LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There's been nothing subtle about the flavor of the University of Kentucky football program's dominance of the University of Louisville since Lamar Jackson left town.
Four games. Four results as one-sided as debating sideline reporting ethics with Charissa Thompson.
The Wildcats have outscored the Cardinals by an average of 30 points per game. UK averaged nearly 45 points in the victories. UofL scored 57 total points.
A string of Kentucky players, led by former quarterback Will Levis, led the nation in flashing Ls down.
Anybody who stayed through the final soggy minute of UK's 52-21 victory at Cardinal Stadium in 2021 will never forget the fadeaway game-ending snapshot.
There appeared to be fewer than 1,000 people left in the building. Most were dressed in blue, packed in the seats behind the Louisville bench, serenading the Louisville players with love songs.
Scott Satterfield could never do anything about it — that day or any day.
I'll take it one step further: Satterfield could never convince anybody that Kentucky's status as the rivalry bully bothered him enough to do something about it.
Satterfield carried on like playing Kentucky was no more important than playing Georgia Southern or Troy.
Aw, shucks. Every game counts the same.
Jeff Brohm might not beat Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in L&N Cardinal Stadium in his first crack at Mark Stoops and the Wildcats for the Governor's Cup. But Brohm, his assistants and his players will not pretend the Cards are getting ready to play Wake Forest or Syracuse.
"In my opinion, this is the most important game of the rest of the season," Brohm said.
"Our guys need to understand that preparing to win this game needs to be the complete focus.
"If we want to make our fans happy and give them a good Thanksgiving, we've got to win this game."
Brohm grew up in the Trinity-St. Xavier High School rivalry. He was conditioned to avoid the sting of losing to the team that rubs it in.
His final season with the Cards was 1993. The Governor's Cup part of the rivalry began in 1994. As a disciple of Howard Schnellenberger, Brohm watched his former coach politic, argue and sweet-talk Kentucky into starting the series — with the first four games played in Lexington.
"That's really one of the reasons you play sports is to have entertainment and excitement for the fans," Brohm said.
"And to be able to, at some point, at least for a year, brag on your team and be able to come through in a big rivalry game where fans know each other."
Anybody else?
"There's no doubt about it, this is the Super Bowl," UofL running backs coach Chris Barclay said.
"I think our kids are chomping at the bit, because they understand how important this game is as well ...
"... I told my guys (the UofL running backs), 'Guys, it might be a little bit different if you go to Walmart (wearing) your stuff and all of a sudden you lose the game.
"They might not let you in Walmart. They might close it down until you leave."
Unlike Brohm (who coached in the game as an assistant but did not play in it) or Barclay (who has not played or coached in it), Louisville center Bryan Hudson was one of the soaked Cardinals' who suffered through Kentucky's celebrations on Nov. 27, 2021, and again on Nov. 26, 2022.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis (7) holds up three fingers to the crowd after scoring his third rushing touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Memories?
"Absolutely," Hudson said.
"Like you said, they've won the past few games. Credit to them and the job they've done in this game.
"But, just talking individually, that does stick with me. I do keep that in the back of my mind as I think anyone should or could."
If Louisville wins, those memories can be flushed, replaced with a fresh snapshot.
If Kentucky wins, the Wildcats losing streak will stretch to five for the first time since the Governor's Cup began in 1994.
If Louisville wins, the trash talk will be reversed for the first time in 1,828 days.
If Kentucky wins, their will be chirping from Lexington that Louisville benefited from a favorable schedule that has featured only one team currently ranked in the Top-25 (Notre Dame).
If Louisville wins, the Cardinals will hold their spot in the top 10 as well as their slight hope of making the national college football playoff.
If Kentucky does not win, the Wildcats will stumble into a minor bowl with six losses in their final seven games and fans chirping about Stoops' king-sized salary.
I could go on. But I don't have to.
"We're well aware of the ramifications of the game," Barclay said.
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