40 Years of Commonwealth: A Reflection

The following was published by Corey Price to honor the 40th year anniversary of Commonwealth Stadium.

The Kentucky Wildcats football program started the 1970’s with a new head coach, John Ray, entering his second season. It was just a few years later that the Kentucky Wildcats football program would have a total makeover, with a new head coach, Fran Curci, and a new home field. John Ray amassed a record of just 10-33 through his four seasons at Kentucky, and the program needed some energy put back into the fan base. The stadium was a problem as well. Stoll Field/McLean Stadium had been the home of Kentucky Wildcats football since 1916 and its age was catching up to it. But more than just age, the size of the stadium was making the football program fall behind as well. The capacity of Stoll Field/McLean Stadium, in its final years, was at 37,000. That was not up-to-par with the rest of the SEC and the athletic department knew that there needed to be a change to level the playing field. Here were the stadium capacities of the SEC stadiums entering the 1972 season, Stoll Field/McLean Stadium’s final season as the home field for the Kentucky Wildcats:

• 70,650 Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)
• 67,510 Tiger Stadium (LSU)
• 62,800 Florida Field (Florida)
• 61,261 Cliff Hare Stadium (Auburn)
• 60,210 Denny Stadium (Alabama)
• 59,200 Sanford Stadium (Georgia)
• 37,000 Stoll Field/McLean Stadium (Kentucky)
• 35,000 Scott Field (Mississippi State)
• 34,500 Hemingway Stadium (Ole Miss)
• 34,000 Dudley Field (Vanderbilt)

As a result, the Wildcats brought in some young energy in head coach Fran Curci, 35 years old at the time of his hire at Kentucky. To top it all off, the program built a nice, new, bigger stadium at the opposite end of campus. The capacity for the Kentucky home games increased 56.8%, from 37,000 to 58,000. The new stadium closed the gap with the top of the SEC and the fans were re-energized. The stadium was named Commonwealth Stadium and the finished product was the picture posted above. The first game in the new Commonwealth Stadium was on September 15th, 1973 against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Wildcats went on to win the game 31-26. This past Sunday was the 40th anniversary of that first game at Commonwealth Stadium. If you’ve been a true fan of Kentucky football throughout these past 40 years, then you’ve literally seen it all, especially at Commonwealth Stadium. There have been great wins, defeating #1 LSU in 2007, and embarrassing losses, losing to first-year Division I-A program Northeast Louisiana in 1994. There have been blowout wins, beating UTEP by 60 points in 2002, and blowout losses, losing by 48 points to Tennessee in 1993. There have been thrilling wins in the final seconds, a last-second field goal to beat Cincinnati in 1991, and heartbreaking losses in the final seconds, Wuerffel to Doering in 1993 and Randall to Henderson in 2002. There have been great Kentucky teams, the 10-1 squad in 1977 and 11 bowl teams, and great opponents, 5 national champions: 1980 Georgia, 1981 Clemson, 2007 LSU, 2009 Alabama, and 2010 Auburn. There have been great Kentucky players, Heisman Trophy finalist and #1 pick Tim Couch, eleven First-Team All-Americans, and six first round draft picks, and great opposing players, four Heisman Trophy winners: Herschel Walker, Tim Tebow, Mark Ingram, and Cam Newton, and 17 College Football Hall of Fame inductees.

To look back at the past 40 years, I decided to talk to the great players and coaches that have come through the Kentucky Wildcats football program and pick their brain concerning their favorite, and least favorite, moments at Commonwealth Stadium. It was amazing, to me, to get to interview the players and coaches that I idolized growing up and was extremely fun, and enlightening, to learn which game, play, etc. was their favorite during their time at Commonwealth Stadium. So, without further ado, relax and take a trip down memory lane as we, as fans, relive the past 40 years of Commonwealth Stadium through the players and coaches:

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

• My touchdown run against the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1973. They were ranked #4 nationally.

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

• The Virginia Tech game in 1973. It was the first game of the season playing in the new Commonwealth Stadium. (Sonny Collins had the first UK touchdown run ever in Commonwealth Stadium in that game)

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

• The Vanderbilt game in 1974 when I got injured. I was leading the conference in rushing yards with over 900 heading into the game. I had 73 rushing yards before the first half was over and a touchdown when the injury happened. We had two games left on the season. Without a doubt I would have led the SEC again in rushing yards. (Sonny Collins finished the 1974 season with 970 rushing yards, second in the SEC behind Mississippi State’s Walter Packer, who finished with 994 rushing yards.)

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

• I recall all the home games being loud and exciting.

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

• The Florida game in 1974. I was watching on the sidelines as an injured player and we beat Florida, they were ranked #9 nationally.

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

• My family attended each game and the fans were just amazing! Also, my senior year in 1975, knowing that each game will be my last playing in Commonwealth Stadium.

September 15th, 1973 is special for two reasons. One, it was Kentucky’s first game ever played at Commonwealth Stadium. Two, it was your first game as head coach at the University of Kentucky. Describe the excitement in the fanbase, and the excitement for you as well, surrounding the opening of the new stadium and the start of a new era with Kentucky football.

• It was a new stadium, everyone was excited, and we won. It was a great start.

What is your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium as head coach?

• Sonny Collins scoring a touchdown against Alabama our second game there in 1973.
  

What is your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium as head coach?

• Beating Penn State in 1976.
  

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

• Many games

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

• When we beat Tennessee in 1977.

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

• The SEC makes every game have a great atmosphere. We had good success against the SEC.

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

• I knew nothing of the SEC or UK, therefore I knew nothing of Commonwealth Stadium. Growing up in Ohio State’s backyard and being heavily recruited by Woody Hayes everyone assumed I was going there.

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

• It was a 62-yard run against Penn State in 1976. Growing up in the midwest you knew the tradition of teams like Penn State and Joe Paterno. I was a sophomore and starting at fullback. I broke through the middle, kicked it outside, and ran it in front of the Penn State bench and Joe Paterno. It was captured in the newspapers. It was a great photo.

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

• The Florida game in my sophomore year of 1976. They came into Commonwealth Stadium highly rated (ranked #15 in the AP Poll) and we were not expected to win. Coach Curci switched benches so that we were on the visitors side and they were on the home side. It put them in the shade and the cold and we were in the sun. They dropped a lot of passes that they normally caught. I remember Cris Collinsworth being wide open and in front of our bench and he dropped a sure touchdown pass. We won that game, 28-9.

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

• The Penn State game in 1978. It was my first game as a starter coming back from a knee surgery. I was not ready and was getting hammered. The best thing out of that game was my first hit on Penn State’s defensive end Matt Millen and he was at his knees. He lifted me up and said, “listen Stewart, we are both coming off knee surgeries, how about we both hit above the belt”. We did so the rest of the game. In the newspapers he was quoted as saying, “that Stewart is a class act”.

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

• It was not my favorite but it was my most memorable game. The year I was out with knee surgery, 1977, and going to the game on crutches. The newspaper captured it on photo and called me the injured warrior. It was the hardest thing to do, to watch from the sidelines.

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

• It was always loud. My freshman year, 1975, we only won two games but we ranked 6th in the country for home attendance. The games we lost, we lost in the final seconds (5 of their 8 losses were by a touchdown or less). We were exciting to watch. Of course we would follow up that season as SEC champs.

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

• The thing I remember most about gameday is my first game as a Division I player in 1975. It was at Commonwealth Stadium (Virginia Tech) and nothing can prepare you for that emotional high. Walking out there during pre-game with music playing, the tailgate atmosphere, and the stadium with scattered people slowly filling it up. Then walking out to a sold out crowd. It was awesome.

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

• I knew nothing about the new stadium prior to me coming to UK. However, once I arrived there, there was always the conversation about enlarging the stadium.

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

• My longest run at UK was against Penn State in 1976, it was certainly one of my most memorable plays at UK.  Most importantly we beat them, and we were not picked to win. (Penn State was ranked #20 in the AP Poll heading into the game)

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

• The Tennessee game in 1977. We were all beaten up from the week before (defeated Florida 14-7 down in Gainesville), and yet we found a way to win. This just speaks to how great this team was.

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

• The Georgia game in 1976. We did everything we could to give it to them. Offensively we had 410 yards and one touchdown. As our quarterback I did not do my job. My job is to get us in the end zone.

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

• Watching Tim Couch lead us against Alabama in 1997. As an athlete I never got to play against the Crimson Tide, so I got to live through Tim as we rolled over the Tide.

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

• The Tennessee game in 1977. It was the culmination of a great season. And the fans of Kentucky finally got what they deserved, the best! Because Kentucky fans are the best in the country! I will always have a love affair with the fans of Kentucky.

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

• Gameday was always exciting for me, there is no better feeling than walking into Commonwealth Stadium, knowing that you are going to war! And knowing that we were going be victorious, there is no better feeling.

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

• The gladiators that I went to war with will never be forgotten in Kentucky, SEC or national history. The best ever!

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

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.

• 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.

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.

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!

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.

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. 

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.

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

• Well, when I went around visiting different colleges I attended a UK game at Commonwealth Stadium and this was when we were having a terrible year. What I noticed was the stadium was sold out and the fans were crazy.  I thought to myself what would these fans be like if we had a winning program.  The loyalty of the fans at UK is definitely a strong hold for the program and the state.  It was very exciting seeing the town, people, university, and football program go from a losing season to a winning program and I have two bowl rings to show for it.

You were at Kentucky during the expansion process. Describe the excitement around the program knowing that the stadium was going to be larger and your thoughts on being a part of the first team to play in the “new” Commonwealth Stadium in 1999?

• Knowing that we had started a winning tradition that caused for an expansion was very exciting.  I do believe that the first game that we played after the expansion was Louisville.

What was your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium?

•  I don’t have one particular play that stands out, but I would say my whole career there.  It was an honor and I’m very proud to say that I’m a UK alumni football player. I love the state and university and hope that someday my child will get to play in Commonwealth Stadium!

What was your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium?

• That would be when David Ginn blocked the field goal during the Alabama game in 1997 and Anwar Stewart took it all the way back for the win. Fans hit the field and tore the goal posts down. It was a very creditable win for the university.  

What game at Commonwealth Stadium would you most like to delete from your memory bank?

• That would be the Tennessee game in 1997 that I got kicked out of.  We were up and I was having a pretty good game and after I got ejected it seemed to have a big impact on the defense and I really wanted to beat Tennessee once in my career at UK.

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

• When we beat Alabama in 1997.

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

• A few years back when we beat South Carolina in 2010, when they were ranked in top 10.  It was great to see UK finally get some respect and that game was very exciting.

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

• The beginning of the game when players and fans sang My Old Kentucky Home. I loved it!

Being from the Bluegrass State, what did you know about Commonwealth Stadium prior to becoming The Voice Of The Wildcats? 

• My dad purchased season tickets for the first time the year Commonwealth Stadium opened, 1973. So we attended every home game, tailgating outside, listening to Leonard’s Losers and the other pregame radio programming, etc. So I was there in Section 129 every Saturday except for one or two games until I started working on the network in 1989.

What is your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium since becoming The Voice Of The Wildcats?

• It’s Tim Couch’s touchdown pass to Lance Mickelsen in the first quarter of the 1997 win over Louisville. That was my first game as the football “voice” and it was a one-season trial so there was no guarantee beyond that first season. That play signaled the beginning of a new era, the Air Raid, and it gave me numerous exciting plays to call. And when things are going well for the team, fan support generally carries over to other areas, like the broadcast team.  The Braxton Kelly tackle to secure the upset of #1 LSU in 2003 would rank high, as well as the Couch-to-Yeast overtime touchdown to beat Alabama in 1997.  Also, the touchdown pass to Stevie Johnson against Louisville in 2007 may be the loudest I’ve ever heard the crowd at Commonwealth Stadium.

What is your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium since becoming The Voice Of The Wildcats?

• The Louisville game in 1997. That first game was crucial to easing my nerves and getting me comfortable in that chair that has been held by the likes of Cawood Ledford, Claude Sullivan, Ralph Hacker, etc.

What game at Commonwealth Stadium, since becoming The Voice Of The Wildcats, would you most want deleted from your memory bank?

• Easy, the 2002 last-second loss to LSU.  It was such a deflating moment.  A close second would be the 2007 loss to Tennessee in 4 overtimes because it would have been such a big win for that team and might have put UK back in the Outback Bowl.

What was your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium as a spectator?

• Probably the 1977 win over Tennessee that secured the 10-1 season.  Derrick Ramsey’s shoulder injury left him playing with essentially one arm and he showed such toughness and I really wanted that great team to finish off their season the right way.  Art Still, at defensive end, was such a dominant force for that team too. In that win over Tennessee, a reserve quarterback named Mike Deaton came off the bench to throw a pass to Felix Wilson that Ramsey would not have been able to throw and it led UK to the clinching touchdown.

When you finish your career as The Voice Of The Wildcats, what will you remember most about the gameday atmosphere/fans at Commonwealth Stadium?

• The passion of the Kentucky fans. They want it so badly for this program and when there’s been just the least bit of promise of a brighter day in the future, they have jumped in to help push the Cats forward with full force.

The excitement surrounding your Air Raid offense at the University of Kentucky created a greater demand for attendance to watch your games and kick-started the expansion process of Commonwealth Stadium. Briefly discuss your thoughts on being a part of the expansion process at Commonwealth Stadium and being the first head coach at UK to play inside the “new” Commonwealth Stadium in 1999.

• Helping to expand Commonwealth Stadium was a great time and I enjoyed every minute of it. But the guy who deserves all the credit is C.M. Newton. He had the vision and enough courage to give a Division II coach a shot and saw the need to strike quickly on the stadium.

• Probably the Alabama game in 1997 because it had been such a long dry spell (75 years). They tore down the goalposts.

• The touchdown pass from my son Matt to Garry Davis against Indiana in 1998, it sparked a great comeback in a rivalry game. There are lots of other favorites but I have to be a proud dad on that one so it tops the list.

• I wouldn't delete any of the games, they were all fun. Even the losses were fun.

• I haven't really seen any games. I've had other games at other schools to coach so I don't get to watch much and I've never been to Commonwealth Stadium except to coach. I will enjoy watching Coach Stoops & the new Air Raid crew put on shows. So this one is yet to come.

• The greatest crowds ever, I loved those fans. Standing in the tunnel before kickoff, listening to them sing "My Old Kentucky Home" always brought a tear.

• My favorite story was after the Alabama game in 1997, the quarterback from the 1920s-era UK team that last beat Alabama (1922) was brought via wheelchair to our locker room where we gave him the game ball. He summoned Tim Couch over and whispered in his ear and Tim smiled. After the celebration I asked Tim what the 99-year old man had said to him and Tim replied, "He said that I needed to run the plays faster". Even a 99-year old ex-quarterback was into the Air Raid!

Describe the excitement surrounding the program, the fans, and yourself during the expansion process of Commonwealth Stadium and what it meant for you to be a part of the first team to play in the “new” Commonwealth Stadium in 1999?

• It was a great feeling knowing that we could pack more people into the stadium. With the addition of the screen on the scoreboard it gave us the opportunity to watch a big play again after it happened. It was really amazing because the fan support we were getting, coupled with the addition of the stadium renovations, made our fan base excited to enter the stadium. Then there was the added support with the extra end zone seating to feel the cheers as we entered the end zone. Funny thing is, when the renovations were occurring,  I personally felt like they were expanding the seating to meet consumer demands for more seats in the house to watch the Air Raid up close. Lol

What was your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium?

• My favorite and most memorable play was the ESPY-nominated Billy Jack Haskins option run against Tennessee in 1995, no explanation necessary. And scoring the last touchdown against Tennessee in 1999, on a swing route, because it was my last game and it helped set a record although I don’t recall which one.

What was your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium?

• Beating Alabama in 1997. In 1996 I had the worst game of my athletic career against them, which helped us lose a close game. Then to come back the next season and beat them for the first time in 75 years and almost amass 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the upset win was great.

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

• The loudest I have ever heard it at Commonwealth Stadium was in 2007 as a fan at the Louisville game, during the last 90 seconds of the game.

What game at Commonwealth Stadium would you most like to delete from your memory bank?

• I would like to erase the 1995 Florida game from my memory, which I already have because I don’t recall any details. It was just a good ass whooping.

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

• My favorite game as a fan was probably the South Carolina game in 2010 or the LSU game in 2007. Both games because they were exciting games that came down to the wire against top SEC opponents and we pulled it out down the stretch. That made both of those games exciting and memorable.

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

• I always will remember the fans yelling “First down Kentucky!” and the fans counting aloud as Scratch did push-ups. Those were always exciting moments for the fans as well as myself when it happened.

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

• One of my proudest moments in Commonwealth Stadium was when I was invited back to be recognized during the game at midfield, I think it was 2004. There were Anthony White highlights on the scoreboard and the crowd gave me a welcomed reception. And that was my first time on the field since 1999 and my playing days. It was a really warming experience and a lasting feeling.

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 have always known of the stadium from just being a big UK fan from the time I was a boy. I have always paid close attention to all UK sports since I can remember.

Describe the excitement surrounding the fanbase, program, and yourself knowing that Commonwealth Stadium was being expanded and renovated your freshman season and that you were a part of the first team to play in the “new” Commonwealth Stadium in 1999.

• The stadium renovation was definitely part of the recruiting pitch while I was still deciding.  It was nice to know the stadium was going to be bigger and louder but for me I always knew down deep it was blue and white or bust.

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

• As a player my most memorable moment was my touchdown in the Indiana game my sophomore year in 2000. It was right before halftime and we ran a play called 95 where I was supposed to go over the linebackers and under the safety to the left side of the field.  Jared Lorenzen was hurried on the play and he scrambled right and when I looked back he pointed to the corner of the right endzone. Once I turned around and headed that way he just put it up in the air and I was able to run under it. It was a turning point in the game and it’s a memory I’ll hold dear for a very long time.

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

• My favorite game as a player would have to be my first game against Louisville in 1999. Even though we lost the game, running out onto the field in front of all the fans for the first time was amazing. It was the first time I had played a game in front of that many people on a football field and to say I was nervous would be an understatement.

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

• The one game I would like to have back would be the Tennessee game in my junior year of 2001. We were pretty much ahead the whole game and I had injured my hip on a play in the second half. We had a bad fumble at the end of the game and ended up losing the game which would have been the first win in a long time against the Vols. I’d like to have that game back for sure.

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

• I wouldn’t be able to pick out a specific game to say that it was the loudest because I really only noticed it my freshman year being it was the first year I played in front of big crowds. Maybe the one moment when I really looked up and said wow was once again the opening game in the renovated stadium against Louisville in 1999.

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

• Definitely my fondest memory as a spectator was the win against Alabama in 1997 when I was on a recruiting trip down there to see the game. It was really the icing on the cake for me to see my Cats take down a program like Alabama. I knew then that coach Mumme was really going to turn things around.

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

• What I will remember and miss the most is the entrance to the stadium the day of the games. Just the team staying in the hotel and the fans waiting on us to arrive was so neat to experience and know that many fans were behind us and supported us. It’s the kind of memories you never forget. I will always be grateful to the Big Blue Nation for being the best fans in all of college athletics.

• Growing up in Michigan, I didn't know much at all about Commonwealth Stadium.  As a boy I bled a deeper shade of blue, the "Maize and Blue".  I just remember the success Tim Couch and Craig Yeast and the boys had with the Air Raid.  I remember when I walked on in the fall of 1999. After admissions sign-up, I was walking around the campus with my dad and saw a big guy walking around on campus as well.  My dad said, "I bet he plays football, maybe he can point us in the direction of Commonwealth Stadium". Turns out that the guy ended up being Otis Grigsby, the nicest guy ever. My dad and I eventually found the stadium and it was the first time I had ever stood inside a stadium so big!  I never went to a Michigan or Michigan State game as a kid. I just remember telling my dad that I was going to prove myself to everyone.

• My most memorable play in Commonwealth Stadium was the first punt of my junior year in the first game against Louisville (2001).  I punted it 70 yards and I was roughed!  So the punt ended up not counting but we got the ball back and a first down.  The reason why this was the most memorable was because for my first two years my family was paying out-of-state tuition. I was depressed a lot because I knew how good I was and just wanted to prove that to everyone!  So even though I punted the last three games of my sophomore year, 2000, I still didn't have a scholarship going into my junior year, 2001.  So about two weeks before the first game, Louisville,  I went to coach Morriss’ office and told him that I felt I deserved a scholarship because I was going to be one of the best punters in the SEC that year, strong words for someone who only punted 3 games, and that tuition has been really tough.  He said he was going to watch me close at practice.  A week later they awarded me a full ride scholarship.  So the pressure was on now. Having my first punt of the year go 70 yards put my worries to rest and I was First-Team All-SEC and Third-Team All-American that year.

• Beating UTEP 77-17 in 2002. The reason is because the score was so lopsided that it allowed the chance for a lot of my close friends, who I shed blood, sweat, and tears with for four years of practice, 5 a.m. morning workouts, etc. to get a chance to play.  It was so rewarding seeing those guys, who worked just as hard as I did but didn't have many opportunities to get to, go out there and play in front of 70,000 people! Man, I'll never forget that!

• Obviously the Bluegrass Miracle game against LSU in 2002! Taylor Begley just buried a field goal to put us up with a few seconds remaining in the game.  I carried him off the field!  We finally thought we broke a curse that had been eating at us!  That game just killed me.  My whole family was down from Michigan, my buddies from high school drove down from Michigan and  were already on the field getting ready to tear the goalposts down.  After Devery Henderson caught that ball, I went directly to the locker room.  I was the first one in there.  I took my helmet and started smashing all the chicken and biscuit boxes sitting by each players’ locker.  I don't think anyone ever noticed.  We were all too sick to eat!

• The loudest I ever heard it was right before the Bluegrass Miracle happened. And the quietest I ever heard it was 2 seconds later.

• When we beat #1 ranked LSU in 2007! I came in for the weekend and it was just an absolute heck of a time with all my former teammates and buddies.  I will never forget that weekend.

• I have lived all over the world!  City to city playing in the NFL, NFL Europe, etc. and Lexington is right at the very top of this list, if not #1.  I will cherish the people and fans of Lexington and Kentucky the rest of my life. The kindest people that my family and I have ever met.  I'd like to eventually have a place in Lexington to spend parts of the year living there. Fans on gameday are so very loyal and caring about their Wildcats, it's like nothing I have ever experienced and never will again. Week in and week out  they were there yelling and cheering us on, whether we were 2-9 or 9-2.   I'll hold Commonwealth Stadium and Lexington very close to my heart for as long as I live.

• Two of my close friends were down for a weekend of Keeneland and football.  We went to the game Saturday afternoon and I talked security into letting my two buddies and I go hang out on the sidelines. That was a really great experience for them. Also, after I was done playing, my parents drove down one weekend to catch a game and visit me (I was taking a few fall classes).  They chose a good one. We went to the 7-overtime game against Arkansas in 2003.  

Playing your high school ball in Lexington, what did you know, if anything, about Commonwealth Stadium prior to becoming a student at the University of Kentucky?

• I knew a lot about it. I grew up right across the street from the university and attended many games as a child. Pookie Jones was one of my favorite players, Bill Curry was one of my favorite coaches growing up, and Joker Phillips was a close family friend. Let’s just say that he was recruiting me since I was in elementary school. Lol

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

• Would have to be my senior year in 2004 playing Vanderbilt on senior day. My whole family was in attendance and we beat Vanderbilt on a last second play. I scrambled in the pocket and threw up a pass to my favorite wide receiver, Glenn Holt, and while I was getting face planted into the ground, the crowd went bananas, and I rolled over to see Holt celebrating in the end zone. I left Commonwealth Stadium with a victory and that can never be changed. 

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

• My first game starting as a freshman in 2001. I got the nod against Ball State and we put up 28 points in my first victory as a starter and I went down as one of the youngest players in the SEC to win a game as a starting quarterback.

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

• “The Bluegrass Miracle” in 2002 when LSU won on a last-minute Hail Mary. They were ranked #16 in the country and we were set to knock them off that spot. What’s also crazy is I wound up rooming with the quarterback, Marcus Randall, who threw the pass, as a rookie when I was with the Tennessee Titans. A lot of trash talking during camp in our room. Lol

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

• Every game that we played Steve Spurrier because he didn’t like us and the BBN didn’t like him either. It was always a scrappy game and unfortunately he has won many games against us. That will have to change one day. (Kentucky defeated Steve Spurrier for the first time in 2010)

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

• The Kent State game in 2012. My little brother Aaron Boyd had 11 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. I was so proud of him and how he performed. It was an amazing feeling to see my own brother playing at a high level on the same field as I did and I was able to get all the plays on film. 

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

• The Cat Walk and the sea of blue that was there supporting us each and every game. Also, the atmosphere after the game in the parking lot was simply amazing. All the love our fans showed us and the great tailgating taking place is unmatched in all of college sports. The Big Blue Nation is unmatched in its support of the athletes at our university. We truly bleed blue when it comes to Kentucky. 

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

• Before every game I would speak with my family, a few friends, and high school coach and Kentucky great Bill Ransdell. He played a major role in my success in my high school, college, and pro career. He will forever be in my heart and we remain great friends to this day. He was usually the last person I spoke with on the phone before I entered Commonwealth Stadium. 

Playing your high school ball in Kentucky, what did you know, if anything, about Commonwealth Stadium prior to becoming a student at the University of Kentucky?

• I didn’t know much about Commonwealth Stadium in high school. I saw it for the first time on my official visit and I fell in love.

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

• I got an interception against Vanderbilt in 2006. I jumped up and did a flip to get the interception.

What is your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium?

• Arkansas and Bobby Petrino in 2008. It was me against Mike Smith the whole night and we won. We finally beat Petrino. When he was at Louisville, he always beat us.

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

• Florida in 2007. Percy Harvin beat me deep.

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

• Kentucky vs. Florida in 2009 when Tim Tebow got knocked out. It was the best play of the game.

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

• The fans, the Cat Walk, and putting my shoulder pads on.

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

• Prior to attending the University of Kentucky, I was not that familiar with Commonwealth Stadium. My mother and I traveled often, due to her job, so when she was stationed to Kentucky I eventually became acquainted with the state’s passion involving sports. Towards my later years in high school I eventually became enlightened with Commonwealth Stadium and the tradition it held containing festivities, tailgating, and an extremely strong fan base.

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

• My favorite moment as a Cat was the Louisville game in 2007, the pass to Stevie Johnson down the sideline on the last drive. We had previously attempted to complete this exact play two times prior in the game and both times had an opportunity of being huge plays. Fortunately, we connected on this one! I cannot recall a moment I have ever witnessed Commonwealth Stadium so deafening when that ball landed in Stevie’s hands and eventually crossed the goal line. What a moment!

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

• My favorite game would easily be taking down eventual national champions, LSU Tigers, my senior year in 2007. After an extremely disappointing loss to South Carolina the previous week, we were determined to showcase a different performance against the #1 team in the nation. Some believe that was arguably the best game ever in Commonwealth Stadium history, so it feels great to be a part of such an accomplishment. I witness people all the time stating that was by far their most memorable moment as a UK fan. I just enjoy realizing I had something to do with bringing some success to the program.

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

• Haha What game would I like to erase from my memory bank? There are several games. haha My first few years on the team were an experience I will never forget. We went through a lot of struggles, trying to eventually get the program back on its feet. I could name several games I would like to forget existed, many I played in. lol Nonetheless, they were all games that helped mold us into a competitive team my last two years as a Wildcat.

What is your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium as an assistant coach?

• My most memorable game as a graduate assistant would be the Tennessee game in 2011. After losing, from injury, the starting quarterback, the 2^nd-string quarterback, and then realizing we did not have a 3^rd-string quarterback to truly lean on, we decided to alternate our entire offensive playbook from 150 plays into a notebook of just 22 plays. Not to mention replacing the quarterback role, with only three days of preparations, to a wide receiver who had not played the position in five years. It was truly amazing watching everyone brainstorm and scheme a game plan fitting for what personnel we had suiting up for the upcoming game. To eventually beat Tennessee, a team that UK had not beaten in the last 27 years, with a wide receiver playing quarterback and 22 brand new plays scripted for a game with only three days of preparations was remarkable in that conference.

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

• Once again, the Louisville game in 2007 was by far the loudest I have ever witnessed Commonwealth Stadium. The moment Stevie crossed the goal line, I do not think I recall a moment it was ever that deafening in Commonwealth Stadium.

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

• I will forever remember the LSU game in 2007. In the third overtime, after scoring, LSU was driving in to tie the game. After being stopped short on a third down, they opted to call timeout to scan through their script for a fourth down play on their play sheet. I remember taking one leg and chatting with one of my teammates, while someone kept saying in my ear “Do you hear the crowd?” I remember getting immediate goose bumps once I realized what they were chanting back and forth. “WE…BELIEVE!” Back and forth, the entire timeout, they continued to get louder and louder. You could see it on every player’s face, all the years of losing and feeling like failures, finally the look of confidence and belief that we were capable of beating the best. By far my favorite memory at any UK game containing the fan base.

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

• One of my most favorite moments at Commonwealth Stadium as a player would be the interception I made to seal the deal to beat Georgia in 2006. Then the fans rushed the field, and to actually see something like that in person was my first. Seeing people jump on the goal posts and bringing it down was exciting to see too. We had one of our teammates (Adam Richey) on the goal posts with the fans as they were bringing it down. That’s something I’ll remember forever.

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

• My most memorable game at Commonwealth Stadium is the LSU game in 2007. They were ranked #1 in the nation and everybody figured they would come in and kill us. At the beginning it seemed like they were just going to do just that, then slowly we started to come back and make it a game. We had some big time field goals too that kept us in that game. Then when we went into overtime and that felt like a totally different game. We scored or kicked a field goal, then they scored or kicked a field goal. On the last play, when it was 4^th down and 2 yards to go, they had to score or get a first down to keep the game going. Braxton Kelley made the game-saving tackle to end the game. It seemed like a pause after he made that tackle because we beat the #1 ranked team. Then the players rushed the field followed by the fans rushing the field. That was probably the longest game I ever played in and one of the most memorable ones.

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

• I don’t have any games from Commonwealth Stadium that I would delete from my memories. But I do have some away games that I would erase from my memory.

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

• My most memorable game as a spectator at Commonwealth Stadium is when we finally beat Tennessee, after about 26 years, in 2011. A lot of those players weren’t born the last time Kentucky beat them. Every year fans would say to me, that’s the most important game every single year until we beat them. To finally see UK beat them after so many years felt good and to see it happen in Commonwealth Stadium made it that much more memorable.

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

• I don’t know the loudest game at Commonwealth Stadium because there were so many loud ones. But every time we played Louisville the stadium was usually loud because that’s Kentucky’s rival team.

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

• Hearing the fans cheer when we ran out the tunnel and hearing, “It’s football time in the Bluegrass!” before the games. Seeing Scratch do the one-handed push-ups after every score and hearing “Oooohhhh C-A-T-S CATS CATS CATS” was always fun and exciting. Hearing all those things during the game gave you some boost to go out there every play and give it your all for the fans.

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

• I didn’t know anything. Growing up where I did in Canton it was all about the Big Ten. I knew all about Ohio Stadium and the Big House but nothing about Commonwealth Stadium and barely anything about the SEC in general.

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

• As a player there were so many good ones. The most memorable is a tie between beating #1 LSU in three overtimes in 2007 and beating South Carolina in 2010. Taking down a #1 team at home is always something special you will take with you, and considering LSU won the National Championship that year, it made it that much sweeter. The South Carolina game was not only a hard fought game but a redemption game for myself from the year previous where I went down with a knee injury that sidelined me for the season. Although, the battle during that game, coming from behind, converting on fourth down to go ahead with minutes ago, and then ending the game on an interception and taking a knee was just an unbelievable feeling.

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

• My first unforgettable play at Commonwealth Stadium was in 2007 when Andre’ Woodson threw a ball down the sideline to Stevie Johnson against Louisville with seconds remaining to go ahead and eventually win the game for us. The most unforgettable play that I was personally a part of was 2010 against South Carolina on a fourth down late in the game when I tossed a corner right to Randall Cobb in the end zone for the go-ahead score and eventual win.

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

• Nothing. Everything that happened at Commonwealth Stadium was a blessing and an incredible opportunity that I do not want to forget. Between the wins and losses I was one of the few student-athletes to cleat up and play on Saturdays at Commonwealth Stadium and I am forever grateful. Regardless of the end result each game molded me as a football player and until this day you always want one more game to play at your home stadium.

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

•  I have to say my first ever visit at Commonwealth Stadium was something you do not forget. As a young high school kid, in his letterman’s jacket standing on the field, I really did not know what to expect. It was a different kind of glow from the lights on the grass that I was not used to. The game wasn’t all that exciting but the Kentucky Blue registered with me in a strange way. Also I would comment on when we finally beat Tennessee in 2011, but I was watching it on a gamecast and could not actually watch it!  I was disappointed but proud to know the streak was finally over.

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

• Compared to those other stadiums, never! haha Commonwealth Stadium has a passionate crowd, no doubt about it, but it was hard to think of a time when it was overly loud compared to other SEC stadiums that felt like the field was moving! The most memorable sight I’ve ever seen in Commonwealth Stadium was the goal posts coming down after we beat Georgia in 2006.

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

• The Cat Walk is something I will always cherish. To see where the line started in 2006 and where I last walked in 2010 was phenomenal, it just kept backing up. I will always remember the truly loyal fans that called out my name as a high school recruit and clapped for me when I finished my last home game. It is difficult sometimes to handle the spotlight and try to be mature about the whole situation at the same time. Sometimes I faltered and sometimes great things came about, but at the end of the day I knew who the great fans of Commonwealth Stadium were. They were sitting there in Blue and White, in rain or shine, in win or loss, knowing that they cared about this team and program and they cared about you.

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

• Commonwealth Stadium continued to give me memories throughout my entire tenure at UK. From the first fan day to times that I make it back to Lexington to catch games. I could probably talk all day, year-to-year about fun moments and just reminisce. I probably could write a short novel. Lol

What was your favorite play at Commonwealth Stadium?

• My first touchdown against Kent State in 2007, my freshman year.

What was your favorite game at Commonwealth Stadium?

• Upsetting #1 LSU in 2007, because I was once again player of the game.

What game at Commonwealth Stadium would you most want to delete from your memory bank?

• Auburn in 2010 because that was the injury that changed my life.

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

• It was the greatest atmosphere when I was there. The screaming fans, acting crazy and drunk. Just the way you like them.