Papa John S Cardinal Stadium

LOUISVILLE - Offensive lineman Mario Benavides knows what's at stake when Louisville kick off against Kentucky on Sept. 2 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals who are favored to win the Big East, are in some preseason top-25 polls and are a double digit favorite against the Wildcats. “Whenever you're talking about a rivalry game, there's always that natural - whether we're favored or not - that natural edginess as far as the underdog goes. We've been the underdog plenty of times against Kentucky,”¿said Benavides during UofL's media day Wednesday.

Kentucky and Louisville will open the 2008 football season on Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The game was originally scheduled for Aug. 30, but was moved so it could be televised by ESPN. This will be the 11th time in the last 15 years that the UK-Louisville game has been on live national or regional television, including the last seven seasons on an ESPN affiliate. This will also be the sixth time in the last seven years that the game has been played on a Sunday.

Sometimes it's easy to wonder why the Kentucky High School Athletic Association makes certain decisions. However, moving the state football championships to Bowling Green in 2009 and 2010 is not a hard move to comprehend. The state championships have been played in Louisville since 1979 and "playing on the turf" in Louisville became a common phrase for teams across the state. This year's Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl - some new name for what we call the state football championships - will be Dec. 12-13 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

LOUISVILLE -- With all the big plays the Kentucky defense made here Sunday, it was easy to overlook what might have been one of the game's biggest plays. Certainly fumble returns for touchdowns by Ashton Cobb and Myron Pryor were spectacular. UK's three interceptions were also eye-catching along with six pass breakups, two sacks and one blocked field goal. However, don't forget the game-changing 78-yard kickoff by Tim Masthay. "Have you seen a bigger kick than that one?"

LOUISVILLE - Tickets are now available for the University of Louisville's men's basketball game against Western Kentucky on Nov. 30 at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. Tickets for the game, are $35 for lower level seats and $20 for the upper level. U of L fans may purchase tickets at both U of L ticket offices, located on the third floor of the Swain Student Activities Center or in the new location across the street from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium at 2799 South Floyd Street.

Remember two years ago when Kentucky not only lost to Louisville, but the Wildcats also got pushed around and embarrassed by the Cardinals? Kentucky lost that game 59-28 and for all practical purposes the issue was settled in the first quarter. Now think back to Sunday when it was UK that pushed around the Cardinals and won 27-2 thanks to a dominating defense - or at least a defense that was dominating on this day. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks says it's not hard to comprehend why UK has now won two straight over Louisville and recovered from that 2006 debacle.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky went into last year's game with Louisville proclaiming to have a united team. But anyone who had listened to veteran players question everything from why coach Guy Morriss left UK to the training regimen new coach Rich Brooks had put them through the previous few months knew the Wildcats were far from united. It showed, too, not only in the 2003 season-opening loss to Louisville, but at crucial times in almost every game during a disappointing 4-8 year. While it's impossible to accurately gauge team chemistry, it certainly appears that the Cats have made substantial progress in that area going into Sunday's rival game with the Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky and Louisville officials may not agree on when their football game should be played, but they all agree the game has to be played. Louisville athletics director Tom Jurich and coach Bobby Petrino want the game to remain the first week of the season. Last year Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said he might want to play the game later in the year when his team is more seasoned. "It has to stay as the opener," said Petrino during the third annual Governor's Cup Golf Classic here Thursday to promote the Sept.

Not many things could make Boyle County coach Chuck Smith alter his normal weekend preparations for his team's next game. But today's Kentucky-Louisville game is an exception. Smith will have four of his former players - Louisville senior defensive lineman Bobby Leffew, Louisville junior offensive lineman Travis Leffew, Kentucky junior placekicker Taylor Begley and Kentucky freshman receiver Jacob Tamme - playing in the game. That's why the coach, and his assistants, spent more time than normal Saturday preparing for this week's game at Nelson County and also came to work earlier than usual today.

A month before the football season started, Boyle County brothers Travis and Bobby Leffew were trying not to look ahead to Louisville?s showdown with Miami. Both knew if their Louisville Cardinals were undefeated going into the game at Miami, they could have a legitimate chance to earn a spot in the Bowl Championship Series if it could beat the Hurricanes. "If we go into Miami unbeaten, we probably still won't have a lot of national respect," Travis Leffew said in August. "But if we go unbeaten and then go to Miami and win, people won't have any choice but to respect us. " "I'm sure not many people will think we can beat them," Bobby Leffew said.

LOUISVILLE - Offensive lineman Mario Benavides knows what's at stake when Louisville kick off against Kentucky on Sept. 2 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals who are favored to win the Big East, are in some preseason top-25 polls and are a double digit favorite against the Wildcats. “Whenever you're talking about a rivalry game, there's always that natural - whether we're favored or not - that natural edginess as far as the underdog goes. We've been the underdog plenty of times against Kentucky,”¿said Benavides during UofL's media day Wednesday.

The City of Bowling Green and Western Kentucky University were selected as the host site for the 2009 and 2010 Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl by the KHSAA Board of Control. The Board had heard a presentation from WKU and Bowling Green representatives at its September meeting and, after a follow-up visit to the recently renovated Houchens/L.T. Smith Stadium by KHSAA Commissioner Brigid DeVries and Assistant Commissioner Julian Tackett, voted to award the event to Bowling Green. Bowling Green was the only site submitting a proposal that complied with the KHSAA date and facility requests.

Sometimes it's easy to wonder why the Kentucky High School Athletic Association makes certain decisions. However, moving the state football championships to Bowling Green in 2009 and 2010 is not a hard move to comprehend. The state championships have been played in Louisville since 1979 and "playing on the turf" in Louisville became a common phrase for teams across the state. This year's Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl - some new name for what we call the state football championships - will be Dec. 12-13 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

LOUISVILLE - Tickets are now available for the University of Louisville's men's basketball game against Western Kentucky on Nov. 30 at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. Tickets for the game, are $35 for lower level seats and $20 for the upper level. U of L fans may purchase tickets at both U of L ticket offices, located on the third floor of the Swain Student Activities Center or in the new location across the street from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium at 2799 South Floyd Street.

Remember two years ago when Kentucky not only lost to Louisville, but got pushed around and embarrassed by the Cardinals? Kentucky lost that game 59-28 and for all practical purposes the issue was settled in the first quarter. Now think back to Sunday when it was UK that pushed around the Cardinals and won 27-2 thanks to a dominating defense - or at least a defense that was dominating on this day. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks says it's not hard to comprehend why UK has now won two straight over Louisville and recovered from that 2006 debacle.

Remember two years ago when Kentucky not only lost to Louisville, but the Wildcats also got pushed around and embarrassed by the Cardinals? Kentucky lost that game 59-28 and for all practical purposes the issue was settled in the first quarter. Now think back to Sunday when it was UK that pushed around the Cardinals and won 27-2 thanks to a dominating defense - or at least a defense that was dominating on this day. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks says it's not hard to comprehend why UK has now won two straight over Louisville and recovered from that 2006 debacle.

LOUISVILLE -- With all the big plays the Kentucky defense made here Sunday, it was easy to overlook what might have been one of the game's biggest plays. Certainly fumble returns for touchdowns by Ashton Cobb and Myron Pryor were spectacular. UK's three interceptions were also eye-catching along with six pass breakups, two sacks and one blocked field goal. However, don't forget the game-changing 78-yard kickoff by Tim Masthay. "Have you seen a bigger kick than that one?"

Kentucky and Louisville will open the 2008 football season on Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The game was originally scheduled for Aug. 30, but was moved so it could be televised by ESPN. This will be the 11th time in the last 15 years that the UK-Louisville game has been on live national or regional television, including the last seven seasons on an ESPN affiliate. This will also be the sixth time in the last seven years that the game has been played on a Sunday.

LOUISVILLE - There was one thing Sam Harp knew about Marty Jaggers as soon as he met him. "I knew he loved football. There was no question about that. He had the same passion for the game that I did, and not everyone does," said Harp. Friday the two friends got to share a coaching dream as both had their teams playing for state titles at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium here. Jaggers led Mercer County to a 15-12 victory over Russell in the Class AA contest before Harp's Danville Admirals lost 37-34 to Newport Central Catholic in the Class A game.

What could be the biggest college football game ever played in Kentucky will have major implications on the Bowl Championship Series - and could propel Louisville to a possible national championship game if it can beat West Virginia. Four of the five BCS series games will have representatives at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium tonight. And ESPN will make sure football fans all across the country know what is happening. Louisville's offense has struggled some recently and will need to get back in gear tonight against the highly-touted Mountaineers.