Hal Mumme's first game as head coach at Kentucky saw the "Air Raid" offense clicking on all cylinders against the Wildcats' arch-rivals. A crowd of 59,186 watched with mostly giddy delight as Tim Couch carved up the Cardinals for 398 yards and four touchdowns. Four different receivers (Lance Mickelsen, Jimmy Robinson, Anthony White and Kio Sanford) caught TD passes. In the process, "The Deuce" broke Rick Norton's 32-year-old school record for most passing yards in a single game. Couch connected with Sanford on an 80-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to break the game open, and a 7-yard TD run by White sealed the deal with 6:58 remaining.

Perhaps the most hyped home game in the history of Commonwealth Stadium, "Game One" marked the first meeting between the Bluegrass State rivals since 1924. A then-record crowd of 59,162 watched Bill Curry's squad clash with Howard Schnellenberger's upstart program. The game was scoreless after one quarter, tied at 7 after two and tied at 14 after three. UK tallied the game-winner on a 4-yard run by quarterback Antonio O'Ferral with 3:18 to play. Earlier, O'Ferral had hooked up with running back Clyde Rudolph on a 64-yard touchdown pass. Moe Williams also scored a TD. Damon Hood led the Cats with a career-high 108 yards rushing on 13 carries to help give UK the first "Governors Cup" trophy. Sadly, the good vibes didn't last long. The Cats didn't win another game all season, testing the limits of the old fan mantra, "I don't care if we win another game as long as we beat (such and such)."

This 0-10-1 season was a rough ride, but it serves as a fond reminder of how fun college football scheduling used to be prior to conference expansion, longer league schedules and increased pressure on programs to win at least six games. UK was almost an honorary member of what is now the Big 12, playing Kansas State, Oklahoma and Kansas in the first three games of Jerry Claiborne's debut season. The Sooners came to town with head coach Barry Switzer and one of the most talented running backs to ever come out of the high school ranks, Marcus Dupree. The Cats kept it close through halftime, trailing just 9-0, but Oklahoma gradually pulled away with a wishbone offense that produced 365 rushing yards.

Prior to Frank Beamer turning the Hokies into a national power, they used to tangle on a somewhat regular basis with their Bluegrass State neighbors. Kentucky and Virginia Tech played 14 times between 1963 and 1987 with the Cats winning on nine occasions. One of those matchups was the first game ever at Commonwealth Stadium. Quarterback Ernie Lewis led UK to a victory that day, throwing a touchdown pass and running for two more out of Fran Curci's veer offense. A crowd of 44,865 watched the Cats that day in the stadium that replaced old Stoll Field. UK played five home games in 1973, beating Virginia Tech and No. 14 Tulane (34-7) while losing to No. 4 Alabama, North Carolina and No. 12 Tennessee.

* UK has played 283 games since opening Kroger Field in 1973. The Cats are 33-10-1 in the opener.

* The lone tie in Commonwealth Stadium opener history was a 16-16 game between UK and Rutgers in 1986.

* Other than Louisville, Central Michigan (5) is the most common home-opener opponent for the Cats.

* The Cats have never been shut out in a home opener; UK has blanked three opponents (Kent State 42-0 in 1984; Utah State 41-0 in 1987; and Kent State 35-0 in 1993).

* The most points for UK in a home opener came in 2002, a 77-17 thumping of UTEP.