Just when a relative calm has begun to settle around the fan base, the word comes that spring football practice will begin next Sunday for Coach Steve Kragthorpe’s troops. Seems a bit early, the lull was much welcomed.
Ready or not, here they come. All the new assistant coaches, the juco transfers, the red shirt freshmen, and 49 letter winners from last year’s squad. If an us against the world mentality is helpful, this team will have plenty of motivation.
Practice begins Sunday, March 8 at 4:05 p.m. on the practice field, north of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
Word to the wise: Greg Brohm, director of football operations, will again be prowling the sidelines looking for cameras. The observer will no doubt get his annual warning.
*Â Â Â *Â Â *
Wanted: Defensive Coordinator — All the consternation over changes in the U of L football coaching staff is dwarfed by the situation at the University of South Florida, which is still looking for a defensive coordinator. According to Brian Bennett:
“Bulls head coach Jim Leavitt offered Colorado secondary coach Greg Brown and Georgia linebackers coach John Jancek the opportunity to become co-coordinators. Brown declined the offer, and then Leavitt asked Jancek to be the sole coordinator. On Sunday night, Jancek decided to stay at Georgia.
“Leavitt has also been turned down by Illinois co-defensive coordinator Dan Disch and has interviewed Nebraska linebackers coach Mike Ekeler and former Cincinnati defensive coordinator Joe Tresey … He was caught in a tough situation time-wise when Wally Burnham unexpectedly left for Iowa State last month.”
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
Winning Streak — The Baseball Cards are back to their winning ways, with a 4-3 won-lost record, with four consecutive wins, including a three-game sweep of Bowling Green University over the weekend. The team travels to Eastern Kentucky Tuesday for a 2 p.m game. They play Western Michigan on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Three home games this weekend in the Cardinal Classic, two games against Milwaukee at 3 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday, and a game against Eastern Illinois on Sunday at 3 p.m.
So the quarterback battle begins. Looking back, this will be the first real QB battle since Brian Brohm was a freshman. Should be the most interesting position battle in the Spring Practice and will give all candidates something to improve on and shoot for in the summer workouts. No early prediction here. May the best hurler win.
At least U of L has one.
Charlie,
You can’t seriously think that the search for a defensive coordinator at USF “dwarfs” our problems here. We’re on our 5th defensive coordinator in 24 months, and you think they’re in worse shape? The Jurich Wool must be thick indeed!
I was doing so well, feeling so good, being so happy. And then you mentioned football.