The University of Kentucky has revised its 1997 football schedule, enabling the team to avoid consecutive open dates in September, and has announced tentativetimesfor home games.
The Mississippi State road game hasbeen moved from Nov. 8 to Sept. 6. That leaves the Wildcats withopen dates on Sept. 13 and Nov. 8. “I’m very pleased that wewere able to move the Mississippi State game and weappreciateState’s helpfulness in making the change,” said UK AssociateAthletics Director Larry Ivy, who is in charge of football andmen’s basketball scheduling.
In addition, tentative timesfor the 1997 home schedule have been established.Home games onOctober 4 (Alabama) and October 18 (Northeast Louisiana) arescheduledfor 7 p.m. All other home games are scheduled for 1:30p.m. Game times could change if the games are selected fornetwork television.
In recent years, UK has played nightgames in September and October and daygames in November. Thenew arrangement is in response to fan surveys and also isthe preference of new coach Hal Mumme.
“Our surveys indicatedthat a majority of fans around the state preferred theday games,which enable the fans to get home at a much earlier time,” Ivysaid. “We also asked Coach Mumme about it. He prefers daygames.”
Kentucky will continue to play October games atnight in honor of the schedule at Keeneland Race Course.
UK opponents headed for Commonwealth Stadium this year includein-state rival Louisville, defending national champion Florida,Alabama, Louisiana State, Northeast Louisiana, and Tennessee. All four of the Southeastern Conference foes won at least 10games in the 1996 season and finished 12th or higher in thefinal Associated Press poll.
“With the opponents we have comingin and the interest generated by CoachMumme and his style ofplay, it should be an exciting season in CommonwealthStadium,”said Ivy.
1997 Kentucky Football Schedule
Overall, Conf.Date Opponent Time Record in 1996Aug. 30 Louisville 1:30 EDT 5-6, 2-3 CUSA Sept. 6 at Mississippi State TBA 5-6, 3-5 SECSept. 13 openSept. 20 at Indiana TBA 3-8, 1-7 Big TenSept. 27 Florida 1:30 EDT 12-1, 8-0 SECOct. 4 Alabama 7:00 EDT 10-3, 6-2 SECOct. 11 at South Carolina TBA 6-5, 4-4 SECOct. 18 Northeast Louisiana 7:00 EDT 4-7, independentOct. 25 at Georgia TBA 5-6, 3-5Nov. 1 Louisiana State 1:30 EST 10-2, 6-2 SECNov. 8 openNov. 15 at Vanderbilt TBA 2-9, 0-8Nov. 22 Tennessee 1:30 EST 10-2, 7-1 SEC -UK – For more information on Kentucky Football: Contact UK SIDTony Neely at 606-257-3838(office) or 606-271-5976 (home).
