Representing the University of Louisville women’s basketball team at the Cardinal Caravan in Jeffersonville Thursday were Tia Gibbs, Shawnta Dyer and Monique Reid.

Still another Cardinal Caravan, this one attracting between 200 and 300 University of Louisville fans to the banks of the Ohio River in Jeffersonville. Small but enthusiastic crowd with good interaction between fans and lots of U of L athletes and coaches. And a few notes worth passing on:

  • Rakeem Buckles and Peyton Siva from the basketball team on hand, Buckles indicating that he will be ready to start working out seriously in about a month. Buckles also declaring that Gorgui Dieng is now a brute and will be hard to handle. Siva, of course, the center of attention, surrounded at all times by autograph seekers, young and old.
  • Basketball staffer Andre McGee was enthusiastic about all the depth next season. “We’re going to be spending a lot of time emphasizing defense,” he said. “We’re also going to be having people playing in their natural positions for a change.”
  • Athletic director Tom Jurich revealed that the new soccer stadium will seat 5,500 people. “There will be 3,500 permanent seats, and we’re going to create a berm for 2,000 more spectators,” he said. Timetable for construction: “As soon as we get the money.”
    Derek Self

  • Soccer coach Ken Lolla was singing Colin Rolfe’s praises. What we didn’t know was that Rolfe played mostly hockey growing up, and switched to soccer in high school. He’s an All-American you know, looking forward to his senior season.
  • Baseball pitcher Derek Self, who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics, says he will decide within the next couple of weeks whether to go professional. The junior lefthander is giving it some serious thought.
  • Tia Gibbs, Monique Reid and Shawnta Dyer represented the women’s basketball team. They were happy to report that 6-foot-5 Cierra Robertson-Warren is recovering nicely from knee surgery and will be ready by October.
  • The women’s volleyball team will play six matches at the KFC Yum! Center next fall.
  • The women’s field hockey program will host the NCAA Final Four.

Getting in some early tailgating practice at the Cardinal Caravan were James Durst, holding his one-year-old son Cooper Durst, with friend and fellow tailgater Magee. The interior of the 1986 Chevy box truck is decorated from floor to ceiling with Cardinal memorabilia. He purchased the vehicle specifically for tailgating for 1,000 bucks.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.