SALIVA TEST A GAME-CHANGER -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 SALIVADIRECT DEVELOPED BY YALE

(Just a preliminary warning...today's article is not about scores, results, players or teams. It's a discussion on health...and that can ultimately affect any and all players, teams, results and scores.)

Paulie

If you have gone through COVID 19 testing, you know that it can be uncomfortable, it takes a few days  (normally) to get the results back and it wasn't widely accessible at first and still isn't, in some areas. 

That could be in the past, as a saliva-based laboratory test, developed by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health has been granted an emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

The NBA (National Basketball Association) funded the project and is validating the test for asymptomatic individuals. The good news is that SalivaDirect is simpler, less painful, less expensive than the nose swab and results can be determined in several hours, according to scientist.

It makes sense. Saliva is quick and easy to collect. It's less obtrusive to gather and labs can double their testing capabilities since the procedure of drawing the mucus from the Q-Tip is now eliminated. . 

For athletes, it's a game-changer. Quicker decisions to quarantine individuals who test positive can be made.to ensure the health and safety of the entire team, coaches and staff. And, all of society could benefit from this rapid turn-around in this procedure to determine if you have COVID 19 or not.

Imagine a test that can be made available, almost immediately, to diagnostic laboratories who could quickly scale it up for use across the nation in mere weeks. It is here in Saliva-Direct. 

To put it in sports terms, if you can identify a problem faster and take steps to prevent it, you're chances of winning are better. Or, the faster we stop (Player A) from scoring, the better (team B) going to do in the game.

For the student-athletes on college campuses all across our nation, it's a step to help alleviate fears of catching COVID-19. If a positive case can be identified fasted and quarantined quickly, the spread is lessened. 

The questions remain on how fast this new procedure can be implemented for mass usage and how widely will it be accepted and used by schools, organizations and other aspects of society. Like anything, there will not be 100% acceptance and those who hold out. To that, I simply say: "Welcome to 2020." 

Imagine going to work on a Monday morning, though, producing a sample for testing and knowing by the end of the work day (or sooner) whether you are positive or negative. Talk about a quick remedy for alleviating  fear and anxiety that exists in a lot of us! Talk about helping eliminating or lessen the chances of spread of the disease!  

Until then, it's important that you do the things being recommended. Wear a mask, avoid big social gatherings that don't have spacing properly implenents and proceduures in play and wash and use hand sanitizer. Follow the example of those in the "bubble", "wubble", on college campuses and (hopefully) schools that are choosing to resume in-attendance classes

Be safe and smart. If you;re "high-risk", don't subject yourself or others to danger and COVID-19. 

Many of us want to enjoy the possibilities of attending live sporting events and not having to worry about our or other's safety and health. Until a vaccine is developed and widely administered, it just makes good sense to stay safe. Ask your favorite coach or athlete. They'll tell you the same.  

I don't speak for the entire staff here at Cardinal Couple with these statements today, but I'd bet that my fellow writers and participants would agree in principal with the "stay safe" guidelines. I may not speak for you, the reader, as well. But, with the promising testing developments that are starting to surface, it's a benefit to all of us in our quest to put this game out of reach and get the win over COVID-19. 

As any coach will tell you, once you cut down on the decisions that can create errors or setbacks, your chances of winning go up. Play smart, make good decisions. Be a team player and align your own personal goals and desires with those around you. .You are part of the solution, if you become a team player. You're part of the problem if you are a "me first" type.

Let's go get this win. 

(If you're commenting today, keep it civil. If you want to e-mail me today about the article, have at it but keep it civil. Use your indoor voice and try to make a point.)  

paulie .  

Four Fall Sports Suspended -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Four Fall Sports Suspended

You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy

Paulie gave us an afternoon update yesterday after UofL released breaking news of suspending four fall sports.  29 members from volleyball, field hockey, women's soccer, and men's soccer tested positive for COVID-19 while many more were exposed.

The news later came out that the outbreak was traced back to an off-campus party.  The location of the party was not announced, although many people speculated one of the off-campus housing locations.

Those fall sports will be suspended from activities for the next 14 days and all who tested positive will self quarantine.  UofL issued a statement that all the proper procedures would be followed.

We haven't even gotten to the true season before we saw our first major outbreak.  The chances of playing a full season seem even more slim.  It's easy for the virus to spread throughout a team and we yesterday how quickly the number of people exposed can add up.

Having a party goes against recommendations by health officials right now.  For UofL, it looks bad after they talked about how every precaution was made and each sport was in their own bubble.

For fans, the hope of having a fall sports season looks even more out of reach.  We have already seen outbreaks in sports that have started back up like MLB and NBA.

Of course, I am disappointed in what happened, mostly in the manner of how it happened.  But I also can see things from the viewpoint of the student-athletes.

I was a college student not too long ago.  I was young and didn't always make the best decisions.  I wanted to have fun and live life.  I felt invincible at times.  Many of the friends you make in college you don't see in person again when you graduate.  People move all over the country or around the world.  Your time with them is limited to just a few years so you try to make the most of the time you have.

"Well, sir, we were looking for the bingo...

So my guess of what happened is this: the student-athletes were bored back on campus.  They wanted to hang out with their friends.  Feeling young and invincible, they thought nothing of the virus or the idea of it cross-spreading among different teams.  These teenagers and young adults just wanted to have fun with their friends while they had free time (don't forget that student-athletes are some of the busiest people in the world).

In the end, we all make mistakes and have to learn from them.

We should see these programs pick operations back up in two weeks, still a month before their first scheduled games.

As a reminder, please stay safe and healthy.

Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

Jared

Today they meet on the court -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

JULY 20TH IS NCAA DATE FOR BASKETBALL STUDENT-ATHLETIC/ COACH INTERACTION.

Monday morning you sure look fine.

The lyric line from the Fleetwood Mac song could be the theme song for the players and coaches on the UofL women's basketball squad and all of NCAA DI basketball. 

Remember when...? 

Today is the start of the summer access period The period can last up to eight weeks (Sept 15th) or the first day of classes (undetermined yet) -- whichever comes first. 

During the access period, coaches and players can work on weight training, conditioning and skills instructions together. Of course, the players have been doing a lot of some of these activities alone or in small groups (under the direction of strength and conditioning personnel and medical advisors)...but, today, the coaches can be on the floor with them.

They can spend up to eight hours a week on all of the above except for skills instruction -- where they get just four hours a week. No days off are required. 

The summer months are a time to get to know your new teammates, see who was put in the work since the season ended and evaluate just what a team could look like come November. The wild-card in all of this, of course, is how will things look, COVID-19 wise, in November. 

14 players are listed on the UofL WBB roster as of this morning. One of them (Malea Williams) will redshirt and won't report to campus until August (from what Jeff Walz said in his last teleconference). So, as far as we know...the 2020-21 roster looks like this for the other 13.

FRESHMEN

Merissah Russell
Olivia Cochran
Hailey Van Lith

REDSHIRT FRESHMEN

Ramani Parker
Nyah Green 

SOPHOMORE

Norika Konno

REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE

Molly Lockhart

JUNIOR

Liz Dixon
Elizabeth Balogun
Mykasa Robinson

REDSHIRT JUNIOR

Ahlana Smith
Kianna Smith

SENIOR

Dana Evans

Just how things will go and what is planned for today is something we don't have solid , verified facts on, but -- it is a start and that is a good thing. 

Things will also be going on over on the men's side of the Kueber Center with players and coaches and on a lot of DI campuses across the nation.  

Personal protection environment procedures are most likely one of the main things that will be evidenced today, especially with the Sunday numbers for Kentucky and COVID-19 being the highest reported positive cases to date. 

We'll look for news about the summer session and report to you what we hear and what UofL WBB Sports Information releases. No official word on whether media will be allowed to visit the summer session.

Keeping in mind that player, coaches and staff safety is the prime concern, I doubt there will be much "on site, personal" interaction between the press and UofL women's basketball program, but we'll update you on anything we hear about that, also. 

Here's a link to "Monday Morning" by Fleetwood Mac. Not a bad little pop-oriented jingle and you could start your Monday a whole lot worse, for sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z2E37iNV0w

Have a "masked" Monday !

paulie
xxxxx

COVID-19 on Campus -- Ivy League Cancels Sports -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

COVID-19 on Louisville's Campus

We found out Tuesday that Asia Durr had tested positive for COVID-19 and would sit out the 2020 WNBA season.  There was also news of COVID-19 hitting UofL's campus.

The men's basketball program had two members test positive, although the names of the staff or student-athletes were not released.  Thanks to the procedures in place on campus the different sports are kept apart from each other so no other team has had any cases.  Fortunately, all women's sports, including women's basketball are seemingly in good shape.


Ivy League Cancels Sports

The Ivy League made the announcement yesterday that they would be cancelling all fall sports.  Winter sports, like hockey and basketball, would not begin until January.

This decision comes as a bit of a surprise for many.  Ivy League football coaches were hopeful of a season that might have been conference games only.  Once football went, the rest of the sports were goners too.

It is important to note that when COVID-19 first started attacking the United States, the Ivy League was the first conference to shut down sports.  Many people ridiculed the decision but almost all of the NCAA was shut down within two days.

So, the questions is, How does that affect everyone else?

The most likely scenario now is that the rest of the NCAA will follow suit.  That concept isn't too far-fetched with fall sports already having a lot of uncertainty.

There is the chance that some schools and conferences might choose to play sports.  Having fans in attendance is another ballgame altogether.  Those chances now became slimmer with the Ivy League decision.

A major factor is football.  With football being the big moneymaker for most schools it is highly unlikely to have other fall sports- field hockey, women's soccer, volleyball, women's cross country- if there is no football.

We must continue to be patient and hopeful; hopeful that a cure will be found soon.  That a vaccine can be developed as soon as possible. Of course, we need to be hopeful that the return of the Black Plague and the new strand of the swine flu aren't as severe as some scientists and researchers have guessed.


Continue to stay safe and take proper precautions.

Happy Thursday and Go Cards!

Jared

How will WNBA return go? --- Manatee Get Another Win -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

QUESTIONS...

As the WNBA gets closer to the (probable) beginning of their 2020 season, today players will start to decide whether they will participate or not. We've already heard from some players and their choices. If things go according to plan, the season would start in early July, go through a brief training camp and feature a 22 game regular season. Players have until June 25th to opt-in or out. 

There are unanswered questions. Here are some:  

1) What is the played testing plan and how often will test be run?  Will a "negative status" be required before they can enter the bubble? 

2) How many "positive tests" will lead to a cessation  of play? And, will player testing be treated differently than coach or staff testing, in terms of cessation, is the results are positive? We hope that NO ONE tests positive, but that hopw is probably unrealistic. 

3) If certain players decide to not play, how will signing replacement players be handled? 

4) How will practices be conducted with 12 teams?  The IMG Academy -- "the bubble" -- has a total of four courts on campus, spread over two gyms. 

5) Just who will be required to wear masks during practices and games? Will coaches and staff? Will masks be required for players who are on the bench or who have just come out of the game? How about during time-out or stoppage of action sideline huddles? 

We have no word yet on the decisions from the five UofL WBB players in the WNBA on whether they will play yet or not. We'll updatte you when that information becomes available. 

We hope that the season and the opening practices can go off without a hitch and that the players, coaches, referees and staff can all be kept safe and COVID-19 free. I'm excited to watch some basketball, like a lot of you, but I do hope that the safety of the athletes, coaches, staff and personnel will be "game plan #1". 


MANATEE GET ANOTHER WIN

I've been following the pursuits of the two Louisville Softball players (Jordan Wolfe and Paige Schindler in the FGCL Summer Softball league. Both play for the Manatee Squeeze squad, Wolfe an outfielder and Schindler a pitcher/utility player. 

The Manatee won again Tuesday night,  a 3-2 win over the Myakka City River Mocs Tuesday night. The Squeeze are now 4-1 on the season. Manatee is tied for first place in the league with the River Mocs. 

Wisconsin's Taylor Johnson had two home runs, solo shots, for the Squeeze. Pitcher Jenna Greene (Presbyterian College) went all seven innings for Manatee and threw nine strike outs. 

Jordyn Wolfe went 1-2 in the win, getting a double. She's having a good season for Manatee -- batting 5 for 13 (.385) and has three doubles in five games

Paige has appeared in four games for Manatee, two as a pitcher. and has one start. She's 0-0 in decisions, has pitched 5.2 innings, has an ERA of 2.47 and has thrown four strike-outs.

 Against Myakka City last night, she batted once and was hit by a pitch. 

Today is an off day for the league...the teams play five games a week, taking Wednesday and Sunday off.  

Best of continued luck to our Cardinals and Manatee as the league continues! 


paulie
xxxxx

Getting Comfortable Feeling Uncomfortable? -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

IS THE RISK WORTH THE REWARD? 

Across a number of college campuses, the results are discouraging. No, not game results or team record results...but the results of college student-athletes testing positive for COVID-19. Especially here in the south, where voluntary workouts have been suspended at some schools because of the testing results revealing that student-athletes are testing positive with the virus. 

The old explanation of "yes, cases are up because testing is up" doesn't make me feel anymore comfortable. Thankfully, in the vast majority of the college testing, the teams appear to be asymptomatic -- but that doesn't make it  "O.K." 

Not by any means.

Not everyone has the immune system of the college athlete. A Donovan Mitchell may show no symptoms, but what about a student who doesn't either but spreads it to a "60-something" administrator or trainer who ends up in the hospital or...worse. 

Fall sports?  The optimism of having them a month ago has done a 360.  Florida, Georgia, South Carolina all reporting the highest numbers they have seen since the outbreak. 

Do you want to be the college athlete that catches COVID-19, quarantines, shows no symptoms but then finds out "uncle Dave" contracted it at a family gathering a month ago where you made an appearance and died? I sure wouldn't want that on my conscious. 

I had my scare with it. Fortunately, I didn't acquire it. I know others who also have gone through quarantine because of fears of having it because of being in contact or near someone who had it. 

At UofL, there is no word about the numbers, or if there are student-athletes who may have contracted it. A lot of Power 5 Schools have come out with information. I understand the rationale of not making numbers and results public, though. But, did anyone really ever think that 100+ individuals would show up, all would go smoothly and no cases would be discovered? 

I went on vacation last week.  It's awfully good to be home after a week that, at times, scared and shocked me.

The wife and I like to explore the remote, forested places in the vast space that is the Great Smokies. Taking in the fresh mountain air. Enjoying the peace, quiet and solitude. That part went fine. We saw way more wildlife that humans. 


The drama was dining. Going to places for breakfast and supper that did not observe 50% capacity. Being in places where servers and waitresses wore no masks. Going in and out of these places where throngs of people had gathered to do the same as us -- dine -- but were not wearing masks and not social distancing. some even staring at us, because we were "masked". 

I'm sure Jared, our wonderful writer and photographer, who was down there as well with his gal Katy, could tell similar "in public" stories. The difference being...they're "20-somethings" in good physical health. We're senior citizens. 

Our meeting for dinner last Monday night was enjoyable and a good, in terms of the fellowship, fun and conversation. But, inwardly, I was freaking out at the wall of humanity surrounding us, long lines to be seated, no spacing and very few masks. At least the four of us were masked. We were a huge minority.  

So, it was five days of a lot of hand sanitizer and hot water hand washing for us, when we ventured out of the forest and into public. A lot of nervous time for me. I'm not a young man, my wife is not a young woman. If we got sick, would we remain asymptomatic?  And our travels were in a car, not going in-and-out of airports...like so many student-athletes have done.

So, the time away was nice -- in terms of "getting away" from the "everyday" and the pressures of life. Playing Russian roulette with a deadly and silent killer was abysmal and scary though. 

I hope sports can happen down the road. I hope that all the people who are in the high-test positive areas do the right thing and stay safe and sanitize. I hope for good things but I also am fully aware that COVID-19 has no emotions, feelings, viewpoints, discretionary strategies or game plan. 

It just gets people sick and hospitalizes and kills some of them. I feel fine after my dalliance with potential danger. I hope I still feel fine next week. I hope you stay safe and feel fine, too.



And, please do what you can to avoid the silent assassin. Maybe I'm being over-dramatic about all of this, but, I feel like I cheated the hangman and I'm not ready to dance with that devil in the pale moonlight again anytime soon. 


I'm not getting comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. This deadly game is nowhere over.  This virus isn't going to just go away. It's going to spread without proper precautions. 

If this article scares or upsets you, so be it. I just hope it re-awakens you to be cautious, do the simple things -- like washing -- and wearing a mask. 

If you don't want to think about yourself, please consider the health of others. It's the right thing to do. 


paulie
xxxxx

Returning and recognizing -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

STEPPING LIGHTLY INTO THE UNKNOWN

A return of student-athletes to campus. 

For the many UofL Athletics fans out there, it is a sign that sports are slowly coming back. Let's be brutally honest here, we all want to have a chance to watch, discuss and cheer the Cardinal Athletic squads this fall and beyond as they compete in their programs. 

Let's set aside our desire for a moment, though, and go to the key component. The health of the student-athlete. I awoke this morning to hear that returning members of the Alabama football team have tested positive for COVID-19. Not exactly what you want to hear while having that first cup of morning coffee...but it's reality. 

I wonder what we'll find when results are known/released for the Louisville student-athletes? This is a time where I am hoping for negative results....ironic, I suppose, for a writer that reports on the joy and positive aspects of events and athletes. I hope we get shut out and don't score, to use a sports vernacular.   

The individuals who compete are putting a lot on the line by doing so. Yes, it is something that they've freely trained for the majority of their lives for. The training, conditioning, exercising and effort they put into playing soccer, football, field hockey, swimming or any of the other sports is something they do by choice and desire, not mandate or demand. 

They must be in a safe environment, where they can participate in what they love without the worry or fear of catching a virus that shows no mercy, does not differentiate on who it affects nor discriminates by age, popularity or socio-economic background. 

Protect those who want to play. 

Until a vaccine is established and administered for all, there is that chance that, just by breathing, one could contract something we don't know how to cure yet. I don't want that for anyone. I know you don't either. 


UofL has outlined steps -- phases, if you will -- for the return of student-athletes and their safety. This plan is far more important than any fan desires, economic impacts, fiscal responsibilities or political agendas. COVID-19 isn't taking a break because we are peacefully demonstrating and gathering to protest the social injustices in our society. COVID-19 doesn't care about rankings, recruiting or results. 

i pray for the student-athlete. I hope this bold experiment of games without spectators, events without fans and competition among peers does not result in illness. 

All lives are sacred and precious. Just based on the interviews I have done since establishing Cardinal Couple, I've been so fortunate to be able to hear a lot of individuals express and detail what is important to them, how they feel about sport, life and relationships. The student-athlete is a living, breathing, emotional, rational, passionate and caring part of our world. 

Cherish and protect these individuals as you would any other precious commodity. Honor them and their dedication to something they love. Admire them for what they do, in uncertain times. If it means you can't go to the stadium, have a few beers and yell for the home team, it is a small price to pay for safety and health. 

We look forward to bringing you the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports again and we will...but we will be patient, understanding, rational and full of hope that those we love, cheer for, cherish and admire can be safe, protected and be kept out of conditions that endanger their health and lives. Basically, the same wish applies for all of you. You are important. You matter. 

A police barricade, massing troops against crowds and violence and looting are not going to beat COVID-19. Years ago, the Miami Police Department issued free buttons and bumper stickers that read: 

Be a good person. 

Those words are just as important today. 

We will win this contest against COVID-19. We will see a "new normal" and I hope it brings a better understanding of just how precious life is and a desire to protect it and cherish it. I know, there are frustrations and concerns -- but, if you are reading this, remember: 

You aren't one of the 110,000 that have died.

Continue to stay safe, remember our fallen and their families and show some compassion and understanding. Work toward solving the injustices that have plagued our society and let's eliminate those, just as we strive to eliminate this deadly virus. 



Have a safe and healthy weekend. Be a good person. 


paulie
xxxxx

Will Fall Sports Move to Spring? -- Tyra Talks Furloughs -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

WHAT WILL BECOME OF FALL SPORTS? 

Will we see crowds like this again anytime soon? 

The subject of Fall Sports at colleges and Universities is a hot one in message boards, general sports chatter and starting to be addresses by a few of these entities.

A lot of the decisions, obviously, are going to hinge on how well the nation recovers from the COVID-19 Pandemic. And, will their be a "second front" of the virus escalating as cooler weather returns this fall? When will the nation "flatten the curve" we hear so much about? 

(Just thinking about a "flat curve" brought a random thought to mind. When will we see Celene Funke jump on a "flat curve" from an opposing pitcher and take it to the fence in Ulmer for a triple? 

We cover women's sports, as you undoubtedly know, here at Cardinal Couple. Me and the other three writers here spend our fall, during normal circumstances, covering women's soccer, field hockey, golf, track and field, swimming, the start of volleyball and several other DI activities that UofL participates in. 

The ACC has not yet issues any official policy on fall 2020 sports. A lot of that, obviously, has to do with students being able to return to campus in the fall. Social distancing requirements in the fall are unknown yet, also. Fan attendance is a big question mark, too. 

Will Jared be able to get pictures like this anytime soon? 

As columnist, reporters and photographers...we spend a lot of time in the fall in press boxes covering events and on the field with photography and post-game interviews. Press boxes can be crowded venues. Women's soccer, for example, usually has about a dozen staffers and sports information people "in the box", plus a public address announcer. Score-keeping, scoreboard management, statistics, social media and other activities essential with the efficient running of an event are needed. Add in a few reporters and social distancing spacing becomes almost impossible with that many people "in the box". 

Television broadcasting for soccer isn't affected as much, they have an adjacent room next to the main press box. 

Will Paulie be tweeting from press boxes this fall? 

Field Hockey is a bit different. The same amount of staffers and sports information people are needed, plus a few journalists are usually on hand. The broadcasts for Field Hockey are emanated out of the main press box, too -- not a separate facility or adjacent room. I suppose the announcers could be relocated to the roof of the press box or the stands -- this has been done in past seasons -- but the Field Hockey press box is smaller, at Louisville, than the soccer press box and social distancing could pose quite the dilemma.  

I would hope that the several photographers at these two events would still have access to the sidelines to get their pictures. 

One University president has already discussed the matter, and then walked back on his original statement. 

Tom Katsouleas, the president at UConn, got the pressure cooker steaming when he addressed the possibility pf fall sports being cancelled due to the coronavirus, while speaking to a university class, via NTI. 

Will this scenario be the new normal for sports attendance? 

"Current thinking is that likely fall sports will be cancelled -- with the exception of those sports that an be played at a safe distance." Katsouleas told a journalism class he teaches on Tuesday. 

UConn and Katsouleas both quickly pulled a "reverse" on the statement, though. A spokesperson for the University said:  "It was a misunderstanding about the phrasing of what he sai. Fall sports are still on". 

So, if they did consider allowing sports that don't involve close distances, would tennis and golf compete? 

Also, moving fall sports to the spring, as has been suggested, create an overload of athletic events for campuses? Let's say you have football, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, softball, baseball, volleyball and women's basketball all scheduled, at UofL on a spring Sunday. All without a fan base. 

Will Touchdown Squirrel scenarios happen this fall? 

The big stir and public reaction over the misguided UConn presidential statement was obviously centered around Football.

Given UConn 2-10 football record for 2019, with wins over Wagner and UMass, it might be an act of kindness if they cancelled football at UConn to prevent any melancholy and depression for Husky Football fans. 

So, we wait and see. How will our nation's sports enthusiasts be by August? How will the Covid-19 virus be affecting our society? Time will tell...


VINCE TYRA TO IMPLEMENT FURLOUGHS FOR LOUISVILLE ATHLETIC EMPLOYEES


Fresh off the heels of Vince Tyra announcing cost-cutting measures within the athletic department (coaches taking 10% pay cuts, budget cuts to individual sports of 15% and the freezing of non-essential travel and hiring), the next step in trimming the athletic department budget will be furloughs or other employee-based reductions. 

These will go into effect today. Tyra met with  announced sometime this week. In a meeting with with UofL athletics association board Monday, via video conference, the measures the athletic department is taking to deal with COVID-19 closures and cancellation was discussed -- although no specific information has been released yet. 

A look at the UofL athletic staff directory shows around 325 individuals associated with Louisville Athletics -- ranging from athletic administration to Volleyball (in alphabetical order)...covering 40 different categories. 

We get it, we understand it. Jobs are disappearing everywhere. Just look at the unemployment numbers. 


UofL Athletics anticipates generating less revenue than originally projected. Through March, UofL athletic expenses were $1.5 million more than this time last March.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the Athletic Department employees who will be affected by the upcoming furloughs. 

It would certainly appear that those huge buyout packages to Jurich, Pitino and Petrino are taking a toll. 


paulie
xxxxx  

Welcome to week 6 -- Eight ACC WBB Players to WNBA -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S ATHLETICS LAST EVENT WAS MARCH 9th. 

Welcome to week six of our nation's shutdown of college athletics. A sobering thought indeed.

On Monday, March 9th., Louisville Lacrosse took the field at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium to face Niagara. Eight different players scored for the LaxCards in a 17-7 win. Louisville jumped out to a 7-4 halftime lead, scoring four unanswered goals in less than three minutes and holding a first half 11-1 lead in draw controls. 

Ally Hall started things off for UofL in the second half with a goal just 14 seconds into play. An opening 8-2 run in that final half, scoring six straight goals and  Rachel Florek held the Purple Eagles scoreless for a 20-minute stretch. Hall and Hannah Morris had thrre goals each for the Cards, who improved to 5-4 on the season. 

It was a contest I missed. I was returning from the ACC WBB Tournament in Greensboro, NC that Monday. I had stayed to watch the championship game on Sunday, despite the WBB Cards getting knocked out of the Tournament in the semifinals on Saturday by FSU 62-60. 

Fortunately, our Jeff McAdams was able to cover the Lacrosse match for Cardinal Couple and also hold the post game presser with head coach Scott Teeter and student-athletes Paige Richbourg and Hannah Morris. 

I left Greensboro midway through Monday morning and returned to the 'Ville" via I-40 and the West Virginia Turnpike to I-64. I tried to follow the Lacrosse action as best I could via my smart phone and Tweets.  I remember stopping at "Tamarack" -- the cultural center on the West Virginia Turnpike for a "necessary" stop, to get some food and gasoline. It was strangely quiet that Monday.

I went through the cafeteria food line, discovering that my lunch had been prepared by culinary students and chatted a bit with the cashier. I chose meatloaf and two vegetable sides. I sat at a table in the dining room. No masks, gloves nor social distancing was being employed at that stage of the eventual shutdown. An elderly couple from Ashland, KY was seated near me and we struck up a conversation. They were returning home after visiting a daughter who lived in Raleigh, NC... who had just had a birthday. They weren't big sports fans but listened with interest as I retold the tale of the Tournament to them. 

They hadn't heard of Cardinal guard Kasa Robinson, who is from Ashland. They spoke at length about how road travel wore them out. We chatted a bit about the $4 a pop the West Virginia Turnpike charges you (3) times while you are on it and about the outbreak of this "illness in China". Neither seemed to think it was much more than a type of "flu" and weren't worried about it.

They liked my black UofL windbreaker and confessed that they had a son who was a huge UK fan. I wonder how they are today. I hope they are Covid-19 free and getting help with things. I didn't "I.D" them, but I guess they were maybe mid-70's in age and he had a persistent cough. 

I looked forward to returning home and pondered, as I drove and listened to NPR on the radio and one of my favorite CD...The Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore East. (Yes, I still have a CD player in my car and CD's). i wondered how the WBB Cards would do in the NCAA draw and where they would end up being seeded. I thought about how softball would do in their next series at Ulmer against Boston College and if Teeter could keep the Lacrosse Cards on their win streak against a very good Delaware squad. Those events never took place, Lax travelling to their destinations, only to discover the game had been cancelled as they prepared for it. Boston College never taking the field against Holly's squad. 

Six weeks in, readers.

Our social unrest is starting to rise. Just yesterday, I saw a gathering of about 10 cars, 20+ people at my local high school football field. They had slipped in through a loose gate and were actually playing football in pads while kids and mothers were playing on an adjacent playground.

My wife, Sonja, and I were working in the garden in front of the elementary school. Weeding and trimming. The softball coach from the high school had been on his riding lawn mower, cutting in and around the softball field. We know him, he drove over to us and wondered if he should call the police or the school's athletic director. A call to the athletic director resulted in him and a patrol car showing up and breaking up the gathering. I'm pretty sure other events like this are happening at other places, but, why chance it? This Covid-19 isn't playing around, y'all. 

I know. It's tough. We are social beings, but, please....for my health and yours...listen to our elected officials. Stay at home, away from crowds and gatherings

EIGHT ACC PLAYERS SELECTED IN WNBA DRAFT. 

Just how good was ACC women's basketball this season? Eight players were selected in the 36-player draft on Friday night. That's 22% of the total. 

All eight seemed to be "locks" for the draft, in my opinion, as I watched ACC action. I was surprised that Bea Mompremier and Kiah Gillespie were the #20 and #32 picks, I figured they would go earlier.  

In the first round:  

Jocelyn Willoughby (VA) #10
Jazmine Jones (LOU)  #12

In the second round: 

Kylee Shook (LOU)  #13
Leaonna Odom (DUKE)  #15
Beatrice Mompremier (MIA)  #20

In the third round: 

Kobi Thornton (CLEM)  #27
Haley Gorecki (DUKE)  #31
Kiah Gillespie  (FSU)   #32 

That's an impressive number, no doubt...but remember the 2019 WNBA Draft? 13 players of the 36 selected were ACC student-athletes. How many can you remember, right off the top of your head? Give it a whirl and see who you can recall before you check out the list below. I came up with 10...


*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

2019 WNBA DRAFT

Round	Pick	Name	Team	School	Position
1	1	Jackie Young	Las Vegas Aces	Notre Dame	Guard
1	2	Asia Durr	New York Liberty	Louisville	Guard
1	5	Arike Ogunbowale	Dallas Wings	Notre Dame	Guard
1	10	Kiara Leslie	Washington Mystics	NC State	Guard
1	11	Brianna Turner	Atlanta Dream	Notre Dame	Center
2	16	Jessica Shepard	Minnesota Lynx	Notre Dame	Forward
2	19	Marina Mabrey	Los Angeles Sparks	Notre Dame	Guard
3	25	Paris Kea	Indiana Fever	North Carolina	Guard
3	27	María Conde	Chicago Sky	Florida State	Forward
3	31	Ángela Salvadores	Los Angeles Sparks	Duke	Guard
3	32	Arica Carter	Phoenix Mercury	Louisville	Guard
3	33	Regan Magarity	Connecticut Sun	Virginia Tech	Forward
3	34	Sam Fuehring	Washington Mystics	Louisville	Forward

Have a marvelous Monday and remember we're all in this and we're all in this together. 


paulie
xxxxx