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After the UK Louisville football game, Courier Journal UofL fan blogger Tom Heiser took a few shots at UK (Link).  In his post he stated that he felt that despite the loss Louisville was better positioned for the future.  With season over, we felt now is a good time to revisit his arguments. 

Recruiting still seems to be an issue for the Cats, who don’t really have adequate replacements for key people now, let alone come next year

So let’s look at the recruiting classes for next year.
Scout ranks both Louisville and Kentucky at #56. (Link)
Rivals ranks Louisville  #53 and Kentucky at #55. (Link)

And if we take it back a year farther to the 2007 classes
Scout ranks Louisville #47 and Kentucky #58
Rivals ranks Louisville #41 and Kentucky #54
Note that this class for Louisville featured Willie Williams. Who is no longer on the team.

2006 (Next Years Juniors)
Scout Louisville 26 Kentucky 34
Rivals Louisville #34 Kentucky #36

2005 (Next years Seniors)
Scout Louisville #43 Kentucky #62
Rivals Louisville #45 Kentucky #67

While it is undoubtedly true that recruiting rankings are incredibly speculative these number show that UK has closed the gap in recruiting.

Later in his post he wrote:

The Cards are firmly placed on the national scene; Brohm’s departure is fully anticipated — has been since the final seconds ticked off the Orange Bowl clock. Hunter Cantwell is ready to take the reins. Who’s Woodson’s heir?

It is true that Cantwell looks to be a better option than anyone UK has at the moment.  However, who is he going to throw to?  Both teams are losing their top 2 wide receivers and their tight end.  Not to mention the fact that UofL loses NCAA all time leading scorer Art Carmody.

Sure its possible that Louisville might develop some of their younger players into big time contributors it’s also just as likely that UK could do the same.  After all Woodson was not the top recruit Brohm was.  Instead he was someone developed within the system.

A final factor that is often overlooked when it comes to Louisville’s football team is that over the last five years it has been built around two home grown players Michael Bush and Brian Brohm.  It’s rather unlikely that in the near future two great offensive players like these will both grow up in Louisville.

Heiser’s post closed with

Let’s have a debate on the rankings come the end of November. That is, if Kentucky still qualifies for the debate. I like our chances of still being around when the BCS Bowl bids are handed out. Can’t say as much for our Lexington kin. They should enjoy it while it lasts.

Well November has come and gone.  Kentucky is ranked 38th in the BCS, 33rd in the AP, 34th in the Harris, and unranked in the coaches. (Link)  Louisville does not make the rankings in any of the polls.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 at 4:17 pm and is filed under College Football, UK. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.