Kentucky looking to end streak against Tennessee

Posted 6:17PM on Thursday 23rd November 2006 ( 18 years ago )

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Kentucky fans rushed onto the field and tore down a goal post to celebrate beating Georgia this season for the first time in nine tries. The Wildcats' losing streak to Tennessee is more than double that. Kentucky travels to face the No. 19 Volunteers (8-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) on Saturday hoping to end a 21-game skid. Beating Tennessee would give the Wildcats (7-4, 4-3) eight wins for the first time since the same year they last won in the series 1984. In the final regular-season game of that season, Kentucky won 17-12 in Knoxville. A picture in the Wildcats' media guide under the heading ``Traditions Legends'' shows players carrying coach Jerry Claiborne on their shoulders in celebration. Kentucky finished the year 9-3 after beating Wisconsin in the Hall of Fame Bowl. ``It would definitely mean a lot. I know it means a lot to the people in this state, and it means a lot to us, too,'' Kentucky tight end Jacob Tamme said. ``We have two big rivalry games Louisville and Tennessee. They're both special games, and it's a lot of fun for us to go down there and get to play such a great team.'' The Vols have no interest in seeing another streak end. Last year they lost to Vanderbilt for the first time since 1982, but they got back at the Commodores a week ago with a 39-10 victory. The loss is helping provide some motivation this week. ``We know that just because we won the last 21 doesn't mean we're going to win this one,'' Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge said. ``Just like we'd beaten Vanderbilt the last 22 years, and they beat us last year. You never know. You have to go out there and prepare just like you do every week and just keep everything the same and know you're going to have to play good and execute for four quarters if you want to beat an SEC football team.'' Kentucky rallied to beat Georgia 24-20 in Lexington on Nov. 4 and provided coach Rich Brooks a signature win. Turnovers were key for the Wildcats. They had three of their own but Georgia had four, including a fumble recovery that started the rally. ``We have to have the formula we had against Georgia and the Ole Miss game where we took care of the football. We didn't do as good of a job during the Georgia game as we should, but we took it away more then we gave it away,'' Brooks said. The game marks a homecoming for Kentucky quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders, who resigned as Tennessee's offensive coordinator during last season. Sanders grew up in nearby Morristown and was a quarterback at Tennessee before working his way onto the coaching staff, where he stayed for 17 years. Sanders was a freshman when Kentucky last beat Tennessee. Now he's seeing the streak from the other side, and he believes this year's win over Georgia was a big boost for the Wildcats. ``I think anytime you beat a program like the University of Georgia, it's gonna give you some confidence. What you do with that confidence, I don't know. I've been confident I was gonna win every time I went to the golf course, but that doesn't always happen,'' he said. After losing to Vanderbilt a year ago, Tennessee finished its 5-6 season with a 27-8 win at Kentucky. The Vols didn't go to a bowl for the first time since 1988 while the Wildcats ended their third season under Brooks with another losing record. This season the game will decide second place in the SEC East, which Florida has already won. It would be the highest finish for Kentucky since the league split into divisions in 1992. The Wildcats placed third in 1993 behind Florida and Tennessee. The Vols won the East in 2004. Bowl destinations are on the line too. Kentucky is off to a bowl for the first time since 1999 under coach Hal Mumme. The bids are mainly depending on whether the SEC gets two teams in the BCS. On the Net: Kentucky football: www.ukathletics.com Tennessee football: www.utsports.com

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/11/100019