Kentucky refuses to play Louisville on Labor Day

by Mike Rutherford on Feb 25, 2008 5:20 PM EST in News Comment 23 comments

ESPN has offered to place this year's season opener between the two teams at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in its "Monday Night Football" time slot on Labor Day night. As U of L announced its full 2008 schedule today, head coach Steve Kragthorpe said the Cardinals "would love to do it" and were just waiting for UK's approval.

But Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart told The Courier-Journal this afternoon that the Wildcats won't agree to play that Monday night.

"We're willing to play that game Thursday through Sunday, and we've communicated that to the people at ESPN," Barnhart said. "We're not going to play that on a Monday night and give ourselves that short turnaround on a Saturday game. We're going to have a young team, and we feel it's in the best interest of our program to guard that prep time and that recovery time."

UK plays Norfolk State the following Saturday. U of L also has a game that Saturday, against Tennessee Tech.

"It's a real honor to have an opportunity to play in a traditional prime time slot reserved for Monday Night Football to showcase both of our programs," U of L athletic directory Tom Jurich said in a statement. "We're thrilled that ESPN wants us in this marquee television position. I hope everything works out for this event to showcase the state of Kentucky."

Are...you...kidding...me???

The Louisville/Kentucky game has the chance to be in the same spotlight that Miami and Florida State have shared for the past several years (with the exception of '07 when the Bowden Bowl took over), and you're going to turn it down because you're worried about having only four days to prepare for Norfolk State? For the record, Florida State has played on Labor Day night in each of the last three seasons, and has played a game that Saturday all three times.

My understanding - and perhaps I'm wrong because I've tried to avoid having to hear about this situation as much as possible - was that the agreement which Barnhart fought so assiduously for was based upon the understanding that the home team was the one who got to decide the date of the game. So then what in the world is this?

I never thought I would be saying this, and I hate the fact that it's come to this, but we should drop the series. It's obvious that this is what Kentucky wants, and if it's going to be like this every year - and at this point why should any of us believe that it isn't - then the game is going to become far more trouble than it's worth.

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I'm more surprised

that you're surprised.

by Red C on Feb 25, 2008 6:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

NOR-FOLKING WAY!

MIKE, how could you have passed up the once in a lifetime opportunity to use this headline!!!!! AAAACKK!

by jerb2 on Feb 25, 2008 6:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A ball was certainly dropped

And I apologize.

by Mike Rutherford on Feb 25, 2008 8:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Mike

What is your moniker on ITV?
Also what site do you like better Scout or Rivals?

by armyof100 on Feb 25, 2008 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hardly ever post

on either site, but I can't deny spending far more time than I should on ITV.

by Mike Rutherford on Feb 26, 2008 4:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seven Days!?!?

I'm a UK fan and I see this as being nothing more than an act of childish defiance on the behalf of Mitch Barnhardt. Embarassing, to say the least.

And jerb2, I agree. You blew it on the headline!

by wildcatblitz on Feb 25, 2008 7:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good call blitz

Barnhart is just a difficult man. But I know that ADTJ would play Kentucky in the middle of the night if they want - he is not going to let Barnhart out of this series.

by BR on Feb 26, 2008 8:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Norfolk State?

I guess he must be thinking about losing his whole offense from this year and what a powerhouse Norfolk State is gonna be next year.

by NextYear on Feb 25, 2008 7:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Its Obvious now...

That UK wants to end this series so they can replace us with another D1-AA cupcake so they can guarantee their fans a bowl game every year. They want us to end the series so they don't have to take the heat from their fans.

I'm willing to bet eventually ol' yellow bellied Mitch will cave and the game will be played Labor Day night.

Go Cards!

by JMC on Feb 26, 2008 6:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Surprised??!!

For historical reference see:

you tube Louisville vs. KY 1983 Part 1-- where they question Joe B. about playing U of L--and he stops the interview...awkwardly (as UK does everything.)

Then they pan to Denny at his biting best...

Priceless

And, THAT says it all about UK

by frankpos on Feb 26, 2008 6:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

True

What can you expect from a school who's athletic program (other than their golf team) hasn't been relevant to the national scene for a decade?

Win the same 3rd tier bowl game against 2 teams that really didn't want to be there and all of a sudden they think they don't need to be seen on national television.

Some dipshit that called into the Big EZ show on 93.9 last night liking the fact that UK didn't want to play the game on Monday in front of a national audience. His reasoning was "why give U of L another chance to be on national TV, we can stick it to them while they're down right now". Simply amazing. A lot of UK fans hate U of L more than they love their own team.

If not for a couple of good football wins this year, Barnhardt would probably be out on his ear already at UK. That guy has ZERO vision for that athletic department.

Go Cards!

by JMC on Feb 26, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Monday Monday Can't Trust That Day

The real reason they won't play on Monday is that
Monday is the day all the UK fans journey into town and stop by Ike Godsey's General Store to watch another cutting edge episode of "Hee Haw."
Ah,Oh...I guess I blew all decorum by getting too personal. Stooped to my own level on that one. Sorry...hey Frank, please pass me another Mason Jar of "The Recipe."
Goodnight, Mary Ellen.

by Roz on Feb 26, 2008 10:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We totally

need to end this series. UK is just fucking with us to get under our skin. We need to play a real BCS school anyway. There are other BCS teams out there that are good every year that we could play. Instead we get UK who has one or (fluke) two good years and they think they can make all the rules. UK is a joke. They're going to suck for the next couple of years and we'll be winning bowl games. Then they'll be begging to be on TV.

by DANCARD on Feb 26, 2008 10:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes...and the point is, we love to beat the holy

snot out of them

and I'd love to see them beg- once.

So, I've put up with this kind of stuff since Rupp and Hagan-- you youngsters just need to sit back and realize this just makes them look silly--and that's where the enjoyment comes in

(in addition to beating the snot out of them of course)

by frankpos on Feb 26, 2008 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It wouldn't break my heart...

if we ended this series

by jerb2 on Feb 26, 2008 11:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We need to keep this series...

...last year was a blip. If we continue dominating them, eventually they will have to back out.

They will not be that good this year.

We finally get to say things like, "there is no way they can replace woodson, burton, tamme, woodyard, little, dixon, scott (?), leger, etc etc" But this year it is true!

Now, how good are we going to be next year? Well....hey, did you see the latest bracketology? I really hope we don't get in UCLA's bracket.

by CardsFan922 on Feb 26, 2008 11:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Youngsters?

I'm 133 years old!

by DANCARD on Feb 26, 2008 12:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

okay

I'm not 133 years old

by DANCARD on Feb 26, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am

(far closer than you to ) 133 yrs old ; - )

by frankpos on Feb 26, 2008 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A lot of

chest pounding coming from Barn-yard. Yeah, they got a lot of TV coverage including their bowl victory over Florida State (uh, wasn't that Florida State's 4th string that they beat????)..rah. I think U of K is just baiting U of L to cancel the series (Barn-yard doesn't want anyone to think that they want out.....he is so chicken) I agree with BR that ADTJ won't let them off that easily....GO CARDS !!! (Beat them whenever we play - never take a knee)

by Linda on Feb 26, 2008 1:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

TJ was just on ESPN radio with Bozich

Hearing him makes Barnhart look and sound all the more the fool.

by Blocky on Feb 26, 2008 2:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I heard the interview. He basically said its up to UK and ESPN now. He only heard the UK answer through the media, not directly from UK. He sounded as befuddled as the rest of us.

Go Cards!

by JMC on Feb 26, 2008 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs