The University of Kentucky adopted blue and white as its official colors in 1892.

Originally, however, UK students had decided on blue and light yellow prior to the Kentucky-Centre College football game on December 19, 1891.  The shade of blue, which is close a royal blue, was chosen when a student asked the question, "What color blue?"

At the time, Richard C. Stoll (who lettered in football at UK in 1889-94) pulled off his necktie and held it up.  The students then adopted that particular shade of blue.