Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Getting it done on the field and in the classroom

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SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Knight, Turner excel in and out of the classroom


-Karel plans on a summer of hard work


-Baseball survives a "scorcher" in Tucson


We refer to college kids who participate in sports as student-athletes. Sometimes, we stress the athlete part of this term much more than the academic accomplishments, but the two go hand-in-hand for the thousands of young men and women who combine the rigors of the classroom along with the training and conditioning involved in their chosen sports. 


Today we bring you three examples of success inside and out of the classroom. 

Holly Knight ended up at Louisville as a graduate student after attending Auburn University and compiling a 3.96 GPA. Her year with the Cards has been a successful one...setting school records in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter runs and qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Her latest accolade is being named a Capital One Academic All-District Track and Field Team honoree. 


She'll compete at Drake Stadium with five other teammates at the NCAA Championships from June 6-9. In the classroom, she's working toward her doctorate in psychology and has a 3.93 GPA and Dean's List achievements.

Hayley Turner was the 2011 BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Year for the Field Hockey Cards and led Louisville in scoring this season. 


Off the field, she has been selected to the Capital One CoSIDA Academic 
All-District II at-large team and is eligible for Academic All-American squad consideration. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Education and Community Health after graduating Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in public health education. She is also a four-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic Squad selection. 

You won't see his name in any of the Centre College record books for soccer and he'll probably never grab the headlines on the sports page, but Andrew "Andy" Karel is a shining example of the student-athletes who toil in and out of the classroom in virtual anonymity. They put in the same long hours as the starters, study just as hard and buy in to the team concept on the field and the quest for academic excellence off it.  


Karel was an All-State Academic selection his senior year at North Oldham High School and the team's leading scorer his junior and senior years. When he got to Centre, his role changed a bit...becoming a mid-fielder and defender. His work ethic has remained the same, however. 

He plans on spending this summer before his senior year in a co-op program with Creative Alliance. The knowledge and training he'll receive will be valuable in his pursuit of a degree in Finance at Centre. He'll also train and condition for his senior season as one of the Colonels soccer team members. 


Here's a great philosophy on the life of the college student-athlete:


"The hard work I put in as a student-athlete will help prepare me for the years after college. I look at my parents and the hard work that they have performed since I was born and the successes they have had. It's a motivator and a lesson -- that if you pursue your goals with dedication and effort, good things will come to you." 


Wise words and philosophy. Holly, Hayley and Andy. Three examples of the student-athlete. Three good ones...


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Hot enough for ya? That had to be the guide words last night in Tucson, AZ. where the Louisville Cardinal baseball team downed New Mexico State 3-2 in 100 degree plus weather. 


The "beisbal" Cards take on the host Arizona Wildcats tonight at 11 p.m. in the winner's bracket of the Tucson Regional. Get 'em guys! 


Here's a link to a pretty amazing catch to end a baseball game. Guy has some hops! 


Up, up and away!


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Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- Women capture six out of ten BIG EAST titles

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Louisville's success in 2011-12 fueled by six women's sports titles. 


-More sword rattling.

The University of Louisville led the BIG EAST during the 2011-12 athletic season with 10 titles. Six of those belonged to womens' sports programs on campus: Softball (regular season and tournament), Volleyball, Soccer, Swimming and Diving and Track and Field. 

Football, Baseball, Men's Basketball and Men's Tennis were the other four title winners. The titles include regular season and tournament wins...as well as ties and co-champion honors.


Coming in second was Notre Dame with eight. 


Schools departing the conference didn't fare nearly as well. WVU (headed to the BIG 12) captured three titles. Syracuse (ACC) had four and Pittsburgh (ACC) zero. Good luck down the road. Maybe an easier conference will get you a few more trophies. 

Certainly a leverage point for Louisville to use in further BIG EAST plans...one would think. Also a bargaining chip in any possible UofL plans to seek a new conference home.   

The Ladybirds and Cardinal cheer-leading squads have also racked up numerous national awards over the years. No official BIG EAST Competition in those two events...but we know who the odds-on favorite would be if there were. 


Over the next several years the landscape of the BIG EAST will change considerably. New additions, new division alignments, new venues to visit and new challenges for the Cardinal athletes to overcome. 

IF, of course, the Cards are still part of the BIG EAST.


So how do the womens' teams look for 2012-13? 

Basketball under Jeff Walz will be powerful as usual. With graduation affecting both Notre Dame and Connecticut, the Cards could become major contenders to vye for a title. Softball returns all but three players from the regular season and tournament  title team. Sandy Pearsall will have them ready to hit, pitch and run. Volleyball will be strong again as Anne Kordes starts to put her brand on the program and returns several key players from last year. 

Soccer will be a contender in their division again and with WVU leaving, could be the favorite in the tournament. Swimming and diving is loaded again with talent and the track and field program with their strong throws contingent will look for their sixth straight BIG EAST title. 

Field Hockey is steadily growing with new coach Justine Sowry and new players. Lacrosse underwent a transition year and will return with more experience and strength in the highly competitive BIG EAST. Golf has several talented sophomores returning and tennis should continue to improve under Mark Beckham's guidance. Rowing finished third this year in the BIG EAST Tournament. Cross Country was 11th this year but a talented class of freshmen and returnees should improve those numbers. 


All in all, should be another exciting season for womens sports at UofL. Maybe the guys will eventually catch up with the Cardinal women...anyone up for another six-pack of titles for the ladies? 


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Those crazy Wildcats. 

Joker Phillips, head football coach at UK, has mentioned that if the SEC goes to a nine-game SEC football schedule -- that the Cats might have to consider dropping "that school to the west" from their schedule.


Open mouth, insert foot.


Do you really want to draw a line through the team that produced your highest attendance figure for your home games, El Joke-o? Maybe he's getting tired of all the "jokes" about Bobby Petrino buying a home in Lexington. Maybe he sees the growth of the UofL football program under Charlie Strong compared to the stagnation occurring with UK football with him at the helm. UK is ninth currently in SEC home football game attendance. These aren't the Tim Couch years, are they?  


The "Coach Kragjoker" moniker that has been making the rounds lately might be a bit too harsh...no one destroys a program better that the former UofL football coach...but the confidence level in UK gridiron concerns has plummeted since Mel Brooks left the keys to the program in Joker's basket. 


First off, chances are that the SEC won't go to nine conference games. Secondly, we understand that you are on the "hot seat" at UK. But, finally...do you really want your non-conference schedule to consist with the Norfolk State's, Bowling Green's and Ed's School of Barbering and Pedicures of the world? The fans may never leave the Harrodsburg Rd. tailgate area. 

Then, John Calipari is proposing a sports triple-header for the Cats at a dome somewhere. Football, men's hoops and ladies' hoops. 


Can't wait to see the ticket prices on that one if it ever happens. " Sir, your request for a UK Sporting Event loan has been approved! "   


How about a triple-header with UK women's soccer, volleyball and softball? Or rowing, lacrosse and rifle? 


It boggles the mind, sometimes...


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Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Six UofL Womens Track & Field Athletes qualify for NCAA Championships

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Abdullah, Okoro headline list of UofL women headed to NCAA Championships


-Softball: Elite Eight almost set


Six UofL womens track and field athletes have qualified for the NCAA Championships that will be held June 6-9 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA. 


Here's the list:


Khadija Abdullah - Shot Put
Chinwe Okoro - Shot Put
Holly Knight - 10,000 meter run
Michelle Theophille - High Jump
Maggie Gilbertson - High Jump
Charachesicia Lockhart - Long Jump, Triple Jump

Lockhart will participate in two
events in the NCAA Championships

The Cards won the BIG EAST Championships earlier this month and almost had another athlete qualify yesterday for the NCAA Championship...Amashi Kendall just falling short of a qualifying throw in the hammer. 


The athletes who participate in track and field events at UofL, as well as other Universities, rarely get the recognition and coverage that players in football and basketball do. Their efforts, though, are just as dedicated and the practice hours they spend equal those of the hardwood and gridiron performers. 


Best of luck to the UofL participants in the NCAA. Six entries! Keep up the great work, Ron Mann! 


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Now that Louisville's softball season has ended, interest in the sport on the college level has dropped off somewhat locally...but 16 teams advanced to the Super Regionals and have made or are making their bid to be one of the eight that get to the Womens College World Series in Oklahoma City, OK. 

Bulls advance to Okla. City

From the BIG EAST, South Florida has punched their ticket to the "elite eight"...eliminating Hofstra in the Super Regionals two games to one. All three games had the same score...2-1. Sara Nevins, who had trouble against the Cards in the regular season and in the BIG EAST Tournament, back to her old form inside the circle.


Other schools who have made reservations for rooms so far in Oklahoma City:


Alabama (knocked off Michigan, who beat Louisville)
Arizona State
Oklahoma
Oregon


Three more could qualify today. Cal needs to beat Washington to advance. Same for LSU, who plays Missouri and Tennessee could secure a slot by beating Georgia today. If LSU, Cal and UT lose, it goes to game three in the best-of-three format. 

Haylie Wagner's pitching stymied Louisville
but couldn't get Michigan past Alabama.

Three PAC 12 schools, a possible three SEC schools, one from the BIG 12 and one from the BIG EAST. Those who clamor for a Cardinal move to the BIG 12 can't help but believe that the overall competition would be stronger, year in and year out...but for this season...each school has a representative in the final dance. 
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Busy weekend for UofL women's sports

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Women's tennis wins in first round of BIG EAST Championships


-Lacrosse faces #2 Syracuse today 


-Louisville track host Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational


-WBB visitor? 


-Notinrwildestdremz to race


The #6 seed Louisville women's tennis team advanced out of first round action in Tampa, FL. Thursday by defeating #11 seed Pittsburgh 4-0. The Cards will advance to play #3 seed Syracuse today at noon. 


Mark Beckham was pleased with the Cardinal effort. 

"A great way to start the tournament. We were very efficient with how we played. We didn't spend any time on the court that wasn't necessary. It was a perfect preparation for Syracuse. Now we can concentrate on a very good Syracuse team." 


Julia Fellerhoff, Rebecca Shine, Mandy Brown, Manuela Velasquez, Sarah Miller and Amelia Harris all won their singles matches. In doubles, Fellerhoff/Brown, Shine/Velasquez and Harris/Miller swept the Panthers.


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Lacrosse hosts #2 Pitt today at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium at 5 p.m. The match will be shown on WHAS-TV (11.2, Insight 432, Comcast 207). It is the final weekend of regular season lacrosse before BIG EAST Tournament play begins. Louisville will also play Connecticut on Sunday. 

The Cards (3-10, 1-5) have their work cut out for them against the Orange. Syracuse (11-2, 4-0) is on a ten-game winning streak and is fourth in the nation in scoring offense and tenth in scoring defense. 


Louisville's Nikki Boltja is third in the nation in goals per game (3.54). Last time out, Louisville lost a close one at Villanova 9-8 in overtime....the Wildcats scoring the winner as time ran out in the extra session. 


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Louisville will host the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood track and field invitational Friday at Cardinal Park. Field events begin at 10:30 a.m. and running events scheduled to start at 3 p.m. A total of 33 Cardinal track and field women will participate in 16 events tomorrow...many of them taking part in multiple track and field contest. 


Look for the Cardinals to do well in the throwing events and  relays. 


You can follow live results at the UofL official sports website. www.UofLsports.com


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David Hein of HeinNews is reporting that 6'3" Swedish basketball star Amanda Zahui has listed Louisville as one of her three potential schools for the 2012-2013 season. Hein reports that she is going to be visiting Louisville over the weekend as well. You can read his article at the link below. 


Amanda Zahui to visit three schools, decision soon

CARDINAL COUPLE'S Jenny O' Bryan has been all over this story since we discovered that Coach Walz was making a recruiting trip to Sweden and her research led to a random e-mail by us to Hein...who e-mailed back, followed up on our questions and wrote an article about the tall Swede. 


Hein writes about international basketball and other topics. He's worth a read. Good coverage on the international hoops scene.


We've dropped a teaser or two about this over the past few days but wanted to wait for some actual confirmation before breaking the news. 


6'3" isn't bad. Take it when you can get it if there's talent there, Coach. 


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Finally, we bring you this heart-warming and touching story of a horse overcoming the worst of it to get to the track and run. Horse-racing fan or not, we think you'll like this story about Notinrwildestdremz...who is a winner no matter how the race goes at Aqueduct. Link below.


Horse overcomes odds to make it to the track


( Update on NOTINRWILDESTDREMZ...got scratched before the 2nd at Aqueduct Sunday after getting out of control in the gate at post time. The owners will try her at Belmont next.) 


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Cards coverage of track and field plus a look into the future

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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Field events do well in Knoxville


-How will 10 translate into 14?


-Baylor under the gun? 


-"Save Bobby" rally not a prime time event


The University of Louisville track and field team competed over the weekend in the Tennessee Challenge in Knoxville, TN. Louisville women recorded six wins in events on the University of Tennessee campus. Here's a list of the victors:


HIGH JUMP - Michelle Theophille
TRIPLE JUMP - Malinda Simmons
JAVELIN - Jenna Wargo
DISCUS - Chinwe Okoro
3000 M Steeplechase - Cassie Martin
3000 M - Maddie Davidson

In addition to the winners, Okoro had a strong showing in the shot put, finishing second. Khadija Abdullah also finished third in the discus. 


Louisville and the University of Kentucky will team up to take on Notre Dame and Indiana in the Texas Roadhouse Border Battle this Saturday at Cardinal Park Track and Field Stadium. The annual dual-team competition has produced some very good results for the women's track and field runners and field event participants and we're sure this year will be no different. 


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Is it ever out of season to discuss UofL women's basketball? WE don't think so at CARDINAL COUPLE and today we look at the potentials for the 2012-13 season. 


Jeff Walz said more than once at the end of the 2011-12 season that he thought the 10 remaining players on the University of Louisville basketball team at the end of the season had a very good chemistry and strong work ethic. With the probable addition of five more to this mix in the upcoming year, and the loss of just Becky Burke...how will the additional five fit in to the Cardinal mix? 

(Photo by Sandra Walker) 

1) Monique Reid. Sidelined with a knee injury, the leading scorer for the 2010-11 season was missed greatly last year. You know Mo...she can score inside with the best in college basketball and will be welcomed back into the Louisville mix with broad smiles and open arms. Walz has toyed with either starting the former Fern Creek High School star or bringing her off the bench during her time at UofL. Either way, Mo will go to the hoop and put points on the scoreboard. Ask her and she'll tell you..she's a scorer and that's what she does.

(Photo by Charlie Springer - Card Game)

2) Tia Gibbs. The ex-Vandy and Butler Bear was an essential guard on the 2010-11 squad but a shoulder injury at the start of the 2011-12 season sidelined her for the year. Gibbs is a hard-working, full-court hustle guard who can hit the three, lock you up on defense and make plays. She'll fit right back in with this group of Cardinals and whether it's starting or coming off the bench...you know you're always going to get 100% plus out of her. Another one that will bring smiles to the Cardinal faces when she's back in uniform. The combination of Gibbs and Smith sounds awfully deadly to us at guard. 

3) Monny Niamke. WE feel positive that Monny will arrive on the Cardinal campus and add depth, stability and experience to the point guard position. She saw a lot of playing time as a starter at Lindsey Wilson this past season and is a good ball control guard who can dish and distribute as well as shoot. How Walz will fit her into the mix of players he has available will be interesting to observe...but WE'D like to see Shoni Schimmel move to the "2" guard and see the competition between Jude, Megan Deines, Monny and Shelby at the point. She did score 15 points against the Cards guards when Lindsey Wilson and UofL faced off at the start of the season and we saw some things to like in her play. 

4) Megan Deines. The incoming freshman from Glendale High School (Springfield, MO) is a 6'0" point guard who runs her team's offensive sets quite well. Not normally a prolific scorer, Deines excels at setting up teammates and assists. Not a bad thing to have on a team full of proven scorers. She is the #36 ranked point guard in the class of 2012 and received a 89 ESPN rating. The old adage is that every basket has a passer and a scorer and Deines appears to be a player that can fulfill the passer role quite well. 

5) Cortnee Walton. The 6'2" forward is all about the hard work and blue collar performance in the paint. She'll get along well with the returning bunch of front-liners on Walz's roster if that is the case. Out of one of the best high school teams in the nation (St Mary's). She's ranked as the #10 forward in the Class of 2012 and gets a 93 from the ESPN scouts. She's also developed a good friendship with Deines which bodes well for the chemistry concept. No doubt that Cortnee will help fill the ranks in the paint. With a cast of Dyer, Taylor, Vails, Hammond, Slaughter, Reid and Walton -- the Cards will have a solid and aggressive group of board members. 


14 so far. Walz and staff have been on the prowl lately, too...spanning the globe for additional talent. Will there be a 15th member to this squad? 


WE'RE very excited about the prospects for the 2012-13 Louisville squad. Is it wrong to wish that it was already November? 


Here's a good read on the upcoming season and it shines favorably on Walz Ball. Linkie below.


Cards could fly high in 2012-13




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Baylor won the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship for 2012. They also received a light slap on the wrist from the NCAA for improper contact with recruits. Our Sandy Walker provides the link about the violation. We say strip them of the title and play the whole tournament over again. We're waiting for an answer from the NCAA. And, a re-match with Maryland... 


Baylor "bears" with NCAA Violation


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Embattled Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino awaits judgement from the Arkansas AD for his lying and philandering. There was a rally Monday night on the Arkansas campus in support of the Bobster. About 200 folks showed up to practice hog calls and chant 'Save Bobby Petrino' for the cameras. There were posters as well. We chuckled when we saw this one.


We're all about redemption and second chances here at Cardinal Couple. We've seen people make the most of second opportunities and we've had that blessing as well in our lives. But...if Jesus did, in fact, save Bobby...it makes you wonder just what HE has planned for him? 


We like the idea that we read on one of the Arkansas blogs. 


We don't think that firing Bobby is the right idea. We propose that Arkansas re-negotiate his contract. Three years at $1 a year. Let's see just how strong his "dedication and commitment to Arkansas football" really is. We suggest taking that 3.2 million per year he'd receive under current terms and using it to fight poverty in our grand state. It's not like Bobby is clipping coupons and taking his family to the 'early bird' dining specials to save money. He'll get by. If he decides to leave, we'll have our answer and there are good coaches out there that will take the job at considerably less than the hefty deposits being made into the Petrino checking account.


We could care less if his family alienates him because of the incidents. That's a private and personal matter.


What say you, BP? 


Finally, it was just a matter of time till someone got in the studio and did a song about the Petrino incident. 


Nick Coffey, over at CARDS CONNECT, has linked up the video and music that was made by a ESPN Memphis guy. Not a bad site, CARDS CONNECT, even if they rarely cover women's sports at UofL. But, that's why we're here, right?


Click below BUT BE ADVISED THAT THE SINGER MENTIONS A WORD AT THE END OF THE SONG THAT RHYMES WITH "LEANER" . 


The Ballad of Bobby Petrino
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Kendall named BIG EAST Female Field Athlete of the Week, Women's Soccer signs ten.

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THURDSAY WITH DA COUPLE

-Amashi smashes BIG EAST throwing record

-Ferguson-Dayes happy with soccer signing class.

-Louisville bringing in Bernice Sandler for UConn game

-Hello, Groundhog....Goodbye, D.C.

( A little break from basketball today...plenty of that coming up over the next several days and it's only six shopping days until Geno and the Huskies come to town.)

Louisville thrower Amashi-Ali Kendall is another in the long linage of top flight throwers on the women's track team. She was named BIG EAST Female Field Athlete of the Week for her outstanding performance in the Indiana Relays.

Kendall placed second in the weight throw with a sling of 67-9.5. The throw ranks sixth nationally. Kendall is the only BIG EAST female student-athlete to rank in the top 50 in the event.

She has two wins in the weight throw this year, taking the Indiana Open and the Kentucky Relays. She'll toss is the VT Elite Meet this weekend.

Good job, Owensboro girl! And...look out down field. Amashi's in the circle.

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Karen Ferguson-Dayes and the UofL women's soccer team proudly announce the 2012 recruiting class and the 10 signees. It is a stellar class and should provide the Cards with many victories over the next four years.

"This is an exciting day for the University of Louisville women's soccer. We are coming off a tremendous season that saw us win the BIG EAST National Division title and make it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, and this incoming 2012 class has both the character and the playing ability to help our team become stronger in the years to come. WE are thrilled to add these 10 talented young women to the Louisville women's soccer family."  -Karen Ferguson-Dayes.

The newbies:

-Jenna Andersen. Defender. Sterling Heights, MI.
-Grace Ayodele. Forward. Champaign, IL
-Andrea Distler. Midfielder. Louisville, KY (Sacred Heart)
-Nicole Gerber. Midfielder. HIghland Hills, NY
-Harlee Leineek. Goalkeeper. Perrineville, NJ
-Aubrey Muench. Midfielder. Cold Springs, KY (Newport Central Catholic)
-Lauren Nash, Midfielder. Woodbury, MN
-Lexie Niedoba. Midfielder. Essex, MD.
-Hallie Pyle. Goalkeeper. Centerville, OH.
-Irene Young. Forward. Troy, MI.


Welcome to the "Ville" ladies!

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She's not a high scoring point guard or rebounding machine...but she's just as responsible for changing the game of women's basketball and many other college sports as any athlete to ever step on the court. The University of Louisville will welcome Bernice Sandler "The Godmother of Title IX" to the Tuesday night WBB women's basketball game against UConn. She'll be part of the honored presentations. Read all about her at the link below and no...she's not Adam Sandler's mom.

She gained her notriety back in 1970. UofL went into warp speed on Title IX when Tom Jurich arrived on campus. Back in the early days, the women's basketball team travelled to games in vans and station wagons, rented one room at a hotel for the entire team...so they could dress, shower and change before and after a game. Many places they played had no female locker rooms. The Louisville WBB team and opponents had to actually use the female restrooms at Freedom Hall at times to get ready for games. The field hockey team at my high school had to hold bake sales, wash cars and solicit local businesses just for the basics...like balls and sticks. If it hadn't been for a local chiropractor...they probably wouldn't have been able to afford and finance a team.

Come a long way, baby. Still a long way to go. But, don't hear no bell. Keep on pushin'....straight ahead.

http://www.voice-tribune.com/columns/the-dish/godmother-of-title-Ix-coming-to-louisville

Nice job by the Voice-Tribune's Kellie Denton on this. Click it and have a read. You just might learn a little something.
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Finally, HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY to all of our readers. Bring on spring!

And, we bid a sad farewell to Don Cornelius...the hip and bad announcer dude on SOUL TRAIN. You brought us the best and a lot of us learned how to "shake that booty" watching you on Saturday afternoons. (Something that still embarrasses Sonja when we go out dancing.)

In your words...Love, Peace and Soul. Don't know why you had to do it the way you did it. Thanks for the memories, though.
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Cards fare well in Kentucky Invitational

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Lockhart wins triple jump, Abdullah gets second in shot put.

-Sunday BIG EAST WBB results and standings.

Theophille placed
second in the
high jump.

Charachesicia Lockhart won the triple jump competition in Saturday night's Kentucky Invitational at the Nutter Field House in Lexington...leaping 12.22 meters and setting a qualifying mark for the BIG EAST Indoor Championships. Teammate Michelle Theophille finished second in the high jump and was one of three Lady Cards who qualified for the BIG EAST in the event...along with Megan Schubert and Kim Carderio.

Also qualifying for the ladies was Holly Knight, who finished 11th. in the mile and 10th. in the 3,000 meters. Madie Davidson got her ticket for the indoor championships with an eighth-place finish in the 3,000.

Ahlivia Spencer qualified in the 800 meters and Margret Harris punched her ticket with a third-place finish in the 60m prelims.

Khadija Abdullah took second place in the shot put and Amashi Kendall finished fourth. 

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In Sunday BIG EAST women's basketball...

-Marquette travelled to Madison Square Gardens and knocked off St. John's 63-55 behind Katherine Plouffe's double-double of 18 points and 11 boards. The Golden Eagles trailed 32-28 at the half but went on a 14-4 run to begin the final twenty minues and never trailed after that.

-Georgetown handled Syracuse with surprising ease in D.C. with a 69-42 dismantling of the Orange. Sugar Rodgers led the way for the Hoyas with 23 points. Georgetown led 41-13 at halftime.

Only one game involving a BIG EAST school today on Martin Luther King Day...UNC and UConn face off on ESPN2.

Standings thru Sunday...

Notre Dame                    5-0  17-1
Rutgers                           4-0  15-2
UConn                            4-1  14-2
DePaul                           3-1  15-3
Georgetown                   3-2  14-4
LOUISVILLE                  3-2  14-4
West Virginia                 3-2  12-5
Marquette                      3-2  12-6
St. John's                        3-2  11-7
South Florida                 2-2  10-8
Villanova                       2-3  11-6
Providence                    2-3  10-8
Syracuse                        1-4  12-7
Cincy                             0-4  9-8
Pittsburgh                      0-5  8-10
Seton Hall                      0-5  7-12


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Ron Mann hires Sheehan as assistant...Tom Collen hires his wife (again)...Big Ten hires Nebraska

SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE :

-TARYN SHEEHAN joins UofL Track and Field staff

-FORMER UOFL WOMEN'S BB COACH HIRES WIFE

-NEBRASKA OFFICIALLY JOINS BIG 10...uhhh 11...maybe 12...whatever!

Ron Mann has announced that Taryn Sheehan has joined the UofL Track and Field team as an assistant coach. Sheehan competed as a distance runner at UofL for a year (2007-08) and comes to Louisville from Western Michigan...where she held a similar job.

She was Taryn Gibson when
she ran the 3000m in record
time for the Cards.

"We wanted to bolster our distance program to prepare for the NCAA Cross Country Championships when we host it in 2012. Taryn's addition will certainly help us from that standpoint. This also provides us with the opportunity to build the Louisville family with coaches who have been a part of the program in the past and are familiar with Louisville and our supportive community" Mann said about the hiring.

Taryn sounds excited to be back in Louisville:

"When we (her and her husband) were driving in this week and we crossed the (Ohio) river, I felt like I was home again" Sheehan confided. "I loved my time here as an athlete and I started my coaching career here as a volunteer. The chance to come home and take the women' team specifically to another level is an opportunity I'm very excited about."

cardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscards

Former UofL head women's basketball coach Tom Collen is up to his old tricks again, bring wife Nicki on boards as an assistant coach down at Arkansas. She replaces Tim Eatman, who was Collen's assistant coach and defensive guru. Eatman heads to Boston College to take a similar position in the rough and tough ACC. Nicki will take over the defense and work with the guards. She is the second new hire to Arkansas's staff in the last two months....Tari Cummings joined the Razorbacks when Zenarae Antonie, who was with the Collen's at Louisville, took the head coaching job at Texas State.

Nicki Collen was an assistant for her husband at Colorado State and Louisville in previous years and also held the assistant coaching position at Ball State. She also did a little radio work as color commentator for Lady Cards hoops.

We'll always remember Tom for a couple of things...he did help develop the talent of Jazz Covington, Candyce Bingham and Angel McCoughtry...three of the best to ever don a Lady Cards uniform...and his acceptance of the Arkansas slot gave Tom Jurich the chance to bring in a highly praised Maryland assistant by the name of Jeff Walz.  

Maybe Tim Eatman got an offer he couldn't refuse at B.C. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall that the Razorbacks weren't going to become the bullies of the SEC. In Eatman's four years as an assistant to Collen at Arkansas , the team has complied a 69-63 record. In four years at Louisville...they were 88-37. Best of luck to the Razorbacks as they slug it out in a SEC Western Division that isn't nearly as strong as the Eastern Division.

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Nebraska officially joined the BIG TEN Friday. Gives them 12 teams now. Since the BIG 12 name is already taken, the BIG TEN is stuck with their current moniker. They'll officially start play on Aug 19th. as a BIG TEN member when their women's soccer team battles North Carolina. They may do well in the BIG TEN in women's basketball...leaving a conference that has Baylor and Texas A&M powerhouses....along with always tough Oklahoma and Texas. BIG TEN women's hoops hasn't been relevant in years...with Purdue and maybe Michigan State the only two teams to fear.

Despite the drop-down in competition for women's hoops...the Cornhuskers are going to be a part of a powerhouse football conference with Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State and the rest. Can you name all 12 teams in the BIG TEN?  Which one was the hardest for you to come up with? In OUR case...Paul had to stretch to remember that Minnesota was a member and Sonja always gets confused on whether Iowa or Iowa State is a member. (It's Iowa).

OK, we've given you over half the conference here...see if you can name the other five members...

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Softball Cards today in NCAA Regional...Track and Field NCAA Qualifiers...WBB Rules Changes?

The Louisville regional of the NCAA Softball
tournament begins today at 5 p.m. Louisville
plays at 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY FROM CARDINAL COUPLE:

Welcome to live coverage of  NCAA first round softball action:

5:05 p.m. It's started here at Ulmer,  first game of two tonight. The California Bears and Jacksonville State.
Can't help but noticing the mask on the JSU pitcher while she's in the circle. Kristin Graham on the mound for Jacksonville..looks like she could play power forward for them in hoops. JSU went down without a fight in the top of the first....Godzilla Graham toiling on the mound now for the JSU gang. They get out of the inning with no runs allowed, three hits. 0-0 after one. And , the air conditioning is working in the press box. Nice, I like. .

5:18 p.m. California pitcher Jolene Henderson having NO trouble with Jacksonville batters so far. Six up, six down. The Bears looking to make a mark here in the bottom of the second. Bears get to the girl in the mask for a couple of solid hits in the bottom of the second and a bit of risky infield throwing makes it 1-0 after two innings.

5:30. JSU gets a single off of Jolene Henderson (breaking up the no-hitter) but can't capitalize...we're still 1-0 Bears going in to the bottom of the third...

5:38 Bears batter Britt Vonk advanced to third on a bad throw on a routine grounder and scores on a Jace Williams double. 2-0 Bears. The girl behind the mask has allowed seven hits to the California girls so far...and they're looking pretty comfortable at the plate against Graham... 

Cal having no trouble against JSU.

5:54 After four innings in the books it remains Bears 2- JSU 0. Hot pizza in the press box, though...bonus...and the weather still remains absolutely perfect for softball...breeze blowing slightly out to center and partly cloudy.

6:17 p.m. The Bears with four runs in the bottom of the fifth...now 6-0. Doesn't look good for the Jacksonville crew. Two hits so far off of Jolene Henderson...and she's looking strong still.

6:28 p.m. JSU not going down without a fight...bases loaded, no outs in the top of the seventh...

6:30 p.m. Uh, oh...Two runs in for JSU and runners at the corners. One down. Henderson gets out of it, though...allowing one more run. 6-3 final...Bears. Henderson allowed five hits in seven innings...the JSU squad went down swing and will face the loser of game two...tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.

Let's hope they're facing the Flames...

7:15 p.m. Interesting comments from winning pitcher Jolene Henderson for California in the post game presser...never got nervous or anxious in the seventh inning when JSU made the three run rally. The Bears aren't opposed to having to travel across the nation to play in the regional...they travel most of the year in the pre-PAC10...and the distance between some PAC-10 schools is pretty huge. California doesn't care who they face tomorrow "as long a someone shows up to play us.." according to Bears head coach Ninemire...we're fifteen minutes away from the Cards vs. Flames and the bleachers and berm are starting to fill up..

GAME 2   LOUISVILLE vs. UIC

7:40 p.m. After UIC's Melinda Macias touched UofL starting pitcher Toni Collins for a leadoff single...and Coryn Schmit drew a walk the Flames could do no further damage and after a half inning it's 0-0.

7:49 p.m. Louisville's Sandy Pearsall is a ball of energy when she's coaching from the third base line as the Cards bat. So far, in the first...the Cards have hit two choppers back to the pitcher...Katie Keller out and Jennifer Esteban safe...but Esteban thrown out trying to steal second. After a Bemis foul out...it's still 0-0 and Louisville needs to get the bats unpacked...

8:03 p.m. UIC comes out swinging again to start the inning...leadoff single from Ashley Hewitt. Collins doesn't seem to have her normal dominant stuff early on the mound. Still, she set them down 1-2-3 after the single and the Cards get ready to bat for the second time with no score on the board yet.

8:09 p.m. Alicja Wolny starts the second for the Cards with a hard hit single up the middle. After Colby Wherry advanced her to second, Maggie Ruckenbrod beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners. A Hannah Kiyohara foul out left it up to Taner Fowler...but her tapper to short ended the inning for the Cards at bat. Through two full innings now...still bupkis to bupkis.

8:11 p.m. Collins has a dominating inning on the mound...1-2-3 go the Flames with a few weak tappers. Cards still looking for battage...maybe this is the inning.

8:18 p.m. Kristin Austin opens with a single for Louisville and takes third on some nifty base running after a Esteban single one out later. Bemis doesn't deliver at the plate, though and Alicja Wolny lines out to short to end the inning. We're scoreless...I'm starting to yawn.

8:23 p.m. Coryn Schmit doubles to the wall to start the 4th but is thrown out trying to steal third. A deep fly to right by Natalie Hernandez falls safely in Kiyohara's glove and Ashley Hewitt flies out to Esteban in left. The Flames are hitting the ball...we're just glad it's to someone in a Cardinal uniform. 3 1/2 finished and zip to nada on the scoreboard.

Wolny before her fifth inning singlw.

Colby Wherry grounds out to start the Cardinal fourth but Ruckenbrod come through with a single. Hannah Kiyohara's pop out to short and a ground out by Taner Fowler send the Cards back out to the field...you know the tune by now...0-0 after four.

8:31 p.m. UofL head women's basketball coach Jeff Walz here watching the action. Maybe he could grab a bat and try to score a run. It's a pitcher's duel...Collins gets out of the top of the fifth after a infield single allowed to Courtney Heeley.


8:44 p.m. Kristin Austin draws an opening walk to begin the Cards half of the fifth. After advancing to second on a Katie Keller fielder's choice...she watches Jennifer Esteban line out to short and Bemis fly out to left. Finished with five...0-0.

8:51 p.m. Flames go hitless against Collins and Cards come up to bat. Crowd exhorting the Cards to get some offense going. Wolny can't comply...popping out to second. Wherry grounds out to short and so does Ruckenbrod. We're finished with six and a bunch of zeros on the scoreboard. Louiville with five hits so far, UIC three. Freshman Caralisa Connell taking the mound for Louisville in the top of the seventh. 

9:04 p.m. Connell gets Hernandez on a grounder back to her, Hewett goes back to the dugout after a called third strike and Jenna Marsalli grounds out to Wherry at short to take it to the bottom of the seventh. 12-0 Louisville (just kidding...checking to see who's still awake out there.)

9:10 p.m. Katelyn Mann beats out a bunt to start the bottom of the seventh and goes to second on a wild throw to the bag. Taner Fowler can't advance her with a foul out to the catcher..but Kristin Austin reaches on a blooper single...Mann couldn't advance, though. Katie Keller pops out down the 3rd base line for out #2 and Esteban lines out to third to end the inning and take it to the eighth.

9:14 p.m. Connell is blazing in the top of the eighth but the Flames get runners to first and second on infield hit and a walk with one out. They also beat out another infield hit to fill the bags. Carly DeMarco infield singles home Courtney Heeley for the first run of the game and a sacrifice fly to center by Schmit makes it 2-0. Cards get out of it with no further damage but time to flip or fly now...

9:34 p.m. Bemis starts it off for Louisville and puts one barely over the left center fence to cut the lead to 2-1. Alicja Wolny follows with a blooper single to left center. Pearsall sends Chelsea Jordan in to run for Wolny but Jordan is thrown out at third after a Colby Wherry single. Wherry gets to second on the tagout and Tesha Paysen comes in to run for her. Maggie Ruckenbrod works the count to 2-2 on Miller before singling home Paysen to tie it up at 2-2. Katelyn Mann goes down swinging for the second out of the inning. Taner Fowler ends the inning with a deep fly out to center. 2-2...we're done with eight innings.

9:39 p.m. Connell gets Hernandez and Hewitt to fly out to start the ninth. Heeley draws a walk that is quite unpopular with the fans, though..(who are still going nuts in Ulmer) and then Heeley steals second. Teresa Aguilar strikes out looking though and bottom of the ninth brings Austin, Keller and Esteban to the plate for the Cards.  

UH-OH...half the scoreboard just went blank here at Ulmer...maybe it's a sign....

9:50 p.m. Kristin Austin singles to get it underway for Louisville. Katie Keller singles to center and runners on first and second now. Esteban pops out for out one with no runner advancement. That set the stage for Chelsea Bemis...who drilled a pitch deep over the center field to win it for Louisville 5-2.  

CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN CARDS WIN
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-Softball starts swinging today at Ulmer Stadium

-12 UofL Women's Track and Field member in NCAA

-Rules changes in Women's College hoops?
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The University of Louisville softball team begins it's quest to advance in the 2011 NCAA Softball Tournament this evening against the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames at 7:30 p.m. in Ulmer Stadium.

CARDINAL COUPLE will be on hand to cover the action...beginning with a 5 p.m. game featuring California and Jacksonville State. California is the #1 seed in the Louisville region and #7 seed overall in the tournament.  They got to Louisville by finishing 2nd in the PAC-10 conference regular season and then defeating #1 national seed Arizona State in the finals of the PAC-10 tournament. Jacksonville State

earned their berth by winning the Ohio Valley Conference title with a win over Southeast Missouri State.

Cards face Illinois-Chicago
who won the Horizon League

Louisville will need continued good pitching from sophomore Tori Collins if they are to advance in this regional...which is a double elimination format. Collins has performed well in the circle lately...shutting out South Florida and Notre Dame in the BIG EAST Tournament and allowing just one run to Syracuse in the finals. Tori  is 16-10 on the season. If Collins falters, freshman Carlisa Connell pitched well earlier in the year, part of a Cardinals 12 game win streak, but UofL head softball coach Sandy Pearsall hasn't called on her lately. With the possibility of five games ahead over the next three days...let's hope Collins is well rested and ready to go. The Cards will

also need strong performances from the plate from sluggers Chelsea Bemis and Alicja Wolny...long ball threats Maggie Ruckenbrod, Colby Wherry and Katie Keller and a steady stream of hits out of Jennifer Esteban, Hannah Kiyohara and Taner Fowler.

The youth movement has been well served for Pearsall this season. Freshmen have contributed greatly to this successful UofL season at catcher, 2nd base, on the mound and in the outfield....as well at the plate. At this time of year, as UofL men;s basketball coach Rick Pitino is fond of saying, there really are no freshmen anymore. Time for Kiyohara, Ruckenbrod, Fowler and Keller to keep providing.

Louisville is also greatly aided by their veteran experience in the infield. Bemis and Wherry are four year starters on the left side...Wherry, the steady gloved shortshop and Bemis at 3rd. With Alicja Wolny covering the bag at first...the Cards make very few miscues in the dirt and their continued excellent fielding will also be a key to success.

Get it done, ladies. Let's go..the time is now. 

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Twelve UofL women's track and field athletes have qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Preliminary Round Qualifiers. The events will be held in Bloomington, IL from May 26th-28th. The Cards field event specialists are among the strongest and deepest in the nation and Louisville will be represented in six different categories in the field. Here's a list of the participants for UofL and their events: 

Khadija Abdullah will go in the
shot put and discus for UofL

-Saravia Richardson - 100 meters

-Monica Hernandez - 3000 steeplechase

-Chelsea Brown - 400 meter hurdles

-Gabrielle Jackson - 400 meter hurdles

-Rachel Gehret - High Jump, Long Jump

-Megan Schubert- High Jump

-Charachesicia Lockhart - Long jump

-Chinwe Okoro - Shot Put, Discus

-D'Ana McCarty - Shot Put, Discus, Hammer

-Khadija Abdullah - Shot Put, Discus

-Amashi Kendall - Shot Put, Discus

-Jenna Wargo - Javelin

The Cardinal men's track team will also be on hand in Bloomington...with 11 athletes competing in nine events. Run fast, throw long and jump far, Cardinals! 

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The NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee is recommending some changes in the game...for the 2011-12 season. First and foremost is moving the three-point line back a foot to be the same distance as the men's line...20-foot, 9 inches. In preparation for this, the committee asked member institutions to track the number of three-point field goal attempts taken from behind the current women's line and the men's line. These were tracked during exhibition and scrimmage games only. The stats tracked showed that 66% of the shots were actually taken behind the men's line and 34% from the women's current line.

The goal here? (Sorry for the pun). To open up the game additionally for the women's game. Some coaches will probably not be in favor of this proposed change. At Louisville, bombers Becky Burke, Shoni Schimmel and Tia Gibbs shouldn't be too affected by the change if it does pass approval from the Playing Rules Oversight Panel...who will discuss and consider on June 9th. Schimmel has been known to bomb them in from NBA range. Some of hers should be worth four points...

Another change being looked at is using a 10 second half court clock for exhibition and closed scrimmage games during the 2011-12 season. Some believe that the addition of a 10-second clock would increase the tempo of the game and force teams to extend defenses. Opponents are lining up to point out that it would probably add more stoppages to contests because of fouls and turnovers. Coaches are also proposing that if a 10-second clock is to be implemented, then the shot clock be increased to 35 seconds, instead of the current 30 seconds. Would this change be a more effective tool for the offense or defense? Time will tell.
I shudder to think what a Geno Auriemma or Jeff Walz full court press aided by a ten-second clock would do to the Seton Hall's and Cincinnati's of the BIG EAST...

Kia Vaughn, Rutgers and WNBA star, is a
expert at the art of elbow throwing...bad Kia!

Other items being considered are a "restricted area arc" located three feet from the center of the basket in which a secondary defender cannot take a charge and a re-definition of the term "flagrant foul". The debate centers around creating a Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 classification. Flagrant 1 would be a player who swings an elbow and makes contact with an opposing player above the shoulders. This infraction would be proposed as a two free throw and possession infraction. This is what is commonly referred to now as an "intentional" foul. Flagrant 2 would be designed as "a player who swings an elbow excessively and makes  contact with an opponent above the shoulders." In this case, the player would be ejected from the game and the opposing team would get two free throws and the ball.

This one doesn't make too much sense to us. How do you determine how excessive is "excessively"?  Hook them up to a polygraph? Get a witnesses statement? We agree that there is too much elbow-throwing in the game these days...but trying to define the extent and severity of a thrown elbow is hogwash. You throw an elbow, hit an opponent above the shoulders and it should be opponent's ball after two free throws, period. Intended or not. How do you prove any malicious intent or action? Especially in situations where a player is trying to protect the ball from being stolen. Leave this one alone, rules-deciders.
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