Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Life goes on

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Final thoughts on Maryland loss

- Shoni in 3-point contest

- Softball falls to Cats

- Keller one of 10 selected

- Buy our wares


END OF WBB SEASON NOT THE END OF THE WORLD



I will share the story with you of Jeff Walz taking the podium after the Maryland loss. He sat down behind the table, looked at the assembled media, observed the somber demeanor on most of the faces and commented: 

"Hey, it's OK. Nobody died."

And with those words, we put to rest the 2013-14 season. He's right...no one died...although we did have a very scary event with Nita in November. 

Nobody has died. The Cardinal spirit and pride is very much alive.

Louisville gave it their best effort against a very good Maryland team on Tuesday night. They fought to the very end. They impressed an entire nation with their efforts and the magic that is Shoni Schimmel. This team lost only five games all season and two of the three teams that beat them are still dancing. The Louisville fanbase for WBB is the most supportive, loyal, enthusiastic and arguably largest in women's college basketball. From sea to shining sea. 

We'll always remember Shelby -- one of the
original "attack" Yorkies for UofL WBB

The Cards are seeing four great, productive and wonderful-to-be-around student athletes graduate and move on. Hard to let go of Asia, Shoni, Tia and Nita...but it's time for them to go out into the world and get on with the next phases of their lives. We will always remember...just like we have with Angel and CB. With Becky and Keisha. With Tise and Dez. With Shelby and Mo. 

They gave us some unforgettable moments. 

Life goes on. Ten incredible women return to pick up the banner and run with it. Five very promising freshmen join them to find their place in what is Louisville WBB. 

As for me, I find myself already anticipating the 2014-15 schedule. The move to the ACC. Being in the KFC YUM! Center again and hearing Al Greener's Pep Band. Hitting the media buffet and pouring over the stats, the reports and seeing the crowds. Feeling that adrenalin rush and surge of excitement when the Cards take the court.

Nobody has died. Life and hope springs eternal for the Red and Black.

And...I can't wait to see an alumni game with Tia, Nita, Asia and Shoni going up against Becky, Tise, Dez, CB and Shelby. Maybe we can even get Angel stateside for one of these eventually...

Here's a nice "happy" clip that chronicles the "sisters" journey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEirn9qFgAk&index=3&list=FL8N0wbxvGOpasetzV1qSnXw








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SHONI'S COLLEGE CAREER NOT OVER JUST YET

University of Louisville's Shoni Schimmel will compete in the State Farm College 3-Point Championship today in Moody Coliseum on SMU's campus. 

She's the third CARDS WBB participant all-time. Becky Burke and Jill Morton both took part in it and were both runners-up when they did.

Shoni's competition?

Myisha Goodwin-Coleman - NC State
Jordan Hooper - Nebraska
Tricia Liston - Duke
Keena Mays - SMU
Courtney Moses - Purdue
Kara Pollinger - Navy
Kim mulkey  oops...Odyssey Sims - Baylor

Shake 'em, Sho.

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SOFTBALL SHUT OUT IN LEXINGTON

UofL softball travelled to Lexington Wednesday night to face the UK Wildcats. I'm not sure if I can keep dealing with these UofL losses over the past several days...especially to Big Blew...but the Cats prevailed of Sandy Pearsall's players 5-0. 

The Cards gave up runs in the first, third and fifth innings. Louisville managed only three hits against Wildcat hurler Kelsey Nunley. Kelsi Jones had two of those.

The Cards threatened in the visitor half of the third...Jones singling with one out and moving to second on a Whitney Arion fielders choice. Successive walks to Katie Keller and Brittany Duncan loaded the bags for Maryssa Becker (normally a good thing) but she grounded out to end the threat and the inning.

UofL heads to Tampa for three against the USF Bulls this weekend. Maybe the sun and surf will re-energize the Louisville bats. They'll probably run into All-American potential pitcher Sara Nevins down there..whose very, very opposed to giving up hits and runs.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (April 2, 2014) – The University of Louisville’s Katie Keller was selected as one of ten finalists for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award for softball.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

Keller, a senior second baseman from Livermore, Calif., is the first player in program history to be selected as a finalist for the award. The four-year starter is a 2013 All-America second team, two-time All-Great Lakes Region and three-time all-conference selection. She was named to the 2014 Top 50 Watch List for USA Softball’s Player of the Year and was a Top 25 Finalist last season. 

She leads the team with a .382 batting average and 32 runs and is currently ranked in the top five in career runs, RBI, doubles and walks at UofL.

The communications major has been named to the Athletic Director's honor roll (3.0 or higher for the semester) three times and was a member of the Dean's List. Following her junior season, when she earned All-America honors on the field, she was also selected to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team.

Finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 candidates announced in February. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner. Fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award Website through May 12. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches’ votes to determine the winner. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Women’s College World Series^® in Oklahoma City May 29 through June 4.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. 

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Finally, we DO have the Cardinal Couple T-Shirts in. We are offering these at a mere $12 to help fund the website and radio show. We've been fortunate to sell a few (and thanks for donating to get those !!) but we still have some left. 

We'll send you one if you donate $12 or more to us through. Pay-Pal. We'll do the same if you send us a donation check to CARDINAL COUPLE. Information is on the right-side of the site. 

M. L.XL and XXL available. 

It's a good-looking and comfy, heavy cotton T-shirt and one would look GREAT on you. Cardinal Red Color with impressive black logos and lettering. 

We could use the donations. I took a chance and sunk a sizeable amount of the Cardinal Couple coffers into the design and purchase of these. 

Don't make me look anymore foolish that I usually do. Please donate and let us send you one...

Send your check to:

Cardinal Couple
PO BOX 91521
Louisville, KY 40291

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paulie

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