Getting back to respectability.
Some recent University of Louisville football teams would have folded after the third quarter blitzkreig, giving up, waving bye-bye after falling behind by three touchdowns.
This Charlie Strong-coached U of L team would rally, only to fall short by seven points, 35-28.
If Saturday’s game is any indication, attitudes have changed under Strong. Players appear to be gaining confidence, getting better, wanting to win, expecting to win, knowing they have the expertise on the sideline.
A rare occurrence, players actually smiling in the huddle, confident, knowing they could be successful. They wanted it badly, could taste it. When’s the last time you saw a football player smile in the huddle? Ever?
Adam Froman played the game of his career, displaying a new confidence at quarterback, completing 22 of 38 passes for 288 yards. Standing in the pocket, checking off his targets, connecting with seven different receivers. We’ve heard about Froman’s running ability for a while. Tonight he proved he can scramble.
One could almost overlook the Froman fumble and the Froman interception if both miscues had not had such direct impacts on the game’s final outcome. Despite these costly errors, he was a vastly improved quarterback.
Suddenly U of L has some capable wide receivers. Doug Beaumont, Josh Bellamy, and Cameron Graham all making the routine catches, including some of the circus variety. Noteworthy, too, is that Josh Chichester made good on his one opportunity.
If Doug Beaumont is Mr. Reliable, Bilal Powell is Mr. Consistency, rushing for 83 yards. Victor Anderson, however, would manage only 16 as a running back.
Strong said something in his radio interview after the game about his defense not being that talented. Maybe so, but the unit performed well enough in the fourth quarter to give Louisville a chance to win. That’s a lot to build on for a man considered a defensive coaching genius, and he’s not about to give up on them.
I know Strong isn’t a miracle worker…so I’m giving him some time before I start judging.
I hated the call when it was 4th and inches — why not a quick QB sneak rather than a handoff deep in the backfield?
I like that we seem to be getting better but I’d be happier if I saw a “W” rather than an “L”.
Good luck CARDS!
If we can avoid key injuries, we will keep improving. That a big if because they are unavoidable. Depth is a huge issue for this team.
For the first time in three years, I’m optimistic about UofL football. These guys are improving, the recruiting is improving and when everything comes together, Louisville football will be back, competitive and feared again.
I’ve been outside the Froman bandwagon so far this season but he showed me last night what he’s made of and I just climbed on that bandwagon.
GO CARDS!
Good coaching staff to keep us in this game. Those Rodgers’ brothers are incredible.
No doubt about that. We saw all kinds of improvement tonight. Something to look forward to again. Finally.
Froman controlled the game in more ways than one, keeping us in and taking us out. He was impressive most of the time and I think he will get better.
Based on tonight’s performance, U of L football is in good hands. I felt for the first time in a long time we had a great chance of winning an important game. Good feeling to have again.
We laughed for quite some time about the network identifying the wrong coach as being Coach Strong. I was really hoping they would try to interview him going in to halftime! Froman looked really good. It seems that the people who blamed Froman’s last 2 performances on receivers not running the correct routes, receivers dropping passes, and conservative play calling may have a good argument. I hope our offence plays that way from here on out. If we play like we did tonight 2-3 Big East wins may be possible. I’m not saying it will happen or that it would be easy, but we certainly look capable of pulling a surprise or two.
It was certainly refreshing to hear announcers offering complimentary remarks about the Cards, especially Froman, numerous times. But don’t you think the cameraman/director could at least have found the right man on the sidelines to identify as Coach Strong? What’s up with that? GO CARDS!