Okay, so when it comes to U of L football, I try to put a positive spin on things. Having followed this program for several decades, I have been conditioned to doing so because the program has experienced more than a few rough spots. However, the brand of football we’ve seen this season has been frustrating. I have seen the same bad football as everybody else.
The comments of one of our readers here deserve to put up front on the board because they reflect the views of many U of L football fans:
“Unfortunately, I’m a season ticket holder who is forced to watch these disgusting…things…at close range. Observations about the Pitt game:
- About 7000 no shows “voicing” disapproval.
- Grey leaden sky all game, mirroring general spirit of crowd pre-game and for much of game.
- UConn deja vu ugly train wreck of a finish — lucky to win the game. Drained most of fun out of game.
- Another trick play against us goes for a big gain, this time a TD (what is that–5 on the season? I quit counting. ) We used to be the team that pulled the rabbits out.
- Pedestrian, predictable play calling again, lets opposing D coordinators prepare well for us, and keeps us scoring in the 20’s (instead of 40’s) — and today we had everyone back on O, so what is the excuse now?
“The play calling says this to me: We don’t play ferociously to win –we play not to lose. The only time K gets super aggressive is with his back against the wall.
“Positives: Brian, Brock, Harry, and Bilal Powell! And maybe marginal improvement on D — but hard to tell since Pitt’s O is so bad.
“My nightmare scenario posted after the Syracuse game is going to happen: I said my fear was that K would somehow get to 5-7 or 6-6 and he’d keep his job. And we’d be stuck with mediocrity.
“Because ever since Mid Tenn (or Syracuse!) I was convinced he’s never going to be better than a top 20-40 range coach — and every game since then has merely confirmed it more in my mind.
“And, Charlie, it’s time for you to rev up and understand the new world of sports. It’s corporate to the core — Ricky P and Tom J use the code words all the time (branding, etc.).
“As in the high level corporate world, there is no long-term loyalty, on the part of the exec or the employer. The nonsense of wanting a top 10 coach to pledge to “stay forever” is fairy tale– unless he’s at the end of his career like Pitino.
“And though the high level corporate world is certainly not perfect, it is an effective, efficient system–and a very reasonable model to use here.
“If you don’t produce — you’re out quickly. VERY QUICKLY if you take over a smooth running system with 10 yrs of very “profitable” yrs and a ton of talent returning– and then start posting “losses”.
“There are no “excuses” at that level in business– nor should there be at this level in sports. The top ones simply overcome and still get it done.
“And guys like K….don’t.”
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- [Agree or disagree? Please leave your comments.]
After the shock of it all, we must give a year after this one to be fair. Coach K thrust into a situation at short notice without most programs finding someone very shortly after the football season is over.
Not much time to research available assistant coaches who were already taken.
Hopefully we will be able to recruit someone other than offensive skill players. Like we have seen, if there is no defense..there is no hope!!
I am sad to say I agree wholeheartedly. To start the season as poorly as we did could be accepted as part of acquiring a new coach. A loss to Kentucky and maybe the Utah loss could be grudgingly accepted as part of the regime change. However, to see continued lack of execution and poor play calling has made me lose faith.I am tired of this staff not capitalizing on this teams strengths and trying to make them something they are not. I will continue to be supportive but fully realize the pressure on Kragthorpe and the staff will be double next season what it is this season(with the way it is turning out)and I do not have a lot of confidence they are up to the challenge. I fully expect some to lose their jobs at the end of the season and will patiently wait to see who those are. However, if there is a multitude of transfers after the season I believe that will tell the longtime Cardinal fans all that we need to know. It took many years to get to the level of play exhibited the last 2 or 3 years. How long can we allow the current trend to continue before it is addressed?
If Cards football is a business, let’s look at the financial side:
–7000 empty seats.
–Bad show, no entertainment value, dwindling TV money.
–No bowl money.
–Big debt on stadium.
–Postponed plans for expansion.
How can this program be saved?
Easy–40 points per game average and full-speed defense. Even if we lose 3, people would watch. I’ll watch a good effort, but not a disgusting collapse. How about you?
Unfortunately this person has hit the nail on the head. It hurts, it really hurts, to see just how fast what we had accomplished was taken away. I hope somehow Tom Jurich can resolve this situation quickly.