LOUISVILLE - Most of the hot topics floating around the Kentucky athletics circles made the rounds at last night's CUB Wildcat Kickoff Party at Louisville Slugger Field.
The hiring of Mitch Barnhart came up, as did the ever-popular topic of quarterback Jared Lorenzen's weight.
But this event is in the city of Louisville. And Barnhart, Lorenzen and just about everything else took a backseat to one thing:
Can UK beat the Louisville Cardinals?
UK has dropped three straight to its archrival.
And while Barnhart's arrival has drummed up speculation about the future of the current coaching staff, head coach Guy Morriss might be able to head east of Lexington and run for mayor if the Cats beat the Cardinals on Sept. 1.
Barnhart said he will evaluate Morriss this season before making a decision on his future. But many on hand last night said they thought a win over Louisville could make it a non-issue.
"The Louisville game is huge," said Sam Goodman, who brought his daughter Samantha to the Kickoff Party. "All (Morriss) needs to do is pull an upset or two, and if he can get Louisville right off the bat, there'll be a lot of happy people."
"I think he's on the right track. I just hope the new AD gives him a chance."
Hodgenville resident Scott Boley said he hopes Barnhart does a broad evaluation on Morriss.
"I don't think you can set a limit on wins," said Boley, a former basketball player at Western Kentucky whose family has been attending UK games since the 1960s. "To come out and say you've got to win six or seven games or you're gone, that's tough on anybody.
"But UK football fans are dying to see a winner. And (Barnhart) has a tough job figuring out what the best way to go about that is."
Despite the back-to-back 2-9 seasons and NCAA probation, more than 700 fans showed up last night to meet and greet Morriss and the UK coaching staff.
"Kentucky, no matter what, is going to get people to come out and support them," said 39-year-old Louisville native Eric Vegh. Morriss
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