Hughley and the Cardinals Focus on the Rivalry
November 25, 2015 | Football
The Cardinals face Kentucky Saturday at noon. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
For University of Louisville center Tobijah Hughley, this weekend's game against Kentucky is a little different than the others he has played in this season.
For a kid who grew up in Lexington, Ky., Hughley is excited about returning to his hometown as a member of the Cardinals, but it' a different feeling for him due to the fact that he attended high school right down the road from the Kentucky campus.
Attending Lafayette High, Hughley grew up watching Kentucky, and was a fan of the Wildcats growing up, but his entire focus is going back as the starting center for the Cardinals. The starter in 10 games this season, Hughley will have about 20-30 people in attendance watching the Cardinals, who are looking for their fourth-straight win in the series.
"It's definitely exciting," Hughley said. "It's going to be exciting to be going back home to play in front of a bunch of family and friends. I'm sure it's exciting for everyone else on the team as well. I have a bunch of family and friends who go to UK, so they will be there. I'm expecting a lot of people to be there."
Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee knows what this games means to Hughley and his teammates. McGee stated that because of the magnitude of the rivalry in this state, that it will mean a lot to the players, especially in the state of Kentucky.
"It's a huge deal for him," offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. Â "I think it's a hughe deal for everyone in each program. I think it means a lot to the kids who are from the state of Kentucky. For Tobijah, who grew up in Lexington, this means a lot to him."
Head coach Bobby Petrino, who will be making his sixth appearance in the rivalry, knows this game means a lot to everyone throughout the state.
"I remember when I first came here and walked out of my front door and saw a Kentucky flag right across the street and the hair in the back of my neck stood up and thought how could this happen, what is this but that is how it is. Louisville being the big city, lot of Kentucky fans live right next door to you, then get to go to a basketball game you know and see that atmosphere and that competition."
" Then my first game out here at Papa John's Stadium was a very hot game, they were packing guys to the hospital, (Tim) Couch was throwing touchdowns and (Chris) Redman was throwing touchdowns, I remember all of that. So it doesn't take you long to understand about a rivalry."
Hughley knows his emotions will be high for himself, and of course, his teammates, but said they must temper those emotions for the game.
"Of course, they are high because it's a rivalry game," Hughley said. "You have to keep that in check. I'm sure the first play will be pretty intense, but after the first play you have to calm down, because its football at the end of the day."
Â
Â
Â
For a kid who grew up in Lexington, Ky., Hughley is excited about returning to his hometown as a member of the Cardinals, but it' a different feeling for him due to the fact that he attended high school right down the road from the Kentucky campus.
Attending Lafayette High, Hughley grew up watching Kentucky, and was a fan of the Wildcats growing up, but his entire focus is going back as the starting center for the Cardinals. The starter in 10 games this season, Hughley will have about 20-30 people in attendance watching the Cardinals, who are looking for their fourth-straight win in the series.
"It's definitely exciting," Hughley said. "It's going to be exciting to be going back home to play in front of a bunch of family and friends. I'm sure it's exciting for everyone else on the team as well. I have a bunch of family and friends who go to UK, so they will be there. I'm expecting a lot of people to be there."
Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee knows what this games means to Hughley and his teammates. McGee stated that because of the magnitude of the rivalry in this state, that it will mean a lot to the players, especially in the state of Kentucky.
"It's a huge deal for him," offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. Â "I think it's a hughe deal for everyone in each program. I think it means a lot to the kids who are from the state of Kentucky. For Tobijah, who grew up in Lexington, this means a lot to him."
Head coach Bobby Petrino, who will be making his sixth appearance in the rivalry, knows this game means a lot to everyone throughout the state.
"I remember when I first came here and walked out of my front door and saw a Kentucky flag right across the street and the hair in the back of my neck stood up and thought how could this happen, what is this but that is how it is. Louisville being the big city, lot of Kentucky fans live right next door to you, then get to go to a basketball game you know and see that atmosphere and that competition."
" Then my first game out here at Papa John's Stadium was a very hot game, they were packing guys to the hospital, (Tim) Couch was throwing touchdowns and (Chris) Redman was throwing touchdowns, I remember all of that. So it doesn't take you long to understand about a rivalry."
Hughley knows his emotions will be high for himself, and of course, his teammates, but said they must temper those emotions for the game.
"Of course, they are high because it's a rivalry game," Hughley said. "You have to keep that in check. I'm sure the first play will be pretty intense, but after the first play you have to calm down, because its football at the end of the day."
Â
Â
Â
Players Mentioned
OL
/ FootballThe Card Tape: Boca Raton Bowl
Friday, December 26
FB: Bush's Boca Raton Bowl Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, December 24
The Card Tape: Kentucky (2025)
Monday, December 01
FB: Highlights vs. Kentucky
Sunday, November 30
