Battle for the Barrel

Battle for the Barrel is an American college football rivalry game played annually during the Thanksgiving Day weekend by the Tennessee Volunteers football team of the University of Tennessee and the Kentucky Wildcats football team of the University of Kentucky. The name of the rivalry refers to the fact that the two universities once played for a giant beer barrel trophy that was discontinued after the 1998 game following the death of a couple of Kentucky players in a car crash that involved alcohol. The game was originally called the "Battle for the Beer Barrel."

Series history

Tennessee and Kentucky have played each other 105 times over 111 years with Tennessee winning 73 to 24 wins by Kentucky (0.452). Tennessee has won the most games in Lexington with 35 wins to 14 by Kentucky (0.514). Tennessee also has more wins than Kentucky in Knoxville with 44 wins to 10 (0.452). Tennessee has the most wins in the series at Stoll Field with 19 wins to 11 Kentucky wins (0.789). The Series is tied at 3 a piece at Baldwin Park. Tennessee leads the series at Neyland Stadium with 34 wins to 7 Kentucky wins (0.324). Tennessee leads the series at Commonwealth Field with 17 wins to 3 Kentucky wins (0.570).

Like many college football rivalries, the Tennessee-Kentucky game had its own trophy for many years: a wooden beer barrel painted half blue and half orange. The trophy was awarded to the winner of the game every year from 1925 to 1997.The Barrel was introduced in 1925 by a group of former Kentucky students who wanted to create a material sign of supremacy for the rivalry. It was rolled onto the field that year with the words "Ice Water" painted on it to avoid any outcries over an alcohol drum symbolizing a college rivalry.

Shenanigans

The trophy was awarded to the game's winner each year, but those weren't the only times the trophy traveled the 170 miles between the two schools. Tennessee lost the game in 1953, but several orange-clad students "keg-napped" the barrel and kept it hidden in Knoxville until UK students retaliated by "dog-napping" Smokey. The barrel theft set in motion additional pranks over the next few years, but the barrel was never again involved.

Vanderbilt students stole the keg in 1960 seeking support from UT students in an upcoming basketball game with Kentucky. Commodore students returned the trophy months later without their win over the Wildcats.

The End of The Barrel

An alcohol-related car crash involving two UK football players in 1998 prompted the end of the barrel exchange. The ceremony was cancelled for the 1998 season and the two schools mutually agreed to permanently discontinue the tradition before the 1999 game.^[1]

Game results

Tennessee victories are colored ██ orange. Kentucky victories are colored ██ blue. Ties are white.

References