Cards strike mortal terror in the hearts of opponents...

"Do I want to play them? No, I definitely don't want to if I don't have to.  But we have to, and there's no ifs ands or buts about it." --Indiana State Coach Trent Miles

Enjoy the game.

24 Hours Till Kickoff...

I don't know what it is about this season, maybe it's the nation collectively realizing how boring baseball is, but waiting for college football to kickoff feels like Christmas Eve, doesn't it?  If you need to kill time before cracking your 9am beer, here's the complete game notes for tomorrow. It has a comprehensive statistical breakdown of the last two seasons and is wildly addictive for stat-nerds. A must read for anyone looking to add some muscle to his or her Kragthorpe rants.  Not catching the fever is Mitch Vingle of the Charleston-Gazette, opining on the lack of sizzle for Big East openers this weekend.  I may have shared Vingle's concerns way back when we had a pretty little single digit next to our name.  Now, I'll just take a W.

Through the opponent's eyes

A couple samples of what Indiana State fans are reading about us... The Terra Haute Tribune-Star lets it be known that the fan base is unhappy about last week's loss to NAIA foe Quincy, that their players are frustrated and angry, and that they will try to channel that anger into "shock[ing] the world on a big stage" by beating the Cards. The Chicago Tribune also covers Indiana State -- here's its preview of Louisville, albeit written by an AP writer.

Unbridled optimism

Good day to you Cards fans! The Louisville faithful awoke this morning feeling unbridled optimism that the football season finally is upon us. Mike Rutherford at the Cards Chronicle offers his ten reasons to be excited about Cards football in 2009. Charlie Springer at Cards Game lists the reasons he's excited. To their lists I'll add a few of my own: 1) our receiving corp and running back are strong, skilled and should be exciting, 2) unlike previous years, failure to meet expectations this year is damn near impossible, 3) so many weekend games! and 4) I'm heading to Papa John's tomorrow with my Dad and his tailgating buds, an unruly pack of football veterans who've been attending games since the '70s. Beer, bratwurst and banter are guaranteed.

So what's behind the sudden surge in energy? Maybe it's tomorrow's weather forecast, or maybe it's news that season tickets nearly are sold out. Could be anticipation over a full day of tailgating or maybe just something feels good in the air. Whatever the case, kickoff is only 36 hours away, tailgating begins in 24 hours (even earlier for some), and this Cards fan is looking forward to an entertaining, bending, winding season, possibly not for the faint of heart, that almost certainly will include the unexpected. Go Cards!

55,000 - 32,128 = A Nervous Blogger

Here's a C-J article meant to reassure regarding season ticket sales, but somehow left me more uncertain.  The fact that only 33,000 season tix were sold in our Orange Bowl season makes me wonder where the sudden surge in demand is going to come from.  I'll save positing the impact of a coaching change for another day.  But one thing's for certain, the scheduling is going to have to get much, much stronger to have a shot at filling those seats.   

A few more...

More Orange predictions on the Louisville-Syracuse football game on Nov. 14 here and here. Not sure why I keep coming across Syracuse preseason guesses, but I'll be sure to trot out all these links again in the week before the game at Papa John's. Louisville cannot lose three years in a row to a moribund football program, but the Cards, along with Connecticut, have provided Syracuse its only Big East wins during the past two years. So in a weird way, this contest actually will have the makings of a big game, if for no other reason than respect... well, more like saving the last shreds of respect still salvageable, unless one or both teams have unexpectedly solid years (and I'm hoping!). So yes, an unlikely battle for bragging rights, but in any case, a game the Cards can ill afford to lose.

Quick hits

A less-than-proud papa notes that his daughter chose Louisville in part to be near big-time basketball and football, only to see everything fall apart. I'll grant the benefit of the doubt that he's mostly referring to the football program and not to our basketball program that reached the Elite Eight the past two years. Six NFL teams will attend this week's game between Louisville and Indiana State. The football team will wear new uniforms this year... has anyone seen the new look? A Syracuse page previews its football game against Louisville later this season and predicts victory, saying our passing game will never come together. A Kentucky blog previews the Cats' entire schedule and also predicts victory over the Cards... at least we aren't burdened by high expectations.

Sycamore Trivia

Sycamores Coach Trent Miles is yet to win a game at Indiana State, but did you know that Miles was a wide receiver on the 1984 Sycamore squad that downed the Cards 44-21?  Don't forget to wear your favorite gameday t-shirt, that's all I'm saying.

Beware thy overmatched losing-streak-riding opponent with something to prove

Reading different columns and blogs, I can't help but feel like Indiana State is being overlooked by fans and media. Yes, they just lost to an NAIA team. Yes, they haven't won a game in three years. And yes, I hope that we go wild on Saturday, play our hearts out, clean their clock, provide our fans with a much-needed solid victory (over anybody), demonstrate just how overmatched Indiana State really is (but do so with respect and sportsmanship). But here and now, I say beware. No one really knows what to expect out of the gate with these Cards. Meanwhile, Indiana State is coming off an embarrassing loss, and their players are angry. They haven't won in years, and they're hungry. According to some, they have improved, even with the loss to Quincy. And their long losing streak will end at some point. If Appalachian State can conquer the likes of once-mighty Michigan, then Louisville can fall to Indiana State. Hope I'm wrong.

Piling on Pitino

Setting up a straw man is a common logical fallacy.  Rather than arguing against what a person actually says, you put words into his or her mouth and attack those instead.  It was bogus back when the Greeks gave a name to it 3000 years ago and still is today.  Two examples of this deft little trick here and here in response to Fred Cowgill's interview with Pitino yesterday.  Both commenters lambast Pitino for equating his ordeal with 9/11.  Despicable! Shameless!  And untrue.

Pitino told his daughter: "what you've been through in your life, with your two uncles and now with this, you'll be strong enough to handle anything in life and that's how you have to look at adversity."  Nowhere does he equate the two. He states that in addition to the death of her uncles, enduring such a humiliating episode, while difficult, will strenghthen her ability to handle adversity.  Does anyone seriously disagree with that sentiment?  Look, I'm open to many diverse opinions on this whole fiasco.  There is plenty to criticize Pitino for, surely there's no need to invent more.

You can watch the interview here.

Cardinal Football. Bangarang.

If Kragthorpe blasts this on the JumboTron before every home game, all is forgiven.

(Hat Tip: toplessrobot)

Quick Hits

Luke Whitehead pleads not guilty to felony drug trafficking, while West Virginia Metro News says that the Louisville football's defense must improve as part of its Big East coverage.

Nothing to Hide

Been wondering what transferred QB Chris Matt Simms is up to?  Me neither.  But this article was interesting for a couple of reasons.  One--it still refers to UofL as a "powerhouse" program, indirectly summing up why newspapers are obselete.  Two--Simms candor about his marijuana use was refreshing.  Also, Eric Crawford posed some puzzlers today. What does football "success" look like this year?  I won't put a magic number on it, I just want a team that passes the eyeball test.  For the first time I plan to cut tailgaiting short and get to my seat early on Saturday.  I want to see the team warmups. I want to see team leaders pumping up their unit.  I want to see pissed off position coaches.  I want a team that can tackle.  I want no dumb penalties. I want no smiles on the sidelines when we're down two touchdowns. I want a product on the field I can be proud of even in defeat.  Second, Crawford hypothesizes the level of embarassment for the Cards if they don't land Marquis Teague.  I must confess I hadn't considered that yet, and assumed that Lands' hiring meant that the Teague signing was more or less a done deal. Please let it be a done deal. Please.    

The stadium expansion: is it what you need?

Note: theHoff is a special contributor to Cardinal Laws.

Caught in the fast rising shadows of the new Downtown Arena, the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium Expansion is chugging along. Unless you’ve driven across Central Avenue recently, you might have forgotten about adding tens-of-thousands of seats. The exact number, not sure. The exact cost? -- don’t really care. So I guess this is more of an open discussion than a well researched article. Who is really paying for this (I’m sure season ticket holders are seeing it somewhere)? But more importantly, is it worth it?

The timing was perfect. Approval of the expansion came at a time when Louisville football was at its apex: fast, exciting, hard-nosed football. But then there was the Atlanta Falcons/ Tulsa Hurricane trade that no one saw coming. Following that, my first thought (besides, “better call my U of L friends to stir the pot on this one”) was, “is the expansion really what the program needs?”

As Cardinal fans, do you have confidence that you can fill those seats in 2010?? I know you can, but will you? The Kragthorpe tightrope walk will most likely determine the answer. If he’s gone after this year and Louisville lands a big name in the off-season, then the renewed excitement could sell out the joint. However, that excitement would only come from a BIG name and BIG changes. Guess we will have to wait and see.

Welcome Aboard Sir...

Several sources reporting that Shabaka Lands has been hired by the Cards as a special consultant to the basketball team.  When watching the Cards last year, I couldn't help thinking the team seemed a little under-consulted.  So after a rigorous nationwide search and numerous interviews, Lands was found to be the best candidate for the position.  He is energetic, a people person, familiar with Microsoft Office and Excel, and types 45 words a minute.  Oh, and he happens to be the former coach of this young man.

(Hat Tip: cardchronicle)

Louisville Legend Roman Oben

Hey Cards fan.  You wanna know how to kill an hour at work? Google search Roman Oben. Here's Roman working out in retirement. Bet he could still do some damage on Saturday. 



Here's a great article called Twilight of the Roman Empire that details Roman's new job as Democratic Party chairman in a key New Jersey county.  Here's an article about Roman's hero status in his homeland in Cameroon. Here's his official website with insanely good production quality. Way to put the UofL economics degree to good use Roman.  What an amazing guy.

Quick hits

Former CJ sports writer Brian Bennett previews Louisville's football opener for ESPN.com. Bennett notes that Indiana State, coming off its embarrassing loss to NAIA opponent Quincy, literally has nothing to lose when it plays Louisville this Saturday. That's how the Cards need to play all season long. NJ.com previews the Big East and picks Louisville to finish last, noting that even when "Syracuse was at its worst the last two years, Louisville still couldn't beat them." Deadly, but accurate. How shall we rejoin this grave insult? We can start by beating Syracuse this year.

In other news, IJS makes the case that the SEC has the most charismatic football coaches of any league and somehow manages to include in the charisma discussion Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino. This might be the closest the former Cards playcaller has ever come to being called charismatic, though he's really mentioned in honor of his ego (he's still no Nick Saban, the article notes). My Kentucky brethren will be interested that the article also predicts a 9th place SEC finish and hints at a 1-4 start for the Wildcats. Could one of those losses come at the hands of the Cards? Be afraid, Wildcats. God knows we are.

Silver Lining Watch

Trent Guy is good. I mean really good. His toughness in coming back from the gunshot injury that nearly took his life is well-documented.  Paired with the deep-threat of Scott Long and the Harry Douglass-like reliability of Doug Beaumont, new quarterback Justin Burke should like what he sees downfield.  The problem with this optimism is that we had good receivers last year, with little to show for it.  What do you call it again when a talented team underperforms?  Crap, this is a silver-lining post.  Try not to think about that and instead focus on Guy's athleticism on display here.

Appreciating Schnellenberger

I love Howard Schnellenberger. I love him because my father and his tailgating friends revere him. I was a kid when he was here so I have few direct memories, though I do recall looking through Dad's binoculars and seeing the man with the white mustache, the tie and blazer and the trademark pipe, pacing the AstroTurf sidelines at Old Cardinal Stadium. But I know Schnellenberger from the stories and anecdotes and imitations of his baritone voice -- how he addressed every player by number rather than name ("get in theeerrreee, forty-threee, and show 'em what you're maaade ooof"), how he threw the football downfield every play after an opponent's turnover because "that's how you kick a dooog when he's dooown," how he never wavered, but repeated his declaration over and over (and over) that "We are on a collision course with the national championship. The only variable is time."

Why bring this up now? It's a new football season and the home opener is this Saturday, which means that the Schnellenberger stories will be in full flourish. Stories about Howard -- and every football fan from those years has them -- are one of the ingredients that gives Louisville tailgating its distinctive flavor. I love hearing them, partly because the gruff Howard impersonations are so funny, partly because they connect me to an era when everything surrounding the football program and its head coach was unprecedented, foolishly optimistic, possible.

My favorite Howard Tale is known as the Rolling Stones story, originally attributed to former U of L linebacker and DeSales high school grad Mark Sanders. The story goes: some time in the '80s, football practice at Old Cardinal Stadium started late because the Rolling Stones were in town and tuning up for a concert that night. Schnellenberger, predictably enough, was upset that things weren't running on schedule. He confronted the first person of the Stones' entourage he could find. "Hey Theeerrreee, Hippie Boooyyy," Howard thundered at Mick Jagger while jabbing him with his finger, "Get Off My Damn Foootbaaall Fieeeld!" Jagger was left speechless, and Schnellenberger returned to his players and assistant coaches, probably ready to call security, never realizing he had assaulted a rock icon. Not that he would have given a damn had he been so informed.

So when I read this piece in the Omaha World Herald previewing Nebraska's upcoming game against Florida Atlantic, the football program Schnellenberger has built from scratch (!) to win the New Orleans Bowl in 2007 and the Motor City Bowl last year, I was both heartened and nostalgic... not to mention amused to read that the old ball coach referred to underdog matchups as "advanced training games." I was also curious enough that I dug up a few YouTube videos to see if he's still the same cantankerous persona and blunt instrument that he was at Louisville. Thankfully, he is. Enjoy Cards fans!

First video -- Florida local coverage of Schnellenberger trying to relate to students and get them excited about Florida Atlantic's showdown with then #6 South Florida in 2007. The gems are the smaller details: reaction of startled students in the foreground when coach gives an ear-deafening whistle; Schnellenberger calling a player "Fifty-six" rather than by his name during a film session, seen at about the 00:55 mark.

Second video -- apparently, Howard skipped an important step of his pregame ritual at the Motor City Bowl.


Third video -- This is my favorite, a preseason FAU video. Most of it is irrelevant, so skip to about the 2:45 mark, when the coach (wearing a t-shirt and suspenders here) is asked about the big game that season against Texas. This apparently became a controversial comment before the season started (FAU lost 52-10). True to form, Schnellenberger is talking into his moustache and difficult to understand, so you may have to listen with headphones. I heard it several times, however, and this is what I made out: "We'll compete with Texas... Texas is a very polished team, it has great talent; (voice lowering, eyebrows shuttering with disapproval) but Texas has never really been a tough team, a physically tough team. And if MY defense gets to the point that I think it'll get, we'll be mean, nasty, ornery bastards." Vintage Howard.

Louisville is for Lovers

I'm not sure how scientific these rankings are, but Louisville landed #30 on a recent list of America's Hottest Fan Bases.  Not as high as we were under Petrino, but we're building the right way this time dammit!

Night Notes

Momentary Cardinal and Vivaldi scholar William Williams is in trouble again.  And the rumor that UofL may be adding Shabaka Lands to its basketball staff continues to swirl.  A close friend and confidante to Shawn Teague, the hire would be a fairly transparent move to solidify the commitment of 2011 point guard Marquis Teague.  I'm skeptical that Pitino would go to such lengths to lock down a likely one-and-done player.  The recent defections of top talent, however, keeps me from dismissing this one altogether.    

Human Ambien

If you're having trouble getting to sleep tonight here's a link to Kragthorpe's press conference today.  Highlight: "The best smell there is is diesel fumes. That means it's time to play football."  What an odd man. 



 

Football opener is six days away...

...and speculation is picking up on how the Cards will fare this year. Eric Crawford predicts a 5-7 finish this season, but after Indiana State, isn't sure where those four other wins will be. Crawford asks, can the defense possibly be worse than last season? From my memory, the defense was much improved from the season before, at least until the season-ending Rutgers disaster. One can look at this optimistically or pessimistically, but the answer is yes, all things are possible. Crawford also notes that Kragthorpe will be playcalling the offense this season, just as he did toward the end of last season when the offense fell apart. Ouch. My colleague's most recent post reflects my own level of confidence.

Reasons to be optimistic? Victor Anderson can be impressive at running back, and we do have some playmakers on offense especially in our receiving corp. According to the CJ, watch for wideout Scott Long: last season held together until Long went down with an injury. But it remains to be seen whether Kragthorpe is capable of opening up the field this year and calling plays that will allow his young quarterback, Justin Burke, to put the ball in their hands. Sporting News Columnist Dave Curtis predicts improvement on the defensive team under new defensive coordinator Brent Guy. Rick Bozich wrote a nice piece on Sunday about St. X high school alum Joe Tronzo -- one of the last survivors of the 2007 Orange Bowl team. Ah, the Orange Bowl team, was it so long ago? Wait, only two years ago?! Holy hell.

Kragthorpian Analysis

"Art thou angry with him whose arm pits stink? Art thou angry with him whose mouth smells foul? What good will anger do thee? He has such a mouth, he has such arm-pits: it is necessary that such an emanation must come from such things."

--Marcus Aurelius

Get out your turd polish and strongest red-tinted glasses, the season is close at hand! The weather in The Ville is sunny and crisp, and despite the fact that fan expectations fluctuate between "Dismal" and "Abort--errr...$3,000 health care procedure", I cannot suppress my excitement for the next winding chapter towards Schnellenberger's Dream.  The main storyline is obvious.  One month from now we will know the future of our head coach.  An upset over our dentally-challenged rivals down the road would almost certainly earn Kragthorpe another season.  But more importantly, we will know soon and very soon whether the program as it exists under Kragthorpe has a pulse.  Let's be honest.  I have no faith in Kragthorpe. I do not believe the Cards can begin to rebuild until we shed this "Player's coach" with one who can command discipline from his team.  He just ain't the guy.  Having said that, it should be made clear that it is never, ever, under ANY circumstances, acceptable to root against your team's success.  Some desperate fans may claim to welcome losses in an attempt to hasten Kragthorpe's firing, when hope can be restored.  This is foolish for several reasons, but most appalling because it breaks sacred laws of fandom.  It cannot be proven scientifically, but the cosmic connection between the gameday atmosphere in the stadium parking lot and the energy of the team on the field is real.  It is usually perceived most clearly sometime between beer #4 and #7.  I harbor no delusions about this season's prospects, but here's hoping that Kragthorpe will make it fun.  Open up the playbook, throw the ball downfield early and often, and try to look less constipated on the sideline. I'll be doing my part.  Let's kick it off!             

Redman Representin'

Chris Redman continued the trend of respectable preseason play by ex-Cardinal QBs, leading the Falcons' comeback win against the Chargers this weekend.  Redman tossed the winning five-yard reception, and in doing so, locked up the backup job behind Matt Ryan.  While it's not likely to send shock waves throughout fantasy leagues nationwide, it's a great story nonetheless. Kudos to Mr. Redman.

Uh Oh...

How not to win over a skeptical Fan-Base 101...

A) Assume playcalling duties. Akin to the captain of the Titanic telling passengers not to worry, he's taking over the evacuation procedures.  But OK. Whatever, it's his ship.
B) Then, defer major playcalling responsibilities to an unproven QB.
C) State "I take full responsibility". Again. And again. And again.

Cardinal football 09!!!  Catch the fever.

Pitino and the out-of-towners

Note: this post has been revised from its earlier version to include an additional article link.

Before we look forward to the football opener for most of this week, here are a few more perspectives on Pitino, his eventful August, and all the inevitable comparisons, feigned moral self-righteousness and irresistable "dumb basketball-obsessed Kentuckian" jokes that it invited sports writers to make. In quite a feat, George Vescey links Pitino, John Calipari, Plaxico Burress, Donte Stallworth, Michael Phelps, and Gary Sheffield. As you might guess, it is not their prowess on the basketball court/baseball stadium/football field/swimming pool that they share in common. Fair piece overall, which is more than I can say for the typically holier-than-thou position taken by Mike Lupica, writing for the New York Daily News. Lupica rips Pitino, in so doing he makes this cryptic but startling prediction: "It is why for all the games he has won at Louisville and will continue to win, Pitino is through there, sooner rather than later." Wow. Not a call for Pitino to resign, but a prediction that future events naturally will lead us there. But on what notion or persuasion does Lupica base it? No further explanation is offered, no rationale fleshed out... and no need, this is the New York Daily News after all.

Meanwhile, an AP article (no author listed) featured on SI.com feigns bewilderment and amusement that we Kentuckians can be so tolerant of our college basketball coaches, as long as the win-loss columns aren't affected. Obviously written by an outsider -- cards fans remaining loyal to Pitino and the program are described as "staying true blue," a Cardinal sin if ever there was one. Similar column written by Tim Dahlberg (columnist for the AP; maybe he wrote the no-author-listed piece). "No need for lengthy explanations. This is Kentucky, after all," Dahlberg concludes after wondering how Ricky and Cal still enjoy wide support in the state despite their shiftiness and fine Italian suits. I guess it's not the worst thing ever said about us, but I hope Dahlberg won't confuse our generosity towards basketball coaches with our gut reactions to snide, obnoxious and condescending sports writers.

There. At least I feel better. Now we put to bed the basketball program for the week, and pray to God that nothing happens to wake it back up. On to football!