UK THANKSGIVING, 1929

In 1929 UK President Frank McVey declared November 28 "a day of thanksgiving."  He noted that, "As members of the University we are thankful for health, for opportunities to work, study and play. We are glad we are citizens of this great Republic and reside in Kentucky."

Like other football rivalries across the country, the UK - Tennessee football game was played on Thanksgiving making it an even more special game for players and fans alike.  Looking ahead to the upcoming football game McVey added that, "It is enough to make us celebrate the day with grateful hearts and to carry in our minds the hope and expectation of a fine victory over Tennessee on Thursday."  But the UK president warned that the celebration must not include alcoholic beverages, especially since prohibition was the law of the land."  He asked that "good sportsmanship and good behavior should be the order of the day."

But just in case the president's request was not sufficient, McVey let the students know that ""The University has asked the federal prohibition department to send a large force of agents to see that the law is obeyed" and "persons violating the law will be arrested by prohibition agents."

The game, witnessed by 20,000 fans in an almost blinding snowstorm, ended in a 6-6 tie and no reports of arrests were mentioned.  But like so many Kentucky-Tennessee football games before and since, Kentucky sportswriters and fans tried to make the best of another disappointment.

A Tennessee sportswriter reported that, "It was a heart-breaking scene for the loyal supporters of the courageous Kentucky eleven. With victory in their grasp ]Tennessee players] Bobbie Dowd and Buddy Hackman changed things so quickly that even now they are trying to figure out just how it all happened."

"...Let's pay tribute to a great Kentucky eleven. They deserved to win the football game today. From the start of the game they had outgained and outplayed Tennessee. But, folks, they didn't outfight the Volunteers. Every single Tennessee man left the field wearing the red badge of courage."  But even though Tennessee had won 28 of their last 29 games, "it will be a long, long time before the narrow escape will be forgotten."  And so it goes....

Kentucky Kernel, November 27 and December 6, 1929