New University of Louisville football coach Charlie Strong was asked during the Cardinal Caravan event Thursday at Captain’s Quarters whether Card March would be continued.
“Not only will it be continued, but it will have a different look,” he said. “Everyone will be wearing coats and ties. We want to be first class in every respect in representing this university.”
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Strong once again said he wanted fans to be in their seats in time for the opening kickoff. Unlike former coach Howard Schnellenberger, he avoided issuing a specific time. But he was emphatic in communicating his expectations:
“This is your university and when you enter the stadium, I want you to feel the intensity. We’re going to play our balls off.”
He also related a recent visit to a U of L classroom. “The professor thought I was there to make a speech,” he said. “I told her I was there to make sure the football player in the front row was where he was supposed to be. That particular football player had a 3.5 grade point average this semester.”
Strong added that 39 players had grade point averages above 3.0 the last grading period, which he said was a tremendous improvement. “If they improve that much in the classroom, they can improve on the football field.”
As for the kicking game, he said Chris Philpott has been kicking the football this spring about as good as anyone he has seen, or words to that effect.
Encouraging on many fronts.
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Ditchball, aka Michael McCammon, was there with his flip cam to record some of the coach’s remarks. Watch for a cameo appearance by the observer with his still camera about halfway through the video.
Nice touch and addition for the Card March. Honestly, I could care less if they were dressed in plated armor and Kelvar as long as they go out there and hit somebody.
As far as Chalie wanting people in the seats by kickoff…every coach since Vince Gibson has pleaded for the same thing. Louisville’s fan base is notorious for arriving fashionably late for football games. Unless the University shuts down all tailgating 30 minutes prior to kickoff…Charlie’s well intended request will fall on mostly deaf and uninterested ears.
As for me, darn straight I’ll be in there 20 minutes prior to kickoff like always. They love my renditions of “My Old Kentucky Home” and the National Anthem in our section.
Raise Some “L”!!! We need people out at the Card March also. When I was there for the Rutgers game last year there were maybe 100 people at Card March. Go crazy for September 4th!!