Rivalry games in college sports are already intense, but when there’s a trophy on the line, the stakes somehow feel even higher. Whether it’s Michigan and Minnesota battling for the Little Brown Jug or Kentucky and Louisville competing for the Governor’s Cup, trophies bring history, bragging rights, and a little extra spice to the games. So, why isn’t Kentucky and Tennessee’s Bourbon Barrel still a thing?
@AD_DannyWhite get with UK and Bring back the beer barrel. It’s been long enough. Alcohol is sold in the stadiums now. pic.twitter.com/7USUfFW9fU
— Big Wil 🍊 (@BigWil1649) October 18, 2022
Let’s rewind. The Bourbon Barrel Trophy was introduced in 1925 as a nod to both states’ ties to whiskey (Kentucky, of course, being the Bourbon capital). The winning team got to hoist the barrel and bring it home until the next year’s clash. It added a unique flavor to one of the SEC’s oldest rivalries. But like a lot of good things, it didn’t last forever.
In 1998, tragedy struck. After a game, two Kentucky players were involved in a fatal car accident, and alcohol was reportedly involved. Arthur Steinmetz just 19 was a defensive lineman for the Cats and Scott Brock, 21, of Hyden both lost their lives. The driver, starting center Jason Watts was injured but survived. Out of respect, both schools agreed to retire the trophy. While the decision was understandable, it left a void that’s still felt today…