Presented here is a college football relic from one of the most memorable games in the storied rivalry known as the Battle for the Beer Barrel. The Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers, both charter members of the SEC, first squared off in 1893 and have played each other 112 times. From 1925 to 1997, the winning team was awarded a wooden beer barrel painted half blue and half orange. On November 20, 1948, the Wildcats led by quarterback/kicker extraordinaire George Blanda and head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant faced their arch nemesis in Knoxville, Tenn. The Vols had won twelve straight games of this annual battle since 1935, and under famed coach, General Bob Neyland, they were not about to let the streak end. In a bludgeoning defensive struggle, however, neither team was able to score a single point. The 0-0 draw obviously tied a record for fewest points ever. Needless to say, the UK locker room was in much better spirits to escape with a tie on the road against their bitter rivals who had dominated them for over a decade. Kentucky finished 5-3-2 for the ‘48 season, ahead of Tennessee in the standing for the first time in ages.
Louisville’s Courier-Journal summed it up best the next day (Nov. 21, 1948, page 61) with some classic quotes. Said Gen. Neyland, “Kentucky is a fine team that did a wonderful job of fighting all the way," he said. "It was very stubborn on defense…And those two kicks of Blanda in the last quarter, my gosh! They were the most outstanding kicks I ever have seen.” Said Coach Bryant, “It never has been my privilege to be associated with kids who fought like they did. They all were magnificent. In the face of several breaks that would have disheartened people with less character, they battled back all the way." The article added, “Blanda, walking around beaming and clutching the game football, put the whole attitude of the Wildcats in a nutshell. ‘I sure am glad to have this thing ... I sure am,’ he said. In case of a tie, the visiting captain gets the ball. Blanda and Ulinski were co-captains.”
The vintage has the Spalding logo stamped with “Official Inter-Collegiate Reg. U.S. Pat. Off and “J5-V” on one panel. The score of the game (“KENTUCKY 0 TENNESSEE 0”) and “1948 GAME BALL TO GEORGE BLANDA” are each marked on separate panels in thick black felt tip pen. The ball is still inflatable (although it lets out some air when fully pumped) and remains in excellent overall condition for its age.
Blanda was Kentucky’s starting quarterback, placekicker and punter his final two years of college (1947–1948), wearing No. 66. He completed 120 passes in 242 attempts (49.6 percent completions) for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns—considered “airing it out” back then. This game ball from that historic 0-0 tie marked the second-to-last game of Blanda’s college career before going on to a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Bears, Oilers and Raiders. It comes from his personal collection.
LOA from Blanda's widow, Betty, who was a UK cheerleader when the two met in college.