A longtime friend happened onto the blog a couple of days ago, apparently surprised that I was giving Steve Kragthorpe the benefit of the doubt for a tumultuous season. Ron Key, a native Louisvillian, is Director of Operations and Administration at the University of South Florida (USF).
“I have noticed in watching U of L this year that they are not playing full throttle,” writes Key, who became a Card fan shortly after he learned to walk. “They are not playing frenetic like last year’s team, just seem to be going at three-quarter’s speed. They are not ready to play when they are on the football field. The frenetic behavior is just not there.”
As much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree with Ron. It became obvious early on this season that the players had lost their swagger, their cockiness, and sense of urgency. Gradual improvement on the defensive side of the ball has been offset by a slow degradation of a once powerful offense.
One can still hope, however, that the Cards have bottomed out and they can begin the return to respectability, starting this week against Pittsburgh.
Who would guess where the excitement went…Something tells me went away with the start of the boobird fans in game 2. We’ll see what tomorrow brings but something tells me the fans won’t let me down and will boo the team at the first chance.