Charlie Strong making no predictions, but does have a promise

A day of promise.

More than 1,400 University of Louisville fans crowded into the ballroom at the Marriott Downtown Tuesday, eager to hear Charlie Strong’s forecast for the 2010 football season.

Strong, however, was making no predictions but he did promise the record turnout that Cardinal fans will see an exciting brand of football. “This team is never going to concede anything,” he said. “We will play hard.”

“This is not the same football team that was here in January,” he continued. “We have made significant progress. I give all the credit to the players, not the coaches. The players have done every thing we’ve asked them to do.”

He said the members of this team are tired of the embarrassment that comes with losing. “I don’t know if they’ve ever been asked to work as hard as they have over the last year. It’s going to pay some big dividends.”

• Strong received an embrace from Tom Jurich and a five to seven-minute ovation before making his remarks.

• The observer was happy to be remembered by defensive tackle Tim High from having been table mates at the kickoff luncheon last year. Tim was proud to have lost 60 pounds since we last talked. “Feels great,” he said.

• Owsley Frazier, U of L’s wealthiest and most generous football fan, was seated at the same table as quarterback candidates Justin Burke and Adam Froman. No, Owsley wasn’t making any predictions.

• Among the guests at President Jim Ramsey’s table was Congressman John Yarmuth, who formerly served as Public Information Officer at U of L.

One got the feeling at the luncheon that this town is hungry to taste success again. Fans have experienced a BCS bowl and they want to get back there. They believe they will with Charlie Strong at the helm.

A day of optimism, of confidence in the future of Louisville football.

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