LOOK: Kentucky fans paint 'The Rock' blue ahead of Tennessee matchup
Members of the Big Blue Nation painted ‘The Rock’ on Tennessee‘s campus Kentucky blue and left a message on its overnight ahead of Saturday’s ranked matchup between the Wildcats and Volunteers.
What seems to be seven students at UK having done the job, they left a message saying: Cats By 90 on one said, and BBN #Big Blue Rock on the other.
It’s no secret that the Tennessee and Kentucky rivalry gets personal between players, coaches and fans alike. It’s a game circled on everyones calendars from the moment each season’s schedule comes out. For these UK fans, the best way to express their hatred of the Vols was to defile the typically orange rock.
‘The Rock’ is located on Tennessee’s campus in Knoxville, and typically portrays the hottest sports program in the athletic department. Usually donning quotes from great coaches and athletes, murals, messages and anything else those in charge of decorating can think of.
That stone will be meaningless once kickoff ensues, which is set for 7 p.m. ET live on ESPN.
Will Levis explains what a win against Tennessee would mean for Kentucky
Just because the series between Kentucky and Tennessee hasn’t been close doesn’t mean the blood is any less bad between the two. This year’s border battle between the two, though, is going to be one of the series’ biggest games. The Top-20 matchup from Neyland Stadium will hold a ton of weight for both programs and within the SEC. That’s exactly why Wildcat quarterback Will Levis is so pumped for kickoff tomorrow night
Levis discussed the weight of this weekend’s game against the No. 3 Volunteers during his media availability earlier this week. The history of the series is enough to motivate him and his teammates, but he says the loss to Tennessee last year as well as the national attention the Vols are receiving has only added more chips to their shoulders ahead of Saturday.
“You can just look at the big picture and just know that the history between these two programs and their fanbases is not the most amicable. It’s big for the state, it’s big for our fans and we know that,” said Levis. “Last year them getting the best of us? Getting that win in a tough game and (us) not being able to close it out in the end? That’s another little piece of motivation. They’re undefeated. Everyone thinks that they’re unstoppable. There’s another thing to motivate us. There’s a lot of things you can point to.”
Tennessee does hold a 56-game lead in the all-time series with Kentucky. However, the Wildcats have added a few notches to their belt with two wins in their last five matchups with the Vols compared to just two wins from 1984 to 2016. It’s a matchup that might even be closer than the projections suggest and Levis says he’s ready to prove it with a great performance on a massive stage for both him and his team.
“I’m just excited to be tested. To play a really good team in a tough environment on the biggest stage. Just embrace it,” Levis said.