Wheaties

Big hat tip to Cardchronicle for discovering that DeJuan Wheat has his own website, one that looks like it was designed in the '80s, complete with some cheesy graphics and an "Interact with DeJuan" link. I don't know about you but I got a sudden hankerin' to play some "Oregon Trail".

The good news is that the site announces that the elusive and recently retired Wheat has several projects and charities in the works in Louisville, meaning if you've hung on to that classic poster all these years your chances of finally getting it signed just improved exponentially.

Cards fans in their mid-twenties continue to talk of Wheat the same way the previous generation talked about Griffith, Unseld before that, Tyra before that, and so on. DeJuan Wheat entranced me like no player before or ever will again. Because I watched him work his magic when I was at "that age". When his powers seemed god-like, his leadership ability as certain as the sun.

And had he not sprained his wrist during the Elite Eight run of '97, I still firmly believe another banner would be hanging in our rafters.

Welcome back to your second home, Mr. Wheat.

Well when you say it like that...

A sobering tweet from UofLFOOTBALL:

Louisville ranks 119th out of 120 teams with returning experience. Returns only one starter from the offensive line.

Charlie and Joker

Talk football. Life. Love. Here. At 12:30.

**UPDATE**

Nevermind. CJ, being the CJ, regrets to inform us they won't be showing the luncheon live. Ugh.

Contra-Bilas, cnt'd

Jay Paterno, son of you know who, has penned a nice editorial against paying college athletes. The idea of paying college athletes is "an idea who's time has come" according to some who say, well, that it just is. I mean, c'mon, please, doesn't it just sound like a cool thing to say???

Again, I don't know why people are being so dumb about this concept, as if it originated yesterday, except to say that I think, existentially, it helps certain media members believe that they are being "cutting edge" and "hip".

At any rate, I'm happy to highlight the backlash to the current tide, and Paterno Junior makes some excellent points. Namely, how when the benefits the "exploited" scholarship athlete at Penn State receives are weighed against the timecard, that a football player makes $56.25 per hour for his "services" (for an in-state kid) and $83.25 per hour for one residing out of state.

The same overarching rule applies, of course, that no one in this country is ever forced to go to college.

Louisville First takes some shape

Coach Rick Pitino took some flak after introducing his "Louisville First" mantra (some from me), that was viewed by most as a thinly-veiled response to Calipari and his "Kentucky Effect" of putting recruits on the fast track to NBA glitz. My distaste for Pitino's theme wasn't in the content of the message, just his impulse to put out the message itself. It was simply because I dislike allowing ourselves to be defined by a rival, one that's experiencing considerable success at the moment, and how that plays into the "lil brother" meme that we constantly wage war against.

But maybe, just maybe, the slogan is more than just a contrivance. Today it was announced the UofL took top honors for academics in the Big East last season...

The men's basketball team has hovered around a collective 3.0 GPA for six straight semesters, including a 2.96 GPA for the most recent spring 2011 semester when seven Cardinals surpassed a 3.0.

The Cardinals exceeded expectations last season by tying for third in the BIG EAST Conference, earning 20 wins for their ninth straight season, reaching the title game of the BIG EAST Championship, defeating seven Top 25 teams and rising to as high as 11th in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today polls. U of L had been picked to finish eighth in the league, did not receive a single vote in the AP preseason poll, had 10 players miss games with injuries last year and opened the season with no regular starters from the previous season.

Well done, young men. Despite the thud that was the end of the season, it's nice to remember what that team overcame, accomplished, and just how much damn fun the ride was. And all, as we learned today, while excelling in the classroom. It's something to be proud of.

If the Cards continue to field Top 10 teams, comprised of good students, talented players with likeable personalities that represent us well, a nice mix of veterans and freshman talent, then I'll be the first to sign up for Louisville First.

Gov Cup preview: The UK defense

Unintentionally hilarious stuff over at KSR today, where their football "expert" analyzes the 5 Keys to UK's Defense in 2011.

It's very insightful. Apparently all they need to do is force turnovers, stop the run, pressure the QB, get off the field on 3rd downs, and stop opponents from scoring in the red zone. Oh, and they need guys to step up and be "playmakers".

And if their offense can score more points than the other team by the time the clock runs out, they stand a significant chance of winning.

God, it's to our collective (but mostly Krags) shame that we've lost to these clowns four years in a row. Time for Simba to return to Pride Rock and take back what is rightfully his.

Where no one but pimps, fully equipped, quick to make a sale swell

In the whirlwind that is the post-lockout NFL at the moment, QB Adam Froman has landed with the Atlanta Falcons, where he'll compete for a spot alongside longtime NFL vet Chris Redman. At least Froman will be throwing to a familiar face in camp, as Doug Beaumont will also be engaging in some falconry soon. Froman, Beaumont, Redman and Harry Douglas all in Atlanta? That's enough for Cardinal Laws to throw on some old school OutKast.

Tight end Cameron Graham is also headed south, picked up by the Tennessee Titans, where he'll join tackle Byron Stingily who was drafted in the 6th round of the last NFL draft.

Best of luck to all former Cards as they work towards making their respective teams.

Peyton impressed with the new guys

Critical quote: on how to repeat the unselfish team temperament from last year, Peyton responds, "It really starts with me, Kyle and Chris."

Eight point dogs, and hungry

Vegas has dubbed the Cards an eight point underdog to the Cats in the annual Governor's Cup. For a game where I think Louisville has at least a 50-50 shot of winning outright, that's, as Cosmos Kramer would say, some sweet action.

Vance Bedford interview

Our esteemed defensive coordinator... if he can replicate some of last season's success, this guy is going to be a head coach one day very soon.

Rumors of a Cardinal alumni game

From Bozich's blog:

Word around the University of Louisville basketball program is that several former players, led by Earl Clark, are discussing organizing a Reunion Game later this summer.

Nothing firm yet. I repeat: Nothing firm yet.

There’s talk about playing the game at Bellarmine University. Guys like Clark, Terrence Williams, Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith and others from the last decade would be invited to participate. Be interesting if they could get Francisco Garcia, Taquan Dean, Larry O’Bannon, Ellis Myles and others from the 2005 NCAA Final Four team to play.

Will Adams to Georgia Tech

Will Adams, the 6'6'' offensive lineman out of Sandy Creek highschool in Georgia chose Ga. Tech today. He picked the Yellow Jackets out of a final pool of three that included both UofL and UK.

While it's by no means devastating or even surprising considering the proximity to his hometown and the recent additions to the Cards offensive line, in just one year under Charlie Strong it's become clear that our offense starts with running the ball efficiently. Our success, therefore, requires the biggest, ugliest, meanest competition for each offensive line postition. You can never have too many.

Maybe Adams was too pretty, I dunno. But it's no coincidence that our glory years under Petrino coincided with sending O-lineman to the NFL on a regular basis. Gotta get back to that.

Charlie Strong throws the ball

Of course he has a rocket for an arm. And can throw on the run. Was there ever any doubt? (Bozich obviously saw the play wrong)

Mom strong

You know things are going well for a coach in a community when my mom, who couldn't tell you what a first down is, is reading articles in the Sports section of the CJ, like the one yesterday about Charlie Strong going the extra mile with local youth at his football camp, and remarking:

Aww. What a nice man. Do you think we'll be able to keep him?

We'll just have to wait and see, Ma.