The Governor's Cup is Much Heavier Than It Looks

Certain holiday traditions never get old. Around Christmastime, there’s nothing quite like baking cookies with Grandma, then enjoying a few for breakfast while unwrapping presents. It’s the ideal precursor before Ralphie says, “Ohhhh fudge (Only I didn’t say fudge)!” A month before, Big Blue Nation celebrates Thanksgiving by watching the Wildcats win the Governor’s Cup.

The Governor’s Cup did not always serve as the exclamation point for America’s holiday of gratitude. That changed in 2014 when the season opener was moved to rivalry weekend. Kentucky has won all but three meetings since, including five straight over the Cards.

It never gets old. Each year Louisville fans believe they have a shot to win. Each year, Lucy pulls the ball away from Charlie Brown.

Each loss comes with excuses. “They had tummy aches. That’s why they couldn’t tackle Lynn Bowden!” I forget what the excuse was after the tenth-ranked Cards lost at home as a huge favorite last year, but I’m sure there was one.

Louisville’s sadness is greeted with jubilation on the football field by the Wildcats. The Governor of Kentucky hands the trophy to the Wildcats, who triumphantly hoist it high over their heads. Today I learned they make it look easy. It is not.

Mark Stoops Doesn’t Throw Shade at Louisville

Mark Stoops brought the Governor’s Cup to the annual Louisville Kickoff Luncheon at Churchill Downs. Just outside of the windows of the First Turn, you could see the scene of the crime off in the distance on the corner of Floyd and Central. Stoops had a chance to kick them while they’re down, but unlike Scott Satterfield, he has too much respect to throw a bunch of shade at Jeff Brohm.

“I knew it would be tough, I knew it would be a good game, I knew Coach Brohm would do a wonderful job, and he is,” Stoops said. “It’s good to come here after a win, but we gotta go do it again this year.”

I asked a question looming on the minds of many. “Is the Governor’s Cup in jeopardy if Kentucky must play nine SEC games?” Stoops is withholding comment until he knows with certainty that a nine-game SEC schedule is on the horizon.

Before departing Churchill Downs for the afternoon, I spotted one of my favorite former Kentucky Wildcats, Jeremy Jarmon. The former All-SEC defensive lineman had an important job at the end of the event, help pack up the Governor’s Cup trophy.

Here’s the thing, lifting up that trophy is not a one-person task, even if you spent years throwing around SEC offensive linemen. I volunteered my services and happily lifted the enormous, 30-year-old, 110-pound piece of hardware. It’s something Malik Cunningham has only done in his dreams.

When you see the Wildcats holding the Governor’s Cup high over their heads on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, just know that it’s not as easy as it looks.