Fans' pressure on players is palpable

Former Louisville player Derwin Webb now works as an attorney in the Derby City. Even with grown-up responsibilities, he can't escape the pull of the Kentucky-Louisville game. Earlier this week, he said he had made a bet that will require him to wear blue in court should UK win Friday's game.

Webb declined to say with whom he'd bet. When asked if it was a judge, he laughed and said, "I cannot confirm nor deny."

Webb, who played for U of L in the early 1990s, said players on both sides feel pressure from fans — not from coaches nor teammates — to win the game.

"When you walk through the malls, the first thing they want to talk about is beating Kentucky," he said of U of L fans. "Not winning the conference championship. Not even winning the national championship."

UK center Josh Harrellson echoed the sentiment, saying UK fans had posted a countdown to Friday's game on his Facebook page.

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