It’s time to continue our series counting down Kentucky’s Best Football Victories by each decade. Last time we crowned the Cats 27-16 win over Florida <\/a>as the greatest win of the most recent decade.\u00a0<\/a>Now we’re kicking it back to Y2K when NSYNC and Britney Spears ruled the charts with Kentucky’s best football victories 2000- 2009.<\/p>\n Truth be told, the early 2000’s weren’t the greatest for the Kentucky football team. The excitement of two straight bowl games under Hal Mumme<\/a> in the late 1990’s slowly fell apart reaching rock bottom when the Cats were placed on probation in 2002.<\/p>\n Rich Brooks<\/a>\u00a0led the Cats out of probation eventually turning the program around. In fact Kentucky played in four straight bowl games to end the decade, first time in school history. Overall the Cats went 47-71 during the decade and the aforementioned four bowl games. With the history lesson complete let’s start the countdown.<\/p>\n Kentucky 22- Louisville 17- September 1, 2002<\/strong><\/p>\n Heading into the 2002 season opener, few gave the Wildcats a chance for victory. After all the Cats finished 2-9 the previous season while the Cardinals went 11-2. However in a rivalry game anything can happen. Kentucky’s defense held Dave Ragone<\/a> to 193 yards passing and picked off one pass. In addition they sacked him three times.<\/p>\n Two field goals by\u00a0Taylor Begley <\/a> put the Cats up by five. From there the defense took over as a\u00a0Mike Williams<\/a> interception late in the game clinched the victory.<\/p>\n Kentucky 34- Georgia 27- November 21, 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n Trailing 20-6 at the half Kentucky rallied to beat the Bulldogs for their first win in Athens since 1977.\u00a0Randall Cobb<\/a>\u00a0ran for two scores as the Cats forced four second half turnovers.\u00a0Joe Cox<\/a>\u00a0threw for three touchdowns for Georgia however an interception by\u00a0Shane McCord<\/a>\u00a0set up Cobb\u2019s winning score.<\/p>\n This marked the first win for Kentucky in Athens since 1977. In addition it gave the Cats their fourth straight winning season for the first time since the 1950\u2019s. It’s also the last time the Wildcats beat Georgia, losing ten straight.<\/p>\n Kentucky 21- Auburn 14- October 17, 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n Rich Brooks\u2019<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Kentucky squad trailed the Tigers 14-7 at the half. Midway through the fourth-period quarterback\u00a0Will Fidler<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0scored on a two-yard run to tie the game. He had replaced\u00a0Morgan Newton<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0who had started in place of\u00a0Mike Hartline<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n With 3:17 to play\u00a0Randall Cobb<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0ran it in from four yards out to give the Cats the lead. For the game, Cobb rushed for 109 yards while\u00a0Derrick Locke<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0had 137. Kentucky\u2019s defense held on the final drive to preserve the victory.<\/p>\n Kentucky beat Auburn for the first time since 1966 and first time on the road since 1964.<\/p>\n Kentucky 21- Arkansas 20- October 18, 2008<\/strong><\/p>\n Late in the fourth quarter, Kentucky trailed the Razorbacks 20-7. However the Cats rallied for a huge come from behind victory. Quarterback\u00a0Mike Hartline<\/a>\u00a0hit\u00a0Randall Cobb<\/a>\u00a0twice for touchdowns, the last coming with 2:21 in the game to give the Cats the lead. On the ensuing drive\u00a0Marcus McClinton<\/a>\u00a0intercepted a\u00a0Casey Dick<\/a>\u00a0pass to seal the Kentucky victory.<\/p>\n The comeback gave Kentucky its first ever win over a Bobby Petrino<\/a>\u00a0coached team in five tries.<\/p>\n Kentucky 24- Georgia 20- November 4, 2006<\/strong><\/p>\n Rich Brooks\u2019 fourth Wildcat squad began the season at 2-4 and there were rumblings about his job security. However the week before the Cats beat Mississippi State on the road. The next week they hosted the defending SEC Champions.<\/p>\n Trailing 20-17\u00a0Andre Woodson<\/a> drove the Cats into scoring position and with 1:21 remaining Tony Dixon\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0three yard scamper gave Kentucky the lead. A\u00a0Trevard Lindley<\/a>\u00a0interception of\u00a0Matthew Stafford<\/a>\u00a0sealed the victory breaking a nine game losing streak to Georgia.<\/p>\n The victory marked the \u201csignature win\u201d for Brooks setting one of the most successful periods of Kentucky football into motion. For the first time in school history the Wildcats went to four straight bowl games winning three.<\/p>\n We’re halfway through our look at Kentucky’s Best Football Victories 2000- 2009. Kicking off the second five is a huge bowl victory.<\/p>\n Kentucky 35- Florida State 28- Music City Bowl- December 31, 2007<\/strong><\/p>\n For a second straight season the Cats were selected to play in the Music City Bowl. Once again they faced another ACC squad. Behind Woodson, the game\u2019s MVP, Kentucky raced out to a 28-14 lead after three quarters.<\/p>\n Despite being without 34 players due to injuries and suspensions the Seminoles rallied in the fourth period. FSU cut it to seven on a pass from Drew Weatherford<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0Greg Carr<\/a>. Kentucky appeared to have the game won when\u00a0Micah Johnson<\/a>\u00a0intercepted a pass. However he fumbled on the return giving the ball right back. Luckily for Cat fans a last second pass fell incomplete.<\/p>\n Woodson finished the game with 358 yards and four touchdowns, while\u00a0Rafael Little<\/a>\u00a0ran for 152 yards. In addition his 40 touchdowns broke\u00a0Tim Couch<\/a>\u2018s single season record of 37.<\/p>\n It was the first time since the 1950\u2019s Kentucky won consecutive bowl games. Furthermore it marked the first time in history\u00a0Bobby Bowden<\/a> lost a December bowl game.<\/p>\n Kentucky 25- East Carolina 19- Liberty Bowl- January 2, 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n Following the 2008 season Kentucky was selected to play in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Rich Brooks\u2019 club trailed 16-3 at the half before rallying. David Jones<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0took the second half kick off 99 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to seven. A pass from\u00a0Mike Hartline<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0Kyrus Lanxter<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0tied the game at 16.<\/p>\n After an exchange of field goals tied the game at 19 the Kentucky defense took over. With three minutes remaining\u00a0Myron Pryor<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0forced a fumble,\u00a0Ventrell Jenkins<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0scooped it up and ran 66 yards for the score and win.<\/p>\n The win over East Carolina gave Kentucky its third straight bowl victory for the only time in history.<\/p>\n Kentucky 28- Clemson 20- Music City Bowl- December 29, 2006<\/strong><\/p>\n It had been seven years since the Wildcats played in a bowl game. Andre Woodson<\/strong>\u00a0led the Kentucky attack throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns. However, it was the much-maligned Wildcat defense who helped win the game. The nations\u2019 second-worst defense forced four turnovers and held the potent Tiger offense at bay until the games\u2019 final few minutes.<\/p>\n In front of a record crowd in Nashville Kentucky won their first bowl game since 1984. It would be the first of four straight postseason appearances under Brooks.<\/p>\n We’re almost done with our look at Kentucky’s Best Football Victories 2000-2009. Time to wrap it up with two of the best wins in school history, and they happened within a month of each other.<\/p>\n Kentucky 40- Louisville 34- September 15, 2007<\/strong><\/p>\n About the game-\u00a0<\/strong>The two rivals traded the lead back and forth over the course of the game. With 1:45 left\u00a0Anthony Allen<\/a>\u2018s two yard touchdown run gave the Cardinals a 34-33 lead.<\/p>\n Andre Woodson<\/a> drove the Cats down the field for a potential winning score. However a 15 yard personal foul moved the ball back to the Kentucky 43. Woodson threw a perfect pass to Stevie Johnson<\/a>\u00a0who had gotten behind the secondary for the win.<\/p>\n As a result of the win Kentucky broke a three game losing streak in the \u201cBattle for the Governor\u2019s Cup.\u201d In addition it was the school\u2019s first win over a Top 10 team since 1977. It\u2019s also the greatest game in the Kentucky versus Louisville football rivalry.<\/a><\/p>\n Kentucky 43- LSU 37 (3OT’s)- October 13, 2007<\/strong><\/p>\n About the game-\u00a0<\/strong>Trailing 27-14 late in the third quarter to the number one Tigers\u00a0Andre Woodson<\/a>\u00a0rallied the Cats to send the game into overtime tied at 27.<\/p>\n Both squads scored touchdowns in the first overtime and field goals in the second. In the third overtime Woodson found\u00a0Stevie Johnson<\/a>\u00a0for a touchdown putting the Cats up 43-37. They missed the try for two however it wouldn\u2019t matter. On a fourth and two linebacker\u00a0Braxton Kelley<\/a>\u00a0stopped\u00a0Charles Scott<\/a>\u00a0short and the celebration was on.<\/p>\nA Decade Of Highs And Lows<\/h4>\n
A Big Upset- Number 10<\/h4>\n
Last Win In Athens- Number 9<\/h4>\n
Not Since The 1960’s- Number 8<\/h4>\n
An Improbable Victory- Number 7<\/h4>\n
First Signature Win- Number 6<\/h4>\n
Back To Back Wins Over The ACC- Number 5<\/h4>\n
Come From Behind Victory- Number 4<\/h4>\n
First Time In 12 Years- Number 3<\/h4>\n
Stevie Got Loose- Number 2<\/h4>\n
The Biggest Win In School History- Number 1<\/h4>\n