Cards win! Cards win!

Two big road wins today for the Louisville Cardinals. The basketball team, sans Siva, went on the road against a quality Butler squad and walked away with an impressive 69-53 victory. The football Cards also notched the all-important 6th win to secure bowl eligibility against UConn. Congratulations fellas. Tons of storylines abound from both contests, the biggest of course being that those Oranges are still realistically within the clutches of the football Cardinals.

A fun afternoon to be a Louisville fan. Now go paint the town red this evening. Go Cards.

Game Time

BEAT CONNECTICUT.


Game available here.

A little extra motivation?

Just in case.

Larry Taylor, the Huskies grinning on their sideline, the commentators blaming Bilal Powell: Mr. Red already wrote all this up two years ago. And despite kicking their ass last year 26-0, nothing has changed about The Unfair Catch. The whole sordid episode remains etched in our memories. It is what it was: infuriating.

Beat UConn, guys.

...and predictions

I'm feeling like Jeremy Wright is due again, coming off injury. Was he one of the guys playing Call of Duty? At any rate, I'm going to assume that Wright rushes for 80 yards and a touchdown, while the Defense will bounce back from one of its more uneven performances this year to hold UConn to a single touchdown. As long as Louisville can win the battle of ball control, then call this one for the Cards in an ugly one, 14-7. Player of the game: Eli Rogers

An inside look at Butler basketball

They may have lost to Evansville in the season opener, but few are doubting coach Brad Stevens and Butler's ability to pull it together as the season rolls along (recall, they started 6-5 last season). There's also quite a few Louisville fans (especially female) that would like to take peek at Tom Jurich's famous "Next Up" list hoping to see Brad Stevens name for whenever Pitino decides to take his talents to the studio. Coach Pitino has even mentioned Stevens as "the kind of person" he would like to see take over the program next. It's interesting, because from what I've seen, the two couldn't be more different from a personality standpoint.

A great video that takes a look at Butler basketball available HERE. They won't let me embed, for some reason.

Predictions, predictions...

Make sure your laptop is charged and your fridge stocked, because Cardinal fans are pulling double duty tomorrow with a noon kickoff and a 2 o'clock tipoff, the latter shown exclusively on ESPN3.com.

The football Cards should be itching to get back on the field after a frustrating week and the "Call of Duty" story going semi-viral. UofL and UConn are fairly evenly matched offensively, but the Cardinal defense has been stouter and more consistent throughout the year. Last season the Cards shut out the Huskies at home, and I expect the defense to be similarly impressive this year.

The forecast is calling for temperatures in the low 40s at kickoff and warming slightly throughout the afternoon. Not the frozen tundra exactly, but I still expect both teams to stick to the ground early on. There will be a heavy dose of Dominique Brown tomorrow with the Cards picking their spots to take chances downfield. I think Devante Parker will have another reception of 30+ yards.

The team that wins will be the one that avoids the costly turnover; look for the Cardinal defense to swing the game with a pick-6. Nothing fancy, but I think the Cards pick up the all-important 6th win in a workmanlike victory. 21-13 Cards. Player of the game? Adrian Bushell. 

Bilal Powell touchdown assist

The former Louisville standout got some of his first NFL action last night against the Denver Broncos. Wasn't his best showing. Powell rushed for 11 yards on 7 attempts, but mostly notably, fumbled on the 1-yard line and was bailed out by an offensive lineman who fell on the ball for the Jets only touchdown.

Bilal Powell will certainly get more chances in the future as the Jets begin to phase the aging LaDainian Tomlinson out of their offense. But fumbling on the 1-yard line isn't the best way to begin earning trust.

Beware the trick play against the Huskies

My Dad pointed out to me today that Louisville on Saturday faces UConn quarterback Johnny McEntee, the career backup player we profiled a few months ago, who's now the starter. McEntee gained limited fame by making a video showing off his ability to hit any sort of moving target with a football -- pool sticks, pizza delivery sign on moving vehicle, you name it. Everything, that is, except wideouts sprinting upfield during football games -- UConn is last in the Big East in passing. Still, should a tire go rolling across the field, or a basketball goal appear in the end zone, or a door need opening, the Cards will be at a significant disadvantage.

Here's the view from Hartford.

This is the story of "the Hurricane"

That's Rick Pitino word to describe the weather the Cardinals are currently, well, weathering. One of the highlights of our nonconference schedule, Louisville's trip to Butler to face the two-time national runners-up, and the Cards will be fielding a completely depleted roster and what has to be a demoralized team, just two games into the young season.

Rick called it a Hurricane, and he better guide this team through or else bunker down, because he's going to bear the brunt of it. Case in point, Pitino said he's still shuffling lineups and that Elisha Justice probably won't take over point guard duties because going up against Butler's Ronald Nored "is probably not up Bullet's alley".

Forgive me, but I thought that being the backup point guard is supposed to be up the backup point guard's alley. If it's not, then what is up his alley?

Don't get me wrong, I doubt there's a team in the country that could suffer a similar rash of injuries without a significant dropoff. But there's also not many teams in the country with as big a talent disparity between the starting five and their backups. Pitino has acknowledged as much. So part of the quandry we find ourselves is the subpar recruiting from seasons past coming home to roost.

Rick Pitino has been famous for putting a solid team together amid swirling controversy and madcap drama. But this may be his biggest challenge yet. Louisville fans were largely forgiving of the Karen Sypher scandal and Pitino's personal life, despite our program being turned into a national punchline. That was his personal life, not his basketball life.

But if the Cardinals suddenly start sinking in a season that has been anticipated, hoped for, and hyped the past two years, the Hurricane could reach Category 5 very quickly.

Pitino: Siva "doubtful" for Butler game

Due to an ankle sprain. Words fail. I've never been this depressed this early before; Louisville is in serious jeopardy of a "wasted" season.

Nacho on Nacho

Article from the Orlando Sentinel on Nacho Garcia's commitment to Louisville. Money quote...

When I went on the trip they made it very comfortable and made it like a family,” Nacho said. “And talking with Teddy (Bridgewater, a QB from Miami Northwestern) and Eli (Rogers, WR from Miami Northwestern), they told me that it's a great place.”

The Florida-Louisville recruiting pipeline is open and flowing. Now, I wonder if Nacho can return punts?

Bush highlights for a rainy hump day

Not much going on on the Cardinal front today. So here's video of Michael Bush's breakout, record setting game against the Chargers last week. You know, I can't believe I haven't thought about this before, but I wonder what would have happened if Bush hadn't broken his leg in '06?

P.S. I realize these highlights aren't the best, but you can go to the Raiders media site here to watch better quality that includes Bush's postgame interview.

Highlights from Lamar

So... some in the local media still don't know how to pronounce Gorgui's last name.

(Give it a minute to upload)

The Blind Side II: The Nacho Story

A great piece from Sports Illustrated on the Cardinals newest football commit, the 6'5'' 347lbs gentle giant Nacho Garcia, who didn't start playing football until the 9th grade. An informative read on a blue chip prospect complete with a Teddy Bridgewater reference, who has some history with Nacho. And try not to drool on your computer when you get to the part about the behemoth running the 40-yard dash in the low 4s and how his coach made him stop squatting at 565lbs for fear of injury though he felt he could do more.

This is a huge recruiting coup for UofL and I don't expect the other big schools to give up easily. Constant contact with Nacho until he arrives on campus. Done? Done.

Mr. Red's head and hands kick off Biggest Fan of the Big East contest!

Mr. Red is this year's Louisville representative in the Biggest Fan of the Big East, a contest sponsored by Volvo. The contest is two-fold. One, there's a voting portion on a site that will be launched later this month. Two, there's also a series of blogging "challenges" that will be judged for their quality. The first challenge is to pick an "All Time Great" Big East squad, for a post that I'm currently working on furiously (feel free to suggest your All Time BE greats in the comments).

I really need the support of Cardinal nation here, as the contest will ultimately come down to which fans have the craziest passion. So please follow us on Twitter, "retweet" our stuff, "Like" us on Facebook, and tell as many of your Cardinal brethren as you can to do likewise.

Below is contest "Kickoff Video", where you can see brief featured glimpses of the back of my head and hands on the streets of New York City. Don't blink.

Tuesday tidbits

* Charlie Strong took some ribbing yesterday after suggesting in his press conference that the release of the new "Call of Duty" was a distraction for his team leading up to the Pitt game. First of all Cards fans, laugh along with it. It's funny and if you can't take some harmless teasing, you're taking this game too seriously.

But I will take issue if anyone does try to make some legitimate hay out of the comments, claiming that Strong is an excuse-maker and cannot prepare his team. In context, he clearly was talking about how his team had a poor week of practice and when talking about distractions, "that video game" was the first thing that popped into his head. Two, if you follow a lot of the football players on Twitter, you'd know that he wasn't far off, there was a lot of buildup around that game.

* Too little too late, but still a pretty nifty onsides kick, right? If he tried that 100 times I'm not sure it could have worked better, and that was when the entire Pitt hands team was expecting it. Too bad it was wasted in a losing effort.

* Adding to my idea that Louisville got outsmarted on Saturday is the fact that even though the clock ran out on the Cardinal comeback, we still finished the game with a timeout to burn. Every once in awhile with these minor clock management things, which side of the field to take, Charlie Strong can show that he's still learning too.

* Kudos to Josh Bellamy, the converted wideout that was making tackles all over the field last Saturday. There's clearly some discipline issues being handled behind the scenes, and Bellamy is rising to the challenge nicely. Or the Call of Duty, if you will.

* Rick Bozich takes a nice look at the Big East logjam today, where so many teams are mired in mediocrity with different teams showing up from week to week, and a 5-way tie at the end of the year is possible.

More good news (and I am being sarcastic)

7' center Robert Upshaw will be attending Kansas State. Once thought to be a possible Cardinal, this giraffe will be taking his talents to the plains.

The new assistant coaching ranks are yet to prove their recruiting chops. Luke Hancock and Terry Rozier aren't enough. I'm on board with "Louisville First" so long as "Louisville First" isn't code for "Louisville Will No Longer Be Going After The Best Recruits And Will Instead Be Signing Players Just Thrilled To Be Here."

Budget? Check. Facilities? Check. Fan passion/history? Check. Time for the coaching staff to start bringing home the basketball bacon on the recruiting trail.

More good news (and I'm not being sarcastic!)

Help is on the way. Kevin Ware has been given the nod acadamically, academicaly has been cleared to play and will be able to join his teammates on the court on December 14th, according to the CJ. Can't get here soon enough for a team in need of warm bodies. Long, athletic 6'4'' bodies are even better.

Cue Rick Pitino downplaying what we can expect from Kevin Ware when he joins to the team in 3...2...1...

Nacho

Let the punnery begin! Cards got a big verbal commit late this afternoon from 6'6'' 340lbs (!!!) lineman Abraham "Nacho" Garcia" out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Great name, and a solid addition to a class of 2012 o-lineman that will anchor our future.

If you couldn't tell by my tone below, I needed a pick-me-up this evening. So thanks big fella, and welcome aboard. Go Cards.

CJ Video: Highlights, Pitino comments...

...and some of the "colorful" characters from the Yum.

Louisville through 2

Never before have two wins by 35 and 20 respectively, been surrounded by this much anxiety. The addition of Mike Marra to the scroll of the Walking Dead has shocked a group of fans believed to be unshockable at this point.

It's sad news for the young man, who by all accounts is a standup individual, and it may prove to be the straw that breaks this roster's back. There's no denying it or trying to sugarcoat. The fact is without Ware, Blackshear, Buckles and Marra we're just not a fearsome roster anymore. We're barely a roster anymore.

Guys like Elisha Justice and Russ Smith, capable players though they are, simply don't put the fear of God into any opponent. That much was clear last night, when for stretches at a time Lamar looked to be our equal from an athletic standpoint.

I don't want to be entirely doom and gloom. Chane Behanan has been as good as advertised, and the resurgence of Jared Swopshire has been a welcome sight. Those are the silver linings in the otherwise dark cloud that seems to be hanging low over the Kayefseum.

The fact remains we're only two games into a very long season; there will surely be more injuries to come. I'm trying not to think about that just like I'm trying not to think about how we can expect to press with this lineup or what happens when foul trouble hits. First and foremost, I'm most concerned that we're running out of guys we can realistically expect to put the ball in the hole. Peyton Siva's jump shot looks unimproved thus far, and King Kyle and Chris Smith only attempted 6 shots each last night. After that, who do you look to?

Last night the announcers revealed that the Cardinals spend something ridiculous like 80 to 90 percent of their practice time on defense. Maybe not that ridiculous after all, because we're gonna need it.

Oh how much I want to be wrong. I want to be wrong sooo badly. But after the first baby steps into the season, in the infamous words of George Lucas, I've got a baaaad feeling about this.

Losing is the Pitts

We've used this title before, and we'll use it again, as the Pitt Panthers continued their dominance over the Cardinals last Saturday, 21-14. It was a strange and rhythmless contest where despite being statistically dominated, Louisville was perhaps in a position to tie it up at 14 late in the 4th quarter until Eli Rogers muffed a punt that essentially ended the game. Anyone that has watched our return game closely this year knew it was only a matter of time. And it came at the worst possible time.

Lots of familiar subplots at the end of this one. Coaches and fans alike were left wondering how a team can play so inspired one week and so flat the next. We're all learning about "fake juice" and of course, "learning how to win". Playcalling was again questioned.

But the real difference, it seemed to me, was that Louisville just got outsmarted. When Pitt marched straight downfield to put up 7 on the opening possession, I hoped that it was just a case of perfectly orchestrating their scripted plays. It wasn't. Pitt QB Tino Sunseri had the Cardinal defense on its heels all game, using a variety of play fakes and playaction and designed quarterback draws. Our aggressive defense thrives on being able to pin its ears back and attack the line of scrimmage with blunt force. On Saturday that backfired against the wrinkles in the Pittsburgh playbook that kept them one step ahead of us all afternoon. Brain trumped brawn.

There were other storylines as well. Teddy Bridgewater looked like a true freshman for the first time in four games, throwing what proved to be a costly INT and some poor decision-making (still, it's a joy to watch him move around the pocket). Penalties cost us once again; the old fashioned chop block was a watchword of the day. And of course, Eli Rogers muffed punt was the gamechanger. Special teams is an issue that must be addressed in the off season. We hold on every kickoff and flirt with (or consumate with) disaster every time we return a punt. Gotta change. Starting with no more freshman punt returners, how about that?

But mostly it was just a strange, puzzling game. There wasn't even anger in the stands as the crowd seemed to be resigned to a "one step forward, two steps back" kind of season. There's still great confidence that the Cardinals will win at least one of their two final games to secure bowl eligibility. You just have to wonder when it will be that the Cardinal faithful can expect to witness consistent excellence on our home turf.

Marra out for season

UofLs supernatural plague of injuries continues, as Mike Marra tore his ACL in the 68-48 win over Lamar last night. Best of luck to Mike as he begins rehab on his knee.