UofL fans loving their team to the consternation of a frowning Kentucky fan (Mike DeZarn photo).
No doubt about the loyalties of these happy fans, win or lose, committed to the University of Louisville (Mike DeZarn photo).

What goes around comes around. But don’t expect Kentucky fans to change.

From 2011 through 2016, the University of Louisville football team defeated Kentucky five straight seasons. Scores of 24-17, 32-14, 27-11, 44-40, and 38-24. No doubts about which program was dominant, even the most delusional Wildcat partisans would be pressed to deny.

The situation has obviously reversed over the past three games, with UK thumping the Cardinals by 56-10, 45-13 and 52-12. An ugly reality for Louisville fans. Good times, like bad times, come and go.

UofL fans can endure the fact that the biorhythms in the series are trending in the wrong direction. What is odd, however, is the strange behavior of UK football players taunting Cardinal fans with upside down L signs before, during and after the game with UofL. Even more weird is that they do it while playing against other opponents. They even do it for individual achievements having nothing to do with sports.

What UK players and fans don’t seem to grasp is that by desecrating a fun UofL symbol they are admitting that Louisville is in their heads way too much.  What’s with a UK quarterback taunting Louisville fans with upside down L’s after scoring touchdowns?

They begrudge and downplay any UofL success. Don’t ever expect a UK fan to compliment Louisville on a major win because they are pulling UofL to fail. The same could be said of some Louisville fans, but the hatred has its origins in Lexington. For them, UK is the center of the universe. Anything that deflects from the admiration of the Wildcats is a threat.

All the anger toward the L sign is evidence of UK’s obsession with another fan base. The L sign symbolizes fun for UofL fans, something that can’t be tolerated by big blue fans.

The Cardinal Bird is not a welcome sight for the UK faithful (Mike DeZarn photo).
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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 “Kentucky players, fans obsessed with L sign”
  1. I thought they were just reminding each other to put their guns down after what happened last spring at the frat house. Levis is a clearly an anti-gun advocate and proponent for a peaceful society.

      1. What other school other than Louisville would identify with the “Loser L”. Kinda like the first time UK played at the Chicken House in Louisville and numerous fans were wearing KFC buckets on their heads. Some things are just too silly not to draw ridicule.

          1. UK has the bragging rights. It’s annoying to see the upside down “L’s” — yes, but the best way to stop them is to beat them. One has to wonder if Satterfield is the answer. I get the rebuilding phase, but, are the Cards headed in the right direction?

            On the other hand, no downward “L”‘s from anyone in the LNFCU. Volleyball is on a mission and unstoppable.

            Paulie

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