Rivalry Review: Cats-Cards through the years

The Cats and Cards will collide for the 21st consecutive season on Saturday at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Kentucky's coaching staff has spent this week "educating" its players on the history of the rivalry, and we at The Courier-Journal wanted to do the same for our readers. So we examined the game now known as the battle for the Governor's Cup from three different angles.

There's my story, reflecting on the Cats' biggest and most exciting victory in the series, back in 2007, which featured a thrilling play in the final moments and brought a breakthrough for coach Rich Brooks and his rebuilding effort. Brooks believes Mark Stoops is in a similar spot in his own restoration project and would reap the same rewards if he can beat U of L on Saturday to earn a bowl berth.

If you want to hop in the way-back machine, Adam Himmelsbach dug through The C-J's archives to learn about the earliest days of the rivalry, when the Cats outscored the Cards by a combined 210-0 through their first six meetings. Let Adam be your guide back to the beginning of the 20th century.

Don't fret, Cardinals fans, we have something here for you to enjoy, too. U of L beat writer Jeff Greer delves into the distaste coach Bobby Petrino and the Cards have for Kentucky -- and their recent success against the Cats. Petrino is 5-1 against UK and has never lost to the Wildcats while coaching a team in this state (Louisville or WKU).

And for a quick primer on this year's meeting and complete list of scores through the series' history, this should give you a solid overview.

* For instant updates on the Wildcats, follow me on Twitter @KyleTucker_CJ. Email me at ktucker@courier-journal.com.