"Floored" ida. Cards upset #3 Gators in Sugar Bowl 33-23

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Louisville's fast start leaves Gators toothless

It is the biggest victory in Louisville football history.



The champ.

Just as Muhammad Ali shocked the world with a knockout over Sonny Liston in 1965 to claim the heavyweight boxing title, another Louisville legend -- the Charlie Strong coached Louisville football team -- shocked the world (as least the college football world) with a 10-point win over #3 Florida in Wednesday night's Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Make that Lou Orleans.

Ali was on hand to see the win. So was a 5 year old cancer patient from Louisville who wanted to see this game with only months possibly left in his young precious life. The champ is smiling. The young man has his belief renewed that miracles can happen.
 

Scoring on the first play from scrimmage in each half, the Cards dominated the air game behind the heroics of Teddy Bridgewater. The Cards shut down the Florida offense for the majority of the contest and pulls off the biggest BCS bowl upset quite possibly in history. They moved the unmovable object. They danced past the gator pit unscathed.  

A 14-point underdog, the #21 ranked Cards proved the Vegas odds-makers wrong...holding off a desperate Florida rally in the fourth quarter. Gator bait? Not tonight.

Sugar Bowl champs. Right here in Derby City.

Charlie wears a Sugar Bowl confetti wig.

A win that proves the ACC chose the right school. Another notch in the totem pole for the best college town in America. A righteous justification for the coach who had been a bridesmaid so very often in the quest for a head coaching job. A testimony that there is no better athletic director in college sports than Tom Jurich. 

Louisville Cardinals. L1C4. Big East 1 - SEC 0.

We'll return to our usual coverage of UofL women's sports Friday. Today's column is for Teddy Bridgewater and his mom, a breast cancer survivor. For Eli Rogers and his mom, an 11-year AIDS survivor. For the 20,000 fans who made the trek to New Orleans and for those who watched on TV or listened on radio. For an athletic director who gave a man a chance. For a coach who urged fans to "get on the train." A coach who believes that when you give your word, you keep it. A guy who turned down the money and the SEC. A guy who kept pointing to the Louisville fan section and telling the world that "this one is for those people up there" -- dressed in red and black.

Strong? Yeah, you betcha.

Arlo Guthrie wrote a song years ago about a train that rode the rails to New Orleans. "Riding on the City of New Orleans" came true tonight. And, to paraphrase Aerosmith...the train kept a rollin' all night long. Ozzy Osbourne sang about riding on the rails of a crazy train. The Cards have done all that and more with this win. The Cardinal Cannonball.

Down goes Frazier? How about down goes Florida? Gators, you just been "Carded"?

Teddy hits the deck on first UofL offensive play
but Florida ends up on mat in the end.

A win that few...except Cardinal fans...expected. A win that had ESPN announcers stunned, stammering and shuffling for material. A win for a young team that the pundits claimed achieved false success against a weak schedule. A team that would not be able to withstand Florida's vaunted defensive pressure according to the experts. Big East beating the SEC? Impossible...

How does 33 points taste, Florida?

Have some.

A win for the ages. And a victory for underdogs everywhere. A Sugar Bowl shocker.

The team will arrive at 3:30 today back at PJCS. IF you aren't working, go to greet them. A larger celebration is needed. Maybe over the weekend in the house where it started. The pizza oven.

Sugar?

How sweet it is.
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Volleyball wrap-up

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(CARDINAL COUPLE staff columnist Jeff McAdams takes us to the net with a UofL VolleyCards wrap-up and a preview of ACC volleyball.) 

 

Volleyball finishes for the year

*** Three named to All NorthEast Region team***

*** ACC Volleyball***

*** Random Trivia***

Three named to All NorthEast Region team

Lola Arslanbekova, Gwen Rucker and Caitlin Welch have been named to the AVCA's All NorthEast Region team.  This great honor makes the three eligible for to be named All American's, which would be a tremendous honor, indeed.

Lola was selected for the All NorthEast Region team all 4 years of her play at UofL, while this is the second year for Gwen Rucker to be selected.  This is the first selection for Caitlin Welch.

ACC Volleyball

Sandy started us off with a look at ACC Softball yesterday, so let's take a look at the competition in the ACC for Volleyball.  Overall I believe its a step up from Big East volleyball, but it is not a powerhouse conference.  No teams from the ACC have made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA volleyball tournament, so let's consider the final standings.

At the top of the conference standings is Florida State (28-4, 18-2), Miami (FL) (25-6, 17-3), and North Carolina (26-6, 16-4).  The middle of the pack is NC State (22-10, 12-8), Clemson (21-10, 12-8), Georgia Tech (19-12, 10-10), and Virginia Tech (16-4, 9-11).  The remaining teams (excluding Maryland who's place we're taking) are Duke (15-7, 6-14), Wake Forest (11-21, 5-15), Boston College (10-22, 4-16) and lastly Virginia (9-22, 3-17).

All-time against the teams (in their ACC standings order), UofL's record is: Florida State 5-9, Miami (FL) 2-0, North Carolina 3-4, NC State 1-0, Clemson 2-0, Georgia Tech 2-1, Virginia Tech 16-2, Duke 2-3, Wake Forest 4-0, Boston College 0-0, and Virginia 3-0.

The ACC got 4 teams into the NCAA tournament.  Florida State was the 9 seed, just above us and lost a 5 set match to Purdue (We feel your pain, FSU fans).  North Carolina lost in a 5 set match to 15 seed Iowa State.  Miami (FL) lost - what I feel can only be considered an upset - in a 5 set match to College of Charleston.  And NC State lost 3-1 to Texas A&M.

So, when you consider that Volleyball is, like so many of the programs at UofL, a rapidly improving program, I rather like where we stack up against these teams.  Several of the teams are well regarded in Volleyball overall.

Random Trivia

If I can remember this right, I believe there are five schools that compete in Division 1 athletics that do not have the word "University" in their official school name.  Two of them are ACC schools, Georgia Tech (officially, "The Georgia Institute of Technology"), and Boston College.  The other three are the service academies, Army, Navy, and Air Force.

EDITORIAL COMMENTARY:

We take a brief step away from Louisville women's sports here to weigh in on a matter that has many Louisville fans talking:

Charlie Strong.

And, there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that Tom Jurich has offered to change UofL's name to Charlie's College in order to entice the current UofL football head coach Charlie Strong into staying. The Louisville athletic program is getting more attention these days than Barack Obama would if he dressed in a nightgown and sang showtunes to Mitt Romney. Big East to ACC, Bowl bid to New Orleans and the Allstate Sugar Bowl, coaching rumors and drama.

What is important to remember here is that Louisville has many good and successful men and women's athletic programs on campus. Football may be an economic engine, but UofL was a powerhouse in basketball way before football caught fire. WE like the fact that Tom Jurich has already let the coaches know he wants plans and strategy ideas on how Louisville sports team can duplicate the success they've had in the BIG EAST in the ACC. That's forward thinking and we love it.  Louisville has the best athletic director in the nation and he proves it day after day.

As far as the continuing soap opera surrounding Charlie and job opportunities go, to us it's very simple. IF he wants to be here and be a part of it...stay. If not, he certainly wouldn't be the first high profile coach to leave. The program will survive. We remember when Tom Collen left the WBB program to go to Arkansas. We were shocked and surprised. Then, a young assistant at Maryland named Jeff Walz took the job. Turned out pretty well, don't you think?

The Louisville football program has a saying that has grown popular amongst the fans. "Get On The Train". It's time for Charlie to do that. Whether it's a local train or outbound...the speculation and drama concerning this football team, the athletic program...at a time when Cardinal fans should be rejoicing the entry into the ACC and a major BCS bowl game...is ridiculous.

Que sera, sera.

 

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Field Hockey faces must win at Providence

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Post-season on the line at Providence for Field Hockey

-Football in a showdown with UC

The University of Louisville Field Hockey team travels to Providence, R.I. for a Saturday noon match that carries serious post-season consequences.

In short, if the Cards win, they're in the BIG EAST Tournament. A loss drops them into a three-way tie potentially with Rutgers and Villanova. The tie-breaker looks to be more complicated than figuring out ObamaCare or Mitt Romney's route to the ocean from Iran.

Louisville (11-7, 2-3) is on a three-game win streak, last defeating #22 Ohio State. They handled the Friars easily last year in Trager Stadium 6-0. The Cards lead the overall series 8-1.

Amber Thomas leads Louisville with nine goals this season and Becca Maddock follows closely with eight scores. Goalkeeper Erin Conrad allows a scant 1.85 goals per game.

Providence is 3-1 in their last four games and sports a record of 9-7 on the season...3-2 in the BIG EAST. They're automatically qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament as a third seed...but a loss to Louisville would drop them to the fourth seed.

Speaking of the BIG EAST Tournament, it will be held here in Louisville at Trager Stadium. Semifinal games are next Friday and the championship will be played Sunday. The other participants in the Big  East Tournament are top seeded UConn and Syracuse...who face off this weekend to determine who will win the regualr season title.

Good luck to Justine Sowry's flock as they fly north to cook the Friars!

v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v6v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^

With no women's athletic events scheduled on campus today, we would draw your attention to a big football game being played at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The undefeated Louisville Cardinals take on one-loss Cincinnati at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

A contest that has sold out the Pizza Oven. Five things we like about tonight's matchup...

1) UC's quarterback's name. "Munchie" Legaux. Munchie Let-go. Seriously? Got to be one of our favorite opponent names since the days of Baskerville Holmes and Ace Custis...
2) Evening football. Gives one a chance to get stuff done during the day and still get out and tailgate a few hours. Friday is even better, we can now go watch the men's bb scrimmage tomorrow.
3) They play for "The Keg of Nails". That's just a tough-sounding award. Makes me want to grab a ladder and a hammer or something. Ooh-rah!
4) The payback factor. UC beat Louisville last year in Paul Brown Stadium and "Munchie" says he's a better QB than Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater. Harumph!
5) A chance for "two". Louisville Volleyball goes to UC for a Monday match. Chance to beat the Bearcats twice in several days appeals to us! Goooo CARDS!
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Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Sunday with Sonja

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


- Heyman, Collins tie the knot.


- What'll ya have, Charlie? 


-What I said wasn't what I wanted you to read.


-We're thinking again (you've been warned).


Another Cardinal couple on the block...with UofL softball pitcher Tori Collins marrying UofL football linebacker Dexter Heyman. Heyman has been signed to a free agency contract by the Kansas City Chiefs while Collins finishes up her teaching degree. 

No truth to the rumor that Sandy Pearsall and Charlie Strong have already offered scholarships to the first two kids these two have. 


We'll remember the bone crunching hits that Dexter produced for a long time on the Papa John's Cardinal Stadium turf. Same for Collins domination in the pitching circle. 


Wonder what T.J got them for a wedding gift? Season tickets? 


(Deep in the secret laboratories beneath CARDINAL COUPLE Worldwide, Dr. Giggles laughs and pumps his fist. The first step in creating a super-skilled UofL breeding pool has been established. To the spectrometer, Co-Co!)  

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Makers Mark coming out with a Charlie Strong edition.

This one will be a collector's item...just don't set it too close to your John Calipari decanter.  


We said for years that the distiller made a fortune from UofL fans during the Kragthorpe and Cooper years from just sales of regular Makers' products to drown their sorrows. 

We're still waiting for Pitino to name a horse after the dynamic UofL football coach like he did with Angel, Gorgui and Peyton. We'd like Bill Samuels to create a CARDINAL COUPLE collectable bottle. 


(Yeah, like that's gonna happen.) 

Sales will probably go very quickly on this limited edition. We also expect they'll lag a bit in Lexington...


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"Who's throwing me the ball, coach?
Peyton or Edgar? "

Kudos to the C-J for revealing to us that Edgar Sosa is going to be a senior at UofL this fall. In a recent report about the Dominican Republic winning a qualifying Olympic basketball game, the Courier-Journal broke the news that the guard we all figured had graduated still has a year of playing time left. 


We just wonder who is going to break the news to Peyton Siva?


Misprint? We're not so sure. It could be ground-breaking investigatory journalism about Mr. Sosa and the Cards. Or the Courier-Journal can't tell the difference between Siva and Sosa. We've sent Timmy the Intern down to the Belknap Campus to see if Edgar has a room in Minardi Hall. He's also supposed to bring Chinese carryout back.  

Order for Cardinal Couple? 

We can relate. WE never could tell the difference between "Bullet" Justice and Gorgui...or Moo Goo Gai Pan and Cashew Chicken. 


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We're now over a month into our "writer's days" at Cardinal Couple and it's gone really well. Just about all the e-mails we've received have been positive and Jenny, Sandra, David and Mark have come up with very creative and informative columns during their days at bat. We pleased with the results on the 'reader submitted articles' on Fridays also.


Admittedly, the summer months are a little slower for Cardinal womens' sports news...but we pleased to announce that our reader "views" and "hits" count are still growing here at Cardinal Couple. 


(Must be a boring summer for all of you).

The Cardinal Couple staff plays for the Heyman-Collins
wedding reception. 

Seriously, we are fortunate to have such great writers on board and thankful for the readership we have. If you have an idea for an article here at Cardinal Couple or just something you like we're doing

(or not doing)


...feel free to e-mail us or leave it in the comments section. 


We are tossing around some ideas for down the road. CARDINAL COUPLE polo shirts -- available for purchase at our cost, a monthly 'Friends of CARDINAL COUPLE' dinner and a few other activities in conjunction with another popular Louisville Sports  website. 

"Where's the Happy Family combo on this menu?" 

Thanks for checking us out and for all your ideas and comments. Eventually, we may just get the hang of this thing and produce a website worth reading...


Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Time to go turn Bill the Goat loose in Waterfront Park and gather up the staff chimps for their weekly spinning session.


Have a great Sunday and GO CARDS! 


--Sonja
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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Football at 50

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SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Charlie Strong Women's Clinic review.


-Dream put out the Sparks


(We have a reader submitted article today from Sharon Meade. She and her niece recently took part in Coach Strong's camp and she shares her observations with us today. We've known Sharon for over twenty years and she was an integral part of one of the all-time best co-ed softball teams to ever grace the field at St. Martha. She is married to Mike Meade and they have one son, Charlie. They did not name him after the current UofL football coach. Here's her report...)

The 3rd annual Charlie Strong Women's Clinic on June 2nd was a real treat for female Cardinal fans. As a 50 year-old who was once athletic but doesn't work out regularly now, I have to admit I was a little nervous about the "drills". My 20 year-old niece was there with me to participate and for support. 

We quickly got caught up in the energy and enthusiasm of the participants, the presenters, coaches and staff. Stepping onto the football field was an awesome feeling -- one that helped me get through the running, passing, sit-ups and other drills. 

Samantha and Teddy Bridgewater. Sorry, but the chimps
can't figure out how to rotate the photos Sharon sent us.
We recommend you lay on your side while looking at today's
CARDINAL COUPLE pictures. 

During the clinic, I learned about football and the dedication and hard work that the players, coaches and staff put forth. Also, about the feeling of a "football family" that comes through. I think I learned enough to not have to ask my husband so many questions during the games. 

After the adrenaline wore off, I was tired and sore...but it was worth it. After a couple of days, I could actually cross my legs again without wincing in pain.

Sharon and Louie the Cardinal Bird. 

It was an awesome event and I'll be back for it again next year. 


( Great recap, Sharon! If coach Strong needs a emergency player, make sure he knows what section you're sitting in...)


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How about that Angel McCoughtry? Atlanta Dream head coach Marynell Meadors was looking to shake  things up a bit, having seen her team lose three out of the last four. So, she brought Ms. McCoughtry off the bench last night instead of starting #35.


The result? 

Angel, the second-leading scorer in the WNBA this season, went for 31 and the Dream demolished the L.A. Sparks 92-59 in Atlanta...snapping a five-game L.A. win streak. 


Lindsey Harding added 18 for Atlanta and Sancho Lyttle contributed 13 in the 33-point win.


Looks like you might have stumbled on something successful, Marynell. 
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Ferguson-Dayes receives honor...Strong leaving?/Cards going...One final look at the UofL v.UK WBB game

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Karen Ferguson-Dayes selected Northeast Coach of the Year.

-Football Cards headed to Charlotte...Charlie headed to College Station?

-(We promise) A final look at the UofL vs. UK WBB game.

The University of Louisville's head women's soccer coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes has been named the NSCAA/Mondo Regional Coach of the Year for the NCAA Northeast Division. She was also the BIG EAST Coach of the Year..so the trophy case in the Ferguson-Dayes living room is getting crowded.

Ferguson-Dayes led the Cards to 14 wins this year and to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the Cards furthest foray into soccer's BIG DANCE. Louisville was also the champs of the BIG EAST's National Division this season and lost in the finals of the BIG EAST Tournament to West Virginia.  

Christine Exeter was BIG
EAST Player of the Year.

Dayes has a talented team returning next season, headed up by Christine Exeter...who will be a junior next year. Exeter was BIG EAST Player of the Year and scored 14 goals on the season. Last year, Exeter was the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.

The Cards will miss goalie Chloe Kiefer, who graduates next spring, but Dayes has recruited well and should be well-prepared to battle tough BIG EAST opponents and a traditionally tough and demanding non-conference schedule.

Ferguson-Dayes got her 100th. career win in the regular season final game against Cincinnati.

Speculation amongst some fans early in the season about the Cards centered around the girls' slow start to the season and what to do about it. The Cards were 1-4-2 early on against a strong non-conference slate. Sometimes, it takes a team a while to jell...and Ferguson-Dayes got this group running on all eight cylinders when BIG EAST conference play rolled around.

Congratulations to Karen and the UofL Women's Soccer team on their outstanding individual and team accomplishments this year!

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It seemed like the terms "Louisville football" and "coaching departures" were interchangeable back in the prior decade. Both John L. Smith and Bobby Petrino left the program for more (in their opinion) lucrative opportunities. Howard Schnellenberger flew the coop (which caused UofL to hire a "coop" - Ron Cooper) in the mid-nineties. He regrets leaving - even to this day. (Schnellenberger, not Cooper.)

Now, fans are full of innuendo that current football head coach Charlie Strong might be a obtainable target for the Texas A&M football program. This happening while the Cards prepare for a Dec. 27th. bowl game in Charlotte, N.C. against N.C. State.

Clearly, Strong would be a good choice for the Aggies. He has tons of SEC experience and recruits well in the SEC stronghold of Florida. The A&M program is headed to the SEC. He's taken the Cards to bowl games in his first two years as a head coach...a coaching job he waited over 20 years to receive. The Aggies need a head coach after dumping theirs.

"Who said I'm leaving? I got Teddy for
three more years and a tough-ass defense."

Will he go? We don't think so. He's not the job-jumping, eye-always-open job philanderer that Bobby Petrino is. He's not the foolish decision maker that John L. Smith was...thinking he could compete in BIG TEN football with Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan. Charlie and his family like Louisville. Charlie has stated many times that he wants to put his mark on Cardinal Football. So, the question is....do you want to be a coach of a team that is young, getting better and plays before 55,000 fans or the coach of a team, faced with rebuilding...that may get 70,000 in the seats if the team is winning...but is headed to the toughest conference in college football? WE think he'll see the light and stay.

We hope we're right.

It's probably just one of many future attempts by other college football programs to pilfer Strong from the Cardinal ranks. Just say, no...Mr. Strong..and call "the Pipe" or "Johnelle" if you need any career changing advice. Stay strong, Charlie. Stay a Cardinal.

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The Louisville women's basketball team returns to action Saturday in the KFC YUM! Center to face 0-7 Gardner Webb. For some Cardinal fans, that can't happen soon enough. A chance to wash away the bitter taste of a 20 point drubbing by non-conference opponent Kentucky. A chance to see a probable lopsided, blowout win by the Cards.

We understand the frustrations some fans are feeling about the loss to UK. We were there...and it got a little frustrating and depressing at times during the game. We don't think it's the end of the world and demise of the Cardinal basketball program, though. Sometimes, teams have off performances. UK had six days to prepare for the game - Louisville three. UK threw everything they had into keeping the Louisville guards...especially Shoni...from being able to create and maneuver. Not everybody, in fact...hardly anybody...left on the Lady Cards schedule can play that kind of pressure defense. We'll watch with interest on how UK does against strong ACC affiliated Duke and BIG EAST's Notre Dame.

UK better than the Lady Vols this year? Hard
to convince us otherwise.

The Lady Cards will bounce back. Too much pride and things on the line not to.

UK may just be the best team in the SEC this season. Hard to convince us otherwise right now, after watching Tennessee play a couple of times and not seeing any other powerhouses in the remaining SEC schools. No disgrace in losing to a better opponent, and UK clearly was on Sunday. Learn from it, Lady Cards, and improve because of it. Develop a killer mentality.

And, rebound. Literally... 
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Women's Football Clinic....Meet Margaret Richards

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SUNDAY @ THE COUPLE

-Second annual Charlie Strong women's football camp

-Meet Louisville's Margaret Richards..part of Weber State's coaching staff 

(Janet Williams took part in the Saturday camp drills. She shares her observations with us)

Charlie Strong is a
different guy when he gets
on the football field

It was hot yesterday. And, yes, Charlie we were tired. Doing sit ups, running, putting on the pads, discussing plays and formations. Hustling. Nearly six hours of alternating fun and exhaustion. I had no idea of what all a football player has to go through to just be ready to play the game. I understand it now.

We started the day over at the indoor Trager Center. A lecture, then going through pregame warm ups, weights and push ups. I used to be in pretty good shape but after that I realize that I'm not anymore. I was getting dusted by several of the younger girls out there and the coaches weren't shy about telling me about it.

We took to the field and there was more in store for us. Drills that had us exploring the worlds of passing, receiving, tackling and learning the names and the plays that the offense and defense have to learn and master. Mike Sanford, the offensive coordinator for the Cards, was great. Interjecting humor with terminology - he received a big round of laughter when he asked us if we knew what the term "hot receiver" meant and then commented that it didn't mean the guy was good looking. 

I now understand why the guys on defense are so fired up about defensive coordinator Vance Bedford. Talk about a motivator! And, slacking is definitely not allowed on Charlie Strong's football field. Charlie is a great guy when you meet him in public and off the field. When he's on the field, though, he's demanding, loud and persistant. You listen, to try to perform and you hear about it if you don't do it to his satisfaction. I used to think my old sotball coach was the most demanding person I ever met. She's in second place now.

Rule #1: You don't walk anywhere. Period. You run. Walking is for little old ladies in the parking on the way to church. Cardinals run. They run with a purpose and if you don't - you do it again. And again. 

I emerged at the end of the day tired but proud. I think that I can now discuss football with "the guys" and not embarrass myself. I have a great respect for what these athletes go through to get ready for games and what they are expected to be able to do. I have a 8 yr. old son and if he decides he wants to be a football player (right now basketball is his major sport) and gets good enough to play in college-I'd send him to play for Charlie Strong and his guys with no hesitation.
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There's a lot more involved in a running play than Janet
ever imagined. You blow your assignment...you hear about it.

We were there with questions and expectations. Both were satisfied. And, as I type this out to send over to Paul and Sonja, my calves are sore, my arms are aching and I'm still queasy, I think, from a pass that I was supposed to catch but ended up directly in my stomach. Thud, ugh.  

I never thought I'd say this:

I'm looking forward to football season.

(Janet Williams was a pretty fair softball and track star back in high school. We thank her for her report and we agree...Janet. We can't wait for football to start.)

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Margaret Richards played
for Nebraska after gathering
All-State honors at Central.

Margaret Richards is the latest coach with a Louisville connection to join Bethann Ord at Weber State. Richards was an all-state hoops star at Louisville Central before going to Nebraska to play her college ball. Richards has a great deal of coaching experience...she was a graduate assistant at UofL for a year, an assistant at Kentucky State and head coach at St. Augustine College in Raleigh, NC. Her most recent job was at North Texas...where she was the team's recruiting coordinator and special situations coach.

"I'm very excited to have Margaret join our staff. I have a great deal of respect for her ability from our time together at UofL. Ord commented. "Her head coaching experience will be vital to our staff. She gives us instant credibility and will have a huge impact on recruiting."

We like this move by Ord and can see Richards being of great service to Ord as she begins her first year as the head coach at Weber State.

Bria Smith to announce today, Big East Softball Tournament begin Thursday, Michael Baze-What Happened?

Ulmer Stadium is where the UofL softball team plays
and the home of the 2011 BIG EAST softball tournament.

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WELCOME TO THURSDAY at CARDINAL COUPLE...or

(ELPUOC LANIDRAC ta YADSRUHT OT EMOCLEW)

-BRIA SMITH TO ANNOUNCE COLLEGE CHOICE TODAY...

-BIG EAST Softball Tournament begins Thursday

-Jockey Michael Baze found dead at Churchill

-Charlie Strong, football Cards to hold women's football clinic.

Christ the King guard Bria Smith will choose between Louisville and Tennessee Wednesday afternoon during a press conference at Christ the King high school, according to head women's basketball coach Bob Mackey. Smith, who was named ESPN New York's girls Player of the Year, is the highest-ranked player in the Class of 2011 that is still uncommitted.

"It's really been difficult with the badgering and I feel bad for Bria and her mom because it's been a constant every day dealing with coaches and the timing is very unfortunate. We were finishing our playoffs when Coach Ryan (University of Virginia) announced her resignation. It sent Bria back a little and I know that going to the McDonald's All-American Game and the WBCA All-America Game being undecided, it's been difficult." Mackey commented.

Smith had committed to Virginia but withdrew that verbal once Ryan retired. Louisville, Tennessee, Georgia, Duke and Oklahoma had also been in consideraton. ACC rules prohibit a player from committing to another ACC school if they have de-committed from a league member. Louisville recently hired former Duke assistant coach and recruiting co-ordinator Samantha Williams as a assistant coach.

Bria Smith to decide today whether it's
Louisville or Tennessee...

WE were originally led to believe (via a Smith twitter) that the decision would come Thursday. Instead, Bria will make her announcment later today with her mother, members of Christ the King coaching staff and some of her teammates present.

Smith going to Tennessee would make her the third top-10 ranked player to join the Class of 2011 at Knoxville. She would be the top ranked recruit for 2011 for Jeff Walz if she decides to attend Louisville.

W'e'll update you here at CARDINAL COUPLE as soon as the announcement has been made.

The announcement is scheduled for 1 p.m.

(Parts of this article are courtesy of ESPN.com)

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Skies willing, the 2011 BIG EAST Softball tournament takes place at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville, KY beginning Thursday at 10 a.m. The top eight finishers in conference play qualified for the 3 day event...which has Sunday as a "rain day" and might well be needed. Beginning Thursday, showers and thunderstorms are predicted for the Louisville area through Monday. Here's a rundown on the seeds and seasons of the eight school participating.

#1 Notre Dame (44-8, 19-1) clinched the regular season title by winning their last 13 in a row. The Irish haven't lost since Louisville beat them on April 17th.

#2 DePaul (38-12, 19-2) is the second seed and is no stranger to the BIG EAST Tournament title...8-4 lifetime in BIG EAST Tournament play and the 2008 BIG EAST Tournament champs.

#3 Syracuse (41-11, 15-5) used the strong pitching of Jenna Caira to sweep Louisville in the final three games of the year and grab the third spot. Caira was an impressive 31-9 on the season.

#4 South Florida (33-20, 13-5) was a surprise team to most this season...leading the league early and finishing higher in the regular season standings than most expected.

#5 Louisville (34-17, 12-7) is the host school. The Cards were plagued by pitching injuries most of the season but got a strong mid-season boost from freshman Carlisa Connell, who won 12 straight games.

#6 Pittsburgh (34-16, 13-8) has a deep and talented pitching staff but run production has been a problem at times for the Panthers.

#7 Rutgers (19-29, 7-12) survived a close battle to make the tournament and grabbed the seventh seed.  They're hardly on fire...losing 5 out of their last six and the final three to Pittsburgh in the regular season.

#8 Providence (23-29, 7-13) rounds out the field for the tournament. They took 2 out of 3 from Georgetown in the final regular season series to gain the bid.

 THE SCHEDULE

Thursday

Game 1. Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh   10 AM
Game 2.DePaul vs. Rutgers   12:30 PM
Game 3. USF vs. Louisville   6:30 PM
Game 4. Notre Dame vs. Providence  4 PM

Friday

Game 5. Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner  2:30 PM
Game 6. Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner  5 PM

Saturday
Championship Game (ESPN 2)  5 PM

All games will be shown on BIG EAST TV and the the format is single elimination. CARDINAL COUPLE will provide updated and live posts here on the site on the action....and hopefully some interviews. PLAY BALL!

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Promising jockey Michael Baze , 24, was found dead Tuesday about 4:45 p.m. in his vehicle inside the stable area of Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs workers informed Baze's agent that the jockey apparently had been in his vehicle in the same spot since early morning before someone called 911. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday but police said foul play is not suspected.

Baze was a riding sensation on the West Coast until he decided to try the Midwestern circuit in 2010. He fared well at Arlington Race Track...winning the 2010 meet at the Chicago track. Baze was scheduled to ride at least one horse on this upcoming Thursday  at Churchill but did not have any mounts on either Kentucky Oaks or Kentucky Derby Day of last week. Churchill had no racing from Sunday thru today. Baze last rode at Keeneland on April 29th., for trainer Eric Reed. He finished 5th, on Jazil's Song. Baze rode six times at the Keeneland meet, all for Reed, and had (1) second place finish. Baze had ridden Derby
runner up NEHRO to his first win, when the horse was a two year old but was replaced later on the horse by trainer Steve Asmussen with Corey Nakatani after NEHRO finished 2nd. in the Louisiana Derby to PANTS ON FIRE, another Derby contestant.

Baze had recently decided to forego ull time fracing at Arlington or Churchill this spring and ride as "first call" jockey for trainer Steve Asmussen at Woodbine Rack Course in Canada.

Baze was one of several family members who are jockeys. His father and uncle were jockeys. His cousin Tyler rides regularly in California and his uncle Russell owns the most wins in North America racing history.

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Don't worry, ladies...Michael
Stewart won't be there to block or
tackle you...If he comes to eat lunch,
though....big problem.

Charlie Strong wants you...to attend his football clinic for women. It will be held on Saturday, June 4th at the Brown and Williamson Club inside Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Ladies will wear full football gear and practice tackling, blocking and kickoff returns (Just kidding!!!). The Louisville football staff and Strong will teach attendees about football terminology at 10 a.m. before going to the field and participating in a rigorous conditioning session. Athletic gear and tennis shoes are mandatory for the drills. Cost is $50 and all campers

receive lunch and a t-shirt. You can call the football office at 502.852.6325 for additional information.

Sonja participated in this camp back in the Bobby Petrino coaching days at UofL. She received a 2 yr. contract from the Chicago Bears to return punts. (Just kidding again!). She does recommend the camp, though...to all ladies who would like to learn a little more about the gridiron game. I'm glad she went. She no longer calls an incomplete pass a 'foul ball' and realizes that the offense doesn't blitz.

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Dieng steals the show in the YUM Weds. night

CARDINAL COUPLE - SPECIAL WEDNESDAY NIGHT REPORT
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-UofL Men, Dieng romp FIU 92-55
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(Photo by Charlie Springer-UofL Card Game)
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Gorgui Dieng, pronounce it however you like..we go with (gor-ghee zhang) speaks five languages. They need to add a sixth to that resume. Basketball.
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The 6'10" UofL freshman was a walking highlight reel tonight in the KFC YUM Center, helping lead UofL to a 92-55 win over Florida International University.
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Consider what he accomplished in a mere 18 minutes of playing time:
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-15 points.
-5 rebounds
-7 blocked shots
-5 fouls

Yes, Dieng did have to leave the contest with 21 seconds to go...to a warm round of applause from the 5000 or so still left in the YUM center...but visions of Gorgui dancing in their heads may replace any Christmas dreams or holiday thoughts.
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It's hard to believe the way he moves for a guy that tall. Quick, good passing and spacing and the arm span of Rhode Island. A smooth mid-range jumper and strong around the rim. And, yeah...the guy can block a shot if you're foolish to try and put it up within a 2 county radius of him.
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See Gorgui pass. A fake, spin and deft bounce pass to 'Bullet' Justice for a layup. No black hole here when the ball goes into him.
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Gorgui Dieng is just a freshman. This could be a fun next 4 years....
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Another diaper dandy on this Pitino team is Elisha "Bullet" Justice. A solid 12 points tonight for the Shelby Valley freshman who plays like a junior. He is the not a guy that puts a lot of fear into opposing guards when he first walks on the court. They soon learn that the Bullet will put you down. Smooth outside shot, accurate passing and hustle whenever he's on the Denny Crum Court. Another reason to look forward to Cardinal hoops the next four years.
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Preston Knowles led the Cards with 18 points tonight and he had the "three ball" working early. Louisville got an incredible 30 points off turnovers tonight. The Cards have a talented back court and Knowles is perhaps the best of them.
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The biggest rounds of applause tonight in the YUM were for head soccer coach Ken Lolla and football coach Charlie Strong. You might have heard of these two guys, Lolla's soccer squad faces UCLA Sunday night in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Championships. A trip to the final four in Santa Barbara, CA. awaits the winner. Expect another crowd of 5000+ out at Cardinal Park for this one.
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Charlie Strong awaits the bowl assignment. He also likes basketball. Strong visibly enjoyed watching the Cardinal hoopsters tonight in the Bucket (sorry...it's catching on as a nickname for the KFC YUM Center) and greeted the crowd with Lolla during one of the timeouts tonight.
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Speculation that the Cards are headed to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, TX is gaining momentum...obviously most fans would prefer something closer and the timing of this game absolutely is the worse...with the UofL vs. UK basketball game the same day...but, hey...a bowl bid after three years in the dark is a good thing...whether it be El Paso, Birmingham or St. Pete.
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(We'll resume normal women's sports coverage with the Thursday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE...don't adjust your terminals or call your local ISP...This one tonight is for all you that say we should cover "the guys" now and then...and also because of the situation and accessibility.)
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ODU knocks off Louisville 69-65

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE:

-CARDS FALL ON ROAD 69-65 to O.D.U.

-Football blows out Rutgers 40-13.

Tough loss to the Monarchs tonight...tied at half, Louisville actually takes a 51-44 lead but watches O.D.U. run off 12 in row and hold on to win late.

-Shoni Schimmel with 19 points but a scary 1-9 from three point range. With the Cards down by two and 42 seconds to go, Schimmel misses front end of 1-1 and Cards don't recover.

-Monique Reid 13 in first half but no baskets from the floor in the final stanza. At times, it seems Reid's points show up during non-crucial stages of games.

-A double/double for Keisha Hines with 10 points and 12 boards. Quick whistles all night on Hines in the lane.

-Becky Burke with three trifectas and 11 points. Maybe her best game of the year...defensive improvement obvious for the junior.

-Tia Gibbs another blue collar type of night with seven points and nine boards. Maybe the best 5'9" rebounder in women's college basketball.

Louisville lost this one tonight at the charity stripe...going a woeful 6-14. Another revealing stat is that the Cards out rebounded O.D.U. 51-39...had 22 offensive boards but only 11 second chance points...

O.D.U. (3-1) got 23 points from Jasmine Parker, including their final seven of the game from the field. With Louisville leading 61-60 after a Burke 3...Parker returned the favor with an NBA range bomber to put ODU up to stay at 63-61 with 4:29 to go.

Like at Xavier Tuesday night...another case of Louisville looking good in the first twenty minutes and unable to seal the deal. Up by seven with 11:46 to go in the game 51-44...the Lady Cards found themselves down 56-51 with nine minutes remaining. This team is going to be good...but the growing pains right now are hard to bear.

Louisville (3-3) travels next to Fort Wayne, IN. for a 7 p. m. Monday night game against I.P.F.W.

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Big effort out of Charlie Strong's guys in Piscataway Friday with the 27 point thumping of the Scarlet Knights. It was all Louisville early, jumping out to a 28-0 lead and coasting in. Bilal Powell, huge in the first half...along with Justin Burke and the Cardinal defense. Nice run by Jeremy Wright, too, in the second half to make it a 34-7 margin.

The Cards (6-6) conclude the regular season and await a bowl invite. Nice to be anticipating that after a 3 year absence...

Lady Cards face Old Dominion Friday Night

FRIDAY AT CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Lady Cards play the Monarchs

-Final regular season football game today

-Thankful...

Jeff Walz's Lady Cards return to the road tonight to face Old Dominion. Actually, the team is already there and had a wonderful Thanksgiving together in Virginia...where they dined together as a "second family."

The Cards will need an effort from the entire extended kin today if they are to beat the Monarchs. ODU (2-1) narrowly lost to a very good N.C. State team in their last game 62-60.

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They are led by senior Jasmine Parker (15.7 ppg.) and Alena Voronina (11.7 ppg. / 5.7 reb.)

Louisville (3-2) comes into the game after a poor second half at Xavier. The Cards, despite Monique Reid's 19 second half points, relinquished a 3 point halftime lead. Unforced turnovers, hurried shots and pourous defense contributed to the 12 point defeat in Cincinnati.

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It should be noted, though...that Louisville's two losses have come against the #4th and #5th ranked teams in women's college baasketball. Neither were blowouts.

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The Cards will need to revive the transition game andtry to keep Monique Reid on the court without foul problems. The junior sat the final 12:48 of the first half against Xavier because of whistles.

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Louisville defeated ODU last year in the Cancun Classic 82-75. No TV for this one, but Kelch and Sanderford will have the call on CARDS Radio. Tip is 7 p.m.

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Final regular season game today for Charlie Strong's football team. Whether they play in a post season bowl game or not depends on if they can beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, N.J. this morning at the ungodly game time of 11 a.m.

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Rutgers has been in a tailspin during the last several games. Whether Louisville can wake up the anemic offense enough to outscore the Scarlet Knights remains to be seen...WE'RE thinking the Cards prevail in one that may not see a lot of points by either team.

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It could have been a lot worse. WE were sitting at a stop light yesterday on the way home after a hug Thanksgiving meal when all of a sudden, Sonja and I are violently thrown forward and the sickening thud of metal on metal greets our ears. Car behind us couldn't stop in time...rear ended us and basically caved in the back end of our van.

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WE are OK. So was driver of other car. It could have been a lot worse if the vehicle behind us had been going faster. Fortunately, there was no one in front of us.

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I drive around with the figurine of St. Paul hanging off my rear view mirror. He is the patron Saint of journalists and publicists. I like his name, too. I gave him a special thanks last night...so grateful that WE are able to produce this column this morning instead of laying in a hospital bed.

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Slow down on wet roads, folks....