1983 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl
Encyclopedia
1983 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl was the sixth installment of the Hall of Fame Bowl
. The game featured the Kentucky Wildcats
of the Southeastern Conference
and the West Virginia Mountaineers
, then an independent. West Virginia was 8-3 entering the game and was ranked #18 in the AP poll at the time of the game; December 5, 1983 AP poll at AP Poll Archive.com] the Mountaineers had been ranked as high as #4 in the AP poll during the season. Kentucky was 6-4-1, 2-4 in the SEC. West Virginia was favored by 10 points over Kentucky.
West Virginia took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Paul Woodside kicked a 39 yard field goal. In the second quarter Kentucky capped an 8 play, 54 yard drive with a touchdown. On third down with three yards to go Kentucky's Tony Mayes swept right and threw back to quarterback Randy Jenkins in the left corner of the endzone for the score. John Hutcherson hit the point after for a 7-3 Kentucky lead. Jenkins guided another drive in the second quarter with a 19 yard pass completion to Joker Phillips
and a 14 yard completion to George Adams
that set up Hutcherson for a 32 yard field goal with 0:38 left in the period. The halftime score was Kentucky 10, West Virginia 3.
At the start of the second half Woodside recovered his own onside kick to give West Virginia possession at the Kentucky 48. Jeff Hostetler
took wight plays before finding Rich Hollins for a 16 yard touchdown pass. Woodside's point after tied the game at 10-10 with 11:10 left in the third quarter.
West Virginia had two quick scores within two minutes of each other early in the fourth quarter. An 81 yard drive over 10 plays ended with Hostetler completing a 2 yard touchdown pass to Rob Bennett; the extra point gave West Virginia a 17-10 lead. Two plays later Jenkins threw an interception that gave the Mountaineers the ball at the Kentucky 16 yard line. Woodside hit a 23 yard field goal to give West Virginia a 20-10 lead with 9:18 left in the game.
Freshman quarterback Bill Ransdell replaced Jenkins and led Kentucky 92 yards in 11 plays, connecting with Joker Phillips
on a 13 yard touchdown pass. The point after was unsuccessful, and with 5:50 left in the game West Virginia led 20-16; that was also the final score as Kentucky's final possession did not advance past the Kentucky 37.
In the final AP poll for the season West Virginia, finishing 9-3, was ranked #16.
Kentucky, a 10 point underdog, gained 306 yards to West Virginia's 288 (including 216 passing yards to West Virginia's 88) and had 19 first downs to West Virginia's 18.
Jeff Hostetler, who led West Virginia's 17 point second half comeback, later played for the New York Giants
, Oakland Raiders
and Washington Redskins
. George Adams, who rushed for 75 yards in the game, was Hostetler's teammate with the New York Giants and also played for the New England Patriots
. Joker Phillips
also later played for the Washington Redskins. In 2002, Phillips became the offensive coordinator at Kentucky, and was named Head Coach-in-waiting following the 2007 season. He became the Head Football Coach at Kentucky following the retirement of Rich Brooks
at the end of the 2009 season.
Kentucky returned to the same bowl the following year
, defeating #20 Wisconsin 20-19.
All-American Bowl
The All-American Bowl was an annual postseason college football bowl game played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama from 1977 to 1990. The game was known as the Hall of Fame Classic from 1977 to 1985....
. The game featured the Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
of the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
and the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
, then an independent. West Virginia was 8-3 entering the game and was ranked #18 in the AP poll at the time of the game; December 5, 1983 AP poll at AP Poll Archive.com] the Mountaineers had been ranked as high as #4 in the AP poll during the season. Kentucky was 6-4-1, 2-4 in the SEC. West Virginia was favored by 10 points over Kentucky.
West Virginia took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Paul Woodside kicked a 39 yard field goal. In the second quarter Kentucky capped an 8 play, 54 yard drive with a touchdown. On third down with three yards to go Kentucky's Tony Mayes swept right and threw back to quarterback Randy Jenkins in the left corner of the endzone for the score. John Hutcherson hit the point after for a 7-3 Kentucky lead. Jenkins guided another drive in the second quarter with a 19 yard pass completion to Joker Phillips
Joker Phillips
-External links:*...
and a 14 yard completion to George Adams
George Adams (American football)
George Wallace Adams is a former professional American football running back.Adams played college football at Kentucky and was a first round pick in the 1985 NFL Draft....
that set up Hutcherson for a 32 yard field goal with 0:38 left in the period. The halftime score was Kentucky 10, West Virginia 3.
At the start of the second half Woodside recovered his own onside kick to give West Virginia possession at the Kentucky 48. Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
took wight plays before finding Rich Hollins for a 16 yard touchdown pass. Woodside's point after tied the game at 10-10 with 11:10 left in the third quarter.
West Virginia had two quick scores within two minutes of each other early in the fourth quarter. An 81 yard drive over 10 plays ended with Hostetler completing a 2 yard touchdown pass to Rob Bennett; the extra point gave West Virginia a 17-10 lead. Two plays later Jenkins threw an interception that gave the Mountaineers the ball at the Kentucky 16 yard line. Woodside hit a 23 yard field goal to give West Virginia a 20-10 lead with 9:18 left in the game.
Freshman quarterback Bill Ransdell replaced Jenkins and led Kentucky 92 yards in 11 plays, connecting with Joker Phillips
Joker Phillips
-External links:*...
on a 13 yard touchdown pass. The point after was unsuccessful, and with 5:50 left in the game West Virginia led 20-16; that was also the final score as Kentucky's final possession did not advance past the Kentucky 37.
In the final AP poll for the season West Virginia, finishing 9-3, was ranked #16.
Kentucky, a 10 point underdog, gained 306 yards to West Virginia's 288 (including 216 passing yards to West Virginia's 88) and had 19 first downs to West Virginia's 18.
Jeff Hostetler, who led West Virginia's 17 point second half comeback, later played for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. George Adams, who rushed for 75 yards in the game, was Hostetler's teammate with the New York Giants and also played for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. Joker Phillips
Joker Phillips
-External links:*...
also later played for the Washington Redskins. In 2002, Phillips became the offensive coordinator at Kentucky, and was named Head Coach-in-waiting following the 2007 season. He became the Head Football Coach at Kentucky following the retirement of Rich Brooks
Rich Brooks
Rich Brooks is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Oregon from 1977 to 1994 and at the University of Kentucky from 2003 to 2009, compiling a career college football record of 128–154–4. Brooks was also the head coach of the...
at the end of the 2009 season.
Kentucky returned to the same bowl the following year
1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl
1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl was the seventh installment of the Hall of Fame Bowl. The game featured the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference and the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin was ranked #20 in the AP poll prior to the game...
, defeating #20 Wisconsin 20-19.