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1988 Kentucky Wildcats football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1988 record5–6 (2–5 SEC)
Head coachJerry Claiborne (7th season)
Home stadiumCommonwealth Stadium
Seasons
← 1987
1989 →
1988 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#8/7 Auburn § 6 1 0     10 2 0
#19/NR LSU § 6 1 0     8 4 0
#15/15 Georgia 5 2 0     9 3 0
#17/17 Alabama 4 3 0     9 3 0
Florida 4 3 0     7 5 0
Tennessee 3 4 0     5 6 0
Ole Miss 3 4 0     5 6 0
Kentucky 2 5 0     5 6 0
Vanderbilt 2 5 0     3 8 0
Mississippi State 0 7 0     1 10 0
§ – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches Poll

The 1988 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 217 points while allowing 208 points.[1][2] This was Jerry Claiborne's seventh season as Kentucky's head coach. The Wildcats finished 5–6, one victory shy of bowl eligibility; the highlight of the season was an upset of #11 ranked Georgia.

Season[]

Kentucky opened with a win against Central Michigan, then lost at #7 Auburn and Indiana before beating Kent State. Losses to #12 Alabama and at #19 LSU followed. Next were wins against #11 Georgia, Southern Illinois and Vanderbilt, then losses to Florida and at Tennessee.[3]

The victory over Georgia was the season's high point. Running back Alfred Rawls, a Georgia native, had 128 yards and a touchdown rushing and linebacker Randy Holleran had 13 tackles; #11 Georgia was held to 224 yards of total offense.[4]

Schedule[]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 3Central Michigan*W 18–741,736
September 10at No. 7 AuburnL 10–2060,000
September 17at Indiana*L 15–3651,077
September 24Kent State*
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 38–1447,989
October 1No. 12 Alabama
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
L 27–3153,442
October 15at No. 19 LSUL 12–1571,418
October 22No. 11 Georgia
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 16–1050,416
October 29Southern Illinois*
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 24–1050,093
November 5Vanderbilt
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 14–1344,105
November 18Florida
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
L 19–2450,191
November 19at No. 11 TennesseeL 24–2890,353
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[5][6]

Team players in the 1989 NFL Draft[]

Player Position Round Pick NFL Club
David "D. J." Johnson Defensive back 7 174 Pittsburgh Steelers
Ivy Joe Hunter Running back 7 182 Indianapolis Colts
Chris Chenault Linebacker 8 222 Cincinnati Bengals
Charlie Darrington Tight end 9 233 Washington Redskins

[7][8]

References[]

  1. "1988 Kentucky Wildcats results". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. https://www.webcitation.org/5kJByYIFZ?url=http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Kentucky.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  2. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.209
  3. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209
  4. Story, Mark, UK football's greatest wins at Commonwealth, Lexington Herald-Leader, September 4, 2011
  5. "College Football Reference". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. https://www.webcitation.org/5kJBzMXAY?url=http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=184&season=1976. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  6. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168
  7. "1989 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. https://www.webcitation.org/5kJBzy441?url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1984.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  8. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.166


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