Commonwealth Stadium, Through The Players And Coaches: 40 Years Of Reflection

Greg Long, Defensive Back (1979-1981)

Being from Lexington, what did you know, if anything, about Commonwealth Stadium prior to becoming a student at the University of Kentucky?

• In high school, I attended Henry Clay, a buddy and I sold hot dogs at the home games because we couldn’t afford tickets, just so we could get into the games. Usually we didn’t sell very many because we were too busy watching the games.

What is your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium as a player?

• Probably my most memorable play was in the Georgia game in 1980 when Herschel Walker tried to dive over on a goal line stand and I stuffed him. Most people would think it would be my 91-yard touchdown interception return against North Texas in 1981. But, like most of our defenses under our defensive coordinator Charlie Bailey, we took pride in laying the hammer on our opponents. If they weren’t spitting out teeth, we weren’t doing our job. Lol

What is your favorite/most memorable game at Commonwealth Stadium as a player?

• My most memorable game probably was against North Texas State as our opener my senior year in 1981. I had three interceptions in that game for 155 yards, including a 91-yard touchdown. A close second would be against Indiana in 1980 when I had 17 tackles. My cousin, who was an All-American for Indiana, had two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and a punt return for a touchdown . We were born five days apart and have been like brothers since birth.

What game at Commonwealth Stadium, as a player, would you most want deleted from your memory bank?

• The game that was the hardest to take was against Alabama my senior year in 1981. We had them beat 10-9 with two minutes to go and they came back, on a fluke mortar kickoff, and won 19-10.

What is your favorite/most memorable game at Commonwealth Stadium as a spectator (either in attendance or watching on tv)?

• I moved back from California about five years ago, and we hadn’t beaten Tennessee at home since my senior year, 1981. So watching us beat them two years ago was awesome and storming the field with my 13 year-old daughter Lexi.

When was it the loudest you ever heard it at Commonwealth Stadium?

• All the games were loud when I played. But my freshman year in 1977 when we were 10-1, beating Tennessee in our final game that year was incredibly loud.

What will you remember most about the gameday atmosphere/fans at Commonwealth Stadium?

• Kentucky fans are probably the best and most supportive as anywhere. As I said before, I lived out in California and went to the Rose Bowl for about the last ten years I lived there. I would put our fans up against any other fans. My freshman year in 1977, the 10-1 year, we would have three-to-five thousand fans waiting for us at the airport after our away games.

Any interesting stories concerning Commonwealth Stadium that you would like to share?

• My sister Traci ran into Herschel Walker at a Super Bowl party at the Hyatt about 10 years ago. She introduced herself as my sister and he gave her a napkin from the Hyatt which he gave to her to give to me. It read, “Greg, sure miss kicking your butt. Best wishes, Herschel.” I still have the napkin. Lol

Bill Ransdell, Quarterback (1983-1986)

Being from the Bluegrass State, what did you know, if anything, about Commonwealth Stadium prior to becoming a student at the University of Kentucky?

• Yes, my dad had played at UK (1959-1961) and Stoll Field. He brought my brothers and I up to games as a kid. Those were the days you could jump the wall and still get chin straps from the players.

What is your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium as a player?

• Well, it has been awhile and a lot of hits. I’d say beating Florida my senior year (1986). We had been close for three years and finally got them after my teammate, Tony Mayes, stripped Ricky Natiel and then recovered the fumble. He ran a 4.2-seconds 40-yard dash in 1986 and was drafted in the fifth round by the Denver Broncos.

What is your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium as a player?

• Wow, not sure.  Florida in 1986 was fun. I threw my first touchdown pass in 1983 against Auburn when Bo Jackson was there. Had some other games that were special with my teammates.

What game at Commonwealth Stadium, as a player, would you most want deleted from your memory bank?

• I think I threw two interceptions against LSU in 1984 and was ineffective and couldn’t get anything done. I was benched and the next two quarterbacks threw interceptions or were ineffective and I was put back in. I think I threw another interception!

What is your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium as a spectator (either in attendance or watching on tv)?

• I think beating LSU in 2007 when they were ranked # 1 and beating Tennessee in 2011 after a 26-game losing streak against them.

When was it the loudest you ever heard it at Commonwealth Stadium?

• Many times. We have some of the most passionate fans in the country.

What will you remember most about the fans/gameday atmosphere at Commonwealth Stadium?

• The constant support. Don’t get me wrong, I got phone calls in the dormitories back in the day when we lost, but our fans are so passionate and loyal. That’s what it’s all about. They are our 12th man.

Alfred Rawls, Running Back (1988-1989)

• I didn't know anything about UK because my heart was set to play for Georgia. Growing up in Georgia, it was a dream come true. Because where I live, Pitts, Georgia, a small town in Wilcox County. Because I wanted to be the best player coming out of high school and be remembered as one of Georgia’s greatest running backs.

• Playing against Georgia in 1988 because I wanted to prove to Coach Dooley that he missed out on a great player. In that game I rushed for 128 yards and a 48-yard touchdown to ice the game.

• The Auburn game in 1989, I had minus 9 yards rushing.

• Both the Indiana and LSU games in 1989.

• How so many fans love UK football and support the team, even though this is a basketball state. It was so exciting when the fans were cheering for you in the cold and the rain. That was so special to me.

• It was one of the best stadiums that I ever played in. After I scored a touchdown I would do my dance for the fans and they loved it. And I played for a great head coach, Jerry Claiborne.

Kurt Johnson, Wide Receiver (1989-1992)

Being from the Bluegrass State, what did you know, if anything, about Commonwealth Stadium prior to becoming a student at the University of Kentucky?

• I didn’t know a lot about Commonwealth Stadium. I was more of a Kentucky basketball fan than football fan growing up, but who wasn’t?

What is your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium as a player?

• I can’t remember who we were playing but a fellow teammate Steve Phillips, who by far had the best hands on the team and maybe the best I’ve seen, went up vertically in the back of the end zone and snatched down a pass with one hand. It was sheer athleticism.

What is your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium as a player?

• The 1991 LSU game, we were up and Todd Kinchen ended up running back a punt to beat us. Sad to say we lost but that was a great game.

What game at Commonwealth Stadium, as a player, would you most want deleted from your memory bank?

• Whenever Tennessee showed up. For some reason we just couldn’t pull one off against them.

What is your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium as a spectator (either in attendance or watching on tv)?

• When Kentucky finally beat Tennessee in 2011.

When was it the loudest you ever heard it at Commonwealth Stadium?

• The UK fans were always great. It didn’t matter who we were facing. When we ran out on the field the crowd roared like we were the best in the country. Back then it was only about 60,000 but it sounded like 100,000.

What will you remember the most about the fans/gameday atmosphere at Commonwealth Stadium?

The best thing I remember about the fans is actually Fan Day. We always had lots of kids show up for autographs or just to meet us. It was always great interacting with the kids. My best memory was when I was a freshman and Rick Pitino and C.M. Newton, the UK athletic director at the time, showed up and spoke with me personally. It was great times, unforgettable.