1988 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 1988 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 217 points while allowing 208 points.[1][2] This was Jerry Claiborne's seventh season as Kentucky's head coach. The Wildcats finished 5–6, one victory shy of bowl eligibility; the highlight of the season was an upset of #11 ranked Georgia.

1988 Kentucky Wildcats football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record5–6 (2–5 SEC)
Head coach
Home stadiumCommonwealth Stadium
1988 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 19 LSU + 6 –1 –08 –4 –0
No. 8 Auburn + 6 –1 –010 –2 –0
No. 15 Georgia 5 –2 –09 –3 –0
No. 17 Alabama 4 –3 –09 –3 –0
Florida 4 –3 –07 –5 –0
Tennessee 3 –4 –05 –6 –0
Ole Miss 3 –4 –05 –6 –0
Kentucky 2 –5 –05 –6 –0
Vanderbilt 2 –5 –03 –8 –0
Mississippi State 0 –7 –01 –10 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Season

Kentucky opened with a win against Central Michigan, then lost at #7 Auburn and Indiana before beating Kent State. Losses to #12 Alabama and at #19 LSU followed. Next were wins against #11 Georgia, Southern Illinois and Vanderbilt, then losses to Florida and at Tennessee.[3]

The victory over Georgia was the season's high point. Running back Alfred Rawls, a Georgia native, had 128 yards and a touchdown rushing and linebacker Randy Holleran had 13 tackles; #11 Georgia was held to 224 yards of total offense.[4]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 3Central Michigan*
W 18–741,736
September 10at No. 7 Auburn
L 10–2060,000
September 17at Indiana*
L 15–3651,077
September 24Kent State*
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 38–1447,989
October 1No. 12 Alabama
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
L 27–3153,442
October 15at No. 19 LSU
L 12–1571,418
October 22No. 11 Georgia
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 16–1050,416
October 29Southern Illinois*
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 24–1050,093[5]
November 5Vanderbilt
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 14–1344,105
November 12Florida
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
L 19–2450,191
November 19at No. 11 Tennessee
L 24–2890,353
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[6][7]

Team players in the 1989 NFL Draft
PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
David "D. J." JohnsonDefensive back7174Pittsburgh Steelers
Ivy Joe HunterRunning back7182Indianapolis Colts
Chris ChenaultLinebacker8222Cincinnati Bengals
Charlie DarringtonTight end9233Washington Redskins

[8][9]

References
  1. "1988 Kentucky Wildcats results". Archived from the original on October 6, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  2. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.209
  3. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209
  4. Story, Mark, UK football's greatest wins at Commonwealth, Lexington Herald-Leader, September 4, 2011
  5. Fowler, Scott (October 30, 1988). "UK finally awakens to knock off SIU 24-10". The Courier-Journal. p. C1. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "College Football Reference". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  7. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168
  8. "1989 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
  9. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.166


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