Every now and then one feels compelled to keep the record straight, especially when mistaken or ill-informed opinions appear in The Courier-Journal, with its circulation of 175,000-plus imprints daily. Here’s a letter to the editor from the observer, sent the other day. It appeared in Wednesday’s newspaper:

To the Editor:

One of the myths many University of Kentucky fans living in Louisville and elsewhere like to perpetuate is that this community is split 50-50 between UK and the University of Louisville.

M. Trinkle in his recent letter to the editor repeated the assertion. Sorry to disappoint the Wildcat partisans, but the University of Louisville has a wide lead in fan loyalty locally.

The most comprehensive research on the subject, The Courier-Journal’s Bluegrass Poll, which was conducted in February 2005, indicated that overall 56.7% of Louisvillians were U of L fans, as compared to 33.3% claiming to be UK fans.

When asked about football, 61.3% favored Louisville while Kentucky had 20.8%. As for basketball, 56.7% favored U of L while 33.3% supported UK. The remainder of fans in both sports were largely split between Notre Dame, Michigan, Western Kentucky and other schools.

Not surprising that it is difficult for UK fans to remember, acknowledge or accept the results of the study, especially with U of L winning by such a wide margin.

Charles Springer

It’s a struggle but we must endeavor to keep them honest.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

6 thoughts on “For the record, U of L owns Louisville”
  1. U of L does indeed OWN Louisville AND Shelbyville, Kentucky…I had to smile the other day. I have a U of L license plate and two cars in front of me had U of L plates; a car in front of one of those cars had a U of L plate; the guy next to me had a U of L flag on his car….I live off Shelbyville Road. The ONLY area in Jefferon County that shows some yUK crap on their cars in in the Highview/Preston Street area. yUK fans live in their own dream world…they really believe they are still dominant in the Louisville area yet they don’t even fill Freedom Hall when they come here to play. It’s so cool that TJ mandated that if/when smUK ever plays in the YUM Center, they can’t cover up LOUISVILLE with their hideous, red-neck blue….go CARDS

  2. I would dare say that a new poll needs to be taken. With the successes of Scotty Davenport at Bellarmine University…and the trials and tribulations of Joker Phillips…the Cats might find themselves slipping into 3rd place in Metro Louisville popularity.

    (Nah…probably not…but a new poll needs to be taken.)

  3. A Louisville grad probably did a poll at a UL home game. No way you can determine that on only a portion of Jefferson Co. I do think Louisville may have more fans(as they should in Jeff Co)But KY has a large portion.

    1. Dream on, Susan. The Courier-Journal conducted the poll and the management probably would have preferred for UK to have come out on top. The facts and the citizens spoke otherwise and had no reason to fabricate anything. Like we say in the letter, it is impossible for Kentucky fans to admit what is obvious and what has been scientifically confirmed.

  4. I saw the letter and read it two or three times. You have performed a valuable public service. We can always count on the observer to keep UK fans in a tizzy.

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