One way to make the seasonal transition between University of Louisville sports easier is to go directly from a televised football game, driving faster than the posted speed limit, to a basketball game at Freedom Hall. Once there, racing all the other football fanatics from the parking lot to the seats just in time for tip off. A sluggish basketball win over a mediocre team from the Atlantic Sun Conference does help ease the sting of another football loss but not by much.
- Criticize Steve Kragthorpe and he deserves it for his many shortcomings as a coach. But one has to credit his players for not quitting. They are making the effort. But they’re lacking the confidence, motivation and depth to overcome significant shortcomings in the potential and talent categories.
- The U of L football team has slowly evolved into a pretty good first half team, thanks to Trent Guy’s kick returns and the leadership of Chris Campa and Jon Dempsey on the defensive front, even managing a pass rush. The safeties can’t say the same but they will hurt you after you catch the pass.
- Speaking of Kragthorpe, athletic director Tom Jurich “didn’t want go anywhere near the topic” of Kragthorpe’s future, according to the Big East announcing crew. Probably because doesn’t have one at Belknap Campus. Next week should be interesting, perhaps providing the team a little extra motivation.
Keeping things close, even within striking distance, midway through the fourth quarter is not enough to get fans excited about any signs of progress, real or imaginary. [stextbox id=”custom”]Coach Rick Pitino seems to be intent on sending a message about his basketball team during his post-game interviews, reminding fans of how “young,” “very young,” and “green and inexperienced” the players are on this team. Also noting that “we have no extraordinarily gifted players” in the vicinity.
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“Young teams” tend to be disappointing, coming up on the wrong end of the score much too often after early season patsies become ancient history. So far the warnings seem to be falling on deaf ears.[/stextbox]
Last year’s team quit. Big time. And this is straight from a staffer’s mouth. This year’s team is still fighting hard and earning kudos.
What’s the difference? Last year they knew Kragthorpe was coming back. This year they know he’s gone.
Says it all.
The exciting play of the Louisville guards and Samardo Samuels is reason enough to watch this Louisville basketball team prepare for Big East play.
Football, however, has been a major disappointment. I’m tired of the near misses, failed opportunities, false hopes and moral victories that have been the makeup of this team this year. A hard working, well meaning group of gridiron student atheletes have been mismanaged by this loveable loser.
My grandfatehr used to tell me of the days when the family would gather around the radio and listen to the fireside chats from FDR. I am ready to gather around any media outlet and listen to the Tom Jurich discussion of the future of Louisville football. Cardinal football needs a “New Deal.”
In regard to basketball… it has been a little awkward to watch- for me anyway…They are a young team and lack an easy of flow we saw last year. It will make for an interesting season this year.
This was a pretty good football game for three and a half quarters. The defense has definitely shown improvement. The real shortcoming, however, is on offense and that’s where Kragthorpe is most culpable. There is not enough improvement overall to merit gambling another season with the program in his hands.