1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl
Encyclopedia
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 (7-3-1 entering the game, 5-3-1 in the Big Ten) was ranked #20 in the AP poll prior to the game. Kentucky (8-3, 3-3 SEC) had been ranked as high as #16 in the AP poll during the season but was unranked entering the game. Kentucky had appeared in the same bowl game the year before, losing to #16 West Virginia
20-16. Wisconsin was favored by 3 points over Kentucky.
Wisconsin scored twice to take a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Less than four minutes into the game Todd Gregoire hit a 40 yard field goal. Michael Howard then threw a 3 yard touchdown pass to Thad McFadden and Gregoire converted the extra point with 5:34 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter Gregoire hit a 27 yard field goal with 7:05 left in the half to give Wisconsin a 13-0 lead. Then Howard threw a pass that was intercepted by Kentucky safety (and punter) Paul Calhoun. Kentucky took possession at the Wisconsin 42 and five plays later Marc Logan
took the ball in from the Wisconsin 9 for a touchdown. Joey Worley connected on the PAT with 1:29 left in the first half to make it 13-7. Wisconsin then took the ball to the Kentucky 3, with 0:02 left in the half, on four running plays, two pass plays and a 15 yard penalty against Kentucky. Gregoire then hit a 20 yard field goal. The halftime score was Wisconsin 16, Kentucky 7.
With 11:28 left in the third quarter Worley hit a 22 yard field goal for Kentucky to make it 16-10 but two minutes later Gregoire hit a 40 yard field goal to keep Wisconsin ahead 19-10. Kentucky quarterback Bill Ransdell then led an 82 yard drive in 11 plays, culminating in a Ransdell to Logan screen pass for a 27 yard touchdown. Worley connected on the point after with 0:26 left in the third quarter to make it Wisconsin 19, Kentucky 17.
Kentucky's next possession began on its own 22. Running back Mark Higgs
took handoffs on four consecutive plays, and then running back George Adams
took handoffs on four consecutive plays. in the fourth quarter Wisconsin's defense was unable to stop the two NFL-bound backs. Kentucky eventually ended up with the ball on the Wisconsin 34 on fourth down with two yards to go. Worley connected on a 52 yard field goal with 8:55 left in the game to put Kentucky ahead for the first time, 20-19. Wisconsin then drove to the Kentucky 8 with under two minutes left in the game. On fourth down and 6 yards to go Gregoire took the field for his fifth field goal attempt of the game but the snap was bobbled and Kentucky then ran out the clock for the win.
Joker Phillips
, then a Kentucky wide receiver and now Kentucky's head football coach, had 6 receptions for 55 yards in the game; Kentucky quarterback Bill Ransdell connected on 18 of 34 passes for 188 yards.
In the final AP poll for the season Wisconsin, finishing 7-4-1, dropped out from its #20 ranking; Kentucky, at 9-3, advanced to finish the season ranked #19. Kentucky also finished the season ranked #19 in the UPI Poll.
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 Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. Wisconsin (7-3-1 entering the game, 5-3-1 in the Big Ten) was ranked #20 in the AP poll prior to the game. Kentucky (8-3, 3-3 SEC) had been ranked as high as #16 in the AP poll during the season but was unranked entering the game. Kentucky had appeared in the same bowl game the year before, losing to #16 West Virginia
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
20-16. Wisconsin was favored by 3 points over Kentucky.
Wisconsin scored twice to take a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Less than four minutes into the game Todd Gregoire hit a 40 yard field goal. Michael Howard then threw a 3 yard touchdown pass to Thad McFadden and Gregoire converted the extra point with 5:34 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter Gregoire hit a 27 yard field goal with 7:05 left in the half to give Wisconsin a 13-0 lead. Then Howard threw a pass that was intercepted by Kentucky safety (and punter) Paul Calhoun. Kentucky took possession at the Wisconsin 42 and five plays later Marc Logan
Marc Logan
Marc Anthony Logan is a former American football running back. After playing for the University of Kentucky in college, he was selected in the fifth round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals...
took the ball in from the Wisconsin 9 for a touchdown. Joey Worley connected on the PAT with 1:29 left in the first half to make it 13-7. Wisconsin then took the ball to the Kentucky 3, with 0:02 left in the half, on four running plays, two pass plays and a 15 yard penalty against Kentucky. Gregoire then hit a 20 yard field goal. The halftime score was Wisconsin 16, Kentucky 7.
With 11:28 left in the third quarter Worley hit a 22 yard field goal for Kentucky to make it 16-10 but two minutes later Gregoire hit a 40 yard field goal to keep Wisconsin ahead 19-10. Kentucky quarterback Bill Ransdell then led an 82 yard drive in 11 plays, culminating in a Ransdell to Logan screen pass for a 27 yard touchdown. Worley connected on the point after with 0:26 left in the third quarter to make it Wisconsin 19, Kentucky 17.
Kentucky's next possession began on its own 22. Running back Mark Higgs
Mark Higgs
Mark Deyon Higgs is a former American football running back in the National Football League who led the Miami Dolphins in rushing from 1991-1993.-Youth and college career:...
took handoffs on four consecutive plays, and then running back 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....
took handoffs on four consecutive plays. in the fourth quarter Wisconsin's defense was unable to stop the two NFL-bound backs. Kentucky eventually ended up with the ball on the Wisconsin 34 on fourth down with two yards to go. Worley connected on a 52 yard field goal with 8:55 left in the game to put Kentucky ahead for the first time, 20-19. Wisconsin then drove to the Kentucky 8 with under two minutes left in the game. On fourth down and 6 yards to go Gregoire took the field for his fifth field goal attempt of the game but the snap was bobbled and Kentucky then ran out the clock for the win.
Joker Phillips
Joker Phillips
-External links:*...
, then a Kentucky wide receiver and now Kentucky's head football coach, had 6 receptions for 55 yards in the game; Kentucky quarterback Bill Ransdell connected on 18 of 34 passes for 188 yards.
In the final AP poll for the season Wisconsin, finishing 7-4-1, dropped out from its #20 ranking; Kentucky, at 9-3, advanced to finish the season ranked #19. Kentucky also finished the season ranked #19 in the UPI Poll.