Hearing from the probable Cards WBB starters -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 RANDOLPH, ISTANBULLUOGLU, ROBERTS AND BERRY SPEAK 

In case you missed them, last week the four girls that are are front runners to be starters for Louisville women's basketball spoke to a collection of media. I no longer attend these, partly due to health concerns and partly because UofL doesn't want me there. But, they are good discourses on a wide variety of subjects, I have them for you below .

https://youtu.be/WiVihv4FTx0?si=f9Eeqkm8S-bZNDVf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQG26IjaczE

If anything, the two clips..about 30 minutes in all, teach us valuable lesson...passing the torch is an important thing to all four. Leading by example and taking time to talk with the younger, inexperienced players is important to them and they look forward to the season ahead. 

The rest of the ACC will look at this 2026-27 squad and realize that there isn't just one athlete to shut down in order to stymie this team, there are at least four that have the skills, ability and talent to take over a game and make you pay 

There is a potential powder keg sitting on campus right now, let's see if the fuse gets lit ad it blows up the ACC and Di women's basketball. 

paulie

Field Hockey A Month Away -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 SOWRY'S CARDS LOOK TO IMPROVE ON 8-10 2025 RECORD. 

When you play in the ACC, college Field Hockey's arguably most competitive league conference wins are few and far between. Louisville Field Hockey hopes to improve upon their 2-6 ACC record from 2025 and to also climb over .500 in overall competition. 

Both Duke and UNC advanced to the final Four and played each other for the National Championship game last season. Most Cardinals fans will remember Pam Bustin. former UofL Field Hockey head coach who went to Duke in 2011 after spending 13 years as the Cardinals head coach. 

Justine Sowry, smiling for Paulie

So, being in the same conference with the National Champion and National runner up isn't the easiest slate to look forward to. if you are UofL. Head Coach Justine Sowry was an assistant to Bustin before becoming the Cards head coach...her record at UofL is 194-97, which tells us she has a great deal of success in coaching the squad out of conference.  and, Sowry did win the ACC regular season crowns in 2020 and 2021. Trager Field, the home of UofL Field Hockey, is considered one of the best venues for the national Final Four, having hosted it six times...the last time in 2018....and will host it again in 2026.  

Coming back for the Cards ae some very talented student-athletes.  Forward Rylie Wollerton, midfielders Izzy Bianco and Lauren Masters and defender Chloe Cuzzupe are back, along with goalkeeper Emily Young. 

The Cards also have a strong international presence on the squad with five of the 16 returning players from overseas...including the Netherlands and England. The exact number of freshmen are nor readily available for review just yet...but we do know Assumption's Ella Martin is on the roster, as well as Lylah Kaminski, out of St Louis St. Joseph's Academy.   

They'll have a couple of exhibitions before opening the season against Bellarmine on Wednesday, August 19th. 

We'll have full coverage of the squad and their contests here at Cardinal Couple. 

paulie

  

WSOC kicks off on Aug 12th -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 THE HUNTER NORTON ERA GETS UNDERWAY AGAINST NEBRASKA

The 2026 Louisville Women' Soccer season  brings on a new head coach for the Kickin' Cards...in Hunter Norton...but he is far from "new" to UofL or women's soccer on campus. 

Norton served as an assistant coach to Karen Ferguson Dayes for 12 years and spent his collegiate playing days at Georgia Southern. Bonus points to you this morning if you know what town Georgia Southern is based? Answer at the end of today's article. 

He takes the reigns after UofL's very successful 2025 season where they went 13-5-3 and 10-0-2 at Lynn Stadium on campus. 

The 2026 season begins with a visit from Nebraska on Wednesday, Aug.12th. The Lady Huskers went 8-5-5 in 2025 and 3-5-3 in the Big 10. After hosting them, IU Indy visits on Sunday, Aug. 16th. It'll be the first time the Cards have played either school in women's soccer. 

Returning for the Cards are impact players Ella Bard, Grace Maddox, Kate Kantu on defense, along with goalkeeper Brielle Baker and midfielder Betsy Huckabee. 

The Cards begin ACC play Sept 12th. vs Pitt at Lynn Stadium and will take part in 10 ACC matches, including a trip to the west coast to face Stanford and California. I still chuckle at the Atlantic conference having two schools that sit on the Pacific Ocean.

We'll keep you up on all the ACC WSOC and UofL WSOC news as it happens here at Cardinal Couple. 

(Answer to today's question...Statesboro, GA.)

paulie

We Read Your E-mails -- Saturday Cardinal Couple

FROM THE MAILBAG  

Yes, it's true ,we read your mail and we are not even stealing your personal information of running a spam game. It's stuff you send us. 

Occasionally ,we get an e-mail here at Cardinal Couple from you loyal readers asking the brain trust here at Cardinal Couple (me) a question. And, I do read your e-mail and reply when requested or if I have a counterpoint or different viewpoint. Mind you, there is still a lot of degrees of separation and distance between me and the Belknap campus salaried propaganda distributors...but, the last I head, it's still possible to speak one's mind about events, people, places, things and positions about the gendarme down where The Thinker sits and wonders why a major city would close their main north-south stretch of Interstate for several months and direct traffic through GPS and the ancient railroad overhang on 3rd street near campus(what a joke) or the crumbling Watterson Expressway. Only in Louisville. 

Enough of that nonsense, though...onto the questions.(and answers I provided). Names of the askers have been omitted...I am just focusing on WBB in this article. Hold your nose, here we go...

Did Yevheniia Putra leave Louisville WBB? 

The answer is "no". Putra returns for her sophomore season and is expected to be a valuable backup front line player for the Cards WBB squad. She and Grace Mbugna will provide valuable time for the Cards. 

Are the Cards playing in Alaska this season? 

The answer is "yes". Louisville WBB will participate in the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Alaska. The Cards are one of four squads participating...along with Seattle, Chicago St. and the host team, Alaska-Anchorage, from November 21-22. 

What does Jeff Walz make a year? 

Public records do not indicate Walz's yearly salary  at UofL, but it is estimated that he pulls in around $1 million a year, with incentive packages based on yearly performance and scheduled raised designed to take him up to $2 million a year by 2028-29. Not bad for a bench warmer at NKU during his collegiate days and who still cuts his own grass.  

Where did Anaya Hardy go? 

The answer is Notre Dame. Hardy took her game to Notre Dame after two years at Louisville. She stated that it "felt like home" when she was there and coach Niele Ivey's warmth and the irish's sincerity were factors as well. She went to high school in Detroit. Michigan.

 Is Elif Istanbulluoglu the only foreigner on the UofL roster?

The answer is "no".  Ayse Melek Demirer, also from Turkiye joins Elif on the squad as a freshman. She is 6'5" and averaged 15.4 ppg and 17.4 rpg in 2025 for the Turkish FIBA National Youth squad in the 2025 FIBA U16 Women's Eurobasket Division B. 

Where did all the Cardinal Couple writers go? 

A variety of reasons for leaving the joy and excitement of Louisville women's sports for them . Case Hoskins cited increased job responsibilities at where he works as his reason to depart. Daryl Foust was unspecific in her dropping us....but accepted a job at UofL and may have been trying to avoid collusion.  Jared Anderson was bullied out of taking pictures for us by UofL Athletics if he wanted to keep his media pass. Jeff McAdams left to start his own website about UofL Volleyball, which failed to launch.  

Why do you no longer attend games Paulie? 

A couple of reasons. UofL pulled my media credentials and close-in parking permit because my X account was hacked and had questionable material posted on it by the hacker. I have since deleted my X account but was unable to go back in and delete what was posted. UofL refused to re-issue my media credentials, though..another case of their media department's vendetta against me. I am still on Facebook and Instagram. I was told the hackers were probably looking for financial information access and got mad when they found none and put up derogatory messages. I wish they would have asked me, I am so poor I can't even pay attention.  I also am going thru end stage kidney failure and attend dialysis three days a week for four hours a day. Simply stated, the treatments leave me weaker than I used to be, but keep me alive...so even if UofL put me back on media row, i would probably be too weak to physically walk from the parking lot to seats. i still have access to certain coaches and player, though, ad they can't prevent that. 

Sorry that today's article was late. I had all intentions of having it posted early but a technical glitch prevented it from being posted and I did not realize it until I got a message from a reader.  I guess that's the way it goes sometimes, eh? 

paulie

Zamareya Jones brings depth and stability to Cards WBB guards -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 NC STATE TRANSFER WILL BE A STRONG ADDITION TO LOUISVILLE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 

Zamareya "Zam" Jones leaves Wes Moore's N.C. State's program and comes into a Cards roster as a very viable candidate to join probable starters Roberts, Randolph, Istanbulluoglu and Berry.

Jones had a spectacular sophomore eason in Raleigh, NC..with starts in 30 out of 31 games, 14. 9 points per game, and 32.54 minutes per game. She was the squad's starting point guard but was often undermined because of her diminutive height (5'7").

She arrives to Louisville at a time when their previous starting point guard (Renya Scott) has graduated. A tribute to Jeff Walz for seeing the need and getting a fix for it. 

A lot was made about Jones having to share ball-handling duties with Wolfpack guard Zoe Brooks. Jones addressed the change in venue for her:

"After a lot of time, thought, and reflection...I have decided to enter the transfer portal. NC State will always hold a special place in my heart and I will be forever grateful for the memories, relationships and experience I have gained at N.C. State" 

We feel ...here at Cardinal Couple ...that she is the link that will make the UofL program capable of making the Final four and more. We look forward to her time at UofL for two years. 

paulie

Fever Fall to Valkyries -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 HINES-ALLEN DNP IN INDIANA LOSS TO GOLDEN STATE

It was a tough loss in more ways than one for the Fever's Myisha Hines Allen last night.

She is grieving the loss of her grandmother and losing to one of the top teams in the WNBA on her home court did help her mental state in addition. Hines-Allen was given an excused absence from the squad to attend her grandmother's funeral.  

Head Fever coach Stephanie White hd this to say about the star's persona tragedy:

Stephanie White said that Hines-Allen did not play because she was dealing with a family situation. White wanted her to have a couple of days to herself to deal with the loss. 

Hines-Allen has been a key rotational piece for the Fever this season. She is averaging 4.2 points a game and 3.2 rebounds in about 15 minutes a game. She is a key part of the Fever defense. 

Indiana was in front of a home crowd in their most recent loss to Golden State. The visiting Valkyries are in their second year of existence and are one of the top teams in the league at 18-7, one game behind league-leading Minnesota in the Western division. They have been on a arduous seven-game road  trip and are finally headed back home to California. The Fever are 14-10 on the season and tied for first place in the Eastern division with the Atlanta Dream

(Does anyone  remember the Grateful Dead's song about California? It is sampled below) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuev-dzohTk

We. at Cardinal couple extend out sympathies to the Hines-Allen family and Myisha over the loss of their Grandmother. 

I never knew either of my Grandmother's...and just one of my Grandfather's...but understand the importance of/them in many families.  

paulie

  

Big Four in Louisville More Than Just a Bridge -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 ROBERTS, RANDOLPH, BERRY AND ISTANBULLUOGLU WILL BE CARDS WBB LEADERS IN 2026-27

THE OTHER BIG FOUR IN TOWN...THE WALKING BRIDGE

The thought here is that Jeff Walz has to be pretty happy with his "Big Four" on campus. Now, that the squad is back on the court...he'll be looking to "R.R.B.& I" for leadership, skill, experience and mentoring of the freshman on his 2026-27 roster. 

I would imagine that most of the ACC WBB coaches would love to be in Walz's shoes right now.  Getting back four that contributed so much last year is something that doesn't happen very often. 

You've got height, scoring, skill and experience, and those four things are a pretty good tools to have in your workshed. The fact that Walz has empowered them to help him run the practices and speak out on what they are seeing speaks volumes on his confidence level on their abilities. 

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

The Big Four bridge was named for the now defunct railway that used it...the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway. Originally carrying trains, the bridge was decommissioned in the 1960's. It was called the "bridge to nowhere" in the 1970's and there was a movement to tear it down in some circles of thought. The ramps were removed, but then someone got the bright idea to spruce it up and connect walking paths to it on either side of the river. 

How far will the these "big four" at UofL walk (or, hopefully run) for Louisville in the quest for a Sweet Sixteen and beyond journey in the NCAA Tournament for the WBB Cards this season? 

In the ACC, Duke and UofL are the two top picks of a league that is brimming in talent. Duke returns a lot of firepower as well, in Kara Lawson's crew of Fournier, Mair, Jackson and company. They did reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament last year, a bit better than the Cards fade out against Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen.

We'll be watching the Big Four (and their teammates) closely, of course, here at Cardinal Couple. After all, we are less than four months away...We'll find a way to "bridge the gap" somehow 

paulie

Doe UofL WBB need a GM? -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 THE TREND IS BECCOMING MORE POPULAR...IS THAT  GOOD THING?

(A GM chord...sorry I couldn't resist.) 

General managers (GM's) are now becoming more and more prevalent in major college sports programs and teams. The coaches are so busy with all the aspects of on-court planning and player development...a college GM can act like a NFL executive, handing things such as managing the transfer portal, evaluating talent and multi-year depth planning.

Some programs across our nation also use GM's to coordinate NIL contracts and managing financial obligations. The also analyze data to identify undervalued players and optimize team performance. 

The thing is...with most college sports programs operating at a serious deficit...is the job a the expenditure necessary? Cost-cutting measures are being employed al lover the college landscape in athletics and tough decisions need to be made about spending necessities and  cost-cutting methods. 

Walz says he doesn’t see the need for a general manager and believes that role can sometimes become a way for coaches to shift blame when things don’t go right.

I don't claim to have ll the answers, but...college athletics has survived a long time without GM's. I don't see the need to tax the university dollar anmore by installing a GM, who can command hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases.  Jeff walz talks about GM's below...

Does Louisville need a GM for WBB? My opinion is "no". 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=989026327080118

paulie

Cards WBB add Roman Tubner to staff as assistant coach. -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

ROMAN TUBNER HIRED TO JOIN WALZ'S STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH.

Jeff Walz has added another coach to his staff...in the hiring of Roman Tubner. Tubner was last with Tennessee before he was let go. He has also coached at Alabama, Ball St., UNC Wilmington, Indiana St. Austin Peay and Arkansas St.  

A almost completely new look sitting next to Walz on the bench with Pineda. Tubner, Bernabei McNamee, Bradbury, and Cerezuela.

Tubner has a wealth of coaching experience, going 219-146 at eight different schools. He has a wife and two daughters. 

He spent two years at UT before head coach Kim Caldwell fired him this April. Caldwell claimed that Tubner was undermining her all season in 2025-26  and that was what led to the Vols decline. She said Tubner told players that they did not have to listen to her. 

Deniya Prawl, now at UofL as a student-athlete on the Cards squad after being at UT denies that happened. Prawl insisted:

"Coach Roman had the most pure intentions. All he wanted us to do was succeed and stay together."

Caldwell is bringing in 15 new players for the 2026-27 season. Somewhere, Pat Summitt is rolling over in her grave and wondering what in the hell is happening at Rocky Top. 

Tubner arrives with experience across the SEC and mid-major ranks, most recently spending two seasons at Tennessee. Prior to that, he served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide compile a 64-35 record while playing a key role in recruiting multiple WNBA Draft picks, including Brittany Davis and Aaliyah Nye. 

paulie

USA Volleyball wins in SemiFinals against Mexico -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 USA TO FACE CANADA AGAIN AFTER DEFEATING MEXICO

The USA U 21 Women's Pan Am Volleyball squad, with Cardinal star Payton Petersen on the roster goes for their fourth consecutive title when they face Canada today in Columbus, OH.

Mexico went down in straight sets Saturday to the USA 25-17, 25-11, 25-12. Mexico and the Dominican Republic will battle for third place.

USA has won four of the U21 Pan Am Cup titles -- in 2017. 2022, 2023 and 2025. 

In the Mexico match, USA led in every statistical category -- including kills (42-20), blocks (14-3), and service aces (4-0)

USA is coached by Tama Miyashiro, who played her volleyball at the University of Washington and was on the U.S National team as well. Her comments on the win over Mexico. 

"I'm very happy because  we were able to put pressure on Mexico right from the start. I've been following their matches throughout the tournament and they have good players and out goal today  was to neutralize their attack. I'm very proud o the determination out players showed and we are excited to be in the final."

Top scorers for USA against Mexico were Suliane Davis (10 points), Ayden Ames (9 points) and Henley Anderson (9 points) .

A boxscore for the Mexico match is seemingly the needle in the haystack, I could not find one after extensive search, so I have no numbers on how Payton Petersen did in the Mexico match.. 

paulie

 

Petersen, USA advance to semifinals in NORCECA U21 Volleyball -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 USA downs Canada 3-1 to advance to semifinals

In the NORECA U21 matches in Columbus, the USA and Payton Petersen have advanced to the semifinals.

They have defeated Venezuela, Mexico and Canada to take the championship in their pool play. They now need to get by  

Payton Petersen, out of the University of Louisville, totalled 15 points in the USA win over Canada 3-1 by the scores of 25-18, 25-14, 21-25, 25-18. The All-Americas Cup is being shown on You Tube on the U21 matches for North America in Columbus, OH. 

Petersen will be a junior at UofL in the upcoming season and hails from Dike, Iowa .She is a twin, and her sister Jadyn plays volleyball at Northern Iowa where their mother Bobbi is the head coach of the program.

Kalyssa Blackshear, another Cardinals star, is an alternate on the squad. 

Cards Volleyball is less than two months away. The will face Wisconsin at the LNFCU on Aug 28th. The annual Red and Black scrimmage is scheduled for Aug 22, at the LNFCU as well.   

Sadly, Louisville Volleyball is one of the programs at UofL operating at a financial loss. Even though they do generate some earnings ,the costs far outweigh the earnings. And, they do charge admission. $15 for matches at the LNFCU and starting at $36 for KFC YUM! Center mathes for premium events. 

paulie

 

LDI adds Rhen Vail --FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE AT UOFL

Rhen Vali

The Leadership Development institute program at UofL is a nine-month comprehensive program open to athletic staff members who have more than three years of service at UofL and want to develop leadership, strategic thinking, public speaking and  management skills. They recently made Rhen Vail, UofL WBB Strength and Conditioning a recipient of he prestigious award

It started in 2019 and usually ends around May of the following year of the start in September. 

The program was designed to encourage professional advancement and personal growth among the athletic staff at UofL. Josh Heird says this about the program:

"We have seen tremendous results. The program continues to evolve and elevate year after year and reflects our ongoing investments."

The 2024-2025 Cohort members: Caroline Blincoe, Anne Burkhead, Marisa Carpenter, Tammy Davis, Zack Day, Hooks Hausman, Courtney Jackson, Stephanie Johnson, Brent Lamkin, John Leenerts, and Catherine Thompson.

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

It's been awhile since I have walked the Belknap campus and just looked around. There was a time when I was walking across it daily, from Fraternity Row (where I lived) to places across campus like the Humanities Building, the old location of the Red Barn, the McDonald's and the Frisch's by I-65 and to the dormitories created out of the old motel chain that was at the Arthur Street exit. I am told the campus has changed quite a bit, and although I don't get to the parking garage and SAC building where a lot of coaches had offices...I remember the events on the track, at Ulmer Stadium and at the Field Hockey complex. I actually used to eat at Johnny George's restaurant on Brook Street...the original Cardinal Inn.  Me and the guys from the frat would always get the liver and onions if it was on the menu...you got bigger portions because very few people ordered it and it was a darn tasty dish, as well. If you waited until lunch serving was almost over, those portions got gigantic and sometimes it as my last meal before breakfast the next morning at Masterson's or the cafeteria in the Student Activities building. One semester I bought a restaurant pass for daily breakfast at Masterson's for Monday through Friday. If I remember correctly, I had won a huge amount of money playing horse racing tips I had gotten at the old Red Bull Liquor store on 7th and Algonquin, where I clerked for a few years. But,  those stories are for some other time....

Well, i have managed to steer far away from the original intent of the article, to discuss LDI. It happens. As I tell people,if you don't like today's article, come back tomorrow, there will be something new up. 

Coach Sowry in her office

I can remember watching the Field Hockey field get completely covered in water one afternoon  from a thunderous downpour...me and Coach Sowry staring out of her office window overlooking the field....when I was there to interview her for an article here at Cardinal Couple. They have banned me from interviews with coaches these days because someone hacked my now defunct X account and put up questionable material 

Will I stroll those haunts on campus ever again? Time will tell. I'd like to go back as a visitor and not a reporter and make a few of those walks. I doubt the overzealous media guardians on the UofL staff would have me incarcerated or taken to the campus security office and grilled under a white, hot glaring spotlight. Anyway, I hope not...I can't run as fast as I used to when I won the All Fraternity Intramurals 220 dash in one year of the old annual tournaments. Being an All Campus Champion was something i was proud of. I kept my All Campus Champion t-shirt a very long time. I wonder what ever happened to all those photos that line the walls of the stairway that led to the basement of the old swimming facility where the racquetball and handball courts used to be? 

Questions for another time,I suppose. 

paulie

 

Albiero Hires Assistant -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 KELLY LENNON JOINS CARDS

We probably don't pay enough attention to swim and die here at UofL but do follow the program closely .Gong back to my undergraduate days at UofL, I used to "hang" with a couple off swimmers and was well renowned for my back massages to loosen tight muscles. (I enjoyed massaging the women swimmers a lot more than the guys...but we won't go into that here...) 

In the days of the Sportsman's Supper Club, Arthur Albiero was always a favorite speaker of the organization. Sometimes he'd bring a student-athlete or two with him and they were always great to talk to and see their view on things. 

Albiero is still flourishing down on the corner they share with McDonald's, a practice soccer field and theatre playhouse. And, he's brought is a class act and excellent assistant in Kelly Lennon. 

Lennon comes in from Army, where she spent three years as an assistant and two years as an associate in the waters of West Point. Here's the scoop on her from A.A:

"After an extensive national search, we found the perfect person to join out staff in Kelly. Her energy, personality and natural ability to relate to coaches and athletes are a great match fo our program. She also has a proven track record in recruiting and developing swimmers at the NCAA level and beyond. Kelly will have an immediate impact on UofL swimming and we are ecstatic to have her join the team"

We are sure she'll be a great addition to the UofL staff and welcome her as well to UofL! 

paulie

    

Payton Petersen to participate in U 21 Pan Am Cup -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

 PETERSEN ONE OF 14 ON 2026 USA NORCECA SQUAD

The rising Cards Volleyball junior out of Dike, Iowa has been chosen for the squad that will participate for Team USA in the U21 Pan American Cup. The tournament, which will feature eight of the top junior national teams out of North America, Central America and the Caribbean, is being held at the Covelli Center in Columbus, OH. July 7-12.

The team faced Venezuela and won 25-13, 25-21, 25-15 yesterday, next is Mexico and Canada over the next two days in pool play.

Following the three days of pool play, the quarterfinals will take place on July10th. with the semifinals and placement matches on July 11th and the championship game July 12th. 

Besides Petersen, the USA roster consists of numerous athletes who have participated in past USA age group national teams. Players include  Ayden Ames, Henley Anderson, Taylor Harris, Devon Wiest, Lily Hayes and Rachel Van Gorp.

Some of the colleges represented on the USA Pan Am Cup are Texas, Nebraska, Creighton, Louisville, and even tiny Springfield College in Springfield, MA. 

We wish the USA squad the best of success in their pursuits! 

paulie

paulie

Thoughts On The ACC -- TUESDAY CARDINAAL COUPLE

 IS THE FUTURE OF CONFERENCES IN JEOPARDY?

I've seen quite a few conference alignments for Louisville in this 70 year trip around the sun I have been on. 

It goes back to the MVC, and the wide expanse of the participants. New Mexico State? Bradley...North Texas and Drake. Hearing Ed Kallay call basketball games on the radio in his one-of-a-kind style. What conferences has Louisville been in since 1963? I chose 1963, because I was in the first grade and my Dad would invite me into the family den to listen to basketball games on his old, huge Philco radio. And, yes, I listed to UK and Cawood also. 

The Cards were i the MVC until 1974, and then Louisville spent a year as an independent in 1975. They went into the Metro Conference next, and had a 20 year run there. Such fun times in Freedom Hall and sitting in the student section in 335 at the beginning. Eventually getting season tickets and attending games with good friends and my wife Sonya.  Parking outside the Fairgrounds and sneaking in the back gate off Crittenden Drive, parking free on the street ...right down the street from the Winn-Dixie Warehouse. Slipping through the chain-locked gate and walking in the back entrance by the third base side of Fairgrounds stadium. Anyone else remember Harry at the door, checking student I.D. 's? They got you in free. 

Conference USA was next and an interesting time from 1995-2004. Then a seven year run in the Big East. 2013 was weird, spending a year in the American Athletic Conference before going into the Atlantic Coast Conference.

These days I follow the action on line. on TV and on radio and no longer attend basketball contests at the KFC YUM! Center.  

I wonder if there will be anything after the ACC? We can rest assured the SEC will never come calling. A national mega conference setup has a lot of support and regionality has given way to pursuit of the mega market dollar. These days, we see the "Power 4" (SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and ACC) against the rest. The Atlantic Coast Conference has two school in California and one in Texas. The Southeastern Conference has Oklahoma and Texas.  

And, travel burdens and financial despair must be addressed. Imagine running a organization that was $100 million dollars in debt? 

Interesting times ahead. Six conference in the past. One current for Louisville athletics. What's next?

Whatever Happened To... -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 TAYLOR ROBY A...TIGER? 

If you are a Louisville softball fan, the name Taylor Roby is still one you will easily recognize. Roby, from Mt. Washington and a two-way powerhouse for the Cards,  as a pitcher and at the plate. is still in the ACC, but she's traded in the Cardinals uniform for a Clemson Tiger uniform. 

No, she's not playing anymore.  She serves as a Director of Player Development for the Tigers. She's in her fourth year in South Carolina. Her duties include day-to-day assistance for all aspects of the program including team bonding and scouting. She also handles liaison duties with Nike/Mizuno. She's in her fourth year on the Tigers staff and was a graduate assistant for two years and then got her current gig on  August 29th, 2025.  

Out of Bullitt East Hight School, she arrived at UofL and rapidly became a premier Cardinal diamond queen. During her final season at UofL, she was selected a second team NFCA All-American and first team ACC member. She batted .360 her senior season and then headed to clemson fo graduate studies and became a graduate assistant for Tigers softball. She fills the trifecta of what an old buddy used for softball players tanking: Good Hit, Good Pitch, good Looking .

At Louisville, she still holds career (63) and season (23) home run records.

Roby also spent a season playing pro softball for the USSSA Pride squad.

I remember an interview with her from years ago when, somehow, the conversation morphed into food. When asked what her favorites food was, she ended up with four...Texas roadhouse rolls, strawberries, chicken nuggets and spaghetti. Sounds like a O.K. dinner to me. 

Roby isn't a huge social media maven, but if you follow the Clemson softball squad .I'm sure you'll be able to pick up bits and pieces on her. 

I recently saw a list of the best five Louisville softball players of all time and she was on the list...along with Lacy Wood, Megan Hensley, Maryssa Becker and Melissa Roth. Got a different five? Let me know in the comments section. 

paulie

Three Summer Softball camps at UofL remain -- SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 TWO LIL' CARDS CAMPS AND A MIDDLE SCHOOL CAAREDS WORKOUT AVAILABE

We do normally think of softball as a summer activity for the kids, in various leagues around the city. The universities and colleges are done with their respective seasons and coaches are keeping an eye on young prospects as they compete against others. 

UofL still has three camps available for the grade school and middle school players. They are run by the coaches and some of the players past and present. It's always beneficial, one can imagine, for the younger players to get advice and tips and instruction from those who see the game from the collegiate level 

7/14 -- LIL CARDS SUMMER CAMP THREE

This camp runs Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon and the age group being targeted is from 6-12. During this cap, Louisville softball Players and staff will teach the basic fundamentals of softball, including throwing, catching, fielding, hitting and baserunning. Potentia attendees should be aware of the closing of I-65 and go to WAZE or other apps to find the best route to get to campus from their location. Camp cost: $75.00

7/21 -- LIL CARDS SUMMER CAMP FOUR

This camp follows the same premise as Camp Three and the same age group. The times on this Tuesday are also 9 a.m. - noon and the age group is also 6-12. 

7/20 -- MIDDLE SCHOOL CARDS SUMMER WORKOUT 2

This camp is for Grades 6-8 in high school and also works on the basic fundamentals of the game. The hours are 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The cost is $ 85.00 

For more information on any of these camps , or registration information, go to the link: https://louisvillesoftballcamps.totalcamps.com/shop/EVENT

louisvillesoftballcamps.totalcamps.com

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

From Cardinal Couple to you...Happy 4th of July!!!

paulie and sonya

A couple days off -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 A BREAK FOR THE HOLIDAY

With the 4th of July weekend being here ,I have decided to take a brief break from the reporting on the joy and excitement of UofL women's athletics. 

It is something I have debated and batted back and forth, (sorry, no pun intended) in my mind recently. As the sole writer here, I have no one now to ask to fill in and write the Friday or Saturday columns. A lot of you go on short vacations, I am going on one, too.

I'll be back with a Sunday article. There's not a lot to report on this time of year, beside academic achievements, so I figured this would be a good time to do so. 

It's fitting that it is coming at a time of celebration of independence in our nation. I have run Cardinal Couple without the guidance of a board of directions, supervisors or financial backing. I did accept donations in the early days of the site, but...then figured that accepting money wasn't the way I wanted to go. Having to pay a fee for "inside information" just isn't how I roll and I am not 'beholding' to any one person, advertiser or group.  

I want to wish all of you a great 4th of July holiday...whether you are off work, or working so we can enjoy things on our days off. And, a special tip of the hat to those who do work the holidays to make sure we have enjoyable ones. 

Just a word on the shooting of fireworks. Please, two things...if you are going to do this, please be careful. I have seen what a lit firework can do to fingers or eyesight. The second thing , please make sure your pets don't have to hear the continuous "booms" and explosions without someone there to comfort them and keep them calm. I have also seen what this does to pets and they don't understand why these scary noises are happening. Show them comfort, please.

Have a great Fourth of July. Remember, the reason for the celebration. There are many places in the world that would love to celebrate independence and freedom, but can't...

From Sonya and I, enjoy the fireworks and the Fourth. See ya Sunday

paulie

Zabala Part of the VIBE -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 ALYSSA ZABALA ON THE FLORIDA VIBE IN PSL

The title of today's article is not intended to be some hip '60's slang phrase...like "wow, man ..she is really in the vibe and it's groovy." 

One of the best pitchers in Louisville Softball history, Alyssa Zabala, will take her game to the pro ranks this summer when she takes the circle for the Florida Vibe. The team, located in Bradenton, FL, is part of the Professional Softball League,which is in their first season.

Zabala is one of three pitchers on the roster of 15 that also has two other ACC former players on the roster. 

No details were available that I could find on the salary for the Zabala or any of the ot the players. The league has six teams this season...and the Vibe has Mike Scott as the head coach. Scott was a longtime assistant coach at Winthrop. 

I have seen so many "start up" leagues over the years and seen their various successes and demises. I , for one, never thought Arena Football would reach the successes it has. 

I really hope that the PSL and the other "big league" softball organizations..AUSL, NPF and a few I have probably forgotten about, are great chances for the excellent college players who aren't ready to retire the glove and bat, sure, but they don't reach huge paydays for the athletes and rarely last a decade.    

I still look at what I call the "front running five" the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB and NHL. as the one that garner the attention and the athletes. And, four of the five are male dominated. I still have high hopes for the NWSL and Racing Louisville. 

What is your favorite women's professional league and franchise and player? I guess I sill go back to Angel in the WNBA and her time with the Dream. 

Have a great Thursday...and a upcoming 4th of July weekend. 

paylie

Reflections -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 AS THE SOLE WRITER, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK? 

(Still flocking in from around the nation...thank you readers). 

After 20 years of pumping this daily site out, with a host of others. it's back to where I began. By myself, doing solo duty. 

For whatever reason, and there have been a slew of them...I've had over a dozen writers here come and go. I am retired now, I have kidney failure, which means I am hooked up to a dialysis machine three times a week, four hours a time. I no longer attend live events. There are times I have to use a walker or wheelchair to do daily things. At age 70, I read almost daily of friends or acquaintances dying. It used to be attending weddings. Now it's attending funerals 

There has also been a change of the guard down at UofL. The independent writers are not as prevalent as they used to be.  

And if you don't believe it, check it out. Look at Media row or the Press Box . 

I look back to the premise  I began the site on the premise of the joy and excitement of UofL sports. And, back then, in 2006, there were a lot of exciting things going on down on the Belknap Campus. Tom Jurich and Julie Hermann were on campus as VIce President and Director of Athletics (Jurich) and Senior Associate Director of Athletics and senior Women's Administrator (Hermann).  Tom Collen was the head WBB coach (Walz was still a year away). The KFC YUM! Center was four years away. Sandy Pearsall was in her sixth year on campus as softball coach. Karen Ferguson Dayes was in her sixth year as head women's soccer coach. 

But, it always went back to the student-athletes here at Cardinal Couple. And, oh...the friendships I have made and students I have covered in contests and interviewed. 

And, I sometimes wonder if what I churn out here daily means anything to anyone anymore? I get e-mails of encouragement and criticism. I lost my photographer due to administration pressure.  I have been shunned on campus because someone hijacked my now deleted Twitter account and put up some objectionable stuff. It's funny...these days a coach can go into a string of expletives and then go on as nothing happened...but, the unpaid writer gets ostracized for something he didn't even do  

It's like a former UofL women's lacrosse player told me so many years ago. 

"You can get knocked down, slammed around, and bloodied but it just takes that one shining moment to bring you back." 

And, maybe that's why I still do it. It's always been about the students. 

It always will be. 

So..what is your opinion on all this? Feel free to e-mail me at cardinalcouple@twc.com or leave a comment here. I'll keep your responses private. It's like the old Alan Parsons song Games People Play where they ask..."Where do we go from here?"  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLi7Ljcy6n8

I'll be reading ...and thinking. 

paulie