Twitter rips Mark Stoops and Mitch Barnhart for latest Louisville debacle
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For a second straight year, Louisville made Kentucky football look overmatched, outclassed, and unprepared on one of the biggest stages of the season.
After last season’s 41–14 embarrassment at Kroger Field, this year’s meeting felt hauntingly familiar. Kentucky entered the Governor’s Cup at 5–6, needing one win to become bowl eligible, but instead trailed 20–0 at halftime and eventually suffered another lopsided defeat that was never in doubt. Kentucky has now lost a combined 82-17 in the last two Governor’s Cups.
This game was supposed to mean something. Rivalry games always do, but Kentucky never threatened, never steadied itself, and never responded to Louisville’s physicality and execution. Two glaring issues told the story: disastrous special teams play and continued instability at quarterback.
A blocked punt led to a Louisville touchdown, and a missed field goal wiped away a rare scoring chance. Meanwhile, Cutter Boley’s inexperience, which was an issue last season and still is this year, was again on display. Boley made his first career start in this rivalry last year before leaving with an injury after going 6-of-15 for 48 yards and two interceptions. This year wasn’t much better. Behind an overwhelmed offensive line that failed to adjust, Boley faced relentless pressure as Louisville racked up five sacks and six tackles for loss in the first half alone.
The game was never competitive, and as Kentucky heads into another offseason filled with questions, one reality grows harder to deny: The Mark Stoops era needs to end, and there’s a good argument for Mitch Barnhart needing to head off into the sunset as well.
Box Score
MVP
Picking an MVP in the Kentucky vs. Louisville blowout wasn’t easy, but junior DB Ty Bryant gets the nod. He led Kentucky with 11 tackles, eight solo, standing out in a tough, lopsided game. His effort was a bright spot for the Wildcats on a rough night.
Kentucky vs. Louisville Twitter Reactions
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