This is why Louisville should not be first game

[Stretch]

With our personnel, we can't duplicate UL's strength and speed in preseason practice. When the game starts, our only chance is to catch a huge break--early turnover, big return, etc.--to stem the tide until we get up to speed. That did not happen this time; we never had any field position so no confidence and no momentum. By the time we got acclimated, it was 28-0.

We need to be able to grow into the season, at least until the strength of the team is in the junior and senior classes.

[BigBlueAngus]

I agree and always have. 0-1 Sucks anyway you look at it.

[CARDSRTOAST]

I agree 100% It is mental..Play it the LAST game..

[johnkyblue]

Stretch, you hit the nail on the head.

[KapitalCat]

I agree in terms of practicality, UK football is so much below UofL football that we need a few games to get into the speed of the game. Sad...sad..but unfortunately true.

[RedandBlackATTACK]

Guys, I have been a proponent of moving the game for years but not for the reasons mentioned. The game should be played on a more traditional rivalry weekend simply because it is in fact a rivalry game.

With all due respect however, I don't see changing the game date as an advantage for either team. If anything both teams will improve as the season progresses.

Changing the game date will not make UK more competitive in this series. The problems-issues facing Brooks/Staff and Program are far too complex. Simply changing the game date just won't get it done.

Rick

C-Bus

[ukbob]

Moving this game would have meant nothing. UL could win by 3 TDs with their 2nd string against an Archer defense.

They are a superior team and superior program...period. And that hurt like hell to type it. They coach up their 2 and 3 star players and put them in good schemes. They prepare well and execute better. Petrino is an *** but he and his staff are top notch, IMO.

But I would agree with Rick on this one. Having it played during rivalry week would be sweet. Perhaps the staff would learn how to prepare better by the 5th or 6th game.;) Perhaps not.

[UKHAS7NCAA]

Don't hold your breath Bob. UK fans deserve alot better than this.:(

[Athens2005]

I will say this: We often come out and play like complete garbage the first game of this season - looking like an 0-11 (12) team that will have no hope.

Then, we put it together and sometimes put together a decent season.

1999 comes to mind.

When you are Kentucky, and have a ton of kinks to work out every year, work them out against the likes of Buffalo, and let UL have its practice run against someone else.

[Spanish Moss]

I agree changing the game will not bring a victory but it a loss in the middle of the season or on rivalry week will not be as devastating. We stink so bad that a loss to a qualiity program and a humiliating defeat on national TV to kick off the season makes matters worse. The nation's first impression of us is a team in total disaray. We stink and everyone knows it.

It feeds fan discontent and message boards like these. I didn't expect us to beat UL but I also didn't expect us to look like a grade school team, unprepared and not mentally ready to play.

If we had a 3 -2 record or a 4- 2 record or a 5 - 3 record when we played UL we could still have hopes for a winning season. Now we have to question every game on the schedule and hope we can beat the Texas team and Central Michigan. Right now neither are a given because our team must be questioning theirself this morning.
We didn't have a chance to build any confidence before our biggest game.

It doesn't make sense to have this as the first game, unless you are UL and you want to kick our butt and make us like it. I think some of us do like getting kicked by UL because we attempt to find every excuse in the book.

Bottom line rivals do not kick the season off. They build their season then have the big shot out. Tonight Florida State plays Miami but they are not "rivals". Florida State will tell you their rival is the Florida Gators and you can check to see when that game is played. It is months away.

[Athens2005]

Spanish Moss wrote: I agree changing the game will not bring a victory but it a loss in the middle of the season or on rivalry week will not be as devastating. We stink so bad that a loss to a qualiity program and a humiliating defeat on national TV to kick off the season makes matters worse. The nation's first impression of us is a team in total disaray. We stink and everyone knows it.

It feeds fan discontent and message boards like these. I didn't expect us to beat UL but I also didn't expect us to look like a grade school team, unprepared and not mentally ready to play.

If we had a 3 -2 record or a 4- 2 record or a 5 - 3 record when we played UL we could still have hopes for a winning season. Now we have to question every game on the schedule and hope we can beat the Texas team and Central Michigan. Right now neither are a given because our team must be questioning theirself this morning.
We didn't have a chance to build any confidence before our biggest game.

It doesn't make sense to have this as the first game, unless you are UL and you want to kick our butt and make us like it. I think some of us do like getting kicked by UL because we attempt to find every excuse in the book.




:thumbup

[poodoo]

I agree changing the game will not bring a victory but it a loss in the middle of the season or on rivalry week will not be as devastating. QUOTE by Spanish Moss

__________

I so agree, Spanish Moss. A loss to Louisville (a highly ranked team, we must remember) later in the season would not be nearly as hard for both UK fans AND, more important, the UK players.

I also agree with what Stretch's post. The game could not have had a worse beginning for UK. Too, I give Coach Petrino credit for the opening reverse play, which was so successful and tended to put UK on its heels. How a young team responds to something like that is part of the equation, too. Like Stretch, I had so hoped to get the ball first and runthe kickoffback for a touchdown or have a big play ourselves. Instead, the worse happened.

I also agree that we were not able to duplicate Louisville's strength and speed in practice. That was a problem. It was a rude awakening for our players, who had come into the game quite confident.

Like many other UK fans, I have felt all along that our playing Louisville the first game is a bad thing for the UK football program with the difficultly of its schedule, especially as it rebuilds itselfinto a veteran team. Losing that first game and the enthusiasm that had developed during the camps makes it hard to bounce back and play the next couple of opponents, virtually must-wins for the program. The coaches really have their hands full this short week. I surely hope some team leaders step up in a positive way. Did I say that I hate our playing the game as the first game of the season (again, not remotely meaning that we would win the game if it were only played at a later date)! :cool:

[KapitalCat]

I disagree on playing UofL later in the year. Most experts agree KY's schedule is tougher and deeper, so why play them after or during a brutal SEC schedule when we are down to our 3rd team position players? We just need to coach better, recruit better, and play harder and keep the game as the opening game. If KY played UofL in early November, it would be much uglier than 59-28.

[Athens2005]

KapitalCat wrote: I disagree on playing UofL later in the year. Most experts agree KY's schedule is tougher and deeper, so why play them after or during a brutal SEC schedule when we are down to our 3rd team position players? We just need to coach better, recruit better, and play harder and keep the game as the opening game. If KY played UofL in early November, it would be much uglier than 59-28.

You don't have to play them after a brutal SEC schedule; but, you can play them after knocking off a cream puff, and then playing a lower-tier SEC team.

Regardless, what we're doing now clearly isn't working.

Then again, maybe it's the coach.

[KapitalCat]

Athens2005 wrote: KapitalCat wrote: I disagree on playing UofL later in the year. Most experts agree KY's schedule is tougher and deeper, so why play them after or during a brutal SEC schedule when we are down to our 3rd team position players? We just need to coach better, recruit better, and play harder and keep the game as the opening game. If KY played UofL in early November, it would be much uglier than 59-28.

You don't have to play them after a brutal SEC schedule; but, you can play them after knocking off a cream puff, and then playing a lower-tier SEC team.

Regardless, what we're doing now clearly isn't working.

Then again, maybe it's the coach.





Most of the talk has been playing UofL during rivalry week so that was my focus. I just think that it's a sign of weakness if we think we improve our chances of beating them if we play them in game 3, its also UofL's first game. But, I suppose we are weak....N e way, its moot, play them game 1, play them game 3, 4 or 5, UofL wins by a lot of points.
I agree Athens that whatever we are doing it's not working. The next two weeks are going to be interesting.

[bleedbluelady]

Athens2005 wrote: Spanish Moss wrote: I agree changing the game will not bring a victory but it a loss in the middle of the season or on rivalry week will not be as devastating. We stink so bad that a loss to a qualiity program and a humiliating defeat on national TV to kick off the season makes matters worse. The nation's first impression of us is a team in total disaray. We stink and everyone knows it.

It feeds fan discontent and message boards like these. I didn't expect us to beat UL but I also didn't expect us to look like a grade school team, unprepared and not mentally ready to play.

If we had a 3 -2 record or a 4- 2 record or a 5 - 3 record when we played UL we could still have hopes for a winning season. Now we have to question every game on the schedule and hope we can beat the Texas team and Central Michigan. Right now neither are a given because our team must be questioning theirself this morning.
We didn't have a chance to build any confidence before our biggest game.

It doesn't make sense to have this as the first game, unless you are UL and you want to kick our butt and make us like it. I think some of us do like getting kicked by UL because we attempt to find every excuse in the book.




:thumbup

:thumbup:thumbup

[Sam K.]

I wish they'd drop the game altogether. I think Rick Pitino was looking out for his own best interest when he didn't go down to play Western Ky in an opening game. Would, that we would be so wise.

[Yuleofell]

The wheel will turn eventually and UK will be the one with the superior team. At that point, we you turn around and lobby for the game to be at the beginning of the season?

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

CARDSRTOAST wrote: I agree 100% It is mental..Play it the LAST game..
Sort of like our rivalry with UT? Playing them last has always worked out well.

[CARDSRTOAST]

BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: CARDSRTOAST wrote: I agree 100% It is mental..Play it the LAST game..
Sort of like our rivalry with UT? Playing them last has always worked out well.

Let's never confuse Louisville with UT They are not in the same universe

[rickdacatkilla]

CARDSRTOAST wrote: BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: CARDSRTOAST wrote: I agree 100% It is mental..Play it the LAST game..
Sort of like our rivalry with UT? Playing them last has always worked out well.

Let's never confuse Louisville with UT They are not in the same universe
Grover,the only differencebetween UT and UofLis, we beat you in the first game of the year, where they beat you the last....Let it go brother, the hate is going toeat you up inside.....Your thread celebrating Bush's injury has to be an all time low even fromthe most wacked out fan ever to wear the blue and white,you're a bad representation of a fan base full of great fans.....

[RedandBlackATTACK]

.....Your thread celebrating Bush's injury has to be an all time low even from one of the most wacked out fans ever to wear the blue and a bad representation of a fan base full of great fans.....
If that is in fact true, G you have hit an all time low. How in God's name could anyone celebrate an injury to any athlete?

Rick

C-Bus

[sardiscat]

I agree with dropping the game altogether. UK needs to build its program the same way UL did, by playing as many patsies as possible. UL was avery beatable team when UK agreed to play them every year, but that is not the case anymore. Got 8 SEC games we can't do anything about, but no need to playing a ranked team on the nonconference schedule until UK football is a whole lot better than it is now.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

sardiscat wrote:
I agree with dropping the game altogether.Â* UK needs to build its program the same way UL did, by playing as many patsies as possible.Â* UL was aÂ*very beatable team Â*when UK agreed to play them every year, but that is not the case anymore.Â* Got 8 SEC games we can't do anything about, but no need to playing a ranked team on the nonconference schedule until UK football is a whole lot better than it is now.

I have a better idea...let's drop down to I-AA. We could win a lot of games that way. We could play in the OVC and not have to worry about all those unwinnable SEC games. I bet we could probably go 11-0 against the likes of EKU, Murray, Tennessee State and UT-Martin.

[sardiscat]

"I have a better idea...let's drop down to I-AA. We could win a lot of games that way. We could play in the OVC and not have to worry about all those unwinnable SEC games. I bet we could probably go 11-0 against the likes of EKU, Murray, Tennessee State and UT-Martin."

I don't think that's a better idea.

[poodoo]

KapitalCat wrote: I disagree on playing UofL later in the year. Most experts agree KY's schedule is tougher and deeper, so why play them after or during a brutal SEC schedule when we are down to our 3rd team position players? We just need to coach better, recruit better, and play harder and keep the game as the opening game. If KY played UofL in early November, it would be much uglier than 59-28.


KapitalCat, I think the ones of us who are responding on this thread are merely for our playing the game AFTER we have a couple of games under our belt, hopefully a couple of wins, so that a potential loss would not be as devastating.

In other words, at least personally, I don't feel that moving the game to the third game of the season next year means that we have a better chance of winning the game. However, I also do not think that our playng UofL in early November would automatically mean that the score would be "much uglier than 59-28."Yes, you are right that we seem to have a lot of injuries during that "brutal SEC schedule." However, if we can avoid that, as we did in 2002, then I think we could potentially play Louisville much closer in early November this season, especially sinceso much of our talent is young.I surely hope that is the case, anyway.That, though, is not the reason I like the game's being the third game next season, in contrast to the first game.

[TrueblueCATfan]

rickdacatkilla wrote: CARDSRTOAST wrote: BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: CARDSRTOAST wrote: I agree 100% It is mental..Play it the LAST game..
Sort of like our rivalry with UT? Playing them last has always worked out well.

Let's never confuse Louisville with UT They are not in the same universe
Grover,the only differencebetween UT and UofLis, we beat you in the first game of the year, where they beat you the last....Let it go brother, the hate is going toeat you up inside.....Your thread celebrating Bush's injury has to be an all time low even fromthe most wacked out fan ever to wear the blue and white,you're a bad representation of a fan base full of great fans.....
Ido not recall seeing a thread about celebrating the injury to Bush....am I missing something here??? what happened to him broke my heart.....he is a good kid with a bright future ahead of him

[surveyor]

CARDSRTOAST wrote: BowlingGreenUKGrad wrote: CARDSRTOAST wrote: I agree 100% It is mental..Play it the LAST game..
Sort of like our rivalry with UT? Playing them last has always worked out well.

Let's never confuse Louisville with UT They are not in the same universe
For sure. We tend to look better against UT.....................:?

[surveyor]

sardiscat wrote: I agree with dropping the game altogether. UK needs to build its program the same way UL did, by playing as many patsies as possible. UL was avery beatable team when UK agreed to play them every year, but that is not the case anymore. Got 8 SEC games we can't do anything about, but no need to playing a ranked team on the nonconference schedule until UK football is a whole lot better than it is now.
I agree with playing them only when we can beat `em as well...................

[The Old School JPS]

RedandBlackATTACK wrote: Guys, I have been a proponent of moving the game for years but not for the reasons mentioned. The game should be played on a more traditional rivalry weekend simply because it is in fact a rivalry game.

With all due respect however, I don't see changing the game date as an advantage for either team. If anything both teams will improve as the season progresses.

Changing the game date will not make UK more competitive in this series. The problems-issues facing Brooks/Staff and Program are far too complex. Simply changing the game date just won't get it done.

Rick

C-Bus

Post of the Day IMO. It kind of singles out UK and UL as bush league instead of real players that they set their rivalry game as the opener. For all the talk of it making people more excited, there's a lot to be said for having the anticipation and interest last all season or at least well into it. :thumbup:thumbup Two thumbs up to Rick on this one.