Kentucky Football Countdown: 97 days till Kickoff

KSR is counting down the days until football returns to Kroger Field. We cannot profile a player on each day, so this will allow us time to shed light on some of the best to wear No. 97. But first, this year’s No. 97 on the Kentucky football team.

Graham Wald — A walk-on kicker out of Lexington (Ky.) Henry Clay, Wald is entering year three with the Kentucky football program and has yet to appear in a game. The six-foot specialist was a three-year starter in high school and led the state in field goals made (9) as a junior while also averaging near 35 yards per punt. The finance major was an A student coming into college.

97 receptions — Take out Wan’Dale Robinson and Josh Ali from the passing equation, and the Kentucky offense produced just 97 other completions. Kentucky has rebuilt the passing game, and there is real promise as talent has been upgraded at wide receiver, but Kentucky has a ton to replace. Izayah Cummings and his 14 receptions are the most on the team returning in 2022.

The 1997 Wildcats

Kentucky did not reach bowl eligibility in the 1997 season, but there is a case to be made that it was one of the more enjoyable seasons in program history. After the Bill Curry era came to an end, Kentucky got creative with its next hire and immediately unlocked the talent of blue-chip quarterback Tim Couch.

Hal Mumme and offensive coordinator Mike Leach brought their Air Raid offense to the SEC from Valdosta State and it made an immediate impact. Couch would toss for 3,884 yards and 37 touchdowns as the Wildcats opened the season with monster wins over Louisville and Indiana. The season would be highlighted by a win over Alabama and would set the table for a breakthrough season in 1998.