Scene bigger after beating Tennessee

%C2%A0

 

University Avenue was empty when UK took a knee to beat Tennessee.

Commonwealth Stadium couldn’t be seen.

But it could be heard.

The screams were 26 years in the making but 60 minutes in the taking, erupting upward and outward. Simultaneously, people in cars on the streets chimed in with honks, a swelling of noise accompanying history being made.

Moving toward Limestone, the Tennessee fans appeared first, walking in isolated orange-clad packs. Some bore resentful, reluctant smiles, trying to console themselves with the knowledge that hey, at least it took 26 years to happen. Others were downright pissed, cussing out Derek Dooley and Tyler Bray with equal passion.

Move closer to Commonwealth, weaving through the departing traffic. Take a lap around the stadium as UK fans file out and the PA speaker announces that UK just shattered The Streak, in case nobody around knew why students were emerging from the stadium gates screaming at the skies, or why old men were dancing next to their cars, or why moms were telling their children, “aren’t you glad we decided to come today?”

The Volunteers fans did not feel the same way.

“It was more us than Kentucky,” said one Tennessee fan wearing orange pants, trying to rationalize what he witnessed. “We have such a f—ing s—ty team.”

This is true. Tennessee really was not a good team. But it was expected to be better than UK. Not on this day.

“We sucked less!” said one UK fan outside Commonwealth Stadium outside the game, arms raised and rejoicing. “We sucked less!”

Hang around the Commonwealth Stadium parking lot. Hear a man crack open a beer and say, “savor it. This is the best damn beer I’ve had in 26 years.” Watch fans recall the plays that mattered most. Listen to a man ask a woman why she kept taking picture after picture after picture of the sun setting over the corner of Commonwealth Stadium.

“Because,” the woman said, “Kentucky finally won. And I was there.”

UPDATE: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Matt Roark was under center on the final play. He was not. We apologize for the error.