The national sports media is in for a surprise next fall when the University of Louisville football team actually competes for a title during its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, many sources believing the step up in competition may be a bit too much.
What they don’t recognize is that the football program, with the exception of the Kragthorpe years, has continued to improve and compete as UofL has moved up through the conference ranks. And that the Big East was often outperforming much of the ACC in football.
The conclusion of Athlon Sports, which has the Cardinals ranked 28th in the preseason, pretty much sums up the prevailing attitude. Citing so many challenges, but hard pressed to totally dismiss UofL:
New quarterback, new coach, new conference (the ACC), new, more formidable schedule. There’s a lot to process for a program that won 23 games as well as the Sugar and Russell Athletic bowls the last two seasons. But [Bobby] Petrino has won everywhere he’s coached in college — including a 41–9 record during his first stint at Louisville. If [Will] Gardner stays healthy, the Cards have enough weapons to score big on everybody but Florida State, Clemson and Notre Dame. Defense will determine if Louisville can win more than eight.
The begrudging respect has to be a carryover from the media’s disregard for the Big East or the American Athletic conferences, something Louisville football fans have learned to live with over the years as they celebrated the best decade in UofL football history.
The sports media, like the rest of the media, is prone to a herd mentality. They don’t have a clue about what UofL is returning this season. For Bobby Petrino’s planning purposes, that’s probably a good thing. Michael Dyer looked really good in the spring game. Dominique Brown will be stronger. The receiving is great. Let’s get it started.