Turning the tables: UK has taken control of rivalry, but Cats know things can change in an instant

Posted at 3:19 p.m. EDT- Eric Lindsey, UK Media Relations

Ricky Lumpkin's friends thought he was making a terrible decision.

Picking Kentucky over Louisville? Ricky, you've got to be kidding me, they thought.

Their line of thinking wasn't that far-fetched, actually. Two straight UK victories have created a little long-term amnesia in the state of Kentucky, but it wasn't that long ago that Louisville was the premier football program in the state of Kentucky.

The Cardinals were annual visitors in the top 25 polls, reeling in the state's top recruits, winners of four straight Governor's Cup and seven of the last eight. Kentucky, on the other hand, had just one season of six wins or more since 2000, was fresh off a devastating probation period and off to a rough start in the Rich Brooks era.

One wouldn't need Jack McCoy to consider those cold hard facts case closed. Louisville was simply better.

Yet, despite whispers (and shouts) in his ears that he was making the wrong decision, Lumpkin chose Brooks and Co. over the Louisville Cardinals.

"I heard it a lot. I heard it back in high school," Lumpkin said. "Everyone was like, `Why are you going there? Louisville is doing this, Louisville is doing that. They're about to go to this BCS game. Kentucky is this, they're down (and) they're not going to do nothing.' I was like, `Alright, watch.' "

Lumpkin had to eat some crow his redshirt season when UK took a 59-28 butt-whooping from Louisville in 2006, but ever since a miraculous 57-yard Steve Johnson catch in 2007, Lumpkin has looked nothing short of a prophet.

In just two short seasons, the perception of the state of Kentucky's football landscape has been turned upside down. After three Kentucky bowl wins and two Louisville holidays spent at home, the Wildcat program has become the flagship university for football, whether Brooks is willing to say it or not.

"This is a huge game and for a lot of reasons," Brooks said. "The in-state supremacy, which we were on the bottom tier for my first four years, is not a fun place to be."

What Brooks will tell you is that it can change in a heartbeat. Just as quickly as André Woodson's dart to Johnson could turn the tide in the series, so could a Louisville upset inside Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.

"Two years ago seems like it was 20 years ago to me," Brooks said. "To me, it has no bearing on this game."

That's why Brooks has used the two-week layoff to refocus his Cats and keep them level-headed. In today's technology-driven, 24/7 news society, it's hard not to pay attention to all the naysayers doubting Louisville's chances, but Brooks has made sure to preach to his team not to be overconfident heading into the 22nd game in the rivalry.

"You have to live in a vacuum not to hear about it all year long in this state," Brooks said. "You hear it on talk radio, you see it on the message boards, out in public, just everywhere. You get constantly reminded of which side of that equation you're on. The last two years we've been fortunate enough to win the game (but) that really doesn't count (this year). What counts is what happens this year."

Lumpkin, coincidentally dressed in U of L black and red at Monday's news conference, might look like the smartest guy in his hometown of Clarksville, Tenn., after his decision to pick Kentucky, but he insisted that this year's game is different.

"It's a rivalry game. It's our first home game, everyone is going to be excited (and) they're going to be excited," said Lumpkin, a junior defensive tackle. "I'm pretty sure they've been hearing about how we beat them the past two years, how they beat us really bad my freshman year and how they want to get the Governor's Cup back over there. ... It's going to be a huge game."

Behind a new quarterback - Lexington Catholic product Justin Burke, who Brooks said threw for "nine million yards" in his high school career - a potent running game and a faster defense, Brooks said the Cardinals are much improved from last season.

"I don't think there is any question they're going to play much better football, much sharper, more focused than the first week, and I'm sure we'll see much more from them than they showed in the first game," Brooks said. "I'm a believer that you have to get better every week as you go through the season, and if you don't, there are other people that are going to get better."

Lumpkin insisted that getting up for Saturday's game will be no problem at all. The implications are simply too big.

"The tempo is getting picked up in practice because everyone is excited, everyone is moving around, it's the first home game (and) it's our archrivals," Lumpkin said. "You can't not be excited for this game. You have to be excited for this. This is what you live for. This is Kentucky-Louisville."

Sounds like the Governor's Cup is no ordinary game.

"No it's not. It's not another game at all," Lumpkin said. "This is not Tennessee, this isn't Florida - this is our rival. In a way it might be bad because it's our rival. There's going to be more adrenaline because those are your boys down the street. You know them, you know family members that know them (and) you have friends that are Louisville fans. There are bragging rights in the state of Kentucky."

Right now, those belong to Kentucky. Not that Lumpkin is bragging to those naysayers he dealt with years ago or anything.

 

UK-Florida on ESPN2

Posted at 1:27 p.m. EDT - Eric Lindsey, UK Media Relations

No early morning tailgates for the Florida game.

The Kentucky-Florida game on Sept. 26 will be televised live on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. EDT. The Southeastern Conference just unveiled its entire television slate for week four of the college football season. You can find them all here.

This week's game against archrival Louisville will be on ESPNU at noon, but will be made available to all Insight customers in Lexington and Louisville.

 

Injury update

Posted at 12:55 p.m. EDT - Eric Lindsey, UK Media Relations

The Kentucky football team remains in pretty good shape health-wise heading into the annual Governor's Cup with Louisville, although Rich Brooks did add a surprise to the injury report at his weekly news conference Monday.

Wide receiver Kyrus Lanxter pulled a hamstring in practice last week and is doubtful for Saturday's game.

Fullback John Conner remained questionable with an ankle injury. The senior will practice Tuesday and then be re-evaluated. Cornerback Cartier Rice (hip flexor) is questionable and did not practice Sunday, but Rice will try to go Tuesday.

Linebacker Danny Trevathan practiced Sunday and is expected to play Saturday with a surgically repaired wrist.

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