In reply to: Notre Dame - Kentucky Men’s Basketball Series Announced posted by Kayo
Especially because (I believe) Crossroads isn't happening in 2021.
2021 is the last year. Doubt it gets renewed.
I've always wondered this because you are far from the first person on here that points to the non-neutral Freedom Hall games as reason to loathe/hate/dislike Kentucky. I understand that these games were about as far from "neutral" as you can get, but it's not like UK pulled a fast one on ND. I'm sure ND knew the situation they were signing up for... and honestly, ND football has the same advantages at it's "neutral" games.
A lot of people here dislike UK because of this, but it has always seemed strange to me. Maybe because i wasn't alive during those games to see what it was like.
4 straight losses in de facto road games in L’ville. IIRC, Irish had a shot at a # 1 ranking going into 3 of those games. Joe B Hall was a smug, arrogant di**wad who ran a dirty program. Robey was their Laimbeer equivalent & I didn’t care for Kyle Macy either.
I still wish 78 team could have played them for NC on an actual neutral court, and beating them the year after I graduated did my heart glad.
He was too much of a coward to play at the Fieldhouse, and ND (as an independent) needed quality games. So Rupp demanded neutral-site games but wanted them all within the state of Kentucky.
The contract came up for renewal in Digger's early years, and in a fit of hubris, he chose to renew it. Bad decision.
about it when he addressed a class (Sociology of Sport) of mine fall ‘77. He agreed to extend contract after 12/73 win in ND’s best year and an off UK year.
There were a # of hoopsters (including Laimbeer, Flowers & CarpenterIIRC) in that class. I specifically recall Montana was in it. Not every day that you have 1 of the most famous heroes in NFL history & 1 of most infamous villains in NBA history in same class.
I wish Hunter Thompson at written a "Fear and Loathing in Louisville" book on that series.