All too easy, it is, for diehard University of Louisville football fans to embrace all of the enthusiastic talk from team members during the pre-season. You know, new attitude, new team chemistry, new talent, all that rah-rah talk. Things are going to be different this year, for sure.
One certainly wants to believe it, to write off last season’s 6-6 won-lost record as an aberration. One welcomes the fact that the players will have accepted Steve Kragthorpe’s system, that Kragthorpe has managed to weed out the malcontents. The players certainly seem to respect him and believe in the system, wanting to make it work, turn things around. That’s a big part of the battle, and having the talent to go with the attitude is essential.
There is talent, considerable talent, on this year’s team, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The sobering fact is, however, that only seven total starters return from the offense and defense last season. The difference between raw talent and proven talent is immense.
And don’t look now but the fact is that a coaching transition continues this year, with new coaches being added in key positions on offense and defense. Jeff Brohm, as offensive coordinator, and Ron English, as the defensive coordinator, may be great coaches but with so many new players, some significant challenges (i.e., problems and opportunities) are inevitable.
Give it time to work.
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A New Pitino Book –Rick Pitino is out with another book, this one entitled, Rebound Rules, The Art Of Success 2.0, co-authored by Pat Forde. We think that means Pitino did all the talking and Forde did the writing. If there’s nothing in the book about Forde’s rebound from his suspension for his malfeasance in reporting U of L to the NCAA, that’s definitely the case. Pitino will be signing the new book this weekend at Carmichael’s Book Store, 1295 Bardtown Road, from Noon till 4 p.m. It’s a customer appreciation cookout, which probably means free food as well.
What would you say was a successful year? A 7-5 record and a Tidy Bowl appearance?
Sorry–I now expect more, having seen what football masters can do at a mid-tier school like Louisville. Love ’em or hate ’em–John L. and Bobby P. were masters at what they did.
And Coach K ? Still to be determined, but by all appearances, his bulb burns less brightly… john
Blame it on Freud. Totally coincidental.
Are people getting carried away –where?
on a (semi) serious note, you seem to really like to use the term
“weed” out
when referring to cleaning up last yr’s team : – )