Battle for the Beer Barrel

Battle of the Barrel

Kentucky Wildcats

Tennessee Volunteers

Sport

Football

First meeting

October 21, 1893
Kentucky 56, Tennessee 0

Latest meeting

November 12, 2016
Tennessee 49, Kentucky 36

Next meeting

October 28, 2017
at Lexington, KY

Trophy

Beer Barrel (1925–1999)

Statistics

Meetings total

112

All-time series

Tennessee 79–24–9

Largest victory

Kentucky, 56–0 (1893)

Longest win streak

Tennessee, 26 (1985–2010)

Current win streak

Tennessee, 5 (2012–present)

Kentucky and Tennessee have faced off on the gridiron since 1893, making it one of the oldest rivalries in major college football. It was close in the early years, with Kentucky holding a series lead after the first 22 match-ups. But since the early 1930s, Tennessee has dominated the cross-border rivalry.

Tennessee fans and Kentucky fans in the stands for the 2010 game.

Both schools were charter members of the Southeastern Conference when it was established in 1932. Since that season, Tennessee has a 53–14–3 record against Kentucky, including a streak of 26 straight victories from 1985 to 2010, which is one of the longest such streaks in NCAA history. The Wildcats did not win any games against the Volunteers during the 1940s, 1990s, or 2000s. The only decade of the SEC era in which UK posted a winning record against Tennessee was the 1950s, when they went 6–3–1. The series was not without disappointment even during that period for Kentucky fans, however, as the Vols dealt Bear Bryant's 1950 Wildcat squad their only defeat during their school-best 11–1 season.

The Barrel

History of the trophy

The Kentucky–Tennessee game once involved a trophy: a wooden beer barrel painted half blue and half orange which was awarded to the winner of the game every year from 1925 to 1997. The Barrel was introduced in 1925 by a group of former Kentucky students who wanted to create a material sign of their school's supremacy in the rivalry. It was rolled onto the field that year with the words "Ice Water" painted on it to avoid any outcries over an alcohol drum symbolizing a college rivalry during the Prohibition era.

While the trophy was ceremonially awarded to the game's winner each year, it took some unauthorized trips over the years. Tennessee lost to Kentucky in 1953, but several orange-clad students "keg-napped" the barrel and kept it hidden in Knoxville until UK students retaliated by "dog-napping" Smokey. The barrel theft set in motion a series of additional pranks over the next few years between students of the two schools, but the barrel was not involved.

Vanderbilt University students stole the keg from Kentucky in 1960 to rally support from cross-state UT students in an upcoming basketball game against Kentucky. The Commodores lost the game and returned the trophy months later.

End of the Barrel era

A fatal alcohol-related car crash involving two UK football players a week before the 1998 contest prompted the end of the barrel exchange. Kentucky athletic director C. M. Newton expressed the idea that the ongoing use of an alcohol container as a trophy would be inappropriate under the circumstances. The ceremony was cancelled for the 1998 game, and the two schools mutually agreed to permanently discontinue the tradition before the 1999 game.^[1]^[2]

The actual barrel was in UT's possession when the schools ended the exchange, but its current whereabouts have not been made public. It has not been displayed since 1997, and it was not transferred to Kentucky when the Wildcats broke the Volunteers' long series winning streak in 2011.^[3]

Game results

Kentucky victories	Tennessee victories	Ties and forfeits

#	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	1893	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	56–0
2	1899	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	12–0
3	1901	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	5–0
4	1906	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	21–0
5	1907	Knoxville, TN	Tie	0–0
6	1908	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	7–0
7	1909	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	17–0
8	1910	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	10–0
9	1911	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	12–0
10	1912	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	13–6
11	1913	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	13–7
12	1914	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	23–6
13	1915	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	6–0
14	1916	Knoxville, TN	Tie	0–0
15	1919	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	13–0
16	1920	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	14–7
17	1921	Lexington, KY	Tie	0–0
18	1922	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	14–7
19	1923	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	18–0
20	1924	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	27–6
21	1925	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	23–20
22	1926	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	6–0
23	1927	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	20–0
24	1928	Knoxville, TN	Tie	0–0
25	1929	Lexington, KY	Tie	6–6
26	1930	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	8–0
27	1931	Lexington, KY	Tie	6–6
28	1932	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	26–0
29	1933	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	27–0
30	1934	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	19–0
31	1935	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	27–0
32	1936	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	7–6
33	1937	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	13–0
34	1938	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	46–0
35	1939	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	19–0
36	1940	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	33–0
37	1941	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	20–7
38	1942	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	26–0
39	1944	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	26–13
40	1944	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	21–7
41	1945	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	14–0
42	1946	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	7–0
43	1947	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	13–7
44	1948	Knoxville, TN	Tie	0–0
45	1949	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	6–0
46	1950	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	7–0
47	1951	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	28–0
48	1952	Knoxville, TN	Tie	14–14
49	1953	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	27–21
50	1954	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	14–13
51	1955	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	23–0
52	1956	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	20–7
53	1957	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	20–6
54	1958	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	6–2
55	1959	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	20–0
56	1960	Knoxville, TN	Tie	10–10
57	1961	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	26–16

#	Date	Location	Winner	Score
58	1962	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	12–10
59	1963	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	19–0
60	1964	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	12–7
61	1965	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	19–3
62	1966	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	28–19
63	1967	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	17–7
64	1968	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	24–7
65	1969	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	31–26
66	1970	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	45–0
67	1971	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	21–7
68	1972	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	17–7
69	1973	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	16–14
70	1974	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	24–7
71	1975	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	17–13
72	1976	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	7–0
73	1977	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	21–17
74	1978	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	29–14
75	1979	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	20–17
76	1980	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	45–14
77	1981	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	21–10
78	1982	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	28–7
79	1983	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	10–0
80	1984	Knoxville, TN	Kentucky	17–12
81	1985	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	42–0
82	1986	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	28–9
83	1987	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	24–22
84	1988	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	28–24
85	1989	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	31–10
86	1990	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	42–28
87	1991	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	16–7
88	1992	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	34–13
89	1993	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	48–0
90	1994	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	52–0
91	1995	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	34–31
92	1996	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	56–10
93	1997	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	59–31
94	1998	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	59–21
95	1999	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	56–21
96	2000	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	59–20
97	2001	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	38–35
98	2002	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	24–0
99	2003	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	20–7
100	2004	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	37–31
101	2005	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	27–8
102	2006	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	17–12
103	2007	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	52–50^4OT
104	2008	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	28–10
105	2009	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	30–24^OT
106	2010	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	24–14
107	2011	Lexington, KY	Kentucky	10–7
108	2012	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	37–17
109	2013	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	27–14
110	2014	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	50–16
111	2015	Lexington, KY	Tennessee	52–21
112	2016	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee	49–36
Series: Tennessee leads 79–24–9

Notable games

1950: The Vols handed #3 Kentucky, coached by Bear Bryant, its only loss 7–0. Tennessee went on and defeated #2 Texas in the Cotton Bowl Classic 20–14 en route to an 11–1 record, and Kentucky defeated Oklahoma 13–7 in Sugar Bowl to win the National championship .

Tennessee vs Kentucky 2007

2007: Tennessee came to Lexington looking to clinch the SEC East and a trip to Atlanta after a strong victory over Georgia and Florida stumbling midway through the season. Kentucky cane in with one of its strongest teams in years behind star QB Andre Woodson and a huge upset over then-ranked #1 LSU now looking to end the 22-game losing streak to the Volunteers. The game becomes a fierce, nail-biting, overtime thriller as Woodson fights to end Kentucky's misery against Tennessee. In the second overtime Tennessee fails to score giving Kentucky a chance to finally end the streak, but the ensuing field goal is blocked. With the score at 44–44 an unsportsmanlike penalty on UT RB Arian Foster would force Tennessee to start the fourth overtime from the UK 40-yard line, but it would be rendered moot as QB Erik Ainge hits WR Quintin Hancock with a touchdown strike on the first play. Tennessee would make the two-point conversion. On Kentucky's ensuing possession RB Derrick Locke scores from three yards out to bring Kentucky within a two-point conversion to keep the game alive. Woodson would keep the ball himself on the try, but would be stopped from behind short of the goal line. Tennessee would move on to the SEC title game where they would lose to eventual national champions LSU.^[4]
2008: Phillip Fulmer's final game as Tennessee's head coach. Fulmer finishes his career off with his final victory over the Wildcats, 28–10, leaving Kentucky winless against Fulmer.^[5]
2009: Tennessee and Kentucky go to overtime once again after another nail-biting game ends tied at 24–24 in regulation. Kentucky relied on star receiver Randall Cobb for most of the game, however Cobb was ineffective on the Wildcats' first possession in overtime only taking one wildcat formation snap. After a three-and-out the ensuing field goal misses wide left. On the Vols' ensuing possession, RB Montario Hardesty breaks off a 20-yard run for the game-winning touchdown in Lane Kiffin's lone victory against the Wildcats.^[6]
2011: After losing 26 straight games to Tennessee the Wildcats finally notch a 10–7 victory against the Volunteers behind the play of wide receiver Matt Roark who was forced to play under center as both quarterbacks, Maxwell Smith and Morgan Newton, were out with injuries. Volunteer fans cite this loss as one of the most embarrassing in school history especially under the guidance of then head coach Derek Dooley.^[7]

References

↑
↑ Low, Chris (November 25, 2008). "Alabama looks to break six-game losing streak in Iron Bowl". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
↑ Smithey, Jesse (December 17, 2005). "Smithey: UT, Kentucky unlikely to roll out barrel". Knoxville News Sentinel. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
↑ "Tennessee holds off UK in quadruple-OT thriller". Retrieved November 24, 2007.
↑ "Vols best Kentucky to send Fulmer out a winner". Retrieved November 14, 2016.
↑ "Hardesty's 3 TDs lead Tennessee past Kentucky". Retrieved November 14, 2016.
↑ "Kentucky ends 26-game skid vs. Tennessee, which will miss bowl". Retrieved November 14, 2016.

Kentucky Wildcats football

Venues	Stoll Field/McLean Stadium (1916–1972) Commonwealth Stadium (1973–present) E.J. Nutter Training Facility (practice)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Centre Indiana Louisville (Governor's Cup) Mississippi State Tennessee Transylvania Vanderbilt

Culture & lore	The Wildcat Scratch Blue "On, On, U of K" "Kentucky Fight" Marching band 2003 Arkansas game

People	Head coaches Statistical leaders NFL draftees

Seasons	1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

National championship seasons in bold

Tennessee Volunteers football

Venues	Shields-Watkins Field (1921-1962) Neyland Stadium (1962–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama: Third Saturday in October Auburn Florida Georgia Georgia Tech Kentucky Vanderbilt

Culture & lore	History Smokey "Rocky Top" Pride of the Southland Band Battle at Bristol Hail Mary between the Hedges

People	Head coaches Starting quarterbacks NFL draftees

Seasons	1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

National championship seasons in bold

Southeastern Conference football rivalry games

Conference	Iron Bowl (Alabama–Auburn) Alabama–LSU Alabama–Mississippi State Alabama–Ole Miss Third Saturday in October (Alabama–Tennessee) Arkansas–Auburn Arkansas–LSU Battle Line Rivalry (Arkansas–Missouri) Arkansas–Ole Miss Arkansas–Texas A&M Auburn–Florida Deep South's Oldest Rivalry (Auburn–Georgia) Auburn–LSU Auburn–Tennessee Florida–Georgia Florida–LSU Florida–Tennessee Georgia–South Carolina Georgia–Tennessee Georgia–Vanderbilt Kentucky–Mississippi State Battle for the Beer Barrel (Kentucky–Tennessee) Kentucky–Vanderbilt LSU–Mississippi State Magnolia Bowl (LSU–Ole Miss) LSU–Texas A&M Egg Bowl (Mississippi State–Ole Miss) Ole Miss–Vanderbilt Tennessee–Vanderbilt

Non-conference	Alabama–Penn State Arkansas–Texas Auburn–Clemson Auburn–Georgia Tech Auburn–Tulane Battle of the Brazos (Baylor–Texas A&M) Clemson–Georgia Clemson–South Carolina Florida–Florida State Florida–Miami Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate (Georgia–Georgia Tech) Georgia Tech–Tennessee Illinois–Missouri Indiana–Kentucky Iowa State–Missouri Border War (Kansas–Missouri) Centre–Kentucky Kentucky–Louisville Battle On Broadway (Kentucky–Transylvania) Battle for the Rag (LSU–Tulane) Memphis–Ole Miss Missouri–Nebraska Missouri–Oklahoma NC State–South Carolina North Carolina–South Carolina Ole Miss–Tulane Sewanee–Vanderbilt TCU–Texas A&M Texas A&M–Texas Tech Texas–Texas A&M

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