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Renewing the Bourbon Barrel Series?

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ss32000

All-Conference
Dec 2, 2001
2,409
1,375
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I just wanted to stop by and get the UK perspective on picking up the series with Indiana again in football. Speaking as an Indiana fan, I was sad to see that series go because it was a nice non conference game that generated interest/rivalry, but I believe Kentucky put an end to the series due to finances. I think at the time Kentucky opted out since they would rather have an extra home game since they played Louisville already in the non conference, but I think the dynamics have changed significantly in College Football since that decision was made.

I can speak to the Big Ten scheduling requirements and I would imagine the SEC won't be too far behind here shortly. The Big Ten put in a mandate of no FCS opponents, must play 1 Power 5 school in the non conference (with some exceptions with some AAC or Service Academy Schools) and 9 conference games. This format has created an interesting dynamic where Group of 5 schools are getting more bold in their asks to Power 5 schools for games. In UK's case, I saw they are playing Eastern Michigan in a 2 for 1 deal with UK paying around 1.2 Million for Eastern to come to Lexington and UK still has to make a road trip to Eastern. My sense is that UK would rather play a school like Indiana where they might be able to get away with a lower payment for Indiana to come to town and make for a better road trip than needing to go on the road to a MAC school.
 
Rhavic

Rhavic

Heisman
Dec 15, 2014
33,215
23,079
68
Smashcat said:
And after 2011 trip to Bloomington, doubt UK wants to deal with even drunker IU fans at a FB game.
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Only way Indiana rushes the field is if UK is the #1 team in the country, so I doubt that's applicable.

I'd love to see it. I want to see all P5 teams play more P5 teams. I would be okay with this.
 
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jauk11

Heisman
Dec 6, 2006
60,631
18,638
0
If we can't bring back the Beer Barrel for Thug U then I don't see how we can possibly bring back a Bourbon Barrel, even if it is a bit classier. Everyone should remember that tragic story.
 
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Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,074
21,559
113
I would love a H&H with Purdue, IU and Illinois for the same reasons, better non conference matchups = more fan interest. Hell with scheduling easy wins, we have tried that for 15 or 20 years, I can't see how beating up a bunch of stiffs has really elevated our program, and when we lose, e.g., Western, Ohio U, almost to ULL and EKU this year, it is a complete disaster.
 
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wildcatdon

Heisman
Oct 17, 2012
9,759
11,931
113
Hope we never play IU again in anything..biggest bunch of ******* fans i have ever encountered and that includes UL.. forget them..We do not need them.
 
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OHIO COLONEL

Heisman
Feb 11, 2009
14,803
59,401
0
Is this PC age, I imagine the name would have to be changed to something the Iced Tea Barrel, or the Milk Jug. Bourbon would conjure up too many negatives in the early 21st century.
 
S

ss32000

All-Conference
Dec 2, 2001
2,409
1,375
0
OHIO COLONEL said:
Is this PC age, I imagine the name would have to be changed to something the Iced Tea Barrel, or the Milk Jug. Bourbon would conjure up too many negatives in the early 21st century.
Click to expand...

They renamed it the Border Barrel after some incident, but I still refer to it as the Bourbon Barrel.
 
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yoshukai

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
26,815
36,271
102
ss32000 said:
I just wanted to stop by and get the UK perspective on picking up the series with Indiana again in football. Speaking as an Indiana fan, I was sad to see that series go because it was a nice non conference game that generated interest/rivalry, but I believe Kentucky put an end to the series due to finances. I think at the time Kentucky opted out since they would rather have an extra home game since they played Louisville already in the non conference, but I think the dynamics have changed significantly in College Football since that decision was made.

I can speak to the Big Ten scheduling requirements and I would imagine the SEC won't be too far behind here shortly. The Big Ten put in a mandate of no FCS opponents, must play 1 Power 5 school in the non conference (with some exceptions with some AAC or Service Academy Schools) and 9 conference games. This format has created an interesting dynamic where Group of 5 schools are getting more bold in their asks to Power 5 schools for games. In UK's case, I saw they are playing Eastern Michigan in a 2 for 1 deal with UK paying around 1.2 Million for Eastern to come to Lexington and UK still has to make a road trip to Eastern. My sense is that UK would rather play a school like Indiana where they might be able to get away with a lower payment for Indiana to come to town and make for a better road trip than needing to go on the road to a MAC school.
Click to expand...
IMO , neither team can afford to schedule a team they will probably lose to 50% of the time .
 
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truebluewildcat_rivals34254

All-American
Feb 21, 2006
8,403
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I think it's time for the program to expand its competitive horizons when it comes to OOC scheduling...

games against schools like EKU, ULL, Eastern Michigan, Charlotte, etc...have absolutely no appeal...to fans or potential recruits...

I know "we need wins..."...but wins can be had in the mid to lower ranks of P5 conferences...IU would have some appeal and the house would be packed...it's a natural rivalry, states border each other, B10 v SEC, fan bases don't have a lot of love for the other, etc...would be competitive...

Illinois, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Duke, UNC, Syracuse, Uconn, Maryland are all programs i would like to see on the schedule every now and then...

absolutely hate playing WKU and EKU...no one outside the state of Kentucky cares about that game or sees it...does nothing for expanding the brand of UK or promoting the program to recruits...not to mention, a lot of EKU and WKU fans are also UK fans...

Instead of playing Charlotte right before UL, it may be a good idea to have a competitive game against IU or Cinci...instead of accomplishing nothing but false hope by blowing somebody out...

...and i'm not sure what our deal with Eastern Michigan is...why we would pay them and still have to travel up there is beyond me...
 
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hmt5000

Heisman
Aug 29, 2009
26,976
82,650
0
Sec is talking about adding a second p5 game and no fcs games. East will still play acc and have to add a game. West will probably add a big 10 or 12 school and I would say that's the hold up.
 
Rockford

Rockford

Heisman
Jun 28, 2001
21,871
45,318
83
Neither team needs a game that is a 50/50 and a OFC home and home.
UK already has a OFC home and home with UL. Not sure about IU.
 
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Robcatt24

Heisman
Sep 17, 2005
17,980
16,921
113
Honestly, Indiana was the most boring game on the schedule to me outside of the cupcakes.

I loved the basketball series with IU. But I would much rather play any number of teams besides Indiana in football.

UK should look to play teams in fertile recruiting grounds.

Georgia Tech, Central Florida, South Florida, Virginia.
 
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ok-cats-computer

All-Conference
Oct 5, 2005
5,654
3,677
0
I would like to see us going back to playing IU in football. It was a border rivalry against a power conference team in which we were competitive. In all honesty, there are not many power conference teams with whom we would be competitive every year. In that regard, playing a border rival like IU was enjoyable for the fans, and it brings more value to season tickets than playing a glorified scrimmage against a team like Charlotte.
 
yoshukai

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
26,815
36,271
102
truebluewildcat said:
I think it's time for the program to expand its competitive horizons when it comes to OOC scheduling...

games against schools like EKU, ULL, Eastern Michigan, Charlotte, etc...have absolutely no appeal...to fans or potential recruits...

I know "we need wins..."...but wins can be had in the mid to lower ranks of P5 conferences...IU would have some appeal and the house would be packed...it's a natural rivalry, states border each other, B10 v SEC, fan bases don't have a lot of love for the other, etc...would be competitive...

Illinois, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Duke, UNC, Syracuse, Uconn, Maryland are all programs i would like to see on the schedule every now and then...

absolutely hate playing WKU and EKU...no one outside the state of Kentucky cares about that game or sees it...does nothing for expanding the brand of UK or promoting the program to recruits...not to mention, a lot of EKU and WKU fans are also UK fans...

Instead of playing Charlotte right before UL, it may be a good idea to have a competitive game against IU or Cinci...instead of accomplishing nothing but false hope by blowing somebody out...

...and i'm not sure what our deal with Eastern Michigan is...why we would pay them and still have to travel up there is beyond me...
Click to expand...
If by "I think it's time for the program to expand its competitive horizons" , you mean we have no chance at going to a bowl game so we might as well play some competitive games that we may or may not win during the season , then I can see where you're coming from.
 
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truebluewildcat_rivals34254

All-American
Feb 21, 2006
8,403
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yoshukai said:
If by "I think it's time for the program to expand its competitive horizons" , you mean we have no chance at going to a bowl game so we might as well play some competitive games that we may or may not win during the season , then I can see where you're coming from.
Click to expand...

Obviously I'm not suggesting we start playing elite programs...or even scheduling multiple lower mid-lower tier programs in the same year...I'm merely suggesting a small step in a more competitive direction...for all the reasons i mentioned in my post above...broader appeal, more exposure, and a bit more competition to keep the team focused and make them better...

Playing IU or Cinci rather than Charlotte I don't think will doom the program....

to get to where we all want to get it is a necessary step that may not make a lot of sense at first or short term, but over the long term it pans out...
 
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