[3][4] Shortly afterward, they would start competing in scholarly activities such as oratorical contests which eventually led to athletics competition.

To capitalize on the popularity of the rivalry, the game was usually played on Thanksgiving so that the large gate could solve the team's financial problems.

[7] Kentucky responded by pointing out that two players, Hogan and Worth Yancey, on Transylvania had played professional baseball the summer before the season.

[8] The Lexington Herald covered for the Crimson by stating the Yancey brothers only used the money for college expenses.

[8] Tensions were also high because earlier in the season, a riot broke out a scrimmage between the two schools' second teams resulting in that game not being finished.

"[10] With all the excitement the price of admission more than doubled, and extra grandstands were installed around the field to make room for the anticipated crowd.

[8] Transylvania easily won 17–0 with UK fans saying they should have used there regular player instead of the ringers from the East coast.

[5][10] Afterward, UK president Patterson had the select committee investigate the accusations of bringing in out of state ringers.

"[12] The peace between the two schools did not last long with UK accusing of Transylvania of using ineligible players and threatening to cancel the 1904 Thanksgiving Day game.

[13] During the meeting, Centre College faculty representative A. H. Throckmorton brought up another Transylvania player that just enrolled and was listed on the team for the Kentucky game.

[12] Those actions, along with "superior speed and superb conditioning," resulted in Kentucky easily winning the game.

In 1904 a women's basketball game was canceled because of a "disagreement over whether it was proper to wear bloomers in the presence of male officials.

Even the act of leaving was an area of dispute between the two cross-town rivals, with Kentucky saying they were expelled and Transylvania saying it left voluntarily.

[16] In 1906, Due to the missing out of the gate receipts from the Thanksgiving Day game the University of Kentucky athletic board was in financial difficulty.

[19] Lexington Herald suggested that the revival of the Thanksgiving Day game against the Cross-town rival was the only way to get back in the black.

[22] The game did not take place on Thanksgiving due to weather and was moved to December 5, resulting in a large loss on money for both schools.

[23] After the game, the Transylvania students wearing nightshirts and carrying clubs marched down Main Street and were met by a group of Kentucky supporters.

However over these one hundred years Kentucky had forged its way as one of the most successful programs in college basketball with eight NCAA Division I titles to its name by that time.