Rutgers Will Show Up
by Paul Sykes
Which Rutgers will visit Papa John’s? The team that dismantled South Florida 31-0 and knocked off UConn 28-24? Or the Rutgers group that tanked at Syracuse 31-13 and failed to show up in the season opening loss to Cincy 47-15?
One thing certain is Rutgers will take the Louisville football team seriously, having learned its lesson in not respecting the opposition.
Friday’s 11 a.m. game is the season finale for Louisville, and possibly the last on the sideline for Steve Kragthorpe. Rutgers has one remaining regular season game, against West Virginia in Jersey at noon next Saturday … and a bowl trip.
Greg Schiano’s teams have established a pattern over the last couple of years of starting slowly and roaring by season’s end. This season appeared to be a carbon copy of that plan until the Scarlet Knights crumbled in the Carrier Dome. Before the loss, they were on a three-game win streak while prevailing in seven out of their last eight games.
The Rutgers’ defense has shown vulnerability against the pass and is allowing over 200 yards a game through the air. Whether Louisville can find a quarterback able to achieve that in the final contest is anyone’s guess.
About the Author: Paul Sykes owns Paul Sykes Advertising and does contract work for other advertising and publishing firms. The proud husband of Sonja, he has a fascination with bears, bars and Cardinal sports. Definitely a son of a son of a sailor.
That’s our boy, Paul, skipping a day at the track for the football program. Thanks Paul, I will wave at you from Section 234.
Could be a few additions in my vigil for the Cards. Louisville’s starting QB in 2023 will be in town for the holidays in a few short hours and fully expects to be in the stands with his parents on his first unofficial recruiting visit to the campus. May even have Sonja wavering on being in the seats…
You made the right decision Paul. We have relatives in from out of town, and we’re all going out to Papa John’s, all 15 of us.
Last college football game of the year, wouldn’t miss it.
Paul’s money will be at Churchill Downs I’ll bet. He’s probably working at that list of bets right now. Let’s just hope Sonja doesn’t have too good a time and forget to place those bets. Or maybe Paul will be lucky if she does.
If that pint sized QB from Nashville is going to be in the seats Friday, my guess is that Sonja will be also. And be careful…Schiano may have a recruiting visit lined up for him next week for the WVU game.
Sonja has the right team but I don’t think the score will be that lopsided. My guess is the Cards will give everything they have until the usual suspects (lack of organization, lack of discipline, lack of depth, and of course Kragthorpe’s other flaws raise their ugly head.
I figure we lose by 10-15.