"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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Basketball season is here!

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( Staff columnist Jenny O'Bryan drains one from long range today in her article on Cardinal WBB. Like all of us at CARDINAL COUPLE, her excitement, anticipation and enthusiasm for the 2012-13 Lady Cards season can't be contained by the press, referees or turnovers. She shoots, she scores with the Wednesday edition of "Da Couple"! )

- Hoops is almost here...are u ready?

- Central Cardinal Couple Holiday boutique a blast!

Basketball Fans!

We are less than a week away from the Women’s Basketball Tip-Off Luncheon.  Limited tickets are available for the event.   If you are a procrastinator, pick up your phone and call the ticketing office now @ 502-852-5151 before time runs out. 

In an email from the Louisville Athletic Ticketing Office I learned that season tickets are going in the mail this week!  Look for your tickets to be showing up in your mailbox shortly.  Parking passes, for those who have purchased them, will be arriving separately. 

A few words from the ticket office:

The exhibition game being held on Wednesday, October 31 @ 7:00 p.m. is FREE!   There will not be a ticket in your season package, it is free and a ticket is not needed to attend.  For all the families out there, take your kiddo out trick or treating early, then head down to the YUM! Center for another treat, the start of Louisville Women’s Basketball!! 

The last announcement from the ticketing office is that there is a time change for the EKU game at YUM! on November 28^th.   The actual time of the game is 7:30 p.m.  Your season tickets are going to say a different time on them.  7:30 p.m. is the changed, correct time of the game.

It was reported here in August that 2014 wing/forward Sydney Brackemyre was on an unofficial visit to the Louisville campus August 26.  It was brought to my attention that she was back on campus (presumably for another unofficial visit) this past weekend.  (Official visits can only happen during one's senior year, are paid for by the college being visited and a prospective student athlete (psa) can only take 5 official visits.  Unofficial visits are on the student/families dime and can be made at any time, and as often as wanted). 

This makes a second visit to Louisville for this rising star in the junior class, in less than two months!   We already know that Louisville is among her final 3 schools of choice (included are Dayton and Michigan) but with a second visit in less than two months WE think bodes well for our beloved Cardinals.    

Perhaps Ms. Brackemyre might just be our first commitment from the class of 2014?   It is a bit premature to speculate, but from where I'm sitting, I like our chances with this young lady.  I believe I attached the following link before, but, it bears another airing to our Cardinal faithful. 

Sydney B.

We are on the cusp of the season!  Next week I will bring you a report from the Tip Off Luncheon.  The week after that I will give you my thoughts/predictions for the out of conference (OOC) slate of the schedule.   

In the meantime we will keep you abreast of any recruiting news as it becomes available. 

A historic weekend for women’s basketball is fast upon us as the #1 recruit in the nation, Mercedes Russell, and #40 recruit Emmonnie Henderson will be on campus for their official visit October 26-28.   The early signing period begins November 14.  Keep it here, Card fans, to learn who will be suiting up as a Cardinal next season!  


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Carol Kidd and Chuck Horell were in attendance

A wonderful time had by all attending the Central Cardinal Club Holiday Boutique and Style Show held yesterday at the PNC Club in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Tons of silent auction items, many booths, delicious food and a great afternoon and evening of speakers and enertainment.

Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich spoke to the dinner crowd and was excellent as always. Swimming and Diving Coach Arthur Albiero also took the stage to speak to the attendees and Mickey Clark provided the musical entertainment.

Charlie Springer and his lovely wife Barbara

The style and fashion show was great as well, with several coaches, coaches wives and the incomprable Valerie Owens Combs, displaying some great outfits to the delight of the crowd.

Mickey Clark entertained attendees!

Thanks to all who stopped by the CARDINAL COUPLE table and purchased bracelets for the St. Martha Girls Volleyball team! We raised $110.00 for their worthy cause. Also, thanks for registering for the commemorative 1980 UofL Men's Basketball National Championship plaque and talking sports with us! We hope you enjoyed talking Cardinal Sports with Jeff McAdams, Donny Yaste, Sonja and Paulie and encourage you to make CARDINAL COUPLE a part of your daily Internet routine.

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The winning ticket number: 702211
Winner was: Al Parrish
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Thanks to Bill and Barbara Hancock, Chuck Horell, Debbie Zipperle and all the Central Cardinal Club members who made our participation an absolute joy and delight!
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Wednesday Cardinal Couple -- FEAR THE BUCKET!

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(Staff columnist Jenny O'Bryan takes us on a tour of the KFC YUM! Center. FEAR THE BUCKET!)

- CARDINAL HOME UNEQUALED IN NATION

Louisville Women’s basketball is fortunate to call the KFC YUM! Center home.  Along with all the glitz and glamor of a new arena, it boasts a seating capacity of 22,000+.

The women’s basketball team has sold the arena out on two occasions and has come very close to selling out on several more occasions.  The volleyball squad has broken it’s home attendance record twice this season when playing at the YUM Center.  Fans flock to the arena in the thousands to see Louisville Women’s Athletics take to the court.    Whether it be a weekend evening game, a middle of the week evening game, or even like last year, a middle of the day workday game, Louisville fans show up in droves to support their team. 

The upper half of the arena is not always open for women’s games.  When it is not open, black curtains are drawn across the upper half and the bowl (or bucket as some refer to it) has an even more intimate feel.   With 10,000+ fans in the bucket, with every seat a good seat, the home crowd has helped to propel our team to victory on more than one occasion. (We have also been known to make it a little uncomfortable for the refs when we feel a bad call has been made).

The arena is a spectacular environment from this fans perspective and allows one the feeling of being very close and a part of the action.  The place is regularly rocking at near deafening noise levels trying to will our team to victory.   I have even been known to take friends to a game who are not particularly sports minded folks, who have enjoyed themselves so much in the atmosphere that they have come back.

It really is hard to attend a women’s athletic event at the YUM! Center and not enjoy oneself.   

This season offers women’s athletic fans not only regular season opportunities to come support your team, but also post season opportunities.  The Women’s Volleyball Championship will be held at the YUM! Center this year.  Tickets are now on sale to this event.  While it remains to be seen whether or not Louisville Volleyball will be playing during this two day event, Coach Anne Kordes is poised to get her team there, if not this year, then very, very soon.   As Jeff mentioned in a previous entry, depending on how the VolleyCards finish their season, they may be poised to host early round games of the Volleyball tournament.  It is an exciting time to be a VolleyCard fan, and not too late to jump on the train.  Get on now, Cards fans, because we are in for some exciting opportunities with Coach Kordes and her squad.  You can find ticket information to the Volleyball Championship at the following link:

http://www.ncaa.com/championships/volleyball-women/d1#!tickets

While the first few days of practice are just now under the belt of Louisville Women’s Basketball, it is not too soon to be thinking about postseason play for our basketball team, either.  Season ticket holders were treated to pre-sale tickets of first and second round postseason games also held at YUM Center March 24/26 ^th  just last week.    Tickets went on sale to the general public on Monday, October 1.   If you have not already done so, you can purchase your tickets at:  http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2010-12-19/ticket-information  or call the Louisville Athletic Ticketing Office at (502) 852-5151.

The past two tournaments Louisville basketball has played on the road against the home team.  It will be an incredible opportunity for Louisville Women’s Basketball and their fans (that’s us, folks!) to showcase our team, our fans, and our home court at the YUM! Center.  We have been second in attendance the last two years in basketball, and this is the year we take our spot atop that list as a growing fan base. This is the year that we show the NCAA and the Big East that Louisville supports women’s basketball, can support opening rounds in the Big Dance and also deserves the chance to host the Big East Tournament (though, that is an article for another day). 

Louisville fans, this is our time to shine!   Athletic Director Tom Jurich and all the staff associated with Louisville Women’s Athletics have positioned Louisville as a competitive women’s program across the board.  This year we have at least two opportunities at the YUM Center (maybe more) to show the athletic community, on a national level, that we can and do support our female athletes.  If you have not bought your postseason tickets yet, do it now.  If you have not attended a game of your favorite women’s squad, do it now.  If you are not a women’s basketball season ticket holder yet, do it now!   

I coined a phrase here a few weeks back.  It was after the Louisville vs. Kentucky volleyball match.  It was a spirited, if not rowdy affair.  YUM! Center was rocking as if it were hosting a concert instead of an athletic event.  If you were there, you know what I mean.  If you were not there, or have yet to be at a women’s event at YUM, then get there.  Once you experience it, you will know what I mean: 

Fear the Bucket!

( Thanks to Jenny for today's column on the home of several UofL athletic sporting events! As she says...if you have yet to be at a women's event at the KFC YUM! Center...GET THERE! Also, hats off to Venue Services for the excellent job they do there in providing security, safety and information at events in the YUM! Great folks!)

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OUR NEXT FIRST ROUND matchup in the "Pick your favorite UofL women's athlete" features two highly successful Lady Cards that you may not know a whole lot about.

MICHELLE MOLODYNIA (Niagara Falls, ONT.) is a sophomore on Louisville's women's Cross Country squad. She was the team's #2 finisher in five out of six meets last season. So far this year, she has finished first of all CARDINAL runners in three events and placed second overall in the Evansville Mid-American event. We'll take a guess and figure she'll be an integral part of the UofL women's track team as well as a distance runner.

ERIN BENNETT ( Old Lyme, CT.) is a senior on the UofL Rowing team. She's been selected ALL BIG-EAST the last two seasons and will be a prime factor on the Cards' Varsity Eight boat again this year. She led the Cards to the BIG EAST title in the Championships last year.


You can vote for one of these two Cardinal stars on the left side of the site.

Boats vs. Running, who will advance?

Finally, CONGRATULATIONS to Volleyball's Gwen Rucker...who won a close match against Lacrosse's Nikki Boltja in Sweet Sixteen action. She advances to the Great Eight.
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Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Walz receives two year contract extension

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SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-UofL WBB head coach Jeff Walz receives two year contract extension.


-Olympic Opening Ceremonies. What did you think?


- ANGEL OFF BENCH LEADS USA TO WIN


Tom Jurich realizes the importance of good coaches. 

University of Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz received an additional two years on his existing five year contract with UofL. The add-on extends his contract to coach the Lady Cards through the 2018-19
season. Financial terms weren't made available.


Details are as follows. Coach Walz is under a rollover type of contract. This type of agreement means that the five year term automatically is renewed each year. 


Jurich offered this to Coach Walz after the 2008-09 season, a season where Louisville was the national runners-up. 

Walz's new contract adds a few perks. A retention bonus for staying at least four years and an additional bonus if he fulfills the entire length of the contract. 


What it means for the University of Louisville women's basketball program is stability and security under the tutelage of one of the finest coaches in the nation.


He also stresses the academic excellence he expects out of each player who suits up for him. 


It also, hopefully, puts an end to the rumors circulated last year that other universities might be in the hunt for Walz's services.  


Walz is 119-56 in five years as the Cardinal women's basketball head coach. 

Here at CARDINAL COUPLE, we're very excited to hear this news and it strengthens the concept that we believe Coach Walz is out to make a reality...to make Louisville women's basketball a contender on the national level year-in and year-out. 


The man is tireless and relentless in his dedication and efforts to bring the best talent in high school to the University. He's got more frequent flyer miles than a lot of major corporations. His staff is stellar and, as a tribute to his teachings...two of his original assistant coaches here at Louisville are now head coaches of their own programs.


LINK:


 Walz presser after DePaul win


You don't waste good. You don't let good get away. You encourage good to keep getting better and you reward good. 

Jeff Walz is good. The man wants to build a top-flight program here at Louisville. 


Tom Jurich has signified that he's "all in" when it comes to that. 


And, that...basketball fans...is fantastic news. In an era where coaches jump around like transient fleas in a kennel, Jeff Walz has indicated he is staying put.


And, why shouldn't he? Look at the athletic director he gets to work for. Look at the facility his team plays in.
Look at the fan base that flocks to University of Louisville women's basketball games. 


Louisville women's basketball is good. Very good. It's poised to become great. Reaching the status of a UConn, a Tennessee, in terms of national championships is possible...to borrow the words of legendary football coach Howard Schnellenberger:


"The only variable is time."


Jeff Walz has time to build his dream. 


Charlie Strong and his coaches advise Cardinal football fans to "get on the train". We advise Louisville women's basketball fans to "get in the Yum, great things are going to come." 


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Did you watch the opening Olympic ceremonies last night? WE were with a few friends and members of 80 Under 80 last night and saw portions of it. The storms that rolled through Louisville Friday evening had the Dish TV signal down for periods of time. 


What we did see was typically British odd and strange. 


Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) was...at least...pretty funny. LINK BELOW.


Bean in the Orchestra


A parachuting Queen, though?


Right...


Tons of pre-Industrial Revolution laborers walking on a big clump of dirt? 


Yep.


At least Paul McCartney didn't disappoint. If you made it that far. 


Bring on the games. And spare us the hype. 


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The USA women's basketball team was having more trouble than expected with the Croatian squad in the first game of pool play. Croats up by three? Surely you jest! 


Geno finally used his noggin and sat the UConn starters. Enter (guess who?) #35. 

The talented Ms. McCoughtry scored 13 points, had three steals and two blocks (at least) in a reserve role as the USA team pulled away under her guidance and won 81-56.


Yeah, I know. Basketball is a team game. No one player does it all on their own. McCoughtry's spark, enthusiasm and play...along with the other subs who entered the game with her...quellled and quieted the inspired Croats, though and USA is now 1-0 in pool play. 


WE like Augustus, Big Syl, Angel, Harding and Maya Moore on the court together, Geno. They just may have saved your bacon today, pal. 


Angel. Yeah, she's a Cardinal. Any other questions? 


USA, USA, (not UConn) USA! 
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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Captain's Quarters Cardinal Caravan conquers storms, captivates capacity crowd. 

Athletic Director Tom Jurich and S.I.D. Kenny Klien
were all smiles after seeing the huge crowd for Louisville's
Cardinal Caravan.

Never underestimate the power of the Cardinal Spirit. Thursday's final Cardinal Caravan stop landed at Captain's Quarters off River Road in Louisville and provided a capacity crowd of over 1600 an hour long show which included UofL coaches, players, LadyBirds and a great venue for catching up on Cardinal Sports. 

UofL womens basketball star Tia Gibbs poses with
Sonja and WBB fans Irv and Peggy Schmidt...

They also beat the weather, which started out hot and humid and turned into strong storms minutes after the  gala affair ended. 


Emcees Drew Deener and Howie Lindsey kept the show moving with the skill of seasoned, professional event organizers as Sandy Pearsall, Ken Lolla, Dan McDonnell, Karen Ferguson-Dayes, Kenny Carter, Anne Kordes and other Cardinal coaches and players spoke to the appreciative crowd.


From what we heard, this could be an incredible season for Cardinal Sports this fall, winter and spring.

Donna Floyd (center) and other eager Cardinal fans
wait to talk to, get pictures with and autographs from
Cardinal athletes. 

Tom Jurich began the festivities with glowing reports on the success and popularity of Cardinal Athletics and told us of his hopes to surpass the record-setting performances of last year's UofL squads in the upcoming season. 


Football, both basketball squads, baseball, softball, both soccer teams...the list seems non-stop for Cardinal teams poised to contend for conference titles, national championship runs. The enthusiastic fans in attendance roared their approval as Tom and the entourage educated the crowd. 

Cardinal Couple's Sandy Walker (left) and Sonja enjoyed the
afternoon activities and interaction with tons of UofL fans 

Tom, you've engineered the perfect example of what excellence in college athletics can be and cultivated a fan base that loves and appreciates it.


If you think Tom is fired up about UofL sports, you should hear his head coaches discuss the subject. It's not hard to see why Cardinal athletes strive to be the best they can be when you hear their coaches and leaders express their passion about their teams, players and philosophies.

The lovely, talented and witty Tia Gibbs

The coaches were a big hit. The players in attendance also drew huge throngs of crowds seeking autographs, pictures and handshakes. Chane Behanan, Gorgui Dieng, Russ Smith, Mike Marra from Rick Pitino's men's basketball team were swamped and surrounded by adoring fans. Tia Gibbs was sporting an ear-to-ear grin as she greeted womens' basketball fans eager to discuss the season, her rehab from surgery ( she's healed and ready to go...look out BIG EAST) and the team. 

Sara, Linda and Chris Stewart had a rail-bird view of
Cardinal Caravan

When Tia informed us her mother reads Cardinal Couple each and every morning, we promised to provide nothing but sparkling and positive coverage of "Butler Bear's"  performances this year.


We understand perfectly. If mama isn't happy, no one's happy. We look forward to writing many rave reviews of #25's domination this season as a part of Jeff Walz's top ten Lady Cards ballers. As Asia and Shoni would say: 


"We are the...CARDINALS!" 


From the beginning of the festivities at 5:30 to the prize drawings one hour later, the event was non-stop, wall-to-wall Cardinal conversation, coverage and   camaraderie. 

"Coach P." Softball coach Sandy Pearsall gives us a smile
as she prepares to address the enthusiastic crowd. 

The skies were threatening, though...and the cold front had dropped the temperature at least 20 degrees by the riverfront stage by 6:15. And, the rains came about 30 minutes later...as autograph signing and other post-Caravan activities were moved indoors.


The crowd got what they came for, though...and the celebration was the first of many that Cardinal fans will no doubt have in the upcoming months.

UofL head baseball coach Dan McDonnell has Omaha
on his mind...with his team hopefully getting to the
College World Series.  

"When you look at the quality coaches and hear them and Jurich talk about their pride and involvement in Cardinal Sports...how can you not be pumped and fired up about Cardinal Nation?" a smiling Caravan attendee told me, displaying his basketball team picture that Chane Behanan and several other players had autographed.


Our sentiments exactly!

Go, Cards, go! 

It's coming, folks. The full-out, intense team practices in August. The opening games for football, volleyball, field hockey and other Cardinal teams. The roar of the red-clad crowd, the fist-pumping, hive-fiving excitement of Louisville's finest participating and winning on fields and courts. 


L1C4.

'The other' Tom and Tilly the Tour Guide double team Sonja

It's an attitude. It's a philosophy. It's big, it's here and now and it's going to be a lot of fun to attend, to cover and be a part of. A great kickoff to the excitement ahead took place Thursday at the Cardinal Caravan at Captain's Quarters and we can't wait for this "Card Party" to get rollin' down the tracks!
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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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