So long JaJuan.

Sorry we won’t get to see you play anymore. Those flashes of speed you have shown, especially on the 90-plus-yard kickoff return against Rutgers last year, had fans wanting to see more and more of your running skills.

But alas. You’re gone for the season. The coach tells us you may return next year. But our gut feeling tells us we’ll probably never see you again.

Prove us wrong, JaJuan. Go to class. Keep doing your workouts. Respect the coaches. Avoid the inevitable pitfalls that tempt every college student. You can return and be a great college football player, maybe even star in the National Football League some day.

It’s all up to you, man.

Never really got to know Ron Steiner as a person. Knew him as a writer, however, and he was among the best when it came to U of L sports. The very best.

The founder of the Louisville Sports Report died last Thursday as a result of complications following a heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic. Before relinquishing control of the publication last year, Ron wrote a weekly column. If I never read anything else, I read that column. His research was thorough, his prose was brilliant, and his optimism never wavered.

Howard Schnellenberger brought Ron with him when he came to Louisville in 1985. It didn’t take long to figure out why. Ron was a contributor. Sorry I waited so long for the tribute, Ron, but couldn’t find your photo anywhere on the net (thanks Howie Lindsey). You are missed but still providing inspiration.

So long JaJuan.

Sorry we won’t get to see you play anymore. Those flashes of speed you have shown, especially on the 90-plus-yard kickoff return against Rutgers last year, had fans wanting to see more and more of your running skills.

But alas. You’re gone for the season. The coach tells us you may return next year. But our gut feeling tells us we’ll probably never see you again.

Prove us wrong, JaJuan. Go to class. Keep doing your workouts. Respect the coaches. Avoid the inevitable pitfalls that tempt every college student. You can return and be a great college football player, maybe even star in the National Football League some day.

It’s all up to you, man.

Memos I need to send early Monday morning to folks associated with the U of L football program:

• To the guy who determines the recorded music during U of L football games: Songs with words in them such as “Suicidal … suicidal …. suicidal” and “I ain’t your Superman” may be popular in some circles but they are not appropriate at Papa John’s.

• The supervisor of traffic management: Get all your yellow-vested people and orange cones in place three hours before gametime. Standing by the side of the road watching as traffic snarls is a waste of everybody’s time.

• To the guy who sells the roasted almonds at the concession stand: Cook the nuts before halftime so I don’t have to wait in that line 10 minutes for my wife and miss three minutes of the second half.

• Second memo to the guy who determines the music: Let the U of L band play once in a while. The larger the band gets, the less music it is allowed to perform.

Memos I need to send early Monday morning to folks associated with the U of L football program:

• To the guy who determines the recorded music during U of L football games: Songs with words in them such as “Suicidal … suicidal …. suicidal” and “I ain’t your Superman” may be popular in some circles but they are not appropriate at Papa John’s.

• The supervisor of traffic management: Get all your yellow-vested people and orange cones in place three hours before gametime. Standing by the side of the road watching as traffic snarls is a waste of everybody’s time.

• To the guy who sells the roasted almonds at the concession stand: Cook the nuts before halftime so I don’t have to wait in that line 10 minutes for my wife and miss three minutes of the second half.

• Second memo to the guy who determines the music: Let the U of L band play once in a while. The larger the band gets, the less music it is allowed to perform.

Captured this image in the Green Lot. Click on the image to see it in its full glory. Feel free to copy and use. If you want to give me credit, please indicate Courtesy of CSWorks.

You never know what you’re going to see during U of L tailgating. Many fans will go to great lengths to show their loyalty to their favorite school.

The most unique vehicle in the Green Lot this year is a former EMS vehicle which is marked CSI and stands for Cardinal Sideline Instigators. The truck, distinctly decorated in red and black with U of L logos, is owned by Chad Crick, of Fern Creek.

Even though he was raised in Muhlenberg County, Chad says he has been a Card fan forever. (Unfortunately, his girl friend is a UK fan.) He got the former ambulance at an auction in Columbus, Ohio. He knew from the start that it was the perfect tailgate vehicle, even adding an attached grill to the vehicle’s exterior.

Congratulations, Chad. You are the Tailgater of the Week.

Captured this image in the Green Lot. Click on the image to see it in its full glory. Feel free to copy and use. If you want to give me credit, please indicate Courtesy of CSWorks.

You never know what you’re going to see during U of L tailgating. Many fans will go to great lengths to show their loyalty to their favorite school.

The most unique vehicle in the Green Lot this year is a former EMS vehicle which is marked CSI and stands for Cardinal Sideline Instigators. The truck, distinctly decorated in red and black with U of L logos, is owned by Chad Crick, of Fern Creek.

Even though he was raised in Muhlenberg County, Chad says he has been a Card fan forever. (Unfortunately, his girl friend is a UK fan.) He got the former ambulance at an auction in Columbus, Ohio. He knew from the start that it was the perfect tailgate vehicle, even adding an attached grill to the vehicle’s exterior.

Congratulations, Chad. You are the Tailgater of the Week.

Well, that reminded me a lot of the Syracuse game. Can’t stop anything, but we rally just enough in the second half to think we might just have a chance to win and still suffer an embarrassing loss.

• The onside kickoffs are straight out of a clown’s act at a Shrine circus. Those soft little lobs 10 feet in the air make it so easy for the opposition. Why bother? But how about that hit on the Utah player that caught the ball? Rattled his ribs. Best hit all night.

• Did I really see what I thought I saw on Utah’s fake field goal attempt? Utah guy all by himself out in the wide open spaces … again. “We gotta fix that,” says the coach, again and again …

• Mario who? Never saw him, even on the sideline … or during the Card March for that matter. Those turf toes must really be bad.

• The crowded conditions in the concourse at half time are unbelievable … a giant cocktail party with all the socializing. Security would need cattle prods to get that massive herd of yakety-yaks moving back to their seats.

On the positive side, just as I predicted:

• Attendance again exceeded 40,000, actually 40,890. Just enough people got addicted to football during Petrino’s years to prevent a major drop off. Let’s hope it holds until good times return.

• There was not a booing epidemic this time … even though play on the field often challenged the best of us.

The really bright side:

• Patrick Carter caught nine passes for 146 yards; when and if Harry Douglass returns, we will have two-and-a-half great receivers.

• U of L’s College World Series baseball team received a well-deserved sustained standing ovation. Revived some fantastic memories.