What you are not understanding is that unfortunately on a national level, it’s not just UK that doesn’t get respect. Admit it or not, we are still seen as a basketball school and all these issues with the program only damages or harms our football program. That could change if we were to consistently contend for an ACC title but we’re not there yet. So replacing UK with Cincinnati, Memphis, Tennessee won’t change anything and for people who live in KY you would lose fan interest.
At least I am not a sheep blindly following what a few geeks are telling me is the 'Watchability Value Factor" (Oh My) BS to watch or not. Surprised a man of your integrity would accept such BS as factual. 
There's only one of us "making up things." There are links to each of the statistical references I made...
U of L has a lot higher higher national standing than LPT. It brings us down to their level making that comparison. Our own fans are the most egregious offenders...
We don't like Memphis--they're not on our schedule.
You're not a state program any longer. You aspire to the national championship, not to be the best in KY. You're already there anyway, and LPT doesn't care. They don't care about football, just receiving an SEC paycheck.
^^^ This...is all that matters to me. I love it and want to see it continue. My little corner of the world (family and friends) enjoy the hell out of it. I'm not really concerned with who agrees with my preference or what the national media think of it.
.I'm getting less excited about the game as time goes because my uk family members are getting used to losing it, and are downplaying it more and more. Especially since we haven't been competitive in BB. They immediately downplay the importance of the FB game, and remind me how good they are in BB.
Now if we start winning in BB more, it will make the FB waayyy more important for me IMO because then they have NOTHING to hang their hat on.
If I were betting, when all is said and done and the truth were known, and drinks are being had in the bar after $EC meetings, MOST of them don't WANT to play uk either.
What does it do for AL, FL, TN, UGA, USC2, or LSU to HAVE to play uk? They're in the conf and it's required....
What are the TV ratings for any of those vs uk? Can't be much.
The $EC lives with uk not only for the sure W it is for it's elites, but also because it LOVES the BB money uk brings in since they don't give a rat about BB. (And they loves the Vandy academic standing)
Quid pro quo
Do the National pundits not slobber on themselves touting the "tough" $EC? If uk is a "good" win for those guys...why is it not for us? uk is part of the "tough" and people need to point that out every chance they get.
I gave you a reference to a stats-based approach--which you liking or disliking is irrelevant--and a list of TV ratings that didn't rank this game in 2017 . Neither proves the game has a national viewing audience.
And that attitude is fine--"a necessary part of the season for you". But that's what rivalry game advocates need to admit, that you simply for no reason other than need or desire, want to see the game remain on the schedule.
I agree that many players in Kentucky who used to gravitate toward basketball now take up football. And that that explains to a large extent the decline in high school basketball talent in the State.
No playing Indiana St and possibly WKU hurts our SOS. And just because we are now in the same conference playing the dukes, Wake Forest, and BC are not the greatest football powerhouses.
You have to play conference games--no choice--and all of those games stand in the way of a conference championship, which is the second most important goal we have every season.
UL-LPT is a great rivalry. What makes it so great is all the off the field/court stuff...Adolph Rupp and his refusal to play UL because they had black players, LPT football following suit, Howard haranguing LPT into a series, which was itself the impetus for building Cardinal Stadium, the legislature getting involved, and going back further, the politics around UL coming into the state system and the friction with LPT over 2 medical schools, 2 law schools, 2 engineering schools, of course the city-country, Louisville- Lexington tug of war. There is just so much that goes into this rivalry because of the story behind UL from its founding to today. The hate goes beyond athletics. These two have to play in every sport, every year.
At least the first guy played in the internet age, so there oughta be a quote somewhere. Let's see it...
Normally true, but playing regional cupcakes is an issue I asked Jurich about myself.
The first quote is meant to clarify the second. No, they don’t have to play every year, or the coaches should be arrested. I want them to play every year, for the reasons stated.
It took a slapd!ck to articulate in too much detail the biggest reason to continue the series...it drives slapd!cks away from our fanbase.
I'm pretty sure the drop in attendance when we play each other is the fact that it's now the last game and thus usually the coldest. Our attendance always drops with each passing month of the season. Pretty sure UK does as well but I don't follow their attendance that much....other than laughing at the empty corners when shown on the news LOL
Here are attendance numbers since the game was moved to Rivalry Weekend as well as the four previous years. Clearly, the slapd!ck numbers were in decline and continue at that pace. U of L's are down a tick. I wouldn't assign much of the decline to when the game is played...
Exactly. They was the only team you beat who had a winning record in regular season last year. With a returning heisman winner.
Your team played in one of the lamest divisions in college football to get those wins...
