinded.

This story is from Rice's book on UK football.

[lotsaloans]

A win Thursday night make UK the first team in the country to be bowl eligible.

[lilproUK98]

We have the opportunity to kick Spurrier and South Carolina's butt to go to 6-0 and be on the cusp of a clear Top 10 ranking (if we're not there already after tonight).

You know the Cats are gonna be ready and PUMPED to show Spurrier that we can play some football. We're gonna run them off the field.

Thursday night is gonna be somethin special.