Bowl Attendance Figures Released; Kentucky Fans Still Hold Music City Bowl Attendance Record: It has been more than four years since Kentucky played in the Music City Bowl, but the impact the Wildcat fans made that day is still well-known in Nashville.
Official bowl attendance figures for the 2003-04 bowl season have been released. The Auburn-Minnesota matchup in the 2003 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl drew 55,109 fans, a 41 percent increase over the previous year, but still short of the record that UK fans continue to hold.
A total of 59,221 fans were in the Coliseum for Kentucky vs. Syracuse on Dec. 29, 1999, setting an attendance record for that bowl which remains unsurpassed. And, it was almost completely a crowd comprised of Kentucky backers. As UK fans remember, there was only a smattering of Syracuse orange in a stadium full of Kentucky blue.
One season prior, a huge contingent of Wildcat faithful helped the Outback Bowl achieve the first sellout in its history as 66,005 packed Tampa?s Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 1, 1999, when Kentucky played Penn State.
Four SEC Teams Have Juniors Declare for NFL Draft: Four Southeastern Conference teams, including two of Kentucky?s opponents for next season (Alabama and Georgia), had juniors who have given up their final season of eligibility and declared for the 2004 National Football League Draft. The departed SEC players include:
Alabama: DT Ahmad Childress, LB Brooks Daniels, DE Antwan Odom, OG Justin Smiley
Arkansas: OT Shawn Andrews, CB Ahmad Carroll, TE Jason Peters, FB Mark Pierce
Georgia: DE Robert Geathers, S Sean Jones
Louisiana State: WR Michael Clayton, DE Marquise Hill, QB Matt Mauck
Brooks Call-In Show to be Held April 20: Coach Rich Brooks will have his spring practice radio call-in show on Tues. Apr. 20 from 7-9 p.m. at Damon?s Restaurant in Lexington. The show is produced by Host Communications and UK play-by-play announcer Tom Leach will serve as host. Brooks will give his observations on the team?s progress during the spring as the Wildcats prepare for the Blue/White Game.
Abney, Lorenzen, Burress Featured in Draft Diaries: Former Wildcats Derek Abney, Jared Lorenzen, and Leonard Burress are writing diaries for various entities as they prepare for the 2004 NFL Draft in April.
Abney?s diary is featured on . Lorenzen?s diary is in the Lexington Herald-Leader. Burress? diary is at website .
Kentucky Football Calendar:
Wed. Mar. 31 – First spring practice, 3:40 p.m. at Nutter Training Center
Tue. Apr. 20 – Rich Brooks Call-in Radio Show, 7-9 p.m., from Damon?s Restaurant in Lexington
Sat. Apr. 24 – Blue/White Spring Football Game, 1 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium
