Young is not a description fans want associated with their team.

The use of the descriptor always follows a poor showing, a game plagued by mistakes,  silly penalties, untimely interceptions, and a disappearance of organization on offense or defense.

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Youth is not an excuse, nor is it a face saver, for a team depending largely on freshmen and sophomores. It is a reality that University of Louisville football fans will have to accept for now.

Like many of their fans, the UofL football team arrived at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium giddy and overconfident after three consecutive wins. Getting ahead of themselves, thinking they had arrived, not taking seriously a team that had narrowly been defeated by the league leader a week ago.

This collection of football players seems to perform best when expectations are held in check. Charlie Strong, it seems, must get in their collective face, remind them they’re not very good and challenge their manhood. Telling them they’ve turned a corner or comparing them to previous successful teams will result in inflated egos and a total lack of focus.

Players who haven’t experienced real success often confuse temporary highs with real achievement. They forget that Charlie Strong, the guy they were passing around in the locker room last week, isn’t a such a great guy or a players coach after his guys don’t bother to show up for a game.

These youngsters still have a lot of growing up to do.

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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.

3 thoughts on “Louisville football needs to grow up”
  1. Charlie, I know that to some extent his hands are tied, however when he knows all week there has got to be steps taken. Consider this too, he is new at this head coaching thing, right? I just encourage him to try to learn and grow as an HC. I am not bitter but have been around a long time and have seen this sort of thing before.

  2. Could not agree more than the statement that Coach needs to get in their faces…don’t get me wrong, I love Charlie Strong and I want him to be our coach for a long time. However, this loss lays on his head. In his post game interview he said that all week the team was cocky, overconfident and overlooking their opponent. He, as the head coach has got to reel them in and take action to get the kids on track. Now I would love to see a bounce back against Uconn and become bowl eligible. Go Cards!!

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