The End of a Journey -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

A Fond Farewell from Case

I spent a long time looking up great last lines from novels to open this post with to be witty or clever, but in the end, they all ring hollow. They all felt like they'd cheapen it a bit. So, instead, I simply say that this is the end of my time as a writer at Cardinal Couple. 

The title of today's post is a reference to my very first post here at the site, which came nearly ten years ago. It's hard to believe it's been so long, although that may be more due to my rejection of the idea that I could have already graduated college that long ago. I was a different person then, and a different writer. Everyone stuck with me while I shook off the need to write about Louisville's men's teams, but it probably took longer than anyone hoped. I finally got it through my head that Cardinal Couple didn't exist to be another column in the noise about Lamar Jackson or Rick Pitino, and I turned my attention to the true mission: Reporting the joy and excitement of UofL women's athletics. 

While I learned that lesson, I went through a lot as a person. I got married, moved to Shelbyville, moved back to Louisville, went through three job changes, but Cardinal Couple was always here. That's not to say there weren't changes here, too. I was part of dozens of shows at the old Crescent Hill Radio studio in the basement and dozens more at the new studio location before the station closed down. We did shows on location, and I learned about the rules of simulcasting. When the station closed, we pivoted to a podcast and I learned all kinds of new things in that process. I've seen (if my count is correct), eight other bylines on the site since I started, and I've had the pleasure of creating genuine friendships from the experience. 

When I wrote that first post back then, I never really imagined I'd still be doing it all this time later. That joy and excitement kept me going, and I continued to grow my love for the teams we cover here. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Life has a funny way of creeping up on you, and as my responsibilities have grown inside these pages, they've grown many times over outside them. It's time to close this chapter of my story, but I can assure you I'll never forget it. 

I was a passive follower of Louisville women's athletics when I started, primarily engaged as an avid sports fan while a student at the University. That has changed a lot over the last ten years, and these days I find I'm far more invested in the success of the women's soccer or softball teams at UofL than either of their male counterparts. That won't change now that my time writing is done. I'll still be tuned into the goings-on up and down Floyd Street next season and the years to come, and you'll likely still find me at Lynn when my schedule allows. 

I'll always be grateful for my time at Cardinal Couple, to Paulie for giving me a chance to keep writing, and to the support the Cardinal Couple community has always shown. 

As always, Go Cards!

Case