Louisville women's basketball looks to grab the Tigers by the tail tonight -- Thursday Cardinal Couple

CARDS DEFEND WIN STREAK AGAINST CLEMSON TO START HOMESTAND

The year was 1965 and Buck Owens and his Buckaroos released the country hit "Tiger By The Tail". It was a fun honky-tonk ditty that featured the excellent guitar work of Don Rich and the song spent some time atop the country charts. Owens was on a hot streak in the country music world at the time...much like the Louisville women's basketball squad is riding the wave lately. Now, with today's musical look-back complete, let's look at tonight's contest.


LINK: TIGER BY THE TAIL - BUCK OWENS

Fast forward the calendar 50 years and the Louisville women's basketball squad will attempt to tame Tigers tonight -- the Clemson Tigers -- in the KFC YUM! Center at 7 p.m.

These felines haven't been producing much of a roar this season...standing 4-15 on the season and 0-6 in ACC play. Last time out, Audra Smith's squad dropped a 13-point decision to Georgia Tech. 

The squad, like Louisville's, is a young one...with six freshmen, seven sophomores, one junior and no seniors. Of local note, Louisville native Margaret Richards is an assistant coach on the squad...in her first year after serving several seasons for Michelle Clark-Heard at WKU. There's a few of us who still remember Margaret's high-scoring game when she ran the hardwood for Louisville Central. 

Scoring comes from Nelly Perry at 25.3 a game. Alliyah Collier leads Clemson in rebounds and did garner 18 points against Georgia Tech. Victoria Cardaci is the three point threat...averaging almost eight per outing....and all three are sophomores. Freshman Danielle Edwards contributes 10.2 ppg. 

Wins for the Tigers have come against Charleston Southern, South Carolina State, UNC Asheville and a 71-53 beating of common opponent Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. Louisville beat the Techsters 76-54.

We hope to see a game where the Cards can jump out to an early lead and allow Coach Walz to get some significant playing time for the freshmen. A game like this presents a great opportunity to get work for Sam Fuehring and Erin De Grate inside...and meaningful minutes for Taja Cole and Brianna Jones.

Of course, the Cards will need to take care of business early and build a substantial advantage over the visitors. Walz will look for improvements from Mariya Moore and Briahanna Jackson offensively from the Syracuse outing and Asia Durr should be ready and able to compliment the recent riptide she's been on. 

It's a chance for a signature win in an otherwise bleak season for the Tigers and don't expect them to come in and chase their own tail. They haven't scored more than 50 points but once in their ACC contests...and suffered 30 point plus beatings from Miami, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Duke...but, as we all know...a wounded tiger isn't something to mess with. 

Smith is in her third year as the Tigers skipper, coming in from a previous stint at UAB. She brought along associate coach Daryl Oliver and assistant Marc Wilson from UAB with her for the rebuilding. The trio went 13-19 in the 2013-14 season and 9-21 last year. 

The highly heralded TUNE IN app is supposed to be up and running for tonight's game for hearing the excellent Cards 790 tandem of Matt "Bengal" Andrews and Adrienne Johnson. It will also be televised on ESPN 3...with venerable Don Russell and former Cards coach Sara White as the talking heads.  

Louisville won the contest 81-49 last year at Clemson and a similar outcome tonight wouldn't be shocking at all. We'll be back later tonight to recap it. 

paulie
xxxxx

Wednesday doubleheader for Louisville softball

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WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-#12 Louisville softball heads to Philly for doubleheader


-Bobby Petrino: What now?


-Louisville baseball downs UK 12-0


-More on Baylor and Mulkey


-Clark-Heard names assistant at WKU

Kristin Austin has the highest
batting average in the BIG EAST.

Louisville Softball (33-2, 7-2) takes a mid-week trip to the City of Brotherly Love for Philly cheese-steaks, a viewing of the Rocky statue and a double-header against the Villanova Wildcats. The BIG EAST foe is 25-12 on the season, 0-6 in BIG EAST action and comes into the game after getting swept by Connecticut in a three game series over the weekend. 


The Wildcats have the second best batter in the BIG EAST in Jamie O' Hara (.384). Molly Manning and Briana Fujii are the run producers with 21 RBI's each. In the circle, Caitlyn Delahaba is 13-8 and solid with a 2.79 ERA. Manning gets the call from the stripe as well and is 10-4 with a 3.11 ERA.

Tori Collins is one of three
pitchers Sandy Pearsall uses.

Louisville boasts the leading hitter in the conference in Kristin Austin, who is the only BIG EAST hitter batting over .400 on the year. Her .407 average is complemented with 30 runs scored and seven triples. Louisville has seven players in the starting lineup batting over .300. Sandy Pearsall has torrid Tori Collins, Chelsea Leonard and Caralisa Connell to choose from when the Wildcats are at bat. The trio has a combined 1.26 ERA and have fanned 252 batters in 234.1 innings. 


Louisville lost the first game to 'Nova 3-1 when the teams  last met on March 26th, 2011 but rallied to take the final two games of the series 5-3 and 12-5 the next day at Ulmer Stadium. Louisville leads the overall series 9-2.


The Cards return to Ulmer for a non-conference, 3-game weekend series against Longwood this Saturday and Sunday.


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Arkansas AD Jeff Long

As we expected here at CARDINAL COUPLE, former UofL head football coach Bobby Petrino has been fired at Arkansas. Watching the news conference with Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long at the podium detailing the events and the reasoning behind the 'Bobster's' ousting showed us that Long had a hard time with the decision. He choked up several times when addressing the media and seemed to be portraying a man who was reluctantly relaying a difficult decision on a highly controversial situation.

Gotta wonder if wedding bells
will still ring for "JD" in June.
Seems Bobby already laid
down some serious cash for
the bridal shower.

He and the University did the right thing, though. They bonked the "win at all costs" mindset that persists at way too many Athletic Departments in the NCAA. Bobby lied, tried to cover up the lie and made an inappropriate hire and had an inappropriate affair with "the girl in the athletic department in volleyball shorts" Jessica Dorrell. Mention was also made that Petrino gave the ex-Arkansas volleyball player $20,000 large in cash. 


That's some pretty expensive "whoopee", son.


So, what now, Bobby Petrino? We're no life coaches here at CARDINAL COUPLE...but one would think that getting one's personal and family house in order would be job #1 for B.P. If that's even possible. 

Tell your story walking, pal.

We figure he'll eventually hit the job market again. And, there will be someone out there willing to take a chance on the inglorious philanderer...because he is a brilliant offensive football  strategist. Maybe we'll see a role reversal again. Bobby was John L. Smith's offensive coordinator at Louisville. Bobby hired John L. Smith at Arkansas. Now that John is head coach at Weber State, would the possibility exist that he bring Bobby on board and staff? 

With the firing, Bobby now has plenty of time
to "head out on the highway, looking for
adventure."

Stranger things have happened. 


WE hope that Petrino can get his deck of cards in order. WE hope that going from king to joker finally shows him that honesty, integrity and respect still have a viable place in today's society. But, in his case, we're not betting on it...


Can old dogs learn new tricks?

We applaud Arkansas for doing the right thing. WE realize that there are tons of disappointed Hog fans this morning. You have a right to be, but the reason you should be is that you got 'played' by your former head coach and it caught up with him.


For Bobby's response, click the link below...courtesy of Mike Rutherford over at Card Chronicle.


Bobby's farewell address


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How about the UofL baseball team? Taking the road-show to Lexington last night and thumping #1 UK 12-0!  It was even worth turning off NCIS to watch...


We like Charlie Springer's take on the massive Cardinal win and you can view the "observer's" words at the link below.


UofL 12 - UK 0

Louisville is extremely fortunate to have such "diamond skippers" as Dan McDonnell and Sandy Pearsall. Two people of integrity, committed and dedicated to their players and both with a great sense of humor. 


Show your thankfulness for having these two here at UofL and get out and watch a few games at Ulmer and Patterson. Free admission and big fun. 


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The NCAA may have a few more questions for Baylor head womens' basketball coach Kim Mulkey. Thanks to the several CARDINAL COUPLE readers who mentioned or sent the link. 


The implications aren't "death penalty" serious but could open a big can of Beef-a-Roni that the NCAA may not have the appetite to finish. 


Baylor, Mulkey may have some explaining to do, Lucy.

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Finally, Michelle Clark-Heard has made an assistant coach hire down at WKU. She brings Margaret Richards aboard. The former Louisville and Weber State staffer and Michelle go way back. Once again, thanks to our eagle-eye CARDINAL COUPLE readers for the find. Linkie below.


Clark-Heard hires Richards as assistant at WKU

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Women's Football Clinic....Meet Margaret Richards

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SUNDAY @ THE COUPLE

-Second annual Charlie Strong women's football camp

-Meet Louisville's Margaret Richards..part of Weber State's coaching staff 

(Janet Williams took part in the Saturday camp drills. She shares her observations with us)

Charlie Strong is a
different guy when he gets
on the football field

It was hot yesterday. And, yes, Charlie we were tired. Doing sit ups, running, putting on the pads, discussing plays and formations. Hustling. Nearly six hours of alternating fun and exhaustion. I had no idea of what all a football player has to go through to just be ready to play the game. I understand it now.

We started the day over at the indoor Trager Center. A lecture, then going through pregame warm ups, weights and push ups. I used to be in pretty good shape but after that I realize that I'm not anymore. I was getting dusted by several of the younger girls out there and the coaches weren't shy about telling me about it.

We took to the field and there was more in store for us. Drills that had us exploring the worlds of passing, receiving, tackling and learning the names and the plays that the offense and defense have to learn and master. Mike Sanford, the offensive coordinator for the Cards, was great. Interjecting humor with terminology - he received a big round of laughter when he asked us if we knew what the term "hot receiver" meant and then commented that it didn't mean the guy was good looking. 

I now understand why the guys on defense are so fired up about defensive coordinator Vance Bedford. Talk about a motivator! And, slacking is definitely not allowed on Charlie Strong's football field. Charlie is a great guy when you meet him in public and off the field. When he's on the field, though, he's demanding, loud and persistant. You listen, to try to perform and you hear about it if you don't do it to his satisfaction. I used to think my old sotball coach was the most demanding person I ever met. She's in second place now.

Rule #1: You don't walk anywhere. Period. You run. Walking is for little old ladies in the parking on the way to church. Cardinals run. They run with a purpose and if you don't - you do it again. And again. 

I emerged at the end of the day tired but proud. I think that I can now discuss football with "the guys" and not embarrass myself. I have a great respect for what these athletes go through to get ready for games and what they are expected to be able to do. I have a 8 yr. old son and if he decides he wants to be a football player (right now basketball is his major sport) and gets good enough to play in college-I'd send him to play for Charlie Strong and his guys with no hesitation.
.

There's a lot more involved in a running play than Janet
ever imagined. You blow your assignment...you hear about it.

We were there with questions and expectations. Both were satisfied. And, as I type this out to send over to Paul and Sonja, my calves are sore, my arms are aching and I'm still queasy, I think, from a pass that I was supposed to catch but ended up directly in my stomach. Thud, ugh.  

I never thought I'd say this:

I'm looking forward to football season.

(Janet Williams was a pretty fair softball and track star back in high school. We thank her for her report and we agree...Janet. We can't wait for football to start.)

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Margaret Richards played
for Nebraska after gathering
All-State honors at Central.

Margaret Richards is the latest coach with a Louisville connection to join Bethann Ord at Weber State. Richards was an all-state hoops star at Louisville Central before going to Nebraska to play her college ball. Richards has a great deal of coaching experience...she was a graduate assistant at UofL for a year, an assistant at Kentucky State and head coach at St. Augustine College in Raleigh, NC. Her most recent job was at North Texas...where she was the team's recruiting coordinator and special situations coach.

"I'm very excited to have Margaret join our staff. I have a great deal of respect for her ability from our time together at UofL. Ord commented. "Her head coaching experience will be vital to our staff. She gives us instant credibility and will have a huge impact on recruiting."

We like this move by Ord and can see Richards being of great service to Ord as she begins her first year as the head coach at Weber State.