By Paul Sykes
Now what?
The coaches have weighed in at the Big East football meetings, indicating the rest of the conference isn’t as enamored with Charlie Strong as the Louisville fan base. The other guys fully expect the University of Louisville to finish eighth out of eight teams.
Strong will use the prediction as a motivational tool, no doubt. Just like horse racing, future results are often judged on past performances. And, like horse racing … upsets do occur. If it is to be an “us vs. them” mentality, I like our chances.
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Howard Schnellenberger needed three years to turn around a woeful program in the mid-eighties.
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I’m predicting a major upset in the final finish of this 2010 (and hopefully 2011) UofL football team. There is a different atmosphere and attitude. A new way in how the players carry themselves, how they talk about themselves and the team. Plus, a higher level of respect for the coaches and a definite change in the way the fan base feels about the program.
Howard Schnellenberger needed three years to turn around a woeful program in the mid-eighties. Today’s current fan base has no such patience. This is a “I want it all and I want it now” generation. A “what have you done for me lately” mindset.
Give it time. Going to need plenty of it. Good recruits are on the way, current players are being told that old attitudes and efforts won’t cut it. Anything over a .500 record this year should be cause for celebration. A (gasp) bowl game too much to ask for? Not according to some blogs and writers out there in the vast Internet world, including this one.
What I expect and hope to see is a team that is trying hard and doesn’t repeatedly shoot itself in the foot. With a new offense, the defense being coached by one of the best in the business. I think I’m going to be pleased with what I see.
I won’t get into pre-season record predictions and player positions yet. I will let the guys down there on Belknap Campus sort it out, relying upon their collective judgment. It’s nice to have a coach that one can trust these days.
Like your optimistic view, Wilkie. Wouldn’t 8-4 (and a for certain bowl?) be great after last year’s dullness?
Our team needs some work at some positions. However, our losses were more from Steve Kragthorpe, being a lousy coach and his poor game preparation and game plans, than anything,else. We should beat EKU,Arkannsas State, Memphis and Cuse for 4 wins. We split the rest and win 8. Good defense and real coach shows what piece of dodoo Krargthorpe was.