1977 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1977 Kentucky Wildcats football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
AP	No. 6
1977 record	10–1 (6–0 SEC)
Head coach	Fran Curci (5th season)
Home stadium	Commonwealth Stadium
Seasons

1977 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#2/2 Alabama †	7	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
#6/NR Kentucky	6	–	0	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
LSU	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Florida	3	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	1
Georgia	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Mississippi State	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	2	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Tennessee	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Vanderbilt	0	–	6	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
† – Conference champion Kentucky ineligible for SEC championship due to NCAA probation. Mississippi State later forfeited all 1977 wins due to NCAA violations. Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1977 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The Wildcats scored 252 points while allowing 111 points. The Wildcats finished conference play undefeated but due to NCAA probation were not eligible for a share of the SEC championship or for postseason play. The Wildcats finished the season ranked #6 in the final AP Poll.

Regular season

In the Border Battle, Kentucky beat Tennessee by a score of 21–17. Entering that game, Kentucky had seven injured starters unable to play, including quarterback Derrick Ramsey, whose arm was injured so badly he could not throw the football. Tennessee jumped out to a 17–14 lead when backup quarterback Mike Deaton completed a 36-yard pass to Felix Wilson; the injured Ramsey then entered the game and led Kentucky to a touchdown. Tennessee's offense then took the ball to Kentucky's 22-yard line but Tennessee quarterback Jimmy Streater fumbled due to a hit by Kentucky All-American defensive end Art Still, and linebacker Kelly Kirchbaum recovered the ball to preserve the win.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 10	North Carolina*		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	W 10–7
September 17	at Baylor*		Baylor Stadium Waco, TX	L 6–21	30,000
September 24	West Virginia*	No. 17	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	W 28–13
October 1	at No. 4 Penn State*	No. 16	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	W 24–20	62,196
October 8	Mississippi State	No. 12	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	W 23–7
October 15	at No. 16 LSU	No. 8	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	W 33–13
October 22	at Georgia	No. 7	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	W 33–0	59,100
October 29	Virginia Tech*	No. 7	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	W 32–0
November 5	at Vanderbilt	No. 7	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	W 28–6	26,572
November 12	at Florida	No. 7	Florida Field Gainesville, FL	W 14–7	50,243
November 19	Tennessee	No. 7	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (Battle for the Barrel)	W 21–17	57,914
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

• PK Joe Bryant
• QB Mike Deaton
• QB Derrick Ramsey
• DE Art Still
• Dave Trosper (offense)
• Freddie Williams (offense)
• Felix Wilson (offense)

Game summaries

Penn State

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total • Kentucky 7 7 10 0 24 Penn St 10 10 0 0 20 Date: October 1 Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA Scoring summary 1 PSU Bahr 20 yard field goal PSU 3-0 1 PSU Cefalo 75 yard punt return (Bahr kick) PSU 10-0 1 KEN Owens 23 yard interception return (Bryant kick) PSU 10-7 2 KEN Servino 1 yard run (Bryant kick) KEN 14-10 2 PSU Guman 29 yard pass from Fusina (Bahr kick) PSU 17-14 2 PSU Bahr 25 yard field goal PSU 20-14 3 KEN Bryant 30 yard field goal PSU 20-17 3 KEN Ramsey 1 yard run (Bryant kick) KEN 24-20

Georgia

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total • Kentucky 0 10 10 13 33 Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 Date: October 22 Location: Sanford Stadium Game attendance: 59,100

Scoring summary Q2 KY Bryant 51 yard field goal KY 3–0 Q2 KY Williams 1 yard pass from Ramsey (Bryant kick) KY 10–0 Q3 KY Tropser 17 yard pass from Ramsey (Bryant kick) KY 17–0 Q3 KY Bryant 51 yard field goal KY 20–0 Q4 KY Wilson 12 yard pass from Ramsey (Bryant kick) KY 27–0 Q4 KY Nord 10 yard pass from Deaton (kick failed) KY 33–0

• Prince Charles in attendance

Team players in the NFL

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL Club
Art Still	Defensive End	1	2	Kansas City Chiefs
Derrick Ramsey	Quarterback	5	136	Oakland Raiders
Mike Martin	Tackle	9	244	Chicago Bears
Will Grant	Center	10	255	Buffalo Bills
Dallas Owens	Defensive Back	10	275	Baltimore Colts
Jerry Blanton	Linebacker	11	282	Buffalo Bills

Awards and honors

• Art Still, All-America honors