As part of its ongoing look at the greatest football players from colleges throughout the country, Last Word on Sports discusses the University of Kentucky.
Kentucky gridiron history begins on November 12th, 1881 and the school was the first in the current SEC to play football. In the first game, the then Kentucky State College defeated Kentucky University later known as Transylvania 7-1.
The school got the nickname “Wildcats” in 1909 after a 6-2 road win over Illinois when the head of the military department said “the team fought like Wildcats” and the name stuck.
The school has an all-time record of 587-599-44, winning one National Championship and two SEC titles. While the on-the-field record may not be the best, the Wildcats have had a number of outstanding players over the years.
There are seven Wildcat players or coaches who are enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame and two players in the Pro Football Hall, the question is did any of those players make my list.
A little about how the selections were made. I started with sixteen names, cut it down to eight before eventually settling on four. Here are my picks which I hope to generate some discussion.
Paul “Bear” Bryant (Coach 1946-1953)
While it can be said Bryant is more known for his years at the University of Alabama, there is no doubt he is the greatest coach in Kentucky history.
Bryant coached the Wildcats for eight seasons going 60-23-5, and 60 years later Bryant is still the all-time winningest coach. They played in four bowl games going 3-1 and won their first SEC Title in 1950.
The most famous win in Kentucky history came when they beat Oklahoma in the 1951 Sugar Bowl. The loss ended the Sooners’ 31-game winning streak and later Kentucky was awarded the National Championship.
Vito “Babe” Parili (Quarterback 1949-1951)
Parili was a two-time All-American at Kentucky and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1950 and third in 1951. Parili led the Cats to back to back New Year’s Day bowl wins and was the quarterback for the 1950 National Championship team under Bryant.
Babe finished his career at Kentucky with 4,351 passing yards which is eighth in school history and fourth in touchdowns with 50.
Parili was taken as the 4th pick in the 1952 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers and went on to play 18 years in the pros. In 1964, he set a New England record with 31 touchdown passes in a season that stood until Tom Brady broke it in 2007. Parili was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1982.
Art Still (Defensive End 1974-1977)
Still was the greatest defensive player in the history of the school. During his senior season of 1977, he was named first team All-American and had 20 tackles for loss, a record that still stands today. His last two seasons at Kentucky, he anchored a defense that held 16 of 23 opponents to 13 points or less. The Cats went 18-5 and won the 1976 SEC Title and the Peach Bowl. They would have won the 1977 SEC Championship but were ineligible due to probation.
Still was taken by Kansas City as the second pick in the 1978 draft and went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL. He was a four time Pro Bowl selection and finished his career with 72.5 sacks. He was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2015.
Tim Couch (Quarterback 1996-1998)
The pride of Leslie County, Couch was the most sought after recruit in Kentucky high school football history before signing with Bill Curry. However his freshman season was wasted as the coaching staff had Couch try to run the option rather than throw the ball.
When new coach Hal Mumme came in 1997 with his “Air Raid” offense Couch was finally able to show the his talents which he did. Over the next two seasons Couch threw for 8,435 yards and 74 touchdowns. His 4,275 yards in 1998 still stands as the most passing yards in SEC History. He finished 4th in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1998.
Couch was taken as the overall number one pick by the expansion Cleveland Browns in 1999. Despite injury problems he had a good NFL career and led the Browns to the playoffs in 2002 which is the last time the Browns made the post season.
Now let’s look at the names that just missed my final four.
Randall Cobb (All-Purpose 2008-2010)- If I could have had a 4A, Cobb would have been that player. He came to Kentucky in 2008, and in three years left as a first team All-American. Cobb had most points scored in school history by a non-kicker at 222 and most touchdowns with 35. Cobb also set a SEC record for most all-purpose yards in a season with 2,396 many of those coming from what was known as the “Wild Cobb” Formation. As if that wasn’t enough, Cobb also returned punts and kicks scoring two more touchdowns on punt returns.
He was drafted in the second round by the Green Bay Packers in 2011 and has been a star for them ever since.
George Blanda (Quaterback/Kicker 1945-1948)- Blanda led the Cats to their first ever bowl game and win in 1947 Great Lakes Bowl beating Villanova 24-14. During his college career, he threw for 1,412 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He was drafted by Chicago in 1949 and played an NFL record 26 seasons. When he retired he held the records for most touchdowns in a game (7) most extra points (943) and most points (2002). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall in 1981.
Dermontti Dawson (Offensive Line 1984-1987)- Much like Blanda, Dawson had more success in the NFL than in college. The Lexington native played under Jerry Claiborne and was a four year lettermen and second-team All-SEC his senior year. Dawson was taken in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers and after playing guard his first year moved to center after Mike Webster retired. Dawson played 12 years, was a six time All-Pro and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall in 2012.
Bob Gain (Offensive/Defensive Tackle 1947-1950)- Gain was a two-way player and started for the Wildcat teams under Bear Bryant. Gain was a two-time All-American and in 1950 became the only Kentucky player to win the Outland Trophy, the first player from the SEC to win the award. Gain went on to play in the NFL for 13 years with the Cleveland Browns. He was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1980.
Those are my picks for the Kentucky Football Mount Rushmore, thanks for checking it out.
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