1984 Kentucky Wildcats football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1984
| team = Kentucky Wildcats
| sport = football
| image = Kentucky Wildcats logo (1984-2005).png
| image_size = 100
| conference = Southeastern Conference
| short_conf = SEC
| CoachRank = 19
| APRank = 19
| record = 9–3
| conf_record = 3–3
| head_coach = Jerry Claiborne
| hc_year = 4th
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme = I formation
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme = Wide-Tackle Six
| captain =
| stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| bowl = Hall of Fame Classic
| bowl_result = W 20–19 vs. Wisconsin
}}
{{1984 Southeastern Conference football standings}}
The 1984 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 293 points while allowing 221 points.{{cite web|title=1984 Kentucky Wildcats results |url=http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1984 |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=2009-10-03 }} Kentucky won the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl.
Kentucky opened with a 42–0 win over Kent State, followed by a 48–14 win at Indiana. A 30–26 win at Tulane was followed by a 27–14 win over Rutgers, which put Kentucky into the AP poll at #19. The Wildcats then won their conference opener at Mississippi State, 17–13, to improve to 5–0 for the first time since 1950. Kentucky was then ranked #16 in the AP poll.{{cite web|title=1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores |url=http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1984 |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=2009-10-03 }}1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.209{{cite web |title=Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive |url=http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/teams/by_season.cfm?teamid=58&seasonid=1984 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328120635/http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/teams/by_season.cfm?teamid=58&seasonid=1984 |archive-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-10-03 }}
Kentucky then dropped two conference games against ranked opponents, to #10 LSU 36–10 and to #13 Georgia 37–7. The Wildcats clinched a winning season with a 31–7 win against North Texas and then defeated Vanderbilt 27–18. A 25–17 loss to #5 Florida followed. Kentucky then closed out the regular season with a 17–12 victory at Tennessee.{{cite web|title=1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores |url=http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1984 |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=2009-10-03 }}1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209{{cite web |title=Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive |url=http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/teams/by_season.cfm?teamid=58&seasonid=1984 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328120635/http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/teams/by_season.cfm?teamid=58&seasonid=1984 |archive-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-10-03 }}
Kentucky closed its season with a 20–19 victory over #19 Wisconsin in the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl. As a result, Kentucky finished the season ranked #19 in the final AP poll, with a record of 9–3.{{cite web|title=1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores |url=http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm#1984 |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=2009-10-03 }}1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209{{cite web |title=Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive |url=http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/teams/by_season.cfm?teamid=58&seasonid=1984 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328120635/http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/teams/by_season.cfm?teamid=58&seasonid=1984 |archive-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-10-03 }}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1984
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 8
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Kent State
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 42–0
| attend = 56,402
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-kentucky-runs-w/134609274/|work=The Akron Beacon Journal|title=Kentucky runs wild over Kent State 42–0|date=September 9, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 15
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Indiana
| gamename = rivalry
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN
| score = 48–14
| attend = 44,389
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-mail-hoosiers-fall-to-kentucky/134609415/|work=Sunday Herald-Times|title=Hoosiers fall to Kentucky|date=September 16, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Tulane
| site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| score = 30–26
| attend = 16,505
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87470393/uk-wildcats-narrowly-defeat-tulane-to-ke/|work=The Park City Daily News|title= UK Wildcats narrowly defeat Tulane to keep spotless record|date=September 23, 1984|accessdate=October 20, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 6
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Rutgers
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 27–14
| attend = 58,010
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-unbeate/134609569/|work=The Sunday Home News|title=Unbeaten 'Cats claw RU, 27–14|date=October 7, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 13
| w/l = w
| rank = 19
| opponent = Mississippi State
| site_stadium = Scott Field
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| score = 17–13
| attend = 30,395
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-cats-remain-unbeaten/134606891/|work=Victoria Advocate|title='Cats remain unbeaten|date=October 14, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 20
| w/l = l
| rank = 16
| opponent = LSU
| opprank = 10
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| tv = ABC
| score = 10–36
| attend = 57,252
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-hillard-gang/134609748/|work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|title=Hillard gang decks Kentucky|date=October 21, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 27
| w/l = l
| opponent = Georgia
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 7–37
| attend = 56,032
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-peaches-and-creamed/134609856/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Peaches and creamed: Georgia whips UK 37–7|date=October 28, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 3
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = North Texas State
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 31–7
| attend = 54,328
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88030788/uk-routs-outmanned-north-texas/|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|title=UK routs outmanned North Texas|date=November 4, 1984|accessdate=October 30, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 10
| w/l = w
| opponent = Vanderbilt
| gamename = rivalry
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 27–18
| attend = 53,112
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-kentucky-gators-next-f/134609036/|work=St. Petersburg Times|title=Kentucky, Gators' next foe, defeats Vanderbilt 27–18|date=November 11, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 17
| w/l = l
| opponent = Florida
| opprank = 5
| gamename = rivalry
| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| score = 17–25
| attend = 52,823
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-gators-get-the-glory/134610063/|work=The Messenger-Inquirer|title=Gators get the glory|date=November 18, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 24
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Tennessee
| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium
| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 17–12
| attend = 93,791
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110777255/cats-bowl-bound-after-hanging-on-to-tip/|work=Messenger-Inquirer|title=Cats bowl bound after hanging on to tip Volunteers|date=November 25, 1984|accessdate=October 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 29
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| opponent = Wisconsin
| opprank = 19
| site_stadium = Legion Field
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename = Hall of Fame Classic
| score = 20–19
| attend = 47,300
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-miscue-dooms-uw-in-fa/134610196/|work=The Post-Crescent|title=Miscue dooms UW in 'Fame' Bowl|date=December 30, 1984|accessdate=November 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
Team players in the 1985 NFL Draft
| class="wikitable" width="80%" | ||||
| align="center" style="background: blue;color:#FFFFFF;"
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | Running back | 1 | 19 | New York Giants |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| Cam Jacobs | Linebacker | 5 | 136 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| Oliver White | Tight end | 10 | 268 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| Jeff Smith | Defensive tackle | 11 | 291 | San Diego Chargers |
| align="center" bgcolor="" |
{{cite web|title=1984 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1984.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527000715/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1984.htm |archive-date=2009-05-27 |url-status=live |access-date=2009-10-03 }}1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.166
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kentucky Wildcats football navbox}}
Category:Kentucky Wildcats football seasons
Category:All-American Bowl champion seasons
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