MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE -- What a year 2013 has been!

MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-2013 successes help all campus sports

What a magical ride the year 2013 has been for UofL Athletics! And, we're not even halfway through it yet. With baseball's exciting 2-1 win over Vanderbilt yesterday to advance to the College World Series, Louisville has accomplished something no other school has ever done in one season in NCAA history.

-Won a BCS Bowl Game (over Florida)

-Won a national championship in men's basketball

-Came in second in women's basketball.

-Made it to the NCAA Baseball World Series.

And, there are those who still doubt that Louisville is the best college sports town in the nation?

The successes in these four sports bode well for all of the teams that participate in Division I athletics on campus because of the recognition it brings to the city, the school and the athletic department and what has been accomplished here. You can bet that our coaches out on recruiting trips for lacrosse, field hockey, softball or track and field make mention of the titles...national and conference...and the bright future ahead when Louisville finally transitions fully into the ACC.

It shows that we are no longer under the stigma of being "a basketball school where Denny Crum won two titles" or "that place where Howard Schnellenberger went to the Fiesta Bowl". Yes, we are still very good in those two sports and those acheivements by Howard and Denny will always be legendary..but check these numbers out as well for several of the women's athletic squads. 

-Softball has lost a mere 18 games in the last two years and hosted Regional action. Next years' squad returns eight full or part-time starters, both pitchers and one of the most promising and talented freshman classes in Sandy Pearsall's 14 years here.

-Women's Soccer has had winning seasons the last two years and returns three of their leading scorers and one of the best defenses in the nation.

-Lacrosse had a winning season and returns the fourth leading scorer in the nation and two of the best freshmen of 2013.

-Women's tennis has been invited to participate in the 2014 ITA Championships in January...the equivalent of the "Big Dance" in NCAA basketball...where they'll battle it out with the top 63 squads in Division I.

-Despite losing four seniors, Anne Kordes returns a solid, veteran volleyball squad that won the BIG EAST regular season and tournament, hosted first and second round NCAA action and features Caitlin Welch, Emily Juhl, Katie George, Brooke Mattingly, Hannah Kvitle and some very talented reserves, newcomers and even Patrick Ewing's daughter!

-Jeff Walz returns all five starters from the 2013 National Runner-Up squad, three key players from 2012 who sat out because of injuries, a very talented bench and three sensational new players.

Improvements in women's golf, field hockey, and cross country...continued success in track and field, rowing, swimming and diving....well, you get the picture. The Cards will even be going for the fourth straight cheerleading title.

If you though 2013 was something special, yes...your are right, it was...but 2014 has the chance to be just as big and maybe bigger.

Yes, it's good to be a Cardinal fan these days and enjoy these successes. And, the future successes should be continuing for a long time to come!

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