Getty Image
Kentucky players were amped up for their recent matchup with SEC rival Tennessee, and unfortunately, it came back to bite them. Videos are now surfacing on social media showing Wildcat players waiting outside the Vols’ tunnel in order to meet them on the field.
Those UK team members taunted UT as they ran into the stadium, but Tennessee would do the talking after the ball was spotted.
UK players at the Tennessee tunnel before kickoff. I don’t even know the right way to describe this. pic.twitter.com/4UGwUk9axm
— Mark Blankenbaker (@UofLSheriff50) November 2, 2023
The Vols took offense to the smack talk, with a few players doubling back to give the Wildcats a piece of their mind. They’d use that fuel to jump out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter in what would be a 33-27 victory.
Tennessee never trailed in the contest.
Fans were quick to comment on the on-field taunts, which obviously backfired.
“Kentucky players really stood in front of the tunnel where Tennessee was running, just to get beat again. Poverty program.”
“So funny to me that UK coaches were steering UT players to their sideline but didn’t stop their own players from trying to instigate a pregame scuffle.”
“Poke the bear, get the bite.”
“Absolute little league move. Glad it backfired on them.”
With the win, the Vols not only shut the Wildcats up, but they improved to 6-2 on the year. Kentucky, meanwhile, fell to 5-3 after the home loss and one game behind Tennessee in the SEC standings.
They’ll probably think twice before pulling a stunt like this again.