All Entries Tagged With: "University of Louisville"

Kentucky flag has to go, replaced by University of Louisville colors

By Paulie the Fist

We had to do it. There was no other way. Day after day, I’d drive by there … the manicured lawn, hedges trimmed weekly, not a speck of jimson weed, crabgrass or Johnson grass. And, there was that flag. That blue Kentucky Wildcat flag.

It was a big one, flapping from a pole in the front of the house. It never came down, not even on patriotic days when it should have been replaced by “Old Glory.” Not even when Lynyrd Skynyrd came to town and the Confederate stars and bars should have been rolled out.

A symbol of the superiority, arrogance, “holier than thou” attitude of the house owner and his snooty wife. Not ones to engage in small talk on summer evenings out in the front yard. Not ones to drop by with chicken soup if someone is feeling poorly.

A spot of blue in a decidedly red neighborhood. The enemy. Typical “Big Blue” believers. We gave them their space. An occasional nod of recognition. A prom wave if driving by. They got theirs. We got ours.

The plan developed with news the two were headed off on a short vacation through Labor Day weekend. Mostly, it was Clarence, the fanatical U of L neighbor,  and I, talking about it while relaxing with a beverage after cutting the yard. The blue flag was going to be history and a bright, shiny Cardinal red one would replace it.

We wait for the cover of darkness. Mostly because Clarence doesn’t get home till late that night. I have the new flag, just out of the wrapper. We walk to the front porch and up the steps humming the Cardinal fight song as we remove the symbol of tyranny, replacing it with one of hope and promise — of freedom and Bilal Powell.

The U of L flag waves proudly in the light breeze this afternoon as I gaze out the window. It will continue to until they arrive home. The flag rings are super glued to the rope, the old flag draped over the garden hose roller in the backyard.

A relative checking on the house while they’re gone gives it a cursory look yesterday but doesn’t act on it. We think he’s a closet Michigan State fan anyway, so the difference between red and blue is pretty insignificant for him.

The neighborhood is looking pretty good these days.

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Ramsey oversees building boom at University of Louisville, more to come

Under construction.

Almost overlooked with the nearing completion of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium football expansion and the KFC Yum Center basketball palace has been all of the other construction occurring in recent years at the University of Louisville.

The growth in new physical improvements has been phenomenal, adding up to more than $1.2 billion in capital projects since James Ramsey became U of L President in September 2002, according to a recent report in Business First Louisville.

Unprecedented growth during a period in which budget cuts in state funds have become the norm. New student housing, clinical and research buildings, athletic facilities and parking structures.

“But perhaps more important, the improvements are enabling the university to attract better students, create a stronger work force and work toward the state legislature’s mandate to become a premier metropolitan research institution … By teaming with private developers and tapping various sources of nontraditional funding, U of L is reshaping not only its Belknap, Shelby and Health Sciences campuses but the neighborhoods that surround them.”

Here’s Business First’s listing of projects completed since 2002:

• Delia B. Baxter Biomedical Research Building — A research facility on South Preston Street on the U of L Health Sciences Campus: $41 million.
• Herman and Heddy Kurz Hall — 400-bed student housing complex at 1900 S. Fourth St: $8.7 million.
• Billy Minardi Hall — 38-bed student housing complex at 2040 S. Fourth St.: $4.6 million.
• Chestnut Street garage expansion: $4.8 million.
• William F. Ekstrom Library Addition — Renovation of U of L’s main library facility included new entrance facing Third Street, robotic book-retrieval system: $14.2 million.
• Ralph R. Wright Natatorium — Aquatic center located at 2216 S. Floyd St.: $10.8 million.
• Reynolds Lofts — 72 privately developed condominiums and apartments at 2500 S. Third St.: $8 million.
• Jim Patterson Stadium — 2,500-seat baseball facility: $6.8 million.
• Shumaker Research Building — A 103,000-square-foot facility for microtechnology research, education and technology transfer: $47.8 million.
• Cardiovascular Innovation Institute — A 67,000-square-foot facility that includes research labs, operating and recovery rooms, diagnostic equipment and training facilities and offices: $28.4 million.
• Trager Center Indoor Practice Facility — Contains full-length football field, track, jump pit, pole-vault area and batting cages: $8.1 million.
• Community Park — A 350-bed residence hall on South Fourth Street: $15.1 million.
• Yum! Center — Training space for men’s basketball, women’s volleyball and women’s lacrosse: $16.1 million.
• James Graham Brown Cancer Center renovation: $29 million.
• Trager Field Hockey Stadium –Complex includes Marshall Center, a strength and conditioning facility for Olympic sports: $4.2 million.
• U of L Health Care Outpatient Center — Facility at 401 E. Chestnut St. for medical and dental offices: $63 million.
• Cardinal Station acquisition — U of L Foundation bought a facility that houses primary care and medical specialty programs and a sports medicine program: $8 million.
• Health Sciences Campus Parking Garage II — 1,711-car facility at Clay Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard: $30.7 million.
• Phoenix Place acquisition — Purchase of downtown apartment complex now used for housing for 225 students: $9.5 million.
• The Bellamy –192 student apartments in Park Hill neighborhood: $30 million.
• Center for Predictive Medicine — Regional biosafety lab developed on U of L’s ShelbyHurst Research and Office Park: $34.6 million.
• The Province –A privately developed student residence complex capable of housing up to 858 students: $54.2 million.
• Clinical and Translational Research Building — 287,000-square-foot facility at 505 S. Hancock St. supports oncology research: $143 million.
• Infrastructure improvements on Eastern Parkway: $7.1 million.
• Kentucky Trailer property acquisition — U of L Foundation’s purchase of 33 acres between J.B. Speed School of Engineering and Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium for future development: $19.5 million.

Still in the pipeline: a 10,000-square-foot Westside Dining on Third Street, a $43 million expansion of the Dental School, a $2.7 million boathouse for the rowing team, a $9.7 million expansion of Preventive Medicine on Shelby Campus, and a $55 million redevelopment of the old Masterson’s Restaurant property.

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Fulbright Scholars Abound At Louisville

A tranquil setting on a hot summer day outside Grawemeyer Hall at the University of Louisville.  Inside the building, however, the administration is exuberant that 14 students have been named Fulbright scholars as part of a flagship international educational exchange program.

The number of awards places U of L in the same company as top Fulbright-producing research institutions like Duke, Cornell, Ohio State, Rutgers and Georgetown, based on 2009-10 numbers.

“That’s who we want to be in the league with,” said U of L President James Ramsey, noting the university’s push to increase undergraduate research and international study experiences. “We look at these awards as affirmation that we are getting the best students and giving them an outstanding experience.”  Source.

Most of U of L’s 2010 Fulbright winners will teach or conduct research. They will travel overseas this summer and stay for about a year. Destinations include Thailand, Germany, Peru, Argentina, Sri Lanka and Ecuador.

Continued progress in academics could possibly have a profound effect on U of L’s athletic future, as became obvious during recent conference expansion discussions.

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Brand Awareness

Always a welcome sight upon returning home from day trips to Central Kentucky is this  billboard on westbound I-64 near Frankfort, serving as a timely reminder to friend and foe alike that the University of Louisville should never be taken lightly in the Bluegrass State. The billboard is on a steep cliff overlooking the Kentucky River, perhaps explaining why it remains in pristine condition a decade after it was posted.

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U of L lost a good friend and fan this week with the passing of Earl Chandler, who was a fixture for decades at Cardinal football games. His red sports utility vehicle, adorned with abundant Cardinal logos and flags, was always parked right outside the entrance to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on game days.

Earl Chandler, Card Fan

Photographers around the city have also lost a good friend. Earl got to know many of them during his 47 years at Murphy’s Camera Center, at the old downtown store on Muhammad Ali Boulevard and the Bardstown Road location. Earl was easy going but a true professional, always taking time to offer tips and answer questions from amateur and professional photographers alike.

Rest in peace, Earl. You should have front row seats where you’re going.

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Two Down, Louisville 7, Vanderbilt 1

That’s the Phil Wunderlich, we all know and love.

Wunderlich greeting super ace Vanderbilt pitcher Sonny Gray with a three-run home blast over the left field fence in the third inning for his 21st four-bagger of the year in Louisville’s 7-1 second round regional win over the Nashville team.

“Sonny is a good pitcher and most pitchers try to establish their fastball first time through the order,” said Wunderlich. “Coach Lemonis was preaching to us all day ‘Be ready to hit, be ready to hit the fastball.’ The guys in front of me did a great job of getting on base … and I just got a good pitch to hit and tried to put a good swing on it, got it up into the wind a little bit and it went out.”

Freshman righthander Matt Koch also most impressive, allowing only three hits, forcing 14 ground outs. Future looking good for Matt. Real good. Coming into his own at just the right time.

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Searching For Michael Chandler

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WKRD Management Loses Focus

By Tom Stosberg

Radio station WKRD started out as University of Louisville outlet. Now WKRD appears to be turning Blue. Could be destined to stay that way.

First, a quick history lesson: A few years ago the WAKY call letters were changed to WKRD, and the station was re-branded as “The U of L Cardinals Radio Station” by Clear Channel Radio. The action was taken in order to placate Louisville fans when Clear Channel decided to give Kentucky preference over U of L on Clear Channel’s WHAS Radio when there were game conflicts between U of L and UK.

In these cases, WHAS would broadcast the Kentucky game and the Louisville game would move to WKRD. In addition, regular daytime broadcasts on WKRD would carry programs promoting and discussing U of L sports programs, including interviews with Louisville coaches and staff.

In recent months, however, WKRD management has allowed many of the call-in shows to be hijacked by UK fans who consistently badmouth U of L coaches, players and fans. Guest announcers who are both self-avowed and closet Blue fans, are taking over the talk shows. So, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect the call letters to be changed soon to WCAT. I’d say it’s a pretty sure bet by summer’s end. Not sure Mr. Jurich is going to be too happy about it either.

What was once a  good idea that would benefit the U of L athletic program is a broken promise. Perhaps another local radio station with a decent signal will seize the opportunity to create a format for U of L fans — a huge market segment that is vastly under served.

(Note: The programming director at WKRD is Jim Fenn, telephone number 479-2222. His e-mail address is jimfenn@clearchannel.com)

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