The Louisville Cardinals and the University of Kentucky Wildcats are easily the most well known college basketball teams in the Bluegrass State. And since the two teams are not in each other's conferences, they only meet once a year. Luckily that time is quickly approaching, and soon one of the schools will walk away with bragging rights for another year. But, basketball isn't the only university sport to get fans rabid. That was proven this week, when fans at a pre-game football event got into a fist fight.
Cardinal and Wildcat basketball is intensely popular in Kentucky, and fans are always exited to see the two clash in the annual game, dubbed "Battle for the Bluegrass." Bleacher Report outlines the idea behind Kentucky's hoop-head mentality:
"UK and Louisville's close proximity to each other has bred an intense instate rivalry. But the hatred between the Wildcats and the Cardinals runs much deeper than simply being close to each other. Unlike many of college basketball's other great rivalries...UK and Louisville do not play in the same conference and only have one scheduled meeting each year. Their animosity is not simply born of familiarity or battling year after year for the conference crown; it starts and ends with basketball bragging rights in a state that is more religiously devoted to basketball than anything else."
It may be true that the state is currently focused more on basketball than any other sport, but that could soon change.
Tthe young athletes playing in this year's college football season are not letting fans forget about them so easily. According to ESPN, the day started off heavy with an emotional pre-game brawl:
"...Coach Bobby Petrino appeared to shove a Kentucky assistant during an on-field scuffle prior to the in-state rivals' annual showdown Saturday...The incident began when several Kentucky players stomped on the Cardinals' logo at midfield, which prompted an angry response from Louisville players and coaches...The moment was the biggest of several confrontations that preceded kickoff...The pushing and shoving shifted toward the Kentucky sideline, where Petrino, who was coaching in the rivalry game for the fifth time in his career, appeared to grab and shove Wildcats assistant coach and director of football recruiting operations Dan Berezowitz.
Wow, even the coaches know what is at stake in this game! Check out the video and tell us what you think in the comment section below.
