First Kentucky bowl since '99 a Music City redux to face Clemson

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In taking a step forward, Kentucky has come full circle.<br> <br> The Wildcats (7-5) of the Southeastern Conference will be making their first bowl appearance since 1999 when they face Clemson (8-4) from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Dec. 29 in the Music City Bowl at LP Field.<br> <br> That is the same site of Kentucky&#39;s last bowl berth seven years ago when the Wildcats lost to Syracuse 20-13.<br> <br> Kentucky fans, as well as Clemson supporters, are excited enough that the bowl is a sellout for the first time since the inaugural Music City Bowl in 1998, when Virginia Tech defeated Alabama at Vanderbilt University&#39;s stadium.<br> <br> ``We obviously have a fan base that is also excited, as Clemson&#39;s was, by gobbling up all the tickets in a short amount of time,&#39;&#39; said Kentucky coach Rich Brooks at Friday&#39;s coaches&#39; news conference. where he appeared with the Tigers&#39; Tommy Bowden.<br> <br> Brooks said he doesn&#39;t believe the Wildcats&#39; lack of bowl experience will hurt his team&#39;s chances in the game, though he has some concern about how to handle preparations once the team arrives in Nashville.<br> <br> ``When you play in the SEC in front of 106,000 at Tennessee and 90-plus thousand at several other stadiums, the atmosphere I don&#39;t think will be something that will shake this team up,&#39;&#39; Brooks said. ``To me, the difference is the layoff between games and now coming, and instead of just spending one night before, you&#39;re down here for three or four nights and getting ready for a team that we&#39;re not familiar with.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> By contrast, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden has the Tigers in a postseason game for the seventh time in his eight years as head coach.<br> <br> He said the first time he took a team to a bowl, he followed the pattern set by his father, legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden.<br> <br> ``This is my 10th year as a head coach, and what I did in my first bowl experience was to get my father&#39;s bowl schedule and duplicate it. He&#39;s had a lot of success in bowl games,&#39;&#39; Bowden said.<br> <br> Bowden said the key to getting players through the monthlong layoff between the end of the regular season and preparing them for the bowl game is to blend fun with preparation.<br> <br> ``It should be a reward for the players,&#39;&#39; Bowden said. ``You have to make it fun, but at the same time you have to work hard. It&#39;s a fine line.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> While readying for a bowl is second nature to the Tigers, Brooks views it as a stepping stone for his program.<br> <br> ``This group has worked hard to bring pride and respect back to Kentucky football, and this is just the next step in playing in a bowl game and trying to win it,&#39;&#39; Brooks said.