The worst thing about the University of Louisville football team’s loss to Mississippi was not the final score. The margin was only 19 points, coming at the hands of one of the most prolific offenses in college football. The most embarrassing part was the reaction of many fans, actually calling for a housecleaning in the UofL Athletic Department. How quickly things seem to go south these days.
The reaction on radio talk shows and social media outlets is way over the top. Many of same fans who were praising Scott Satterfield two seasons ago now calling for him to be fired. The same person who was voted Atlantic Coast Concerence Coach of the Year after the 2019 season. But it doesn’t end there, they want to fire Vince Tyra for hiring Satterfield in the first place.
The longer they talk, the more angry they become, predictably widening the net to include men’s basketball coach Chris Mack for his team’s collapse at the end of the 2020-21 season and for failing to make the NCAA tournament. That, of course, adds fuel for them to want to get rid of Tyra.
Settle down, people. It was one loss to a good team in the opening game of the season.
One has to wonder why fans felt Louisville should have been competitive with Ole Miss, following a season in which UofL had a 4-7 won-lost record and one of the deflating turnover records in college football. The Cardinals had 24 of them last season. Quarterback Malik Cunningham threw 12 interceptions and lost three fumbles himself. This was the team that was supposed to miraculously rise up and immediately turn things around?
True, the Cardinals rolled over in the first half, offering little resistance to an inspired Mississippi team on both offense and defense. Images of another sixty-point loss loomed in the minds of UofL fans as the teams headed for the locker rooms at the half. Louisville was expected to throw in the towel, as it had during the waning days of Bobby Petrino’s pathetic second run in the Ville.
The second half in no way resembled those days, specifically on offense, with Louisville scoring on all four of its possessions in the first half. Eating up the clock with long drives on offense while the defense was allowing Mississippi 17 points. Even the most impatient observer would have to conclude the Cardinals performed much better during the final 30 minutes.
No way former Athletic Director Tom Jurich could have known UofL was on another rebuilding year when he was talked several years ago into scheduling Mississippi in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game. Nor could Chick-fil-A officials or they would have looked elsewhere for an opponent. But that’s where we are, whether fans want to admit or not, or just want to take their frustrations out on a third-year coach.
The outlook will be much better if Louisville can chalk up wins against Eastern Kentucky and, especially, against Central Florida. And if it doesn’t, then fans will have more reason to be disappointed and angry. But one loss against a very good Mississippi team does not justify the hysteria and panic that is currently engulfing much of the fan base.
All the Twitter videos & talks had us expecting a better performance. We were led to believe that this year’s Cards could compete with anyone. Instead, especially in the first half, we saw a re-run of last year. Yes, the 2nd half was better, and too, they didn’t quit. So that was promising.
I thought Cunningham should have given a better look at his pass options. Yes, Ole Miss’ pass defense was good, but still, some receivers got 3-4 yards separation from their defender, which I thought Cunningham should have rifled a pass into them. Too, I was hoping to see Cunningham pass within 3 seconds. Instead, it appeared he was looking to run from the get-go. That was disappointing.
Hard to disagree with any of your points, David. There is much room for improvement in every area. I suspect, however, Mississippi is much further along than we are. The second half did provide reason for optimism, at least on offense.