Playing in games that matter is what elevates you.
The Petrino 1.0 era was defined by those Thursday games that mattered. The primetime games we put up big points on TV. Coming close and then spanking Miami. WVU game. Rutgers game even in a loss. Dominating UK on Labor Day weekend. The Orange Bowl. People saw us in those games and we looked great. Smaller stadium, but the crowd was louder and it looked better in a sellout.
The Charlie era was really weird. Schedule was bad those years, but the one game that mattered was that Florida game and it held weight. Then it kept translating. Dominating Miami in that Bowl and then the Labor Day game to start Bobby 2.0 looked great. Then we played Jameis really close. Then the win at Notre Dame was a great way to cap the start in the ACC. Then 2016, we have the Heisman and must see tv. Gameday and a FSU blowout. The game of the year against Clemson. People were watching us and it mattered. At that point, we had stability going back to 2012 of big wins on national TV in games people and pollsters watched. We had the biggest star in the sport. We had respect, even with 1 loss we were in the playoff hunt.
That game against Houston is probably the worst game in UofL history. That moment, everyone was watching us. We get embarrassed on national TV. We then lose to Kentucky the next week on national tv with Lamar. LSU in a bowl game demolishes us. Then 2017 we essentially waste Lamar again and our time in the national spotlight ends. 2018 we collapsed. Satt's era was fine, but we just weren't in that spotlight.
Last year was a good start. The ND game last year mattered because you could match record, ranking, and a big win people saw. We still weren't in the spotlight, because the ACC isn't great and we didn't have a lot of great wins. But we had a good season. The Miami win mattered more than people know, being on ABC in a good game. But then ending the season the way we did, it just gives people some reservation. Now the ending doesn't tank your opinion, Jeff has people talking, but what it could've done was solidify us further as not just some good ACC program like NC State and Doren, but a team that can contend on a national stage.
Right now, people see us as this program with this coach everyone likes and we're just a good team that could make noise and maybe steal a bid if things go right. But winning Saturday is what moves you ahead because people will be watching. You win Saturday? Then people are really watching the Miami game and it gives us another big stage. Beat Miami or even play them close, then it creates another big matchup with Clemson.
Last year's ACC title game mattered only because of FSU, like all ACC title games it's only about one team and it's never had a truly great matchup. That's not our fault. The game having an auto-bid matters and if we're taken seriously, it makes our brand matter.
This was probably long and stupid, but we're in a place I believe we were probably around 2014-2015. Satt for all the crap he gets, we were ranked in his last year and he made us respectable, not feared or elite, but respected and consistent. Jeff took that step last year where we had the big season where people are on the lookout. Now? Do we take the 2016 step and force our way into the national discussion?
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Good post despite being a little long.
I thought it important to include LeFores post that indluenced my response to esatablish background to this thread. I didn't want it to get lost in the shuffle so here it is:
We got to 'Just win baby, win'' as Al Davis used to say.
As much as I hate to say this...we have to absolutely beat UK this year and reassert dominance in that series. Have to do it....beat that middling SEC team or little else matters in this state of affairs.
You have to be the best team in your own state to even get national eyeballs on you.
See Bama vs Auburn, UGA vs GT, UF vs FSU, CU vs USCjr., etc, etc. Its more than just bragging rights (which are important too) for them and for us, it is legitimacy and affirmation of who has the more prestigious program in your own state and then....in the nation. It all starts there and it always has for both UofL and UK in All Sports and especially FB..
UK's lack of success in the SEC reflects on them negatively and that stigma carries over to us...Others will say "Hell you can't even beat UK" or "well you beat a lousy SEC team so "So what". They have to get better too. The better they are the more prestige follows.
That is a reason for UofL to schedule tough and nationally ranked traditional opponents OOC and to beat them.
Not the 2 cupcakes we had this year..'.I hate you IU.'...that apparently would have been a good match up this year but those cowards bailed on us.
Having a W vs a BIG team and add ND and then the ACC schedule with both Miami and Clemson in the same year is daunting for little old UofL. Then end with the Wildcats by dominating them is what Cardinal fans dreamed about when CHS made his famous "We are on a Collison Course with a NC, the only veriable is time", bold statement. CJB is on the precipiece now....in the challenging postion to fulfill CHS ambitions for Louisville. RIght time right place.
Well, damn it, the time is now. As NIKE is famous for, "Just Do It". What say you?
All hail U of L! Go Cards!
