1982 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 1982 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first season under head coach Jerry Claiborne, the Wildcats compiled a 0–10–1 record (0–6 against SEC opponents), finished in last place in the SEC, and were outscored by their opponents, 287 to 96.^[1][2] The team played its home games in Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.

1982 Kentucky Wildcats football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	0–10–1 (0–6 SEC)
Head coach	Jerry Claiborne (1st season)
Home stadium	Commonwealth Stadium
Seasons ← 1981 1983 →

1982 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 4 Georgia $	6	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
No. 11 LSU	4	–	1	–	1			8	–	3	–	1
No. 14 Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Vanderbilt	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Tennessee	3	–	2	–	1			6	–	5	–	1
Alabama	3	–	3	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Florida	3	–	3	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Mississippi State	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	0	–	6	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Kentucky	0	–	6	–	0			0	–	10	–	1
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included Randy Jenkins with 933 passing yards, George Adams with 720 rushing yards, and Robert Mangas with 293 receiving yards.^[3]

Jerry Claiborne had been the head football coach at Virginia Tech from 1961 to 1970 and Maryland from 1972 to 1981. He had played college football at Kentucky under Bear Bryant from 1946 to 1949. He was hired as Kentucky's head football coach in December 1981.^[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	at Kansas State*	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS	L 9–23	29,400	[5]
September 18	Oklahoma*	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	L 8–29	57,369	[6]
September 25	Kansas*	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	T 13–13	55,320	[7]
October 2	at Clemson*	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	L 6–24	63,115	[8]
October 9	at Auburn	Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	L 3–18	53,000	[9]
October 16	No. 16 LSU	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	L 10–34	55,107	[10]
October 23	No. 3 Georgia	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	L 14–27	56,697	[11]
October 30	at Virginia Tech*	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	L 3–29	35,700	[12]
November 6	Vanderbilt	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry)	L 10–23	56,123	[13]
November 13	Florida	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry)	L 13–39	53,245	[14]
November 20	at Tennessee	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)	L 7–28	93,689	[15]
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "1982 Kentucky Wildcats Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
2. "Kentucky Football Media Guide". University of Kentucky. 2015. p. 184. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
3. "1982 Kentucky Wildcats Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
4. Billy Reed (December 17, 1971). "UK coach will have home-field advantage". The Courier-Journal. p. 1.
5. "K-State uses field goals, Kentucky fumbles prove costly". The Kansas City Star. September 12, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Sooners rise to the pressure, 29–8". The Daily Oklahoman. September 19, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Kansas scores late for tie with 'Cats". The Manhattan Mercury. September 26, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "'Homerless' Tigers punch 'Cats 24–6". Florence Morning News. October 3, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Del Greco, Auburn play tune on 'Cats". The Dothan Eagle. October 10, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "LSU turns Kentucky turnovers into easy victory over Wildcats". Messenger-Inquirer. October 17, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Georgia rallies to beat Kentucky". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 24, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Hobbled Hokies provide bruises for Kentucky". The Paducah Sun. October 31, 1982. Retrieved January 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Young's thefts appreciated by Vandy, not Kentucky". The Paducah Sun. November 7, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Gator attack clamps down on Kentucky". Sunday Courier & Press. November 14, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Peach-bound Vols whip UK". Kingsport Times-News. November 21, 1982. Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.