After the game.

Strong.

Beaumont.

Stein.

And the performances

In case anyone had forgotten, Bilal Powell showed off his unworldly talent to advance the ball despite six tacklers dangling from his body. He set the tone early on, hauling in Louisville's first three touchdowns and almost single-handedly building up Louisville's 21-0 lead. He finished the day with 23 rushes for 123 yards, one rushing touchdown and two receiving touchdowns. Just another day in Bilal-world. For his play this season and how he came to embody the program's restoration, Powell deserves a special place in Cardinal lore.

Before getting hurt, Justin Burke played the best quarter of his career, throwing 9 of 11 for 138 yards and two touchdowns. As poorly as Burke performed last week, he excelled in equal terms today. When he went down with what looked to be back spasms, Will Stein filled in, completing 9 of 14 passes for 72 yards, throwing for a touchdown, and managing the eventual protect-the-lead offense with poise of a veteran starter. We've always liked Stein on this site, and my favorite thing today was his refusal to allow the pocket to collapse around him. Instead he chose to sprint out of the pocket and make the critical throw on the run or to dash upfield. Neither quarterback threw an interception. And ball control ruled the day.

Anyone who knows me or reads my predictions will know that I am going to heap praise in particular on senior corner Johnny Patrick. He was everywhere on the field -- blitzing the quarterback, making the solo tackle, picking off his eighth career interception and then his ninth, returning the last for that long-awaited touchdown. Don't f@k with Johnny.

So many of our defenders are playing with swagger right now. Johny, to me, is the epitome. Rodney Gnat and Hakeem Smith too. I am pumped up about this victory. Go Cards!

The Louisville Cardinals are bowl-bound!: Cards disassemble Rutgers 40-13

They finally clenched their own destiny. In the process, they exorcised their Rutgers demons from years previous. And in so doing, Charlie Strong delivered on the ultimate team goal set during the preseason, an objective which few at the time believed could be achieved: these Louisville Cardinals will play in a bowl game. Our seniors go out with a bowl.

Louisville beat the tar off of Rutgers. In fairness, their season has been in tatters ever since defensive tackle Eric LeGrand damaged his spine and was paralyzed against Army earlier this season. Times are not at their happiest in New Brunswick. But the memory of the Scarlet Knights crushing of Louisville two seasons ago weighed deeply on the collective mind of the Louisville football program. Conditions demanded a full effort with excellent execution and mental preparation for Louisville to recover from its past two crushing defeats and clinch their bowl eligibility. And they delivered.

There was much to be critical of offensively last week against West Virginia, especially offensive coordinator Mike Sanford's inability to make adjustments to the game plan. If last week Sanford deserved scrutiny, this week Sanford developed and executed an excellent game approach. Louisville's offense was head and shoulders above the opposition, and the game plan exploited Rutgers' many weaknesses with skill and precision. The first three touchdown drives were textbook.

On defense, our blitz attack was unrelenting, recording eight sacks on the day and rattling Rutgers quarterback Chas Dodd. According to the announcers, Louisville now leads the Big East in sacks for the year, one of just many areas that this defense has come to dominate. As the regular season ends, the Cardinal defense has demonstrated itself to be the most sophisticated attack element to this team. That was difficult to predict at season's beginning.

It was the type of day that several performances, even beyond those that I list in the post above, deserve to be heralded. Cameron Graham. Rodney Gnat. Jeremy Wright. Hakeem Smith. Andrell Smith (another guy whose performance allowed us to jump out to that great early lead). But what I enjoyed most about this game was its essence as a strategic, team victory. The offensive game plan worked to near perfection. The defensive game plan worked to near perfection. After the past two emotional weeks, these coaches deserve high praise for the players' execution, attitude, resolve. To Mike Sanford and Vance Bedford, and to their assistant coaches: a job well done gentlemen.

And to Head Coach Charlie Strong: thank you. Today you have delivered on the great promise and hope you restored almost immediately to this program. A mere bowl birth is not the ultimate aspiration for this football program. But it's a moving and evocative sign that this program, emergent from the proverbial depths of hell from years previous, can in fact reclaim its swagger.

The first phase of the Louisville Football Restoration Project is now -- unquestionably I would say -- a success under Charlie Strong's leadership. This city has stood in adulation ever since his arrival; today he showed again why. We are going bowling -- to say that is almost difficult to believe. Charlie, these players believe in you. We believe in you. And all of us, together -- we all look forward to the fate the bowl gods dispel on us. We look forward to the years of excellence to come. We look forward to the future.

Well done all.

Go Cards.

New blog on the block and Mr. Red's first trip to the Kayefseum

With basketball season revving up, if you're like me, you're scambling to get a daily fix for all things college hoops. Do yourself a favor and bookmark the new blog http://www.lingerieonthedeck.wordpress.com/.

It's written by two of the most basketball-obsessed dudes I've ever met, and well worth a spot on your slacking-off-at work rotation. Just click and thank me later.

In other news, Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Great food on the table and the wonderfully tired and cliched "what are you thankful for?" formats abound on sports radio. Who am I to buck the trend?

This year, I'm most thankful for the new Kayefseum, and especially for the free, last minute ticket thrown my way for the Louisville-Chatanooga game on Monday. Just as I was lamenting the fact that I wasn't likely to get to a game in the near future, my lil' sis swoops in at the last second with a free gift from the gods. Gotta love family.

There's been some talk about how the new arena just doesn't feel like home, at least not yet. I don't feel that way at all.

The memorabilia and artifacts that tell the tale of Louisville basketball lore are proudly displayed and explained in a mini-museum directly upon entrance. The faces and figures of Cardinal greats from the distant and not-so distant past greet you at every term. The views of downtown and the Ohio River are spectacular. It's a paradise for anyone that cares too much about this city and its basketball program.

My seats were high-up behind one of the goals, in the sections that look like the Galactic Senate from the new Star Wars installments. But the sight was good, the seats comfortable with plenty of leg room.

It's the most accessible arena I've ever been to. There's tons of space in the concourse so you never feel cramped or crowded, and there's so many damn food options that no one place has any line to speak of. I enjoyed a nice hamburger and a beer. And the urinals are top notch.

It's a place that seems easy to ritualize, which is really the most fun part of going to watch games live. Whether it's post-game drinks at Bearno's afterwards, or meeting up with someone at the half in the Woodford Reserve Club to discuss the action thus far, it's the little traditions that make all the difference.

The arena opens the posibility of making each game an experience rather than just two-hours of basketball. And with so many quirks and amenities it's be easy for every fan to make the game experience his or her own.

I felt at home immediately.

theHoff gets animated for Week 13

Siva: "Everybody scored today... well, besides Russ, you know, he was on the bench."

To which Russ Smith can be heard responding, "Ah Wassup, Peyton Siva? What up, Peyton Siva?" Yeah, we're gonna have to work on those comebacks Russ.

Postgame comments: Pitino on blowout win and Kyle Kuric

Emphasizing the ingredients to victory...

...and pointing out that no one should get too worked up about Kuric's early struggles this season... after all, he came here "as a walk-on." Uhhh... thanks for the confidence-booster coach? Maybe the question he was answering provided some unseen context to the quote.

Cards destroy Chattanooga 106-65 with stellar team performance

This is a better team than last year.

And if you tell me I'm getting ahead of myself, then you must have forgotten last year and you haven't seen this year.

It didn't matter who we played last year. Even against the early, less-talented teams last season, Louisville found ways to struggle despite showing flashes of potential. This year's team is different -- these Cards find ways to dominate despite the growing pains and occasional struggles.

There's no one hero: these guys rotate starring roles throughout every game like clockwork, and tonight was no exception. Mike Marra dominated early. Peyton Siva was brilliant midway. Kyle Kuric started to find his groove. Elisha Justice continues to surprise. Rakeem Buckles came on strong in the second half. The subs dominated late. For one evening at least, it was difficult to find anything, anything to gripe about. Even Terrence Jennings hit all of his free throws.

Check the stat-line tonight. Seven guys scoring in double figures. 19 steals. 29 assists. 40 rebounds, compared to the opponent's 34. Only 12 turnovers, compared to the opponents 25 (!). 106 points scored total, despite calling off the dogs well before the end of the game.

Yes, it was Chattanooga. But we couldn't beat Chattanooga teams like this last year. It's still too early to say exactly how much potential these Louisville Cardinals possess. But you can't help but swell with optimism. These guys are playing epitome team ball. And it's a helluva lot of fun to watch. Go Cards.

Recappin

Thumbs UP: Fan frustration. Allow me to explain the paradox. This season has already exceeded expectations in terms of competitiveness, effort, and competence; the three sole criterion that fans demanded improve before the season began.

The "feel good" vibes present a long two weeks ago have given way to "I feel ill" sentiments. One game the Cards shoulda won, another the Cards coulda won, and it's not surprising that you're hearing a lot of "Here's what I woulda done" from some armchair coaches.

And that's a good thing. It's a sign that Strong has succeeded in his primary goal of changing the culture of the program. It's the right kind of wrong, so to speak.

Thumbs DOWN: The male Ladybird out there (or as we call him, the "Ladydude") matching the girls move for move. It's not that I'm not impressed/disturbed by his athleticism, it's that I'm so impressed/disturbed by his athleticism that he distracts and sucks me in, keeping me from my typical practice of ogling the Ladies.

Thumbs UP: Defense. Nothing more needs to be said. They fully exhibit the warrior mentality present in all successful stoppers of the football.

Thumbs DOWN: Burke. I'm not going to pile on the kid, but I will say that I hope Saturday's performance puts to rest the meme that he and Adam Froman are essentially the same QB. Froman is at least a head taller. If not in terms of their skill set (though Froman's is better) than certainly in leadership.

Froman seems to fight when he's out there, playing with passion. Burke just seems ho-hum, doing his best to execute the playcall, but bringing none of the intangibles that inspire confidence from his teammates. His receivers were getting space and more than once were visibly frustrated with Burke's inability to see/hit them.

Thumbs UP: Chris Philpott. He's had his ups and downs this season, but came through in this outing in a game when field position was everything. 74 yards?!?

Thumbs DOWN: Receiving corp except for Cameron Graham. The latter was amazing, yet the others let down their struggling QB on the penultimate drive, dropping key, catchable balls. Josh Bellamy, if you're going to express frustration with your QB, you better catch it when he does hit you in the hands.

Thumbs UP: Our seniors. Consider me one of the fans that kept his free poster pristine throughout the game, it'll eventually find its way into a frame and onto my memorabilia wall. This group has been special. They experienced lows that were damn near inconceivable to them when they signed up.

But they persevered. They kept working. And they led the turnaround, through example and through heart, that we are currently witnessing. Here's hoping that they're not done forging their legacy.