From SI's Peter Thamel:
Charlie Strong is staying at Louisville, according to a Louisville source. Strong received a contract offer from Tennessee on Wednesday, but declined it after pondering the decision for a few hours.
Louisville and Strong are finalizing a long-term extension that could be announced as early as Thursday. It's expected to be a significant commitment in both years and dollars and will reportedly put Strong in the top echelon of coaches in the ACC.
The Louisville extension ends Tennessee's courtship of Strong, who had one brief meeting on Sunday with Tennessee chancellor Jimmy Cheek in Louisville. That was Strong's only direct contact with another university.
"It was Charlie's desire to end this constant speculation and re-commit long-term to Louisville," said a source.Great News if true. Go CARDS.
****UPDATE****
Strong confirms, according to Jody Demling's twitter feed.
So in the same week, Charlie Strong compares us unfavorably with perennial SEC football under-achiever Kentucky, then turns down former SEC powerhouse Tennessee to stay at Louisville. In the same week we earn a bid to play Florida in the Sugar. On the same day, as Wilkie notes, that Louisville is named the top travel destination in the US. All in all, pretty good week.
Like what someone in athletics said: guy is simply honest to a fault. And so we have to believe now: Strong wants to be here, build here, win here. Our great paranoia shall be lifted.
A huge day.
It is absolutely not a coincidence that Strong's decision came after the posting of a CNN article naming Louisville the top travel destination in the US, in which the River City is referred to as "the new Portland". Look for strong to be sporting a handlebar moustache on the sidelines and zipping around town on a sweet fixie next year.
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