How are things going, Mr. Red?

Things could be better, Lloyd. Things could be a whole lot better.

A brutal 24 hours for Rick Pitino and all of the Cardinal Universe. Seeing your coach, and by extension, our program, become a national punch line is enough to drive a fan insane.

I believe Tom Jurich showed principle and made the best long-term decision for Cardinal basketball when he decided to stick by Rick Pitino. But I still wonder, if Jurich had a crystal ball and could have forseen all what transpired yesterday, I wonder if his decision would have been the same.

I feel horrible for Pitino's family, and Rick himself, despite his own personal failings that led to this debacle. It's painful to watch anyone's life be splayed in such a manner.

But, as is its wont, the sun will come up. We'll move on. I do not believe a person should be judged by the worst, or most embarrassing, moment of one's life. Rick Pitino is still a man of accomplishment and pride. If he carries himself forward as such, Cardinal Universe should follow.

There's no going back, however, no pretending yesterday's testimony didn't happen. Rest assured, our rivals will never let us forget. Good. I hope Pitino remembers it well. I hope it heightens his desire to strike back against the smirkers and the self-righteous. To paraphrase an adage, the best revenge is kicking ass and winning games.

But we should all brace ourselves. This stain, err, stigma isn't going anywhere. I'm ready for the onslaught, at least I think I am. But if I finally do snap, which let's face it, was only a matter of time, you'll find me seated alone at the locale below, the new bar at the Kayefsseum, pulling my hair, downing shots of whiskey, and talking to the impeccably-dressed ghost of BJ Flynn.

Good and Evil

The new helmets are pretty slick. So long as they burned those "The Ville" jerseys we should be looking sharp this season. Photo via the CJ...

The third criterion: conference landscape

Note: This is the third of seven interrelated posts on how Louisville can keep Charlie Strong.

Simply put, for Charlie Strong to want to stay at Louisville, the Big East has to maintain its BCS bid. It looks like things on that front are stable at least for the near future, though if we learned anything from the most recent round of conference realignment shenanigans, it's how fast the stars can realign. In the worst case scenario, Louisville would have to perform its own realignment gymnastics in order to safeguard the future of the football program. But for now, as long as the Big East can hold on to its nucleus of schools (or adequately replace those that depart), Charlie Strong can compete for BCS bid and a national championship at Louisville. As Red has pointed out often, the fact that the Big East is not the most prestigious football conference in the land should be used to its advantage. In the Big East, Charlie Strong's Louisville teams can dominate; and if they do, they compete at the national level.

Note on the Sypher trial

Reading this blog the past few days, one could be forgiven for thinking that we're oblivious to the fact that one of the most locally hyped trials in years is currently underway. In fact, like all Cards fans, we're paying very close attention; just now I was hitting the refresh button on my browser, waiting for news updates on Rick Pitino's testimony. But yes, we haven't said much about it, I think in part because like everyone else, we're just trying to make sense out of all the details rapidly being released each day. Or maybe legal play-by-play is even more out of our league than its sporting equivalent. (My entire understanding of legal jurisprudence is shaped from John Grisham novels/movies. For my money, all the defense/prosecution need do to win the case is make the jury close their eyes at the end of the trial and tell them a sad story and then end it by saying "now imagine she's white"). Thoughts on the outcome might be due when the trial is ended, but for now I suspect we'll simply keep watching and reading and waiting. If you are looking for more info/analysis, the CJ has an entire web page committed to the trial.

The second criterion: recruiting

Note: This post is the second of seven interrelated posts on how Louisville can keep Charlie Strong.

Strong has to be somewhere where he can attract the type of thoroughbreds necessary to win at the national level. Will the top recruits -- those that are NFL early-round caliber, those for whom the national powers compete -- consider coming to Louisville?

So far, the evidence suggests that Strong is quite capable of bringing in top prospects. Since his hiring in December, big-time recruits such as Michaelee Harris, Corvin Lamb, and Dominique Brown committed to the Cards, to say nothing of potential commit Demar Dorsey. The quality of these players has rapidly boosted the program's national pedigree. Even outside of Strong's quick recruiting pickups, Louisville shouldn't feel insecure. We are the alma mater of Brian Brohm, Michael Bush, Chris Redman, Dave Ragone, Roman Oben, Deion Branch and so many others who went on to play in the big leagues. Some were highly touted recruits (Brohm, Bush), some not (Ragone). But with alumni like this, Louisville has no reason to feel shy about recruiting top-flight talent.

Louisville boasts the most excellent facilities in the country, a recently expanded stadium that is first-rate, a conference BCS bid. It is still only a few years removed from its last (and only) BCS birth. There are so many critical pieces in place. So I think of the Louisville football program during the past few years, if not as a sleeping giant, then as a sports utility vehicle equipped with all the necessary horsepower, if only the right driver could be found.

In just a few short months, Charlie Strong has taken the resources he was given and used it to bring in a higher tier of talent, a level that we haven't seen since the Petrino era. As he continues to find his footing and puts his mark on this program, recruiting will only get better. Of course, if it doesn't go without saying: the Big East Conference has to hold on to that BCS bid for all this calculus to work out..

The first criterion: compete for the national championship

Note: This post is the first of seven interrelated posts on how Louisville can keep Charlie Strong.

Charlie Strong's dream always was to be a successful head coach. He wants to prove wrong all the doubters who passed him over because he didn't "interview well." Over a 26 year coaching career, he's worked for Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, and Urban Meyer. He's spent the last seven years coaching at Florida, where any team that doesn't end up in the national title picture is considered a collosal failure. In short, Strong's DNA is geared toward competing for the national title.

(I have no doubt that Strong values equally his ability to mold young minds, help players earn their degree and help them mature into responsible grown men, but I think it's clear he would keep that end of the deal no matter where he goes).

Whether Cards fans (and foes) realize it or not, he brings this mindset with him to Louisville. He's 51 49 years old, a bit older than many realize, and he has to be eager to get started on the road to a championship. While saying it outright might seem like stating the obvious about any head coach (so Coach Strong wants to win all his games, huh? Shocker...), the background and talent of this particular head coach -- his age, ambition, previous experience -- increases the urgency of addressing the issue head-on. For Louisville to keep Strong, he has to be convinced that the Cards can compete on the national radar.

This might be the most important aspiration for keeping Strong long-term. It will also lead to the greatest number of eye-rolls among those unable to countenance the thought of Louisville competing for a national championship (perhaps not completely undeserved, given the damage done by the Kragthorpe era if for no other reason).

In the overall context however, skepticism as a snap-reaction is misplaced. The fact remains that if you dominate the Big East, then you're at least in the hunt for the national championship, like Cincinnati last year, like West Virginia in 2007, like Louisville the year before that.

Keeping Charlie Strong a Cardinal: seven criteria

My last blog post examined the question haunting all Cardinal football fans who anticipate improvement this season (or shortly thereafter) but dread a possible consequence: if Charlie Strong succeeds at Louisville, can we keep him or does he leave? Mostly detailed were Louisville's efforts in the past ten years to mold itself into a "destination" program; unfortunately, along the way we've also had to endure the spectacle of our coaches departing unexpectedly for higher-profile jobs, therein reinforcing our worst fears and self-doubts.

There is no getting around that other programs will prove attractive, be it for exposure or establishment, tradition or the perceived chance of championship glory (but not financial compensation -- I don't see that as a major factor. Tom Jurich has a track record for richly rewarding a deserving head coach, and at any rate money is not why either John L. or Petrino departed, in my opinion). There's no disillusion here about how hard it will be to keep Strong long-term. However, fans should also recognize that Louisville's football program has several things going for it that -- if harnessed correctly -- could help persuade Strong to stay here.

We're starting over with a new head coach now. And the pertinent long-term question on so many of our minds is that should he be successful (always that qualifier), what possible factors could motivate Charlie Strong to make Louisville his permanent base, his career?

Thanks to the Punjabi parasite that nested itself in my stomach and declared itself lord of the manor a few weeks ago, I've had some extra time away from the daily grind to mull over the possible factors that could help keep Strong at Louisville. From my vantage point, there are at least seven criteria to consider. I'll roll out these points over the next several days -- starting this afternoon -- because hey, I know how much these pondering thoughts from (sweltering) India can help provide relief in (apparently even more sweltering) Kentucky. Why let it all go to spoil in a single day? Unlike my tiny carnivorous microbe ruler, the welfare of my home community means something to me.

For each point, please follow the link: 1, 2, 3.

Underworld

A fascinating piece by Dana O'Neil at ESPN, she interviewed 20 high-profile college basketball coaches, under the promise of absolute anonymity, about the state of college recruiting and what takes place in the shady shadows. Yes, that's an oxymoron, I know, but I liked it.

And the thing is, while a terrific read, it's not all that "enlightening" to most fans of college sport. And that's sad. Most fans don't know, and don't want to know what it takes to produce a winning product to prop up our own fan identity. Perhaps the NCAA has been mandated a fool's errand; trying to police young citizens, that are the age of majority, that may be worth millions of dollars. Especially when the "victims" don't even care.

The occassional hypocrisy of the NCAA isn't lost on me. But it was said best by Nick Nolte in Blue Chips: "The rules don't make much sense some times. But I believe in the rules."

And let's not kid ourselves, it's the subject of daily debate in the Commonwealth because of one word: Calipari.

Without accusation, Cal is the posterboy, the vanguard for those that embrace the mogul culture of young athletes rather than resist. Whether he's a con-man or a visionary remains to be be seen.

The rules don't make sense sometimes, but I believe in the rules. I hope all fans of college basketball in the Commonwealth can maintain some intellectual honesty in this landscape, and be willing to call out our own colors when impropriety is spotted.

I will.

Duuuuuuuumervil

Elvis just signed a whopping contract extension with the Denver Brocos, 61.5 million dollars. Louisville fans know very well, but here's a reminder of what they're buying...

Samardo lands with Cavs

The former UofL big man has agreed in principal to a multi-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Considering the rebuilding that franchise is staring at, it's not a bad place for an undrafted rookie to land. Best of luck, Mardo.

If you haven't already

Take a few clicks around the UofL block...

Card Game has a piece on the defensive indentity of former point Andre McGee, especially topical since he's now on staff, and his d-first philosophy must become infectious for the Cards to have success next season.

CardChronicle surveys the buzz around local/future/would-be-king DaMarcus Smith. And while you're at it vote on the Least Cool Poll. I voted for Cal with exceedingly more conviction than I voted for Obama in '08.

Cardinal Couple sums up the scene of the Lady B-ball Cards, including 5 things to look for in the coming months.

And the much-maligned Tom Heiser at the CJ offers his thoughts on our triple-headed QB battle heading into next season. Easy on Heiser, everybody. There's room in Cardinal Universe for even the most magniloquent of die-hards.

Good Vibes

Excellent article in the CJ today on the maturation of linebacker Brandon Heath. Not to beat a dead horse, but the story is as much about Coach Strong as it is about Heath.

We fretted for so long here at Cardinal Laws over the dichotomy between "player's coach" and "disciplinarian". The choice we had to make between Asshole and Pushover; good guy or good football. Petrino's way versus Kragthorpe's.

But Coach Strong is showing us a third way, one characterized by instilling self-respect and the drive to maximize one's potential. It feels as if the players don't fear Strong as much as they fear not living up to his expectations of them.

It feels like something special is happening to this program.