30 Louisville players on NFL rosters

The list brings back memories of good players, good times at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Thirty former University of Louisville players will be on National Football League rosters as the pros open their training camps later this week. The list includes Trent Guy and Scott Long, two of the more productive players from last season’s team. Guy is with the Carolina Cougars and Scott Long with the San Francisco 49ers.

Update: Add defensive tackle Montavious Stanley, who recently signed with the Miami Dolphins. (Thanks Michael McCammon.)

Source:  ESPN

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Trent Guy To Raiders

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Going Away Party

Remember the march to the Orange Bowl. How indestructible University of Louisville football seemed to be? One went to every game confident of winning, expecting a big gainer every play. Fans planning their  Christmas holidays around annual bowl appearances.

The bawdiness that was Louisville football, a team dispatching the most of the opposition with impunity. Fans traveling to away games en masse.  The really big one, the Orange Bowl, the BCS game in 2006, attracting between 35,000 and 40,000 Louisville fans to Miami.

That was then, this is now.

Fans packing Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in the opener, hoping for some improvement from a Steve Kragthrope-coached team after three years. Only to be disappointed. Only 23,000-plus showing for 12th and final game, still wanting some improvement, any signs of progress. Only to be disappointed.

The 2009 season finally ends with a 4-8 won-lost record, the wins over teams mediocre to poor. Any play over five yards considered good, anything above that surprising. The only threat Louisville can muster being the Trent Guy offense, the occasional breakaway punt and kickoff returns.

Anyone expecting anything much different during a fourth season of Kragthorpe is going to be disappointed. He won’t be on the sideline.

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Reasons To Get Out There

Ten reasons to attend the University of Louisville-Rutgers football game at 11 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving Day:

• Football weather, cold, damp, miserable.




• You already have tickets, or you can get them cheap.




• Check on progress of stadium expansion.




• University of Louisville, not Kragthorpe U.




• Game on national television, need fans in stands. Go ahead, wave to the cameras.




• New coach mulling over job, fan support a factor.




• Win a T-shirt at the Budweiser booth.




• Rutgers still in a daze, still puzzled about Syracuse loss, playing at 11 a.m.




• Final game for Trent Guy, Scott Long, Jon Dempsey, Chris Campa, Joe Tronzo.




• Save money avoiding Black Friday sales.

Bonus

• End of the Steve Kragthorpe era.

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Happy Thanksgiving U of L Fans

by Sonja Sykes

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, this time of year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the many things for which University of Louisville fans can be thankful. Here is a brief list of the things that give us reason:

• Jeff Walz and the Lady Cards. A trip to the final four, the excellent play of Angel McCoughtry and the encouraging start to the 2009-10 season. The electric atmosphere in Freedom Hall for games is something you need to experience.

• Rick Pitino and the men’s team. A trip to the regional finals and good times in Indy. A new team that has 10 guys that may not have the NBA draft status of T-Will and Earl, will give Cardinal fans plenty to get excited about in the upcoming season. An exciting mix of the new and old, and a coach that can get it done.

• Dan McDonnell and the baseball team. The fun involved with watching Chris Dominguez, the tight pitching staff and another run at Omaha is a blessing and another dynasty in Cardinal athletics is evident.

• Tom Jurich for the coaches he has hired, the wise decision making he has displayed and the patience to make a studied and informed decision on the future of a particular program that needs some changes.

• A football team that produced and developed some exciting playmakers. Trent Guy, Scott Long, Vic Anderson, Darius Ashley and my defensive heroes gave me a reason to go and cheer, despite the dismal season results.

• Leonard Yelin and the overachieving volleyball team. Learning and growing as the season progressed, they were the best in the Big East tournament and will play in the NCAA Championships.

• Ken Lolla and the men’s soccer team. Another Big East trophy to put in the showcase and the promise of more things to be grateful about next year.

• Pam Bustin and the field hockey team. Perennial top 10 rankings and a stellar performance from a young and rebuilding squad. Another sport you need to go out and watch life. You’ll be thankful that you did.

• Sandy Pearsall and women’s softball. The Lady Bat Cards are building a roster that is second to none in the Big East and play in the best facilities in the Big East, if not the nation.

• Track and field, women’s soccer, swimming, golf, all nationally competitive, too. Lacrosse coming on. That’s what happens when you start a list, wow.

Finally, a thank you to all those involved with this site. Whether a contributor, observer or occasional guest, you make the show here and we thank you for your wise council, excellent columns and comments and discussion that far outshine any other Cardinal sports site on the Internet.

May the joy of the Thanksgiving season, time with friends and family and reflection on all the things we can truly give thanks for fill your heart with happiness and cheer your hours during this holiday season.

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More Of Same From K, But Pitino Sending Message

One way to make the seasonal transition between University of Louisville sports easier is to go directly from a televised football game, driving faster than the posted speed limit, to a basketball game at Freedom Hall. Once there, racing all the other football fanatics from the parking lot to the seats just in time for tip off. A sluggish basketball win over a mediocre team from the Atlantic Sun Conference does help ease the sting of another football loss but not by much.

• Criticize Steve Kragthorpe and he deserves it for his many shortcomings as a coach. But one has to credit his players for not quitting. They are making the effort. But they’re lacking the confidence,  motivation and depth to overcome significant shortcomings in the potential and talent categories.

• The U of L football team has slowly evolved into a pretty good first half team, thanks to Trent Guy’s kick returns and the leadership of Chris Campa and Jon Dempsey on the defensive front, even managing a pass rush. The safeties can’t say the same but they will hurt you after you catch the pass.

• Speaking of Kragthorpe, athletic director Tom Jurich “didn’t want go anywhere near the topic” of Kragthorpe’s future, according to the Big East announcing crew. Probably because doesn’t have one at Belknap Campus. Next week should be interesting, perhaps providing the team a little extra motivation.

Keeping things close, even within striking distance, midway through the fourth quarter is not enough to get fans excited about any signs of progress, real or imaginary.

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Someone Needs To Light The Fuse

by Tom Stosberg

One of these days the kids on this University of Louisville football team are going to realize how good they really are and they’re going to trounce somebody. I don’t envy the team that wakes them up, either. Could be South Florida, could be Rutgers or maybe it will be a team on next season’s schedule. But it’s highly likely.

All those juniors on the offensive line could all “get it” on the same day. There’s no doubt that we have the running backs who need very little daylight to have a record breaking day. And there are quarterbacks on this team who would compete for starting positiions on any team in the Big East. The receiving corps is loaded.

So what’s the missing ingredient? Could be the internal fire that comes from a combination of desire and confidence. Simply put, someone needs to ignite this team. Light the fuse as it were.

The same thing is so evident on the defensive side that it’s scary. L.T.Walker and L.D. Scott can play at the same level as anyone in the conference. Chris Campa, Jon Dempsey and Brandon Heath have big time talent and there are plenty more with enough speed who can definitely make up for weaknesses in the pass coverage. As a bonus, Trent Guy can turn a game around in less than 10 seconds with great moves and blinding speed.

There is absolutely no reason that with this much talent U of L shouldn’t be 8-2 or 9-1.

We’ve heard a lot talk about injuries, lack of talent and a bare cupboard almost three years ago. But this season, with these kids, this team could explode at any time. And if they don’t, next year is going to be a golden opportunity for some coach to see the obvious and light a short fuse.

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