mascot Here we go, 95 degree temperatures or not.

University of Louisville football is back. Pre-season optimism has never been greater, never has Louisville been mentioned so often as a possible national championship contender in this sport. This could well be the best UofL football team ever.

Never mind the talking heads maligning the schedule. It’s easier for them to bitch about “not playing anybody” than it is  to acknowledge that many of the so-called power schools never returned Tom Jurich’s calls. The last thing they wanted to do was play a team quarterbacked by Teddy Bridgewater this season.

The critics wouldn’t have a clue about that. The schedule will improve dramatically with UofL’s entry into the ACC next season. Already has, with a game coming at Notre Dame next year, and against Auburn in the opening game in 2015. UofL continues to pay its dues, humbly toiling the next nine months in the American Athletic Conference.

Louisville fans, upwards of 55,000 of them, coming together Sunday at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium to celebrate a program on the rise, one that can compete against any program in the country. The tradition is growing, with Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl hardware already in the trophy case.  So is the respect, with UofL ranked No. 9 in all the national polls as the season begins.

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Yoda-UofLCardGameYoda will be there, too, the quintessential icon from Star Wars, perched atop the truck about five rows from the tunnel, overseeing the weekly tailgate party hosted by Pepsi.  Wouldn’t be the same without him.

A while back the observer spotted a blue neck driving a convertible on Hurstbourne Lane with Yoda in the back seat dressed in UK garb. Pulled up beside the observer at a parking spot in front of  J. D. Becker’s. “Yoda’s a UofL fan,” he informed the miscreant. “No he’s not, he’s blue.” came the reply.

Both of them walking away shaking their heads.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

One thought on “Louisville football earns respect, defying establishment”
  1. The talking heads are predictable you don’t even have to turn on the TV. Their minds were made up 20 years ago and none of them has had an original thought since.

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