Sooo....Teddy got huge

A lot of stories from the Spring Game, but none are bigger than Teddy Bridgewater, literally. The athletic but wire-thin Bridgewater of '11 evidently hit the weight room hard in the offseason and has emerged with a noticeable amount of bulk. 18 pounds of it, to be exact. And unlike my own, Teddy's weight gain appears to have had no negative effect on his throwing motion or cost him any of his speed.

There were several players that stood out, but none more so than Bridgewater, who exceeded extremely high expectations today by displaying tremendous accuracy, escape-ability, and some feather-soft touch on TD passes.

Last season watching Bridgewater, it was like watching a kid play football, a wildly talented and preternatural one, but a kid nonetheless. This Teddy looks like a stud. He looks like a QB that will one day be playing regular Sunday football.

This is going to be a fun season.

Terry Rozier not a "go" yet

I understand the folks that claim to be so put off by recruiting they want to tune out and don't want to hear a thing about a freshman baller until the moment he hits the floor. I understand that concept, I wish I could be cut from that cloth, but I'm not (and suspect those that claim otherwise can't help themselves either).

While I don't want to stalk any poor kid and think those that reach out to one via twitter are weirdos, I can't deny my interest in a player who may join the Cards, what kind of game he has, and where we stand on his short list.

And too often in recent Louisville past, Cards fans, myself included, have spent many an hour being excited for a player that would never wear our jersey.

Here we are again, talking about a 17-year-old's ACT scores and wondering what it signifies for our future. CL Brown reported today that UofL's sole recruit for '12, Terry Rozier, has work to do both in the classroom and with the ACT before we can speculate on what his contributions will be to the backcourt of an otherwise loaded Cardinal team.

I don't think I'd be as concerned if it were just one or the other, but the fact that he hasn't cleared either the GPA or ACT hurdle yet is worrisome (and also makes you appreciate Gorgui more).

I foresaw Terry Rozier as a contributor on next year's team. I want to foresee again, but you can't blame a Cardinal for feeling a tad dejected, with yet another prospect placed into the "Wait and See" department.

Bats home opener tonight

No better way to kick off a full weekend of Louisville sports than welcoming home the Bats, who began the season with back-to-back road series and have stumbled to a 2-5 start.

They'll be looking to get back on track with 11 straight home games. The way he's playing right now, shortstop Paul Janish is worth the price of admission alone. Can't wait to watch him live to see if he can keep up his torrid pace. I'm certain the Reds are watching him closely, so catch him while you can.

It's dollar beer night before the game from 5:30-7:00. And while I usually opt for quantity over quality, I highly recommend stopping over across the park to Against the Grain for some truly excellent brew. Good people in charge too.

Should be a fun atmosphere. Go Bats.

Coiled up for the Spring Game

Buying tailgating supplies for a football scrimmage in April. Make no mistake, this is the greatest country in the world.

I'm actually getting a little nervous for the Spring Game. Not because of anything on the field, obviously, but for the number of people that will be in the stands. Charlie Strong set a goal of 20,000 and honestly I have no idea if that's realistic. I hope it is. I have no idea what to expect.

In the past there always seemed to be built-in excuses for less than stellar attendance. Bad weather, inconvenient timing, and, of course, the Kragpocalypse could reasonably be cited. That's not the case this year.

The weather will be gorgeous, admission free, the gates will be opening early and staying that way late, and there will be a team on display with as much potential as any we've seen for the better part of a decade.

Most importantly, perhaps, our coach has made it known how important it is to him and the team to see that kind of support in the stands. All coaches, of course, want games and scrimmages to be attended by as many as possible. But this year feels different, it feels almost like a test.

For better or worse, the kerfuffle with the media earlier this week adds to this feeling, and pushes the question that haunts the back of our minds to the forefront. If Charlie Strong continues to win at Louisville, would he stay?

We won't get that answer tomorrow, but we will begin to see the backdrop against which that decision will be made down the line.

And if drinking beer at 9:00am and throwing cornhole for four hours is what it takes, well by god, I'm reporting for duty.

Be there, it's as simple as that. Go Cards.

Swop heads Northwest

Jared Swopshire will be taking his talents to Northwestern for his final year of eligibility, according to multiple outlets.

If I had to predict his destination beforehand I would not have been correct, but nonetheless this seems like a solid destination for Swop. Their fans are surprised too, but excited. But it does fill me with a tinge of sadness reading how happy they are; "He's played in a NCAA tournament game!" Yeesh, and they call Kentucky a backwater state.

Swop made a mark at UofL, in a number of ways. He'll be recalled for his cool name, a recipient of Cousins' forearm (or as a haphazard knee-flinger, both fine wrestler names), the groin injury that would never heal, the Barry Manilow voice, a controversial departure, and some clutch play during the tournament. Those are just a few.

While I hope it goes without saying that I always held him in the highest regard from a personal standpoint, I was often hard on Swop. He reminded me a little of Perrin Johnson, another good Cardinal and good basketball player, but one that fell into that basketball Twilight Zone episode titled "Player without a Position".

He wasn't physical enough to be a forward, nor skilled enough to be a perimeter weapon. But he could do just a little bit of everything and gave just that when he was on the floor.

He will be missed, and the market-share for Northwestern basketball just went up considerably around here. I wonder what infra-purple even looks like?

Keeneland and Churchill, off limits

With spring in full bloom, the meet in Keeneland flourishing and the excitement for Derby mounting, something's been on my mind lately that I believe needs to be settled once and for all in the Bluegrass.

And that is, um, this. For all the vitriol between UofL and UK, Louisville and Lexington, (or Louisville and the rest of the state, frankly), our horse parks should be left out of it, they need to be declared cease-fire zones.

Last year around this same time I was attending a Continuing Legal Education class, these boring chores attorneys must sit through to stay current on "the law" and anyways, in between talks I struck up a little friendship with the guy sitting next to me. He was similarly bored, we shot the breeze and talked sports, he was a big UK fan. We talked about horse racing, about making it out to Keeneland, he was keen on the ponies as well.

And then, in this innocent little exchange of pleasantries, I asked something about if he was coming to Derby or not. And his demeanor changed and he answered back in complete seriousness, "Hell no, I wouldn't set foot in that hellhole".

I think I gave a little laugh or whatever just to smooth the edges, but inside I was thinking, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

I love Keeneland, always have. It's a gorgeous place with gorgeous women and trips there have always been an annual right of spring. It's never even crossed my mind to include it in the overarching battles of the Commonwealth, as if Churchill Downs and Keeneland was an either/or proposition.

Being a fan of the Cards or Cats is part of your identity, I get that, it takes on a hyper-importance that sets our rivalry apart. That's not lost on me.

But the day I can't enjoy a picture-perfect Keeneland morning, or when a member of BBN cannot appreciate the stoic and historical beauty of Churchill Downs, is the moment things have been taken too far.

There's something sacred about horse racing in this state, I admit I'm one who will get all weepy about it, so I hate to see it get dragged down into the gutter with the rest of our daily mudflinging.

My thoughts on DeMarcus Cousins have nothing to do with savoring the Keeneland paddock, just like Edgar Sosa has nothing to do with mint juleps during "My Old Kentucky Home" on Derby Day.

Bourbon and horse racing. Let's set those aside. 

Keith Towbridge hops on board

The football Cards got an addition to the 2013 class today in tight end Keith Towbridge from Toledo, Ohio. He's a three-star prospect, has all the size you'd look for in the position at 6'4'' 230lbs. Towbridge held offers from Toledo, Cincinnati, UK, Purdue and Nebraska.

I have a gut feeling the tight end position is going to become more prominent for the Cards in the upcoming seasons. Loyal readers know how my opinions on these high school highlight vids vary considerably, but I like this one. Catchy tune, some nice voice-over work, and attention to detail like showing not only his receptions but downfield blocking as well. I like him already.

So go ahead and start doing some Ron Burgundy-ish practicing: "Bridgewater to Towbridge. How now brown cow. Bridgewater to Towbridge. How now brown cow".

Welcome aboard, young man.

Charlie Strong presser recap, clearing the air edition

Addressed media story right out of the gate, says it was blown way out of proportion. "Everyone can coexist". Admits disappointment in lack of media representation at some of the spring practices that were open and says UofL is an elite program, worthy of coverage and very passionate about it. But said multiple times "it's not football versus basketball". Says this season is very different, from picked to finish last (last season) to preseason favorites in Big East. Says team still has a long way to go. Only 9 seniors on the team, leadership is an area of concern. Builds up difficulty of schedule (no audible laughter). Again, says team "no where near where we should be", needs to keep getting better every day. Does like the team's balance on offense and the attacking nature of the defense. Needs to find a kicker. Really pleased with his running backs, believes it to be the strength of the roster, says all four capable of making plays. Bridgewater still has to grow, but is an outstanding leader. Defense shows a lot of promise, combination of experience and new talent. Need to find a replacement for Dexter Heyman. Says the margin of UofL's defeats last season was 7.3, highlights how close this team is to being special. Tons of youth on the team, but believes it has amazing potential. Jamon Brown will stay at the offensive tackle position. Declares media freeze "over". "I'm defending my program, that's all I'm doing". Says he has a mission at UofL, no interest in leaving till it's accomplished.

**MR. RED'S TAKE**

Fascinating stuff on display. Strong delved right into the story, said he thought it was overblown, but he did admit frustration with the lack of coverage, including one practice with no one there. I thought he did a good job deflecting any sense of entitlement, he praised the basketball team again and again, he repeatedly said that he is proud and passionate about his team and believes they are worthy of coverage.

When opened up for Q&A, the media hit back. CL Brown and Chip Cosby adamantly stressed the issue, challenging Strong for butting in and telling them how to do their jobs. Strong played nice, saying he understands the magnitude of the past March Madness, but said something like, "There has to be someone, some junior reporter, some intern that can be there to cover the football beat as well."

The reporters again pressed back, stating most outlets have no one in their skeletal staffs to cover both at times. There seemed to be genuine disconnect, with Strong simply not realizing the severity of the CJ staffing cuts. It was an intriguing back and forth.

So no one came out looking particularly well. Strong a bit out of touch, the media defending wounded-pride but simultaneously admitting that present financial woes prevent them from complete coverage.

But Strong declared the media ban "over", and in my opinion, this story should be as well.

Hodgepodge

The big news of last night was UK going one for two with the duo of biggest stars to roam the halls of academia next season. Shabazz Muhammad opted for UCLA, while Nerlens Noel will bring his flattop to Lexington. So with that, the Wildcats are re-loaded, perhaps not to the extent some envisioned, but sufficient for a Top 5 ranking.

Having said that, however, after just a quick perusal of the likely starting 5s, I suspect UofL to be favored when the Cats travel to the Kayefseum next season. For the first time in Cal's tenure, the Cards won't have to pin their hopes on pluck and chemistry against a wildly talented rival. Time to break this disgusting streak. No excuses.

The Promotions Section of UofL sports page cracked me up. Tomorrow the baseball team hosts Seton Hall, the game will be "Patriot Night" where the teams salute the men and women in uniform and first-reponders to crisis. Also, it's "Budweiser Buck Night!", beers and Pepsi products for only a dollar. USA! USA!

From the News of the Weird. Who was Bobby Petrino texting before/during his ill-fated motorcycle ride? None other than Greg Brohm.

Louisville softball swept the Villanova Wildcats in a double-header yesterday. The #12 Cards have now won six straight and have it rolling. They'll host Longwood (hehe) on Saturday. Keep it up, ladies. OK I gotta stop this train of thought.

Ashley Judd is annoying. Don't ever stand between her and a camera, it's not safe.

Eric Crawford gives extended thoughts on the media ban on his blog. Among other things, he breaks down the numbers to disprove the notion that UofL football receives less coverage than the other teams. And perhaps most damning of all, cites UofL's closed-door policies as part of the reason football coverage is what it is; Crawford essentially claims the football staff wants it both ways, to micro-manage access to the team, but also expects a variety of coverage. Doesn't work like that, according to Crawford.

He also reinforced an idea suspected by some, that Clint Hurtt is the real driving force in whatever-the-hell this is; Hurtt comes off the worst in his piece. I still have a hard time knowing what to make of it, but whatever it was, it was bungled.

T-Will article

Dig the beard. Here's a nice article on Terrence Williams, recently signed to a season-long contract with the Kings, and how everything is copacetic thus far. The article sums up T-Will's NBA career to this point. While it's nothing we haven't heard before, it's always nice to get an outside perspective.

Williams' talent has never been his problem, it's been immaturity and butting heads with coaches. But I'm a firm believer in the "change of scenery" treatment, and T-Will's transplant to Sacramento has so far shown promise. I'm really hoping this is the moment things click for him on the next level.

Strong to Arkansas rumors begin

It was inevitable. In the wake of Petrino's firing, Charlie Strong's name is already being floated by pundits and prognosticators as someone the Razorbacks may pursue. Unlike other rumors that can be dismissed out of hand, this one may have legs because Strong is from Arkansas, and it's written somewhere that all coaches must secretly dream of returning to lead their homestate team. That, and of course, Petrino was making about a cool mil and a half more than Strong annually.

And let's face it, whatever went down with the local media (a story picked up by some minor national outlets) earlier this week will only further the idea that Strong is unhappy at a "basketball school" and seeks a destination where football is year-round king.

No one knows what the future holds for Charlie, and it's foolish or naive to do to much speculating. But I'm both, so I'm going to anyways.

I put the Arkansas rumors in the "ain't gonna happen" file primarily because of timing. Had the job opened at the end of last season, perhaps it could have made sense. But after wrapping a bow on another recruiting class, going through the spring session, and now preparing for an approaching season, the suddenness of Petrino's exit robs them of the typical process for finding a new coach.

Plus, media speculation aside, Charlie Strong has it pretty good here, and I think he knows it. His popularity is up in the Gandhi range, he can practically write the terms of his future contracts, and the University just authorized a 7.5 million dollar upgrade of his practice facilities. I don't think the lack of a couple stories from Fred Cowgill is likely to trump any of those things.

Most importantly, I think he knows how special the opportunity is for this core group of young players. Headlined by Bridgewater, I suspect he suspects the type of things this team is capable of in the next two seasons. Building the forward momentum like Strong has done here is no easy feat; it would be foolish to walk out before reaping the rewards for all of his hard work.

And if he leads the Cards back to the BCS, his name will come up in coaching conversations at far better positions than Arkansas. That's when we'll have to sweat. But maybe, just maybe, he's The One.

On Bobby Petrino...

So, karma is real. Who knew? Bobby Petrino's lies finally caught up to him, canned yesterday by the Arkansas Razorbacks for deceiving the higher-ups as to the nature of a relationship with a 25-year old employee that came to light after a motorcycle crash ten days ago.

Petrino is still a compelling figure around here; he brings the range of emotions out of people. He is actively loathed by many Cardinals as a turncoat, grudgingly respected by some, and strangely adored by others as an anti-hero.

And while you won't see me shedding any tears for what he's brought on himself, I do count myself in the latter camp that still has kind of a bizzaro-affection for the man.

Not only did he coach UofL football to its greatest heights, but his gruff lack of personality almost became a personality in itself. His dull anger and wry smile delivered no shortage of fun for me and my buddies deadpanning his press conferences that he obviously loathed.

In a world where glad-handing, hype, and fake image-control is often paramount, there was something endearing about his joyless jerk routine. There was never a doubt about its authenticity, that's for sure.

And sure you knew he was a serial job-flirter, but he was comically bad at it, or at least getting away with it. So as long as he remained UofL's coach, getting mad at him for it was like trying to get mad at a toddler for denying he'd gotten in the cookie jar even with a face covered in chocolate.

And of course, his excellence on the field has always, till now, covered so many of his failings. I've still never seen a more innovative playcaller, and fully believe at least two of his UofL teams could have gone toe-to-toe with anyone in the country. As much as I could last season I watched the Razorbacks for no reason other than to see things on offense unlike anyone else in college football.

But his lies have finally caught up with him, and any perverse charm to be found in his skulking ambition has worn out. Had it been any other coach, I don't think he would have been fired for his most recent offense. But this was Bobby Petrino and the "Here he goes again..." articles started pouring off the presses, putting a national spotlight on the University of Arkanasas that turned into a morality play.

This time Bobby Petrino wasn't in control of his destiny and couldn't maneuver himself out of the mess he made.

So what becomes of old Bobby? His body is broken, his homelife presumably in shambles, he's lost his job, his reason for being, and the millions that it brought in.

I think it's likely he's coached his last game as a head coach of any major program, his name is just too toxic at this point.

But he's still got that playbook. Sometime soon, once his cuts and bruises heal, the hoopla dies down, and the media has turned its focus to the next scandal, some team out there looking for a coordinator to bring life to the offensive side of the ball will take the chance.

When that happens, I won't be cheering for Bobby Petrino. But I will be watching.

Baseball Cards begin the healing, romp past #1 Cats

Nothing will ever be able to erase a loss to the hated Cats in the Final Four, but I'm not going to lie, last night was not unplesant. The Louisville Cards baseball team traveled to Cliff Hagan stadium in Lexington and plastered the #1 ranked Wildcats in front of a packed house.

Biggest honors go to freshman pitcher Jared Ruxer, who shut down the powerful UK lineup, giving up just three hits in six innings to go along with six strikeouts. Offensively it was classic Dan McDonnell baseball, with production up and down the lineup, a potent combination of power and small ball.

Welcome the Cards home at Jim Patterson Friday night when they begin a series with Seton Hall. They'll play again on Saturday at 3:00, which combined with the Spring Game spillover, should make for a fun atmosphere on UofL's sports corridor.

Well done, fellas.

Celebrate

One week from today (April 17th) come on down to 4th Street Live to celebrate and appreciate UofL's remarkable basketball season and run to the Final Four. There's not many things that can drag me to 4th Street Live, but this is certainly one of them. Rick Pitino always kills at these kind of things. Starts at 5:30pm, should be a lot of fun.

5 Things to watch for in Spring Game

5) A "complete" back. Charlie Strong and Shawn Watson don't have to worry about depth at the running back position. If you follow @UofLFootball on twitter for practice updates, then you've been reading how nearly every outing a different back has stepped up and wowed. That amount of depth is quite a luxury.

What Coach must be a tad concerned about is finding the featured back for his system. He expressed the same concern last season about the lack of separation between his top three runners in Brown, Wright and Anderson.

The odds on favorite to emerge this season has to be Dominque Brown, who has the experience, size and all the natural gifts to punish opposing defenses. He will, however, have to display greater explosiveness and quickness hitting the hole.

The real battle will likely be for the secondary carrier, which really is up for grabs. Senorise Perry. Corvin Lamb. Jeremy Wright. Whoever shows the more complete combination of power and speed on Saturday will have the edge, and may even start nipping on D. Brown's heels.

4) Linebacker U on display. There's no denying that the back-to-back commitments of linebackers Keith Brown and Nick Dawson were the biggest moments of the offseason, the greatest "holy shit this is really happening" moments. Along with fellow rookie James Burgess, they'll join a talented unit looking to replace its leader in Dexter Heyman. I'm really excited to see how Vance Bedford plays with all his new toys in the linebacker corps.

3) The growth of B.J. Dubose. I think DuBose is poised for a coming out party as the force of the defense. Recall in Vance Bedford's famous speech, DuBose was the one singled out with a "Oh, he's gonna be pretty" once strength coach Pat Moorer got a hold of him.

Well, now he's a sophomore. 6'5'', 275lbs and a year of learning under his prodigious belt. After a promising freshman campaign where he contributed far more than anticipated, now with more experience and extra time for Moorer to work his magic, I expect DuBose to dominate both phases of the defensive line, stopping the run and rushing the passer.

Keep your eye on #90.

2) Efficient playcalling from Shawn Watson. Of course, it's just a scrimmage open to the general public, so I don't expect to see the Annexation of Puerto Rico on full display. But within the more basic playbook I think we can still learn a lot about the kind of coordinator Watson will be.

How often do we take shots downfield? Is there a deep threat on every passing play? How are tight ends being used? Is Bridgewater being rolled out of the pocket? What's the breakdown between pass and run?

Shawn Watson will get a lot of scrutiny this season. There's no denying the offense was the weak link, despite the over-achievement of last year's team. Much of that was excusable and understandable because of the unbelievable youth movement, particularly on the offensive line.

That will not be the case this year. There's a lot of firepower on the offensive side of the ball, and on Saturday we'll get our first glimpse of how it will be utilized.

1) Teddy Bridgewater. Nothing to worry about here, I just love to watch this kid play football. Last year he displayed all the poise and control in the world, really all I'm looking for is to see that again and then some, perhaps with a deeper knowledge and command of the offense.

You can tell a lot about a leader watching the little things in these practices. How he carries himself, interacts with his teammates, or reacts when things go badly are all telling. So besides looking at his throwing velocity and accuracy, I'll be looking for all the minutia with larger meaning, the signs that Teddy Bridgewater has fully taken the reigns of this team.

Charlie Strong's media ban misguided

So the word came out yesterday from some local TV reporters that the Louisville media would be banned from covering the remaining spring practice period of UofL football because the coaching staff is miffed at the sparseness of coverage of late.

It's hard to wrap your brain around, since there's not exactly an official press release for these sort of things, but if what is being widely circulated is true, it's certainly a strange move. I don't know if I'd even call it a misstep, but it's just, well, strange.

For someone who has been so savvy with fan relations and PR during his tenure, to start drawing lines in the sand over the lack of coverage of UofL mat drills at the same time the basketball team is on a magical run through the tournament, culminating in a Game of the Century, seems almost laughable.

I'm all for Charlie Strong promoting a greater football tradition, instructing his team as well as the fans how to behave like a primetime program, but he also needs to understand us as well, as a sports community. And a huge part of what makes us tick is basketball, particularly during a period like the one we just experienced.

What I don't think Strong understands, is while his beef may be with the local media, it's not a far cry from being a criticism of the fans since the media was only providing what the public wanted. I doubt Strong intended to send any message to the fans in that way, but it's just one step removed.

Since I was one who was sifting through the coverage like John Nash is his crazy room in "A Beautiful Mind", it stings a little to read that Charlie Strong somehow interprets crazy hoops passion as a lack of passion for his team. Basketball is thoroughly woven into the fabric of this community, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing for anyone else, especially football. What's good for the goose is also good for the gander (not entirely sure I used this idiom correctly, but close enough).

My point is, March Madness is a world apart. Yes, it's all-consuming. Yes, it's over-the-top. And no, that's not going to change, even if Charlie Strong leads us to the heights we all hope he does. He needs to embrace that concept.

Strong's decision is all the more surprising because the synergy between basketball and football has been so good under his leadership. He's a staple presence at nearly every home game, gets the loudest ovation of the night when shown on the big screen, and he often has his players address the crowd during media timeouts, which is always one of the highlights of the game. UofL is shattering attendance records for football, expanding our already impressive facilities, and is on track for a run at more Oranges.

So I cannot fathom why now, when the fans are finally ready to put the roundball away (as much as can be around here) and start getting amped for the Spring Game, would Strong choose to make a decision that could be described as petty, frankly, is beyond me.

We're all on The Train. The Train is unstoppable. But The Train needs to realize that for a few select weekends in March, its passenger cargo will be a bit lighter, and it needs to have the confidence to know that will change once the page turns fully to football.

It's a long year. We're all wearing the same colors; we can share the limelight. Don't ask me to choose between my Final Four coverage and my Charlie Strong. Even Sophie never faced such a choice.

UofL vs. UK - It's Not Just Basketball

For those of you that live in Lexington or can make the drive, UofL's 19th-ranked baseball team is headed east on I-64 to play UK tomorrow at 6:30. You can also catch the game on Fox Sports South or WMYO-58. UK is having a stellar season (#1, #2 or #3 depending on the poll you follow) and is 30-3. UofL is 23-9 (7-2) and is a game out of first in Big East play.

Later in the year, yet no less important, the UofL/UK football game has been moved to Sunday, September 2 at 3:30. This also means the Commonwealth Cup will air on ESPN instead of hiding on a lesser channel, no doubt due to the team's recent success and the anticipation of a great season ahead. It's a shame UK doesn't want it on the first weekend every year, but we get by with what we have. Go Cards.

Rozier slaps the sticker

A cool video of Louisville commit Terry Rozier slapping a UofL sticker on the backboard while participating in the dunk contest of the Derby Classic provided below. And below that is an older video from Adam Lefkoe, getting to know the kid a little more, the process of his recruiting, and Rick Pitino being saved on someone's voicemail for good reasons.

I'm growing more excited about Terry Rozier by the day. The quotes from his high school coach, who you can tell truly cares, about how Rozier "competes like a lion", "is all about the team" and "plays with an edge" may be generic, but I don't care so long as they're true. I think Rozier will dovetail perfectly with Pitino's system. Good range, quick hands and feet, an attacking mentality, I would not be a bit surprised if he takes backup point guard duties next season.

 

Hood in the market for a home

Mississippi State standout freshman Rodney Hood will be seeking a transfer, opting not to stick around to see what the Rick Ray era will bring.

It's interesting news for the Cardinals, who were on Hood's short list along with Florida State on his first go-round. Fresh off a Final Four run (and a Florida State fizzle) now may be a fortuitous moment to find favor with the finicky former five-star forward.

This is all just speculation based on Hood's previous recruitment, there's no official word on where he is looking, but no one would be surprised to see Louisville get back into the mix. He's a tremendous talent, a rangy 6'8'', averaging better than 10 points a game last season and was named to the Freshman All-SEC team.

Should the Cards land him, after sitting out a season, Hood would join rising star Anton Gill to form a solid base and injection of talent for the class of 2013.

**UPDATE**

I'm well aware this would eat a scholarship that we currently don't have to offer. It would take finagling (a la Kuric) or require a transfer from someone like Rakeem Buckles, Kevin Ware, or Elisha Justice, which I have no inside info on, but isn't exactly outside the realm of possibility.

Baylor goes from OMG to FML

With the news that the Baylor Bears are being investigated by the NCAA for going overboard with the texting device, that brings theHoff's and my method for correctly predicting the next scandal simply by using the drunken "smell test" to somewhere in the 98.8% range.

From Ohio State to USC, UConn to Tennessee, Oregon to UCF, you give theHoff and me a case of beer and a pulpit and we'll point the divining rod to who's going down next. Baylor was child's play, frankly, barely even took a buzz.

A sneak peek into the future, however, since my coffee was a little more Irish than usual this morning. Beware putting too much stock in teams that begin with a Prov and end with an -ence.

UK has full blown case of the Krags

Three more players have left the UK football team, including former Central standout Tim Patterson who Strong and Joker once tussled over and whose landing was a super-mega-major big deal at the time.

Still stinging from the loss of their most talented assistant in Tee Martin, Patterson now departs the defense, along with sophomores Justin Henderson and Nermin Delic who were booted for violating team rules. That brings the total to seven players that have left last year's team for reasons other than graduation.

Something is clearly amiss with Operation Win, most notably absent the "winning" part. It nearly parallels UofL's situation under Kragthorpe. Joker Phillips is not "the guy", it's quite clear to everyone he is not "the guy", yet they cannot pull the trigger because of those unwritten coaching laws that mandate everyone gets a certain amount of time before you can be proactive about finding "the guy".

While UK's failures never make me unhappy, I do think Joker is a classy man and a decent coach; it's tough to see anyone go through such prolonged punishment. It's like watching an insect slowly get its limbs torn off. Whatever is going on down there, however, Charlie Strong's famous words about "never losing to them again" are beginning to look less boastful and more like realism.

And if Tim Patterson wants to correct his mistake and come home, I'm sure Linebacker U can make room for one more.

Pack the Spring Game

It's time to show Charlie Strong the support he's earned. When discussing UofL football around town there's no shortage of excitement or praise for our man at the helm. But action speaks louder than words, and in the world of college football, action means asses in the seats.

While support for the program runs deep, Louisville is light on the traditions of the major powerhouses. This is nothing new, of course, and the tug-of-war between the diehards and the social butterflies has been beaten to death.

What is new, or at least what has been absent for awhile, is a team of the caliber we hope to witness next season. A quarterback that will have the word "Era" attached to it in the UofL history books, a stable of talented running backs jockeying for a share of the work load, a wide receiving corps with as much potential as any in the country will all be showing their stuff, and hopefully their growth on Saturday.

The defense has more depth and speed than any since Bobby Petrino left (whatever happened to that guy, anyway?) and a coordinator that loves to send them flying around the field. There will be a lot on display to learn about the kind of team and the positional changes we can expect next season.

For the first time in a long time, we're looking at a squad for which less than 10 wins could be viewed as a disappointment. The staff has done its part to restore an exciting product to the field; it is time for the fans to reciprocate.

If you think Charlie Strong and the coaching staff will not be eyeballing the stands closely on Saturday you're crazy. This is one of the rare opportunities for fans to tangibly affect the course of a program.

So come out, have some fun, and pay respect. We're enjoying a beautiful stretch of weather, and I can't imagine a better pre-Derby afternoon than watching the football Cards in the shadow of Churchill Downs. The gates open at 8:00am for tailgating.

Go Cards.