By Chris O’Grady
In the wake of last week’s fourth consecutive loss to the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville’s bitterest of rivals, it seems as good a time as any to reflect on the ever-changing spirit of the rivalry that sets families against one another and perfectly civil friendships off course.
The rivalry receives many clever nicknames from observers, sports writers and fans alike: The Battle of the Bluegrass, Red ‘n’ Blue, etc. As far as nationwide rivalries go, it may be presumptuous to rank U of L-UK among the best, such as Michigan-Ohio State or Duke-North Carolina. But few pairings of schools can boast of the number of fans invested – both emotionally and financially – in this rivalry. As far as fun, good-natured hate goes, U of L-UK, at least in the minds of impassioned supporters, is a real-life realization of childhood cartoon fantasy.
In the eyes of many nationwide, this rivalry is much more like “Pinky and the Brain” than the average hero and villain cartoon. Louisville appears to be the smaller, less competent school whose plans to take over the world – or at least the major sports scene in the state – fall short. But you still keep rooting for them. Why? Well, because you like the underdog and, of course, you know someplace deep down in your heart there’s always hope for the little guy. David always gets Goliath eventually.
Lest this introduction gives the wrong impression, U of L is by no means hopeless in its athletic competition with Kentucky. The records are fairly even across the sports. Though UK has won the most recent meeting in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball, U of L is the reigning champion in softball, men’s soccer and swimming. The schools split the season series in baseball.
But the feelings of indignation from U of L fans and the nationwide perception of Louisville as the little brother to Kentucky are all wrapped up in the big sports, namely football. The root of college athletics is in the high-profile teams that can make money in the television markets. If the university can’t get its teams on national television in the fall, there is no hope for national prominence. And let’s face it, no one plans to air college soccer in primetime. Like it or not, few will watch. So even though U of L, and especially athletic director Tom Jurich, have done a phenomenal job building the so-called “second tier programs,” only wins in football and basketball will change the mentality of U of L as the lesser of the state’s schools.
So while U of L football certainly dug a hole in that pursuit under Steve Kragthorpe, U of L is showing signs of life in changing the tide. Hiring Charlie Strong has given U of L fans a rallying cry, literally. Who knew the brilliance of hiring a coach whose name has become the simplest marketing campaign in college sports history? No one was going to try to fit “Kragthorpe” into anything clever, witty or catchy. Cardinal fans can finally match the ridiculous T-shirts and billboards of “Big Blue Nation” with “CardStrong.” Whether or not it should be, winning the marketing is a large part of the battle. But more than that, Strong gives fans a product they can be proud of, instead of being forced to shuffle their feet anytime a snotty, blue-clad relative asks which bowl game U of L is playing in this year.
