Biggest week in local, state gridiron action starts Friday

Bobby Brockman

The over-used phrase “it doesn’t get any better than us” might just hold true this week if you’re really a football fan.
It’s like a three-part movie.
•Campbellsville and Taylor County renew the football rivalry for the 39th time on Friday (7:30) at Campbellsville University’s Ron Finley Stadium.
It’ll be the fifth edition of the Big Dawg Bowl where the local radio station (WVLC FM-99.9) gives $1,000 to the winning team and $250 to the losing squad.
That series is tied at 2-2 (the Cardinals won in 2008 and last season) during the Big Dawg Bowl while the overall gridiron series, which began in the all of 1973, stands at 21-17 in favor of the Eagles.
•Campbellsville University kicks off its 25th football season on Saturday night at 6 vs. the University of Pikeville.
Coach Perry Thomas’ Fighting Tigers have triumphed in their last three season-opening tilts — last year 30-14 over Union, 34-7 over Kentucky Christian in 2010 and 38-37 at Cumberland (Tenn.) University in 2009. In Thomas’ first game as CU’s head coach in 2008, the Fighting Tigers lost at home to Cumberland (Tenn.) 48-38.
•The Labor Day weekend hits full Red and Blue stride on Sunday afternoon (3:30) when the University of Louisville hosts the University of Kentucky in the Battle of the Bluegrass at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
The Wildcats lead the football series 14-10, but U of L has won 10 of the 18  games since the competition was revived in 1994 after a 70-year break in the action.
Remember, in 15 of the 18 seasons when the football team wins first, the basketball team loses. (UK won both in 2009 and 2010 while U of L swept in 2003.)