Friday Cardinal Couple - Owsley Brown Frazier 1935 - 2012

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- The Owl moves on

-Women's Soccer opens Friday @ Butler

-Field Hockey preseason scrimmage vs. IU

-Sing it, Robbie! 

Sad news that Owsley Brown Frazier has passed. The Louisville based philanthropist and his family donated millions of dollars to the University of Louisville over the years and 'Owl' was a recognizable fixture at Louisville sporting events in his wheelchair. 

The guiding force behind Brown-Forman Distillers for many years and founder of the Frazier International History Museum, Owsley's heart and pocketbook were essential in the building of the top-notch facilities that UofL sports teams practice and play in. 

Louisville loses a legend but the buildings and industries he helped establish will stand as a testimony and tribute to a man who cared...and backed it up with his wallet. 

A fixture at UofL women's basketball games, in his wheelchair on floor level...never far from the UofL bench...it's said that he'd rather attend a Cardinal sporting event than a gala party or banquet. 

Gotta love a guy like that. 

With a $25 million gift to the University of Louisville last December, no doubt his legacy will live on way past most of us. 

(Photo by Charlie Springer - Card Game)

Never got the chance to meet the man, personally. Not really sure what I would have said to him if I'd had the chance...except:

"Thank you." 

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Women's soccer kicks off the regular season today in Indianapolis against Butler University. The game will test the Cards scoring capabilities again. Exhibition wins over Ohio State and Wright State totalled four points for the Red and Black, while holding the foes to just one goal. 

The Bulldogs, entering their first year as a Atlantic 10 conference member, defeated crosstown rival IUPUI 3-1 five days ago in an exhibition game.

Butler went 8-10-2 last season in Horizon League competition. They have a Louisville/Sacred Heart flair with midfielders Jackie and Nikki Hafele and forward Lucy Chauvin on the roster. 

Game time is 7 p.m., in case you're making the I-65 drive to watch. 

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Louisville Field Hockey has a preseason exhibition on campus at Trager Stadium Friday against IU. 2 p.m. start for this one. 

The Cards were 10-9 last year and made it to the BIG EAST semi-finals. 

Tough-as-nails goalie Erin Conrad returns for a Louisville team that lost leading scorer Hayley Turner to graduation. A quick scan of the roster only shows one Jurich (Haley) on the team as well....her sister Lacey now in nursing school.  

The Cards were a pre-season pick to finish third in the BIG EAST.

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Anyone who's passed the Parrish House en route to a Louisville home football game over the past several years has most likely heard the silky, smooth stylings of pop and r&b diva Robbie Bartlett. 

A fixture singing the national anthem at UofL women's basketball games...Robbie's stylings have graced the 'Ville' for years at venues Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, John E's and R Place Pub.

Tonight, our favorite crooner takes to the big stage at the Kentucky State Fair...opening for Keith Sweat in a free concert in Fairgrounds Stadium. 

Bartlett covers Motown, R&B, pop, rock and soul as effortlessly and smoothly as the "Mustang Sally" she sings about. 

Let's hope the weather holds for them. Thursday night's free show with Cinderella and Sebastian Bach got cancelled because of thunder storms. Or, maybe the fair board should stick Journey, Pat Benetar and Loverboy outside tonight and give Robbie & Keith Freedom Hall. 

After all, she's a huge Cardinal fan.
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