Unbreakable? As Kentucky’s football stadium turns 50, these records will be tough to beat.
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UK’s football stadium turns 50
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of the 50th anniversary of the opening of Commonwealth Stadium, which is now known as Kroger Field.
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There has been no shortage of memorable performances in the 328 games played in the 50-year history of the facility formerly known as Commonwealth Stadium.
But which performances were truly historic?
Here is a closer look at three Kroger Field records that will be hard to beat.
Yards passing in a game
In a 34-30 loss to Georgia on Oct. 21, 2000, Jared Lorenzen completed 39 of 58 passes for a school-record 528 yards passing in just his eighth game as a Wildcat. Only four times in SEC football history has a quarterback thrown for more yards in a game. No other UK quarterback has broken the 500 yards passing plateau in a game.
Unless Kentucky returns to the “Air Raid” offense at some point in the future, it is difficult to imagine another Wildcats quarterback breaking Lorenzen’s record. Only one Kentucky quarterback has thrown for even 400 yards in a game since 2007. Not only will a future UK quarterback need to play in a pass-heavy scheme to have a chance at Lorenzen’s record, he would also need a poor defensive showing as most coaches would likely pull their starting quarterback well before he got to 528 yards in a blowout.
Combined points
One of the longest games in college football history occurred at Kroger Field on Nov. 1, 2003, when Arkansas outlasted Kentucky 71-63 in a seven-overtime thriller. Of the 134 total points scored in the game, 86 were scored in overtime.
A change to college football’s overtime format in 2022 means it will be close to impossible to break the stadium record for combined points set that day. Now, starting in the third overtime teams trade two-point conversion attempts rather than offensive possessions. Even if both teams scored touchdowns in the first two overtimes (plus the extra point in overtime one and mandatory two-point attempt in overtime two), it would take 27 rounds of successful two-point attempts for them to match the 86 overtime points from the 2003 Arkansas game.
Consecutive UK losses
The darkest period of Kroger Field’s history for UK fans came with nine consecutive home losses between Sept. 17, 1994, and Sept. 30, 1995. During that streak, the Wildcats lost home games to Indiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Northeast Louisiana, Louisville, Florida and Auburn.
Mark Stoops has elevated Kentucky’s program to a point where winning records are considered the bare minimum for a successful season, but even if the program slides back to the bottom of the SEC when Stoops leaves, the schedule no longer sets up for a long home losing streak. With at least three non-conference home games per year, Kentucky would have to dramatically change its scheduling philosophy to be at risk for such a streak. The home non-conference schedule is simply too weak otherwise. Even the abysmal 2012 and 2013 teams that went a combined 4-20 managed to win two home games each.
Other Kroger Field records of note
Most points scored: 77 (Kentucky vs. UTEP, 2002).
Most consecutive wins: Eight (Nov. 6, 1976, to Sept. 23, 1978, and Nov. 4, 2006, to Oct. 13, 2007).
Most yards rushing: 284 (Lynn Bowden vs. Louisville, 2019).
Most yards receiving: 269 (Craig Yeast vs. Vanderbilt, 1998).
Longest field goal: 54 yards (Hap Hines for Georgia vs. Kentucky, 1996).
This story was originally published September 13, 2023 at 6:30 AM.
