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

Bill Curry, Head Coach (1990-1996)

You brought your 1988 Alabama squad into Lexington and had a miraculous comeback. What were your impressions of Commonwealth Stadium prior to becoming the head coach at the University of Kentucky?

• I thought, and continue to think, that Commonwealth Stadium is one of the most beautiful stadiums in America. It had bluegrass at the time, and although that might not be the best surface for football, it added to the local ambiance, the Bluegrass Magic. It was also the best maintained stadium of them all.

What was your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium during your head coaching tenure at UK?

• It was a long run by Billy Jack Haskins against Tennessee in 1995. He had a severely separated shoulder, and simply ran over, around, and by the Tennessee defense for a touchdown. I forget the distance, but it was one of the great gut check plays I have ever seen.  It put us in position to win, but Peyton Manning brought them back.

What was your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium during your head coaching tenure at UK?

• The victory over Georgia in 1996 was very memorable.  We knew we would have a good team around the mid-point of the season, as players matured.  The Georgia win made a statement, and launched a three game win streak as we ended our time at Commonwealth Stadium. 

What game at Commonwealth Stadium, during your head coaching tenure at UK, would you most want deleted from your memory bank?

• We had seven interceptions against Florida in 1993, and allowed a freshman quarterback named Wuerffel to throw a touchdown pass to win the game in the final seconds. We had a chance to change the face of our program, and simply did not make the play.

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

• There are two. The first was the South Carolina game on October 12, 2002.  Our first granddaughter was born that day, on the birthday of my mom, Eleanor Curry.  I was an analyst in the booth, and asked to announce that little Evelyn had been born to our daughter Kristin Hunter and her husband Bob.  The producer, Kim Belton, said ok, but for me to just sit tight. When we got to the third quarter, I began to harass Kim, thinking he had forgotten. We went to a break and when we came out Michelle Tafoya, our sideline reporter, came on the air and announced, “We have breaking news out of Atlanta. Today, Evelyn Jean Hunter was born to Kristin and Bob Hunter, at Piedmont Hospital at 1:11 p.m.!”  All three were watching, as was my mom and my wife Carolyn. Evelyn does not remember it. The rest of us do. The second was the longest college football game ever played, the seven-overtime game against Arkansas in 2003. It was an ESPN national broadcast and I was there as an analyst. It was a stunning performance from two very determined teams. It was a reprise of an Arkansas vs. Ole Miss game earlier that year with the same number of overtimes. We, the broadcast crew, had been in Oxford for that one as well. Arkansas won both, but all three teams were valiant.

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

• I remember the night games as the best atmosphere. Keeneland ran in the afternoon, and the fans made a big weekend of the combination of the ponies and football. There was some conjecture that maybe the “spirits” fueled the “spirit,” but I honestly think it was the hopefulness of each crowd that was the energy. I wanted so much to please those wonderful people, and wish we could have done better.

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

• I have learned that it is never productive to be negative or morbid, so I choose to remember the best things. At Kentucky, we endured some of the most tragic events we have ever encountered. When I reflect on those moments, I am overwhelmed by reliving the genuine support and kindness we experienced. In an era that worships many of the wrong things, the Lexington community is loaded with people that understand human warmth, empathy, and kindness. That includes the police department and the local F.B.I. We will never forget, and ironically, have still met more great Lexington people in the years following our departure. We are eternally grateful. The list is too long to note here, but they know who they are. We thank God for those Kentucky folks!

Alfonzo Browning, Wide Receiver (1992-1993)

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

• Nothing much. Coming from California, I only really kept up with local schools.

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

• Against Mississippi State in 1992, it was a close game and I caught an out route and I took it down to the 2-yard line. It was about 40 yards, a big play for the Cats. The crowd exploded. 

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

• The opener against Kent State in my senior year of 1993. Offensively we were explosive and we started the season on a positive note.

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

• The Florida game in 1993 that we lost in the final minutes. Enough said!

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

• The Arkansas game in 2003 that went to 7 overtimes. I was a spectator with Pookie Jones. We had a great time watching a great game.

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

• Probably the Florida game in 1993 that we were winning and lost. Commonwealth Stadium was rocking.

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

• It was electric. The atmosphere made me want to go hard every time I stepped on the field for the Cats, whether it was a game or a practice. I always wanted to make Wildcat Nation proud.

Chris Ward, Defensive Lineman (1993-1996)

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

• Honestly, nothing!  I didn’t even know the name of the stadium.  Before I took my official visit to Kentucky I thought the stadium was called Wildcat Stadium.

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

• My most memorable play at Commonwealth Stadium was when we played Mississippi State in 1996 and I recorded 3 sacks. What made it memorable was that on the third sack I chased Derrick Taite from behind, dove, and made the sack that clinched the victory. 

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

• My favorite game was in 1993 when we played East Carolina on the last game of the season. The game was the muddiest game I’ve ever played in and we needed to win that game in order to go to the Peach Bowl. I actually recovered the fumble that we needed and we won a tight fought game, 6-3.

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

• The game that I want to be erased is when we played the University of Florida in 1993 and had them beat and lost on a 4th down throw in the end zone. Crushing!

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

• Maybe the loudest I’ve heard it was when we played Louisville in 1994 for the first time in 70 years. 

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

• Probably when UK beat heavily favored powerhouse LSU in 2007. It was a terrific game with three overtimes. 

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

• I will remember coming out of the tunnel hearing those roaring Kentucky fans and seeing nothing but blue and white. I will also remember the feeling of playing a lot of those games under the lights. It was an absolutely great place to play college football.

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

• One more thing that I won’t forget is when we would do the Wildcat Walk from Nutter to Commonwealth Stadium and see all the fans cheering as we walked over for battle against our opponent. 

Billy Jack Haskins, Quarterback (1995-1996)

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

• Not a lot.  I just knew it was where the Wildcats played and I knew I wanted to play there someday.

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

• I guess it would be the run I had against Tennessee in 1995. It was the result of a lot of teamwork and toughness, things I feel are a big part of my personality. Two of the best blocks I can remember were executed on that play. The first by James Tucker, a hard-nose wide receiver, and the second by Barry Jones. Without those guys I never make it to the endzone.

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

• It was not one game, but a stretch of games in 1996. Bill Curry had been fired with four games left in the season and we went on to win three of the last four games.  There was just a lot of emotion in the preparation and the actual games themselves. Also, I believe three consecutive SEC wins is something that hasn’t happened since that stretch. (UK has had three consecutive SEC wins twice since then, in 1999 and 2006.)

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

• The Louisville game in 1996.  I was awful!

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

• The Tennessee game in 2011. A phenomenol effort by that team to beat Tennessee.

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

• The Florida game in 1993, unfortunately we were beat on the last play of the game.

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

• The pregame. The music, the excitement, and seeing my family in the stands.

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

One thing that often goes overlooked was the preparation of the field itself. Those guys really did a great job taking care of the field. I have seen them work all hours of the night and try just about anything to get the field dry. It was always ready and looked great.