2008 Governor's Cup: Pressure Is On Steve Kragthorpe and the Louisvile Cardinals

Yes I know we are in the middle of March Madness, but I can't keep attention away from the upcoming college football campaign. There will probably be people reading this article having a laugh at my expense for taking the time to write about a game that will not kickoff until Labor Day weekend (the date of which isn't even determined yet.... more on that fiasco later), and at the fact it is coming from someone who lives in basketball obsessed Louisville, Kentucky. The biggest chuckle may materialize due to subjects of the article having a combined 2007 record of 14-11 and one bowl appearance to boot.

However I must insist that this may be the most pivotal match that the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky will have played since the intrastate series resumed in 1994. Yes, the 2008 Governor's Cup game will be more crucial than last year's Brian Brohm and Andre Woodson shootout, more vital than the 1997 Papa John's Cardinal Stadium christening (more like desecrating after a 68-34 beatdown issued by Tim Couch and UK), and more tide-turning than the 2000 overtime battle won by Louisville after a thunderstorm delay. I will explain why this game will determine who will have a choke hold on this series and in recruiting, and also shed some light on which side will have the advantage heading into the game.

Since a 1-10 flop in 1996, the Louisville Cardinals had turned into a speeding locomotive of momentum. The program, led by the shock-and-awe passing attacks of John L. Smith and Bobby Petrino, had racked up nine straight bowl appearances highlighted by winning the 2007 Orange Bowl, and were becoming regular tenants in the top ten. After the Orange Bowl, as everyone knows, Petrino bolted for the big bucks in the NFL and was promptly replaced by up and coming Tulsa head coach Steve Kragthrope. Still this transition didn't stop the local and national media from annointing U of L as serious national title contenders, causing all or nothing expectations from a fan base that had already been accustomed to witnessing Louisville cremate team after team at home.

2007 started out no differently, with a near embarrassing 73-10 pasting of Murray State. But then a cause to worry came the very next week, as an atrocious Cardinal defense surrendered 554 yards and 42 points to Middle Tennessee State. The eighth ranked team in America has no excuse for allowing that kind of offensive production by a team from the lowly Sun Belt Conference, and the supporters let them know that by serenading them with boos.

That was the luggage that the Cards carried into Commonwealth Stadium for the 2007 meeting with the Cats, who also had some momentum in the form of their first bowl victory since 1984 and the core from that squad still on the team. Hosting the first of three BCS bowl winning opponents, Kentucky came into the contest with little to lose and as a result, much looser than Louisville. The Cats forced a fumble on the opening kickoff and picked off Brian Brohm's first pass en route to a fast 13-0 lead.The Cards  managed to finish the half well enought to take a 21-19 lead at the break. The second half was back and forth, coming down to a late fourth quarter Kentucky possesson with The Ville trying to hang on to a 34-33 lead.

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