By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
Kentucky’s postseason destination was reveled Sunday and the Wildcats will take on Atlantic Coast Conference member Georgia Tech in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl at 11 a.m. on Dec. 31 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Kentucky is 7-11-1 against the Yellowjackets and the two schools haven’t played since 1960. The Wildcats finished 7-5 during the regular season, winning seven of their last 10 games of the year, including a 41-38 upset of Louisville on Thanksgiving weekend.
“We’re extremely excited and proud for our team, our university and our fans, to be invited to the TaxSlayer Bowl,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “It’s a bowl with a rich tradition and we’re honored to become part of it. We’re also excited about the opportunity to play Georgia Tech, an outstanding team that will be a great challenge.”
“Accepting a bid to the TaxSlayer Bowl is a well-deserved reward for a team and coaching staff that showed remarkable resilience this season,” UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart added. “We are building a program and playing in a bowl this prominent is an important step in that process. We look forward to our time in a great city and being joined there by a large contingent of the Big Blue Nation.”
Georgia Tech finished the season with an 8-4 mark and defeated rival Georgia 28-27 in the regular-season finale for both teams last weekend.
Ironically Kentucky coach Mark Stoops’ last game as defensive coordinator at Florida State was against Georgia Tech in the 2012 ACC championship game. The Seminoles defeated the Yellowjackets 21-15.
Kentucky’s bowl history
1947 — Great Lakes Bowl, Kentucky 20, Villanova 19
1950 — Orange Bowl, Santa Clara 21, Kentucky 13
1951 — Sugar Bowl, Kentucky 13, Oklahoma 7
1952 — Cotton Bowl, Kentucky 20, Texas Christian 7
1976 — Peach Bowl, Kentucky 21, North Carolina 0
1983 — Hall of Fame Classic, West Virginia 20, Kentucky 16
1984 — Hall of Fame Classic, Kentucky 20, Wisconsin 19
1993 — Peach Bowl, Clemson 14, Kentucky 13
1999 — Outback Bowl, Penn State 26, Kentucky 14
1999 — Music City Bowl, Syracuse 20, Kentucky 13
2006 — Music City Bowl, Kentucky 28, Clemson 20
2007 — Music City Bowl, Kentucky 35, Florida State 28
2009 — Liberty Bowl, Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
2009 — Music City Bowl, Clemson 21, Kentucky 13
2011 — BBVA Compass Bowl, Pitt 27, Kentucky 10
* The Wildcats are 8-7 in the postseason and have never played in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
Tickets
The UK Ticket Office is now accepting ticket requests for the TaxSlayer Bowl from both season-ticket holders and the general public. Fans should visit UKFootballTix.com for full information and requests can be submitted through your MyUK Account. Ticket requests will be filled based on availability and are not guaranteed.
Fans are encouraged to request tickets through UK Athletics, as institutional ticket purchases can impact future bowl opportunities. The priority deadline to request bowl tickets is Monday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. Seating will be allocated by K Fund priority point ranking with priority given to 2016 football season ticket holders.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter
