The University of Louisville vs. Memphis football game is a sell out, marking the first time in the history of the program every ticket for every game has been sold.
The challenge now is whether the ticket holders can overcome the challenges of cold weather and a conflict with the UofL basketball team competing in the Hall of Fame tournament two hours after kickoff.
Through the first six games, Louisville football attracted an average of 53,996 fans per game. Someone over at Rivals computed that UofL needed only to attract 30,353 to Saturday’s game to establish a new attendance record, surpassing the average of 50,638 during the 2010 season.
Coach Charlie Strong confused a few observers in his press conference Monday.
It was difficult to ascertain whether he was complaining about attendance last year’s Senior Day game against UConn that attracted 48,681 people or the showing for Card March last week. The crowd of 53,027 was the largest every for a home football game in November.
Plenty of reasons to pack the place Saturday, possibly witnessing the final home game of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and for players like DeVante Parker, Damion Copeland, Brandon Dunn, Roy Philon, and Senorise Perry who have made last impressions. A win would give the Cardinals their double-digit win season two years in a row for the first ever. A good showing will also help ensure an appearance in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando.
As Strong pointed out, “It is a work in progress,” and great strides have been made this season against one of the most unattractive schedules in over a decade. Next season will undoubtedly be the best schedule ever, and hopefully concerns about attendance should be the least of his concerns.