NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? The Kentucky football team got the week off to a good start by defeating Florida State in a pair of rib-eating contests during the official Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Team Welcome Party held Thursday night at the Wildhorse Saloon.

The lip-smackin?, rib-crackin? fun began with a four-man team competition. UK fielded a veteran lineup with senior wide receiver Steve Johnson, senior quarterback Andr? Woodson, senior offensive guard Jason Leger, and junior offensive guard Josh Winchell. Paced by Leger, who scarfed an amazing 15 ribs during the two-minute pig out, the Wildcats prevailed, 41 ribs to 31 for FSU.

Then it came time for a new competition, a one-on-one, mano-a-mano rib eater. Last year?s champ ? dubbed the ?Boss Hog? ? was Wildcat center Jorge Gonzalez, when he led all eaters in the team competition with 12 ribs in the two-minute time limit. That performance made Gonzalez the natural choice to represent the Wildcats in this year?s new one-on-one contest. Although he took down only seven ribs this time, it was enough to nip his FSU opponent, 7-6, making Gonzalez the ?Boss Hog? for the second consecutive year and giving the Wildcats a sweep of the events.

There will be a more serious competition on Monday when the Wildcats take on the Seminoles in the Music City Bowl at 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m. CST in Nashville).