Nov 29, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Alvin Dupree (2) forces Louisville Cardinals quarterback Kyle Bolin (14) to fumble the ball during the second half at Papa John
As autumn approached the 2014 Kentucky football season was the subject of a wide array of opinions. Would Kentucky make it to a bowl game in Mark Stoops’ second season? Could Kentucky make it to a bowl game in Mark Stoops’ second season?
Would Kentucky improve on their 2-10 (0-8 SEC) 2013 campaign? If so, by how much? I was in the 4-8 (1-7 SEC) camp for the record.
This was also a season of schedule change, noteworthy schedule change. For years Kentucky played the rival Louisville Cardinals early in the season. It was usually either game one or game three on the schedule depending on where the game was being played.
This year it was moved to the end of the season. This meant that the Tennessee game, for the first time in a long time, would not occupy its customary place at the end of November long weekend portion of the calendar. As expected, there were differing opinions on that as well. Change will do that to any fan base. It didn’t really matter to me either way but I had to wait until the game was played at the close of a season before I could fully gauge it.
Personally, I thought it was cool watching the Cats play Louisville in November. The game was tough for Kentucky fans as they fell 44-40. It wasn’t Marty Moore in the 1993 Peach Bowl or Bluegrass Miracle level painful, but it was still one of those losses that you hate to see your team experience. That said, it was good to see the fight that was missing against Georgia and Tennessee return.
It was also cool seeing UK doing the intrastate rival thing like many other college rivalries across the country. Florida against Florida State, The Egg Bowl (Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss) The Iron Bowl (Auburn vs. Alabama) to name a few are staples of rivalry week that Kentucky and Louisville now had the privilege to be a part of.
Long time Tuscaloosa News columnist Cecil Hurt has covered the Alabama Crimson Tide since 1982, so he’s seen more than his fair share of great Iron Bowls. Yet, he spent his Saturday afternoon watching the Cats and Cards do battle.
There are better games on, but I'm watching UK-Louisville for the strong likelihood that someone gets hit with a folding chair.
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) November 29, 2014
Yep, things were a tad chippy to say the least all day long. Next year’s game at Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 28, 2015 will be fun for sure.
Say What Rick?!
Tim Sullivan of the Courier-Journal had a few interesting tweets from Cards head coach Rick Pitino today.
Rick Pitino says Ohio State - #Louisville atmosphere will be the best since Yum! Center opened. (That's your cue, #Kentucky fans).
— Tim Sullivan (@TimSullivan714) December 1, 2014
Rick Pitino says #Kentucky-#Louisville games lack great atmosphere at KFC Yum! Center because too many #UK fans in the building.
— Tim Sullivan (@TimSullivan714) December 1, 2014
#Louisville coach Rick Pitino ALSO said this #Kentucky team "one of the best teams ever assembled."
— Tim Sullivan (@TimSullivan714) December 1, 2014
So the Cards game against Ohio State will be better because more Cards fans will be in the house for that one? It’s been a minute but Rick did coach in Lexington and is all to familiar with how well Kentucky fans travel. Louisville, although home of the Cards, is still in the state of Kentucky. Louisville has the edge within city limits but we know Kentucky wins the majority of the state. As for the last tweet, you know it killed him to give this year’s Kentucky team props.
Does he really mean it? Who knows?
This team has the potential to be as good as they want to be. We’ll see if they get there.