Things that will irritate University of Louisville fans during Friday’s football game at Memphis:
— Coach Tommy West’s teams have a irksome habit of waiting until the last possible second to call a play, waiting to see how opposing defenses line up. He may change the play two or three times before action begins, like a baseball pitcher who keeps shaking off pitches before making a decision.
— Memphis will approach this game as they would a bowl game, seeking to prove they belong in the same league as Louisville. Expect the Tigers’ adrenaline to be sky high, providing them with extraordinary energy during the early going.
— A young UofL defense may not be ready for such high levels of intensity, especially when numerous starters are playing their first road game. A couple of games in Tampa come to mind.
— Memphis has a dual threat in quarterback Arkelon Hall, who has averaged 242.7 passing yards per game and is the team’s third-leading rusher with 124 yards. Steve Kragthorpe said the Cards must contain Hall because he "manufactures plays with his feet."
— Memphis fans will pack the place, enjoying a three-game winning streak and facing an old rival. They are known for trying to intimidate players on opposing teams. UofL’s Eric Wood said the Cards were peppered with ice, batteries, quarters and dimes when they played in Memphis in 2004.
— Despite the incentives for Memphis to do well, some Louisville fans will dismiss the Tigers as a lower level opponent. Kragthorpe will get no credit, whether UofL wins or loses.
This is a game we could easily lose because of the emotion by Memphis players and crowd– the players just don’t know.
If we lose this game….bad, bad, bad
We need to put a spanking on these guys tonight. This is an area we should be recruiting from, and we need to show the local stars a team that will get them to prominence if they come up the Ohio to play.
Steve Kragthorpe needs to get it done Friday. Nothing less than a win will soothe Card fans.
Tommy West was on his way out; let’s help seal the deal.
Tigers going down. Go Cards.
I think our talent starts to show in this one.
Please win big Cards. Start the road back to prominence. I hate losing.
I guess count me as one of the fans who are dismissing the Tigers as a “lower level opponent” looking at Memphis’ performance this season against their schedule and I see a team the Cards should easily beat. If Kragthorpe deserves credit for the game however whether it’s for getting the team prepared and orchestrating a good game plan, or it’s just getting the team to reduce the number of penalties fans should be willing to acknowledge those accomplishments regardless of the quality of opponent. I know this will be a big game for Memphis (the Cards being their 2nd and last BCS opponent), and fans on both sides of the ball will be pumped for a win I’m just not so sure that the teams will look at this as a rivalry game. Only a few seniors have ever participated in a game verses Memphis and before that unless they are local recruits they likely are unaware of the history our programs have verses one another. Perhaps I am taking the Tigers too lightly but I expect the Cards will win by 2 TDs and if not they are still my Cards.
I wouldn’t be surprised by anything that happens in this game. We are a couple of games away from knowing our true identity.