1974 Kentucky Wildcats football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1974
| team = Kentucky Wildcats
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southeastern Conference
| short_conf = SEC
| record = 6–5
| conf_record = 3–3
| head_coach = Fran Curci
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach = Jon Mirilovich
| oc_year = 2nd
| def_coach = Bill Narduzzi
| dc_year = 2nd
| captain =
| stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
}}
{{1974 Southeastern Conference football standings}}
The 1974 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The Wildcats scored 248 points while allowing 194 points, finishing 6–5 overall and 3–3 in the SEC.{{cite web|title=1974 Kentucky Wildcats game by game results |url=http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1974 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006084341/http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm |archive-date=2009-10-06 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-09-25 }}1997 Kentucky Football Media Guide, p.208
Mike Fanuzzi and Tom Ehlers were chosen as team captains.
Kentucky opened with a 38–7 win at Virginia Tech, followed by a 16–3 road loss at West Virginia. A 28–22 home win against Indiana was next, then a 14–10 loss to Miami (Ohio).
Kentucky lost its SEC opener on the road at Auburn, 31–13, but followed with a 20–13 home win against LSU, the Wildcats' first victory vs. the Bayou Bengals since 1960. A 24–20 home loss to Georgia was followed by a 30–7 win at Tulane. Kentucky then won two conference games at home, 38–12 against Vanderbilt and 41–24 against #9-ranked Florida (7–2). Florida already received an invitation to the Sugar Bowl, while Kentucky, at 5–4, was looking to clinch its first winning season since 1965. Florida jumped out to a 17–6 lead but Kentucky outscored the Gators 35–7 the rest of the way, causing three Florida fumbles, intercepting two passes and blocking two punts.[http://www.kentucky.com/2011/09/04/1869157/mark-story-uk-footballs-greatest.html#storylink=mirelated Story, Mark, UK football's greatest wins at Commonwealth, Lexington Herald-Leader, September 4, 2011] Kentucky closed its season with a 24–7 loss at Tennessee for a final mark of 6–5 overall and 3–3 in the SEC.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1974
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 14
| w/l = w
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Virginia Tech
| site_stadium = Lane Stadium
| site_cityst = Blacksburg, VA
| score = 38–7
| attend = 23,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90588312/fanuzzi-collins-help-uk-blitz-va-tech/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Fanuzzi, Collins help UK blitz Va. Tech 38–7|date=September 15, 1974|accessdate=January 9, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 21
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = West Virginia
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| score = 3–16
| attend = 28,200
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-west-virginia-thro/134215701/|work=Winston-Salem Journal & Sentinel|title=West Virginia throttles Kentucky 16–3|date=September 22, 1974|accessdate=October 28, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 28
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Indiana
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 28–22
| attend = 56,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-late-indiana-rally-not-en/134215771/|work=The Muncie Star|title=Late Indiana rally not enough|date=September 29, 1974|accessdate=October 28, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 5
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Miami (OH)
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 10–14
| attend = 52,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-city-daily-news-miami-of-ohio-w/134215830/|work=The Park City Daily News|title=Miami of Ohio wins 14–10, Kentucky squanders lead|date=October 6, 1974|accessdate=October 28, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 12
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Auburn
| opprank = 10
| site_stadium = Jordan–Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| score = 13–31
| attend = 52,111
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-auburn-stifles/134215898/|work=The Atlanta Journal & Constitution|title=Auburn stifles Kentucky|date=October 13, 1974|accessdate=October 28, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 19
| w/l = w
| opponent = LSU
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 20–13
| attend = 57,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-kentucky-stuns-lsu-in-2/134145091/|work=The Miami Herald|title=Kentucky stuns LSU in 20–13 squeaker|date=October 20, 1974|accessdate=October 28, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 26
| w/l = l
| opponent = Georgia
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 20–24
| attend = 54,362
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-syl-the-sacker-puny/134215981/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Syl the Sacker, puny punts doom UK 24–20|date=October 27, 1974|accessdate=October 28, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 2
| w/l = w
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Tulane
| site_stadium = Tulane Stadium
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| score = 30–7
| attend = 38,384
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87309303/collins-scamper-interceptions-help-uk/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Collins' scamper, interceptions help UK throttle Tulane|date=November 3, 1974|accessdate=January 9, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 9
| w/l = w
| opponent = Vanderbilt
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 38–12
| attend = 56,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-antonio-express-kentucky-pops-vandy/134215447/|work=The Sunday Express-News|title=Kentucky pops Vandy|date=November 10, 1974|accessdate=October 28, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 16
| w/l = w
| opponent = Florida
| opprank = 9
| gamename = rivalry
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 41–24
| attend = 45,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/panama-city-news-herald-gators-get-4124/134216041/|work=Panama City News-Herald|title=Gators get 41–24 bump|date=November 17, 1974|accessdate=October 28, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 23
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Tennessee
| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium
| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN
| score = 7–24
| gamename = rivalry
| attend = 72,828
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101378110/uks-curci-gracious-in-loss/|work=The Tennessean|title=UK's Curci gracious in loss|date=November 24, 1974|accessdate=May 8, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
{{cite web |title=College Football Reference |url=http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=184&season=1976 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214740/http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=184&season=1976 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-09-25 }}1997 Kentucky Football Media Guide, p.168
Roster
- RB Sonny Collins, Jr.
- DT Bob Winkel, Fr.
Team players in the 1975 NFL Draft
| class="wikitable" width="80%" | ||||
| align="center" style="background: blue;color:#FFFFFF;"
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | Tight end | 2 | 34 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | Tackle | 5 | 126 | Los Angeles Rams |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | Linebacker | 13 | 323 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| align="center" bgcolor="" |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kentucky Wildcats football navbox}}
Category:Kentucky Wildcats football seasons
{{collegefootball-1974-season-stub}}