HA! in trying to pump up UL football, Howie demonstrates how weak their schedule always is.

[How Blue Can You Get?]

Louisville's 2016 schedule is loaded
Howie Lindsey | Publisher
Louisville Football will face perhaps its toughest football schedule ever in 2016 with games at Clemson, at Houston and home games vs. Florida State, Duke and NC State.

"The Cardinals will play Florida State and Clemson during a stretch of three weeks from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1 that also includes a trip to Marshall on Sept. 24. UofL will close the season with a showdown at Houston on Nov. 19 and a home game vs. arch-rival Kentucky on Nov. 26."

What a joke...This is their toughest schedule ever! Finally Howie, you admit, albeit accidentally, that UL has at best, 2 top opponents per year! Sounds like an apologist piece expecting to lose.

 

[ukalum1988]

So are you implying that UK is not a top opponent of UofL?

 

[Kybluedude]

I think we need to start beating them before we continue to critique.

 

[Beatle Bum]

I see 3 really good teams on the schedule, as of 1/26/2016. UK not being one of them.

 

[NavyCat88]

As long as we're playing them head to head.....schedule is immaterial. "Scoreboard" bragging rights are won on the field.

 

[trumpetcat]

Pretty much if Stoops loses to Loser again IDK What I'll do. We cant get behind them in this series.

 

[How Blue Can You Get?]

So are you implying that UK is not a top opponent of UofL?

Really? Do I have to imply that we are not on the Level of Clemson and Fl St??? C'mon man! I love the Cats, but I'm not delusional.

 

[How Blue Can You Get?]

I think we need to start beating them before we continue to critique.

and yeah, we need to start beating them, but that has nothing to do with the fact that they constantly pump out bs propaganda. For years, they played a pitiful schedule while pumping their chests about 6 wins against nobody, totally disrespecting the schedule we play year in year out...and now, they want everyone to believe they have it tough on the ACC??? Sorry, I've personally heard Howie disrespect UK's SEC schedule on multiple occasions. This guy is a hypocritical a** clown, and I'm gonna call him out for it!

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

So are you implying that UK is not a top opponent of UofL?

We probably are the team they want to beat most but we are by far a top team as we demonstrated this past season.

 

[ukalum1988]

Really? Do I have to imply that we are not on the Level of Clemson and Fl St??? C'mon man! I love the Cats, but I'm not delusional.

Well,you coulda said "UL has, at best, three top opponents per year":stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

And no, I'm not saying that we're at Clemson and FSU's level . . .

 

[FickusDuckus]

Its about as good as I can remember them having. Keep in mind I went to a lot of their games during the Smith/Petrino/Krag days. Still have an open invite but health tends to keep me at home. The one thing they have been is resourceful. Someone above mentioned marketing and propoganda and I agree but they are one and the same. They played every night of the week but they also got kids attention. Twenty years ago they were WKU today as far as football goes. I want to beat them just as much as anybody here but I also tip my hat to where they are. While they had the luxury of a light schedule they also had the anchor of a much smaller pocketbook. They beat the bushes and have churned out every penny imaginable.

If you had told me twenty five years ago they would be in the ACC right now with 3 big bowl wins in their hip pocket Id have laughed. But here we sit. At the end of the day we have sat idle whilst a school we had under our thumb has grown into an equal at the very least. I only hope that we make the same commitment and rise to the occasion. I dont spite them one bit of their success they have earned it through media black eyes and scrutiny of their opponents. And they have repeatedly went toe to toe with us. Something that never would have been possible had we had the proper commitment to football across the board as they made in the 90's. At the very least we should have matched their efforts schedule or not. But we did not. Now here we sit.

I know for a fact there is another program here in KY that has the same aspirations Louisville had 30 years ago. Its our friends at Western. Lo and behold they are also now members of CUSA. With probably 5-10 years to build towards that next landscape shifting conference realignment (after playoffs expand). They would love nothing more than to follow the road Louisville followed. They have many of the same luxuries (schedule) and hurdles (money). Where I think they lack is they do not have the local donor base (corporate) that UL tapped. I just hope we are truly serious and we have chosen the right man to lead us on the gridiron. I have seen a lot of positive indicators and Im as hopeful as Ive even been but Im turning 61 this year and Ive been led to the trough many times and went home hungry. The scary thing is we could be a decade away from another local threat popping up. Can they ride the momentum like UL did and catch a few breaks like the Cards did? Who knows, but I do know they are positioning themselves to be in the conversation and they are using the Louisville program as their model. I also know that there isnt one of us here who wouldnt have chuckled had you told us UL would be where they are had you told us in 1989. By no means does that mean WKU will be a success. South Florida openly admitted to following the same model and they are still on the outside looking in. Either way we need to get it right and get it right soon. We can only raise the bar so many times on our rivals until we eventually run out of bar. The two schools we rival the most here both seem to be on the uptick from my point of view. Its high time we step up to the plate and do our part. Heres hoping next year is the gateway to some monumental games vs our rivals going forward. We are at a critical juncture in our development and just a few bad bounces could be the difference between what we consider to be success and failure next year.

 

[NoDef]

When a team from the ACC is matching SEC conference wins with a team that plays in the SEC then it is probably not a time to poke fun at their schedule. I'm as big a UK Homer as there is, but be realistic. Dont go downgrading teams that just beat you on your home field. Doesn't make you better.

 

[Lonesome Hippopotamus]

They got a schedule about 50% as difficult as any in the SEC.. Grats to Da VILLE

 

[Blueaz]

and yeah, we need to start beating them, but that has nothing to do with the fact that they constantly pump out bs propaganda. For years, they played a pitiful schedule while pumping their chests about 6 wins against nobody, totally disrespecting the schedule we play year in year out...and now, they want everyone to believe they have it tough on the ACC??? Sorry, I've personally heard Howie disrespect UK's SEC schedule on multiple occasions. This guy is a hypocritical a** clown, and I'm gonna call him out for it!

I agree with your sentiment. But, do you really think "you are calling him out" on here?
You are venting. Which is OK. It is carthatic to get it off your chest and move on.

 

[HedleyLamarr]

Louisville had a stronger schedule than UK last year, and will again this year.

 

[DaBossIsBack]

Louisville had a stronger schedule than UK last year, and will again this year.

Hahahahaha

 

[BBBLazing]

I love these embarrassing threads about every two weeks where one of our fans figures out a way to make fun of Louisville and say they suck when we can't beat them. I wish our fans would concentrate on our team. Not only do they beat us, they beat SEC teams that we can't beat. It is embarrassing.

 

[Beatle Bum]

I love these embarrassing threads about every two weeks where one of our fans figures out a way to make fun of Louisville and say they suck when we can't beat them. I wish our fans would concentrate on our team. Not only do they beat us, they beat SEC teams that we can't beat. It is embarrassing.

This post requires one to overlook the multitude of threads concentrated on our team.

I also wish fans would stop saying UL's successes are embarrassing to UK.

 

[HedleyLamarr]

Sagarin final ranking for 2015. Louisville SOS rank 35. Kentucky SOS rank 57.

 

[BBBLazing]

This post requires one to overlook the multitude of threads concentrated on our team.

I also wish fans would stop saying UL's successes are embarrassing to UK.

I never said that UL's success is embarrassing to us. I said that our fans spending their time publicly trying to diminish UL's success is embarrassing to us.

 

[Beatle Bum]

For 2016, both UL and UK play teams that were in this year's NC game and both teams will be considered in the top five teams to get to that game in 2016. Both the Clemson and Alabama games are on the road. We can puff FSU, but they need to prove they have a QB and they are not coming off a top caliber season. Likewise, we can say UGA or UT is a top tier team, but that will have to be demonstrated before belief. I think UK has the tougher schedule next season. I think UL has three games wherein they might not be favored. The remainder of their schedule is not impressive. Two of those three games are on the road. I think they lose the 2 that are road games and will have an early season shot to beat FSU at home. FSU better darn well find a QB before that game. 2-4 losses is my prediction. 4 losses should be a disappointment. Any more than 4 and BP should be fired.

 

[DaBossIsBack]

Sagarin final ranking for 2015. Louisville SOS rank 35. Kentucky SOS rank 57.

Sagarin hahaha

 

[bigbluegrog]

Sagarin final ranking for 2015. Louisville SOS rank 35. Kentucky SOS rank 57.

You are correct in regards to final ranking. Our pre-season SOS was #5 behind Wash, Ark, Miami and Bama......not UK's fault that the usual SEC teams ended up not as good as the "experts" thought they would be. But UK has no need to EVER apologize for their schedule.

 

[JasonS.]

Louisville's 2015 schedule was a lot tougher than ours, no matter whose SOS you use. Expect that gap to narrow some this year (e.g., enter Alabama), but we don't really have room to cast stones in Louisville's direction on the scheduling front.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

They already have 1 definite loss, Sept. 24 at Marshall. There are 2 for certains in life, paying taxes and Marshall beating Louisville.

 

[Kats23]

Louisville's 2015 schedule was a lot tougher than ours, no matter whose SOS you use. Expect that gap to narrow some this year (e.g., enter Alabama), but we don't really have room to cast stones in Louisville's direction on the scheduling front.

I get what you're saying but UL's bottom half of the ACC teams they faced were not much better than the SEC bottom half UK faced. I think I would traditionally rather play Virginia, Wake, Boston College, Syracuse as opposed to playing Georgia, Miss St, Auburn, and South Carolina. Yes, UL gets Clemson and Florida St and on occasion ND but there's a big drop off most years between them and the other teams. Most years, the SEC East isn't all beatable like they were this past year. Also, UL is lucking out so to speak that Houston is/was better than advertised when they scheduled this home and home.

I've said for years, give Kentucky UL's schedule the past 5 years and I think UK is in a bowl in 4 of the 5 of them. In the ACC, most years they get two great opponents and mostly bottom feeders to fill out their schedule. Next year they get 2 great teams(Clemosn, FSU), 2 decent teams (Houston, Duke) but both have a lot of questions, and 1-2 okay teams.

 

[Strongtino]

Something to also keep in mind is that UL has had a higher SOS than UK for the last 2 years.

 

[carddead13]

For 2016, both UL and UK play teams that were in this year's NC game and both teams will be considered in the top five teams to get to that game in 2016. Both the Clemson and Alabama games are on the road. We can puff FSU, but they need to prove they have a QB and they are not coming off a top caliber season. Likewise, we can say UGA or UT is a top tier team, but that will have to be demonstrated before belief. I think UK has the tougher schedule next season. I think UL has three games wherein they might not be favored. The remainder of their schedule is not impressive. Two of those three games are on the road. I think they lose the 2 that are road games and will have an early season shot to beat FSU at home. FSU better darn well find a QB before that game. 2-4 losses is my prediction. 4 losses should be a disappointment. Any more than 4 and BP should be fired.

It is easy to say that their schedule is not tough because they will be favored in a majority of the games and that they should lose no more than 3 games. If you want to do a true comparison, how many games do you think UK would lose against the UofL schedule? I see 7 or more. Sorry.

 

[Beatle Bum]

It is easy to say that their schedule is not tough because they will be favored in a majority of the games and that they should lose no more than 3 games. If you want to do a true comparison, how many games do you think UK would lose against the UofL schedule? I see 7 or more. Sorry.

I did not say that it was easier because UL will be favored. And, I realize that you and your filtered view of the world think UK would lose 7. That is expected from fans who have zero objectivity. Sorry.

 

[HedleyLamarr]

Just for fun, I would put Clemson, FSU, Houston, Louisville, NC St. and Duke in the probable loss category for UK. That would require winning at Marshall, at Syracuse, at Virginia, and at Boston College, all of which I would call toss up games. Wake Forest and Charlotte, at home, are very likely wins. Seven losses looks pretty likely, unless UK improves quite a bit. Possible....

 

[Beatle Bum]

Just for fun, I would put Clemson, FSU, Houston, Louisville, NC St. and Duke in the probable loss category for UK. That would require winning at Marshall, at Syracuse, at Virginia, and at Boston College, all of which I would call toss up games. Wake Forest and Charlotte, at home, are very likely wins. Seven losses looks pretty likely, unless UK improves quite a bit. Possible....

And, many people see UK's schedule as leading to 7 losses again. So, are we still talking about who has the tougher schedule or has this become defensive about who has the better team?

 

[vhcat70]

The op is pretty much blinded by his "distaste" of LV. Their schedule is nothing to turn up noses at.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

Just for fun, I would put Clemson, FSU, Houston, Louisville, NC St. and Duke in the probable loss category for UK. That would require winning at Marshall, at Syracuse, at Virginia, and at Boston College, all of which I would call toss up games. Wake Forest and Charlotte, at home, are very likely wins. Seven losses looks pretty likely, unless UK improves quite a bit. Possible....

Lol Marshall should blast UL yet again this year, as usual. So shouldnt you put them in the Coemson and FSU category, too?!?

 

[buckkiller]

Ahhh Im a huge UK fan but until we start beating them in not say ish about the schedule. Hell I dont see us beating them for awhile inleds their QB gets hurt or transfers. I think the talent is equal if not better for us actiss the board but not at the QB and their QB IS A STUD LIKE IT OR NOT.

 

[PushupMan]

They already have 1 definite loss, Sept. 24 at Marshall. There are 2 for certains in life, paying taxes and Marshall beating Louisville.

They do have a streak on us ... they've won the last four in the series. UofL and Marshall have actually played exactly as many times as UK and UofL have (28), with Louisville leading 16-12.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Beating UK for the past five years is only indicative of strength of schedule in that UL gets to play UK and UK has to play UL.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

They do have a streak on us ... they've won the last four in the series. UofL and Marshall have actually played exactly as many times as UK and UofL have (28), with Louisville leading 16-12.

That's very true. I'm not so sure of this, but I believe that most of Louisville's wins came when Marshall was the worst team in D1, too. Of course, they certainly have the best reason of any to have been so bad. The plane crash in 1970 decimated their program because everyone on board including coaches, players, administrators, family and media were killed. They basically had to start from nothing. Honestly, I'm sure that's kept them from being in a much better conference than they're in now.

Marshall hasn't lost to Louisville since 1980. Since that time, Marshall has beaten some of Louisville's best teams. Marshall has been the underdog in the games since then. However, I haven't seen a Louisville team that's been able to beat Marshall since then and I don't think next year is the year, either.

Unfortunately for Louisville, they signed a home and home with Marshall thinking they'd win that first game at home. From what I read, when they lost it, they decided to move the game back until Rakeem Cato and that group were gone. I'm sure they thought that would give them the best chance to be able to win then. However, they should've played Marshall last year, while Marshall was rebuilding. Given the fact that Marshall has reloaded at this point and the game is in Huntington where Marshall very rarely loses, I just don't see Louisville winning this game. It may be close, but in Huntington, I'd expect a 2-3 TD win for The Herd.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

Beating UK for the past five years is only indicative of strength of schedule in that UL gets to play UK and UK has to play UL.

We can make as many excuses as we want as to why we don't own the record vs. Louisville. At the end of the day, it's totally Kentucky's fault REGARDLESS of what Louisville does as a program. If Kentucky had taken football as seriously as most other schools, they'd be hard pressed to have won a game in the series. In saying that, it's not too late. If Kentucky will continue to invest in the program and really, truly show that they're taking it as serious as they can, those same results could happen from that point forward.

It's pitiful that some consider Louisville a rivalry, which it's not. Kentucky needs to try to compete and compare themselves with Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, etc. If they're competing with those teams, they beat Louisville like a drum year in and year out. It's honestly as simple as that. I can 100% guarantee that if we start beating Tennessee more regularly, that rivalry will be more intense than anything Louisville would bring. Tennessee actually matters

 

[Beatle Bum]

We can make as many excuses as we want as to why we don't own the record vs. Louisville. At the end of the day, it's totally Kentucky's fault REGARDLESS of what Louisville does as a program. If Kentucky had taken football as seriously as most other schools, they'd be hard pressed to have won a game in the series. In saying that, it's not too late. If Kentucky will continue to invest in the program and really, truly show that they're taking it as serious as they can, those same results could happen from that point forward.

It's pitiful that some consider Louisville a rivalry, which it's not. Kentucky needs to try to compete and compare themselves with Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, etc. If they're competing with those teams, they beat Louisville like a drum year in and year out.

And the non sequitur continues.

 

[HedleyLamarr]

Just my opinion, but I think that Louisville has earned the distinction as the better team, for now. Kentucky is probably another year away from catching up. The schedules seem pretty comparable, depending on how much the SEC East can return to form, especially with three new coaches. Louisville only has one cupcake OOC game, while Kentucky has two. The best thing for UK would be for the East to have another down year, and make a bowl game. We argue about wanting to have the superior schedule, but we're better off if we don't.