We own UL, just as it should be

[backinky2018]

I'm always amazed at the over-inflated view that the UL fanbase seems to have of its program. Their golden years were built on a mirage of horrible scheduling. Even when they were "great", UK still had more quality wins than they ever had. When it comes to the series between the two schools, UK should be embarrassed that it's even close. A lack of investment by UK and NCAA probation gave UL some good years, but the series is now what it should be.

UK has:

-The better conference
-More resources
-Better facilities
-Better school
-Better campus (although an urban sprawl university will be attractive to some)
-Better fanbase
-Better brand

There is literally no reason why UK should lose to UL in athletics of any kind, much less football. Our gigantic talent advantage and lopsided results over the last 5 years are symbolic of all of the other advantages that we have over that school and team. I'm sure we'll lose one to them now and then based on the law of averages, but this series has settled into what it should always be.

 

[17Cut-Nets]

I actually think our biggest advantage in that series is that it’s now played the last game of the season.

If played first game of the season I don’t know that it would be so lopsided. By the time we get to the UL game we’ve been through a grueling SEC schedule that includes playing the best and most physical team in the country right before UL (UGA).

In other words, we’re battle-hardened. I would imagine the first time our O-line fires against their D-line it must be like “woah, that was easy”. Same with our D-line vs their O-line.

As long as this game remains last on the schedule I believe UK will be at a distinct advantage simply because of the league we play in. Even if UL accumulates more and better talent, they still will not have been through the gauntlet that UK has coming into that game.

 

[panthergram]

Louisville is a crummy place period. The school is a microcosmic reflection of the city. My cousin and family lives there and they say it's gone into the garbage dump since the unrest in 2020. I told them it was already there.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

Trashy, uneducated fans. Don't know how anyone could cheer for anything louisville.

 

[The-Hack]

There is literally no reason why UK should lose to UL in athletics of any kind, much less football.

All true, and well written.

The only question unanswered by your post is . . . will the collective ability of our corporate and individual fans allow us to remain competitive in the era of NIL?

 

[backinky2018]

I actually think our biggest advantage in that series is that it’s now played the last game of the season.

If played first game of the season I don’t know that it would be so lopsided. By the time we get to the UL game we’ve been through a grueling SEC schedule that includes playing the best and most physical team in the country right before UL (UGA).

In other words, we’re battle-hardened. I would imagine the first time our O-line fires against their D-line it must be like “woah, that was easy”. Same with our D-line vs their O-line.

As long as this game remains last on the schedule I believe UK will be at a distinct advantage simply because of the league we play in. Even if UL accumulates more and better talent, they still will not have been through the gauntlet that UK has coming into that game.

At first glance, I might have disagreed with you with my logic being that the SEC is harder and would "grind on UK" to the point where we'd be beaten up by week 13.

But, the results would support your thesis. UK has fared SIGNIFICANTLY better in this game once the leagues moved it to the final week. Even when we lost, we outperformed expectations (remember the game in Louisville where our DB dropped a sure INT that would have sealed an upset over Devante Parker and co?). It's true, this move has been a big win for UK.

 

[backinky2018]

Louisville is a crummy place period. The school is a microcosmic reflection of the city. My cousin and family lives there and they say it's gone into the garbage dump since the unrest in 2020. I told them it was already there.

I'm not going to trash the city itself. It's a city, and like most cities it has great parts and crummy parts. It's the only true city that out state has. And the city has a TON of UK fans so I'm not going to trash the city itself.

The city university, however, is total garbage.

 

[backinky2018]

All true, and well written.

The only question unanswered by your post is . . . will the collective ability of our corporate and individual fans allow us to remain competitive in the era of NIL?

Very fair point. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about NIL.

 

[The-Hack]

It's a city

I'm as country as any UK fan and have always loved the city of Louisville.

Like you said, it's a city, and has issues as do all, but I love Louisville, and spent some professional time there. Sure, I was the redneck in every crowd, but fit into the diversity of the place, that actually has more blue-collar/farm folk than most would realize.

In the average crowd in Louisville, I wasn't the only one that knew there were two Ford 351's, a Cleveland and a Winsor, etc., etc.

Sometimes in Lexington, I am the only one in the crowd with that stuff in my background.

 

[Johnfarrel]

Rewatched the game last night. Kentucky dominated both lines of scrimmage. Kentucky's pass rush was weak against SEC teams, but it got in the backfield at will against Louisville. On offense, Kentucky moved the ball both passing and running. Louisville, the National leader in sacks, got two.
Louisville has some skill position players, but the OL and DL are still miles behind Kentucky.

 

[Girthang]

I actually think our biggest advantage in that series is that it’s now played the last game of the season.

If played first game of the season I don’t know that it would be so lopsided. By the time we get to the UL game we’ve been through a grueling SEC schedule that includes playing the best and most physical team in the country right before UL (UGA).

In other words, we’re battle-hardened. I would imagine the first time our O-line fires against their D-line it must be like “woah, that was easy”. Same with our D-line vs their O-line.

As long as this game remains last on the schedule I believe UK will be at a distinct advantage simply because of the league we play in. Even if UL accumulates more and better talent, they still will not have been through the gauntlet that UK has coming into that game.

With the caveat that we will in some years not play well as against them because of injuries to our starters because of that same, grueling, SEC schedule.

 

[Girthang]

Rewatched the game last night. Kentucky dominated both lines of scrimmage. Kentucky's pass rush was weak against SEC teams, but it got in the backfield at will against Louisville. On offense, Kentucky moved the ball both passing and running. Louisville, the National leader in sacks, got two.
Louisville has some skill position players, but the OL and DL are still miles behind Kentucky.

And of those 2 sacks 1 was completely avoidable. QB ran out of a clean pocket directly into the defender for some reason.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

I'm always amazed at the over-inflated view that the UL fanbase seems to have of its program. Their golden years were built on a mirage of horrible scheduling. Even when they were "great", UK still had more quality wins than they ever had. When it comes to the series between the two schools, UK should be embarrassed that it's even close. A lack of investment by UK and NCAA probation gave UL some good years, but the series is now what it should be.

UK has:

-The better conference
-More resources
-Better facilities
-Better school
-Better campus (although an urban sprawl university will be attractive to some)
-Better fanbase
-Better brand

There is literally no reason why UK should lose to UL in athletics of any kind, much less football. Our gigantic talent advantage and lopsided results over the last 5 years are symbolic of all of the other advantages that we have over that school and team. I'm sure we'll lose one to them now and then based on the law of averages, but this series has settled into what it should always be.

Their time has passed and they're dumpster fire but please point me to which wins of ours were better than an Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl victory.

 

[Girthang]

Louisville is a crummy place period. The school is a microcosmic reflection of the city. My cousin and family lives there and they say it's gone into the garbage dump since the unrest in 2020. I told them it was already there.

I've never much liked any of it accept a few of the suburbs. It just has an arrogance about it. Some of the pride I understand, but most of it is just kinda empty. It IS an actual city, not just a town, but it feels like a city that is built around what it used to be and doesn't have much of an identity now.

A friend of mine described it as a "Dorian Gray city." The illusion props up the life. If the people there ever realize that the Kentucky Derby is passe... (it might be) what will they do? Destroy that image of relevance and southern charm (which I just don't see in it) that they have of themselves, and it dies. That's probably why they cling to the illusion and the university that bears the name.

I don't hate Louisville as a city, but it reminds me of any blue collar town that thinks it's elite or better than the blue collar people in the areas that surround the city. Rockford and Chicago Illinois are the same way, except Chicago at least has some things that still make it relevant internationally as well as nationally.

 

[backinky2018]

Their time has passed and they're dumpster fire but please point me to which wins of ours were better than an Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl victory.

Beating number 1 LSU (who eventually won the national title) was far bigger than any win they've ever had.

It's easier to get to the orange bowl or sugar bowl when you ring up a bunch of victories against nobodies. Their win over Florida in the sugar bowl was a very good one, but after that there are "slim pickings" when it comes to quality victories (the other one that comes to mind is their win at home over FSU).

 

[The-Hack]

Their time has passed and they're dumpster fire but please point me to which wins of ours were better than an Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl victory.

Mmmmm.

Maybe our Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl victories?

 

[The-Hack]

(the other one that comes to mind is their win at home over FSU).

Yes.

Their win over a ten win FSU by 40 at home in 2016 . . . I rate that as their greatest win in program history.

Damn shame they lost to us later that year, but all games stand on their own.

U of L has never defeated a Number One team.

UK has defeated three in program history.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

Mmmmm.

Maybe our Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl victories?

The OP wrote
"Their golden years were built on a mirage of horrible scheduling. Even when they were "great", UK still had more quality wins than they ever had. "

He's obviously referring to the Bobby P/Charlie Strong era and said even then, we had better wins during that time. So a bowl from 1950 isn't relevant here.

 

[Cardinals19701]

Yes.

Their win over a ten win FSU by 40 at home in 2016 . . . I rate that as their greatest win in program history.

Damn shame they lost to us later that year, but all games stand on their own.

U of L has never defeated a Number One team.

UK has defeated three in program history.

No we have beat a #1 team but we have beat FSU twice when they were ranked I believe #4 both times in 2002 & 2016 we also beat #3 WVU in 2006. Won 2 BCS bowl games which UK never even played in one. Each school has done thing the other hasn’t and should be proud of those accomplishments.

 

[Blouman]

For us to beat UL, we don't have to do anything special. All UK has to do is play fundamentally sound football. And that's the rub.

 

[Cardinals19701]

I'm always amazed at the over-inflated view that the UL fanbase seems to have of its program. Their golden years were built on a mirage of horrible scheduling. Even when they were "great", UK still had more quality wins than they ever had. When it comes to the series between the two schools, UK should be embarrassed that it's even close. A lack of investment by UK and NCAA probation gave UL some good years, but the series is now what it should be.

UK has:

-The better conference
-More resources
-Better facilities
-Better school
-Better campus (although an urban sprawl university will be attractive to some)
-Better fanbase
-Better brand

There is literally no reason why UK should lose to UL in athletics of any kind, much less football. Our gigantic talent advantage and lopsided results over the last 5 years are symbolic of all of the other advantages that we have over that school and team. I'm sure we'll lose one to them now and then based on the law of averages, but this series has settled into what it should always be.

Look most fan bases have an over inflated ego about their team that is just how fans are. Take UK for example most on here we’re saying UK would be in a NY6 bowl this year and here you are now sitting at 7-5.

Better Conference- I will give you that one when it comes to football and that about it.
Better Resources- due to conference I will give you that.
Better Facilities- That is debatable as I feel the Yum & Cardinal Stadium are way better than a 50 year old Rupp & Kroger Field. Our baseball stadium is really nice and they are adding an indoor practice facility for the baseball team.
Better Campus- Again that is a matter of opinion like UK fans call UofL a city school but yet UK is way closer to downtown Lexington than UofL is to downtown Louisville.
Better fan base - again that is all opinion bigger fan base yes better is an opinion.
Better Brand- For basketball yes no so much for football in my opinion.

Now let’s look at some of the other sports since you say UK should never lose to UofL in any sport.

Women’s Basketball has won the last 5 vs UK, been to 4 Final Fours and National Runner-Up twice

Baseball- in the last 16 games UofL is 13-3 vs UK and been to the College World Series 5 times

Volleyball- UofL was just in the Final Four last year and expected to be back there again this year. They have also beaten UK in their last couple of matches.

The only reason UK leads the football overall series is because of those 6 games played 110 years ago starting in 1912 which was the first year UofL started playing football, UK started in 1881. If you go by the 1994 start then UK is behind by 2 games 13-15.

Here is my opinion on UK football, you are 9 million to a coach who will never finish in the top half of the SEC once Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC.

 

[EliteBlue]

The move to the ACC killed UL. At first they were still living on momentum from being the big fish in the little ponds of CUSA/Big east/AAC but once a few years past and they weren’t a “hot school” bc they were no longer having 10 win seasons, the shine wore off and recruits started seeing there wasn’t a real draw to the program. Combine that with the culture shift at UK and FINALLY properly funding the football program and this is the result. Kentucky isn’t a big enough state to have 2 true powers unless one of them is dominating recruiting Nationally.

 

[backinky2018]

The OP wrote
"Their golden years were built on a mirage of horrible scheduling. Even when they were "great", UK still had more quality wins than they ever had. "

He's obviously referring to the Bobby P/Charlie Strong era and said even then, we had better wins during that time. So a bowl from 1950 isn't relevant here.

If you consider the golden age of UL football (which is basically the early 2000s through Lamar), you'll be hard-pressed to find many wins over good teams much less ranked teams. We've mentioned the sugar bowl over UF and the home win over FSU.

UK has more wins over ranked teams and certainly more name brand wins than UL has in the best part of its football history.

They stepped up to the ACC (still a bad football league, but better than anything UL ever had before it), and they've become mediocre. Even with Lamar, they generally lost when they played good teams (UK in 2016, LSU in Citrus bowl, Miss State in citrus, Georgia in Belk, etc).

Back to the premise: UL football success was a myth.

 

[backinky2018]

Look most fan bases have an over inflated ego about their team that is just how fans are. Take UK for example most on here we’re saying UK would be in a NY6 bowl this year and here you are now sitting at 7-5.

Better Conference- I will give you that one when it comes to football and that about it.
Better Resources- due to conference I will give you that.
Better Facilities- That is debatable as I feel the Yum & Cardinal Stadium are way better than a 50 year old Rupp & Kroger Field. Our baseball stadium is really nice and they are adding an indoor practice facility for the baseball team.
Better Campus- Again that is a matter of opinion like UK fans call UofL a city school but yet UK is way closer to downtown Lexington than UofL is to downtown Louisville.
Better fan base - again that is all opinion bigger fan base yes better is an opinion.
Better Brand- For basketball yes no so much for football in my opinion.

Now let’s look at some of the other sports since you say UK should never lose to UofL in any sport.

Women’s Basketball has won the last 5 vs UK, been to 4 Final Fours and National Runner-Up twice

Baseball- in the last 16 games UofL is 13-3 vs UK and been to the College World Series 5 times

Volleyball- UofL was just in the Final Four last year and expected to be back there again this year. They have also beaten UK in their last couple of matches.

The only reason UK leads the football overall series is because of those 6 games played 110 years ago starting in 1912 which was the first year UofL started playing football, UK started in 1881. If you go by the 1994 start then UK is behind by 2 games 13-15.

Here is my opinion on UK football, you are 9 million to a coach who will never finish in the top half of the SEC once Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC.

I'm not debating whether or not UL has held its own in football against UK. Indeed, it has. My point is that it never should have been that way. UK has done its part to rectify this error. Now with four wins in a row, I am hopeful that we have the structure in place to permanently beat UL (the last time we had a four game win streak ,we squandered it with Joker Philips).

My list of the ways in which UK is superior to UL is not meant to be a pissing match. UK just does have structural / financial advantages. You're right that things like "better fanbase" are subjective in nature, but there's no question that UK's fanbase is larger and more passionate. The financial gap is going to grow between the two schools b/c the SEC and BIG are financial juggernauts that are threatening to leave the others behind. UK and UL may or may not continue to play in the future, but barring a strategic error by UK (which could happen, see NIL blunders), UK should control this rivalry going forward.

P.S. you're totally right that UL dominates UK in baseball and women's basketball. These are two of the most underperforming sports at UK (and they're UL's shining stars). If that doesn't get turned around soon, then our coaching staffs in those sports should be shown the odor.

P.S. 2: UL volleyball is not better than UK volleyball. UK under skinner has a long and dominant track record that includes a national title. UL volleyball is indeed very good, but its accomplishments do not match those of UK. At worst, this is a wash.

 

[The-Hack]

I see no one from U of L mentioned Track and Field.

And for good reason.

Sydney Mac and Abbey Steiner have You Tube videos with millions of views from their freakish 2022 season. We’ll be seeing them in Olympics the next 12 years, or so. I hope and expect there will be a few Power K flags flown with the Stars and Stripes at the next three Olympic Venues!

 

[jr40831]

Yet somehow Kentucky is LPT. Or have they stopped saying that?

 

[jr40831]

 

[CapnBlubs]

The OP wrote
"Their golden years were built on a mirage of horrible scheduling. Even when they were "great", UK still had more quality wins than they ever had. "

He's obviously referring to the Bobby P/Charlie Strong era and said even then, we had better wins during that time. So a bowl from 1950 isn't relevant here.

Thanks for your input, VaxxedObamaCard.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

Thanks for your input, VaxxedObamaCard.

Stay vaccinated, kids.

 

[trueblujr2]

Their time has passed and they're dumpster fire but please point me to which wins of ours were better than an Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl victory.

You mean the Orange Bowl win over Wake Freaking Forest? And a Sugar Bowl win over a Florida team that didn't want to be there because they thought they should have been in the playoffs?

 

[sluggercatfan]

Their time has passed and they're dumpster fire but please point me to which wins of ours were better than an Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl victory.

Stay vaccinated, kids.

Shove the vaccinations...HUGE mistake. Wish I had it to do over again.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Yet somehow Kentucky is LPT. Or have they stopped saying that?

Have not heard that phrase in years!👇👇👇

 

[jr40831]

Look most fan bases have an over inflated ego about their team that is just how fans are. Take UK for example most on here we’re saying UK would be in a NY6 bowl this year and here you are now sitting at 7-5.

Better Conference- I will give you that one when it comes to football and that about it.
Better Resources- due to conference I will give you that.
Better Facilities- That is debatable as I feel the Yum & Cardinal Stadium are way better than a 50 year old Rupp & Kroger Field. Our baseball stadium is really nice and they are adding an indoor practice facility for the baseball team.
Better Campus- Again that is a matter of opinion like UK fans call UofL a city school but yet UK is way closer to downtown Lexington than UofL is to downtown Louisville.
Better fan base - again that is all opinion bigger fan base yes better is an opinion.
Better Brand- For basketball yes no so much for football in my opinion.

Now let’s look at some of the other sports since you say UK should never lose to UofL in any sport.

Women’s Basketball has won the last 5 vs UK, been to 4 Final Fours and National Runner-Up twice

Baseball- in the last 16 games UofL is 13-3 vs UK and been to the College World Series 5 times

Volleyball- UofL was just in the Final Four last year and expected to be back there again this year. They have also beaten UK in their last couple of matches.

The only reason UK leads the football overall series is because of those 6 games played 110 years ago starting in 1912 which was the first year UofL started playing football, UK started in 1881. If you go by the 1994 start then UK is behind by 2 games 13-15.

Here is my opinion on UK football, you are 9 million to a coach who will never finish in the top half of the SEC once Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC.

Checkers and cornhole, don't forget checkers and cornhole.

 

[WildCard]

Louisville is a crummy place period. The school is a microcosmic reflection of the city. My cousin and family lives there and they say it's gone into the garbage dump since the unrest in 2020. I told them it was already there.

Maybe your cousin should move?

Louisville/Jefferson Co. has almost twice the population of Lexington/Fayette County, the second largest "city" in the state. Fortunately for the rest of the state more than 20% of the state tax revenue (over $2B) comes from Louisville/Jefferson however only half of that tax revenue returns to Louisville. If the City got more of what they "contribute" to the state maybe they could fix some of those problems you say exist. In a sense, Louisville/Jefferson County is doing a lot to support the other 119 counties.

Peace

 

[backinky2018]

Maybe your cousin should move?

Louisville/Jefferson Co. has almost twice the population of Lexington/Fayette County, the second largest "city" in the state. Fortunately for the rest of the state more than 20% of the state tax revenue (over $2B) comes from Louisville/Jefferson however only half of that tax revenue returns to Louisville. If the City got more of what they "contribute" to the state maybe they could fix some of those problems you say exist. In a sense, Louisville/Jefferson County is doing a lot to support the other 119 counties.

Peace

No argument here, Louisville is the economic engine of the state. I disagree with UK fans that disparage the city itself.

 

[jr40831]

They also have more boys per capita with pink mohawks

 

[mebeblue2]

No argument here, Louisville is the economic engine of the state. I disagree with UK fans that disparage the city itself.

fans of both schools for some reason beyond rational thinking can not distinguish the difference between Louisville the city and UL the commuter school
they are not one and the same

 

[2Adulterers]

Trashy, uneducated fans. Don't know how anyone could cheer for anything louisville.

Maybe your cousin should move?

Louisville/Jefferson Co. has almost twice the population of Lexington/Fayette County, the second largest "city" in the state. Fortunately for the rest of the state more than 20% of the state tax revenue (over $2B) comes from Louisville/Jefferson however only half of that tax revenue returns to Louisville. If the City got more of what they "contribute" to the state maybe they could fix some of those problems you say exist. In a sense, Louisville/Jefferson County is doing a lot to support the other 119 counties.

Peace

The City yes not the scum pit university that has multiple sex scandals VACATED a NCAA
Title over hiring hookers Uavel is just a filthy
School

 

[WildcatofNati]

Maybe your cousin should move?

Louisville/Jefferson Co. has almost twice the population of Lexington/Fayette County, the second largest "city" in the state. Fortunately for the rest of the state more than 20% of the state tax revenue (over $2B) comes from Louisville/Jefferson however only half of that tax revenue returns to Louisville. If the City got more of what they "contribute" to the state maybe they could fix some of those problems you say exist. In a sense, Louisville/Jefferson County is doing a lot to support the other 119 counties.

Peace

Yeah, Louisville is a really big city, WildCard. It's right up there with New York and Chicago.🙄

 

[The-Hack]

In a sense, Louisville/Jefferson County is doing a lot to support the other 119 counties.

I love Louisville, Wildcard but this is the typical financial argument that is a false measure.

Yeeeeees, Louisville contributes more to the state coffers, but that is because of the contribution of 119 surrounding counties who come for conventions, basketball tourneys, business opportunities, etc.

The same tired argument is made in rural counties regarding the county seats, typically the largest city in a county: Implicitly “cut off” the tax stream, and surrounding folks simply implicitly “cut off” doing business there.

“The cities rest on broad and fertile plains: take away the cities but leave the farms and the cities would spring up again as if by magic. But take away the farms and the grass would grow in the streets of the cities.”

William Jennings Bryan.