You have to admire a public figure who refuses to buckle under public pressure, remaining dedicated to the job at hand and doing the right thing. He could very easily have cut and run at the first opportunity. No, not referring to national politics, but to Louisville football coach Steve Kragthorpe.
Coach Kragthorpe describes reports that he has interviewed for the head spot at Southern Methodist University as “absolute fiction.” One could not blame him if he had interviewed with SMU, based on the criticism he has incurred as the result of a disappointing 5-6 season.
U of L fans have heard similar denials before from coaches. Schnellenberger, Smith and Petrino, Petrino, Petrino. Forgive fans if they have problems believing any football coach. The only difference this time is that a vocal group actually wants the coach to be lying.
If Kragthorpe does stick around, he’s a brave soul. You have to admire that in him. And if the rumblings about “off the field” problems are true, you may even thank him some day.
Make a mistake, have to live with it, at least two years, maybe three.
Yes, I’d take back Petrino in a heart-breat. If Petrino was hurting the players so bad for several yrs–so was Tom J, Jim Ramsey, etc. They knew–c’mon.
The players don’t need to be treated like kids– they’re pro players for no pay anyway.
This whole situation has been handled in the most amateurish way–by both K and U of L–it’s almost unbelievable.
Sorry, no “thanks” to K for “taking it on all on himself.”
He has done nothing but insinuate blame– on fans, on the mean community, on players for pot-smoking and who knows what (because he won’t say), on a lack of talent, yada, yada
Next yr–if he still doesn’t bolt–I’ll support him, without booing and and show up for every home game, just like this yr. And pay my thousands silently.
Are we supposed to carry him around the field next yr for a 7-5 “turnaround.”
You seem to be a nice guy–but what are you smoking in retirement?
Gregg, sorry about the other web site. I will had your new one to my links (can you add this one to a set of link, please).
Charles,
I have nothing against Kragthorpe, and if he is retained as the Louisville coach then good for the program. I think it’s best to give a college coach 4-5 years to get his guys into the system anyway.
Also, I wanted to let you know that I closed down Sports Nirvana because the higher ups at work were actually monitoring it(LOL). I guess I shouldn’t update my blog at lunch?(LOL).
Anyway, I just opened up “First and Ten Sports” http://firstandtensports.blogspot.com, and will strictly work on it from home. I also wrote about the Kragthorpe situation as well, feel free to stop by.
To Anonymous: Does anybody really want Petrino back here? Sure he put up a lot of wins but what happens with the personal lives of his former players.
Wes: We’re all disappointed in this year’s results but we don’t need to throw logical thinking out of the window. I’ll go with Tom Jurich’s decisions every time.
What impresses me about Kragthorpe is that he is not naming names. He is taking the heat personally. Of course, some people don’t appreciate that, they want somebody’s butt no matter the long-term cost to the program.
Semantics, semantics
Coach-speak in these situations mean nothing
We’ve heard bold-faced lies told sincerely from better coaches than K
It leaked out…K was “open” to listening (or at least one his reps was)…had it confirmed 50/50 by our own people…takes a swipe at the fans.
And then wants us to go back to Never Land with him…believe, and blindly support him.
At this point of the season, the ONLY thing K had going for him in my mind was he was NOT going to do this kind of shit.
And then…he not only does it, but screws it up so royally that…
What are we left with? A “Petrino” without Petrino’s talent. Instead of a prickly genius we can’t trust to stay…we have a “nice” AP 30-50 guy we can’t trust to stay either… or to do anything right.
Once again: Thank God for basketball
WAS may be the key word here.
You’re missing the point, though, Charles – Louisville football WAS at a championship level (remember, last year, the orange bowl?) until this loser assclown showed up to drive it straight into the ground. He wasn’t hired to rebuild, so let’s not give him credit by pretending that he was. He was hired to take a polished team with 75% plus of its starters back from the orange bowl and keep them in the upper echelons of college football. Now we’re not even good to enough to go to one of the 40+ bowls that go on. The comparison to American politics is good one – Kragthorpe may just be the first person to match the incompetence and ineptitude of the current president.