BIG 12 made a BIG mistake -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

TRAIN WRECK THAT WAS EXPANSION STAYS IN THE STATION.

So you've got this conference named the BIG 12. At one time, it had 12 members. It seemed logical. Then, due to raiding from other conferences and such...they ended up with ten schools. Someone comes up with the grand idea..."Hey, let's expand back to 12!" The idea gets out. Over two dozen school express an interest to be a part of the expansion. That list is eventually paired down to a dozen or so.

Presentations are made. Money, lots of it...is spent. Schools are ready to give their notices to their current conferences that they don't need to leave the light on for them, to re-design the conference banners and take them off the mailing list. They are looking to leave.

Cincinnati, Memphis, Houston, Connecticut and several other viable athletic/academic institutions got the equivalent of a punch to the belly Monday when the Big 12 decided to stay at ten.  Big 12 expansion would no longer be an active agenda item. All ten schools were unanimous in this thought process. At least, that's what they said...



It is equal to being invited to a party, going shopping for clothes to the party, clearing your schedule for the party and then being told you didn't make the guest list, after all. 

Hey Bearcats...keep your chili at home. Memphis? Sorry, we got ribs already. BYU? Uh...not sure how the whole two or three wives thing might go down in Norman...Houston? Oklahoma might still be smarting over the football loss...no need to shine your shoes. Find something on Hulu...you're aren't going anywhere, boys and girls. 

Let's call this what it is. A money decision. And who are the two money schools in the Big 12? Texas and Oklahoma. So, guys...do we want to take this financial pie and split it 12 ways now instead of 10? Yeah, didn't think so.

No chairs will be added to the musical chairs we currently have in the room. Take your whoopie cushions and disperse in an orderly fashion. 

I'm pretty sure that WVU would have liked to maybe had a few conference games to go to that were within 500 miles or so. Doesn't matter...they're part of the "bobblehead eight" that make up the Big 12...a conference where 2>8 in power. 

Texas A&M got it a few years ago. Up and jumped ship when the SEC pulled up aside and threw out a rope ladder. You don't hear much complaining down in AggieLand these days...Missouri saw the SEC advantage and climbed the wall. Nebraska and Colorado, too. 

Maybe the Big 12 waited too long...one thing is certain...they will still be the weakest of the "Power Five" conferences and they get ready to go into their sixth season without a divisional conference championship in football.

This is about football...oh, yeah...you betcha. Sure...Mick Cronin, Tubby Smith, Geno Auriemma and Jeff Judkins probably would have loved to have had their squads participating in the conference. They were never a part of the bargaining table though. Would UConn WBB have rolled through the Big 12 as easily as they do the AAC? Maybe not as easily...but they still would have rolled. Now, it's returning-time to the dysfunctional AAC and irrelevant West Coast Conferences. Walking back through the door and saying..."Well, that was interesting. Games on!". Head bowed to no one. Spurned at the alter and back in the dating scene. 

What, prey tell Paulie...does all this have to do with Louisville Athletics? 

To start with, the Cards got what now appears to be a great call when the Big 12 decided against them several years back. Away games to Duke and Miami are a haul, for sure....but would you rather have been going to Stillwater or Ames? Next, we're getting a great level of respect from the "old guard" of the ACC. We brought talented teams and travelling fan base. Consequently, the BIG 12 booted ex-Cardinal coaches Howard Schnellenberger and is probably ready to can Charlie Strong. They may not have been that eager to have Louisville in their midst. There is no, or very little...field hockey or lacrosse in the BIG 12. Was Louisville supposed to just throw those two exciting women's sports under the bus? Or ship them out to the MAC or Big East? 

A boorish move that wasn't a move at all, in reality, by the BIG 12. Nothing happened here and no change in the running order. Maybe the ACC could offer to trade Notre Dame for West Virginia to the BIG 12. Now that football is nose-diving in South Bend and the Irish obviously have well-stocked coffers...plus Ames, IA is closer than Miami is from South Bend (and we could get Muffett McGraw off the WBB schedule)...it makes sense.

Forget this independence stuff, Irish. Head to a conference where your football team can make stops in Stillwater, Lubbock and Norman. Cowboys vs. Catholics. Take a chance and land in the "fly-over" states? Nah, never happen. 

Those BIG 12 folks sure love that money. Yes, sir. And, they're gonna keep it. 

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WBB MEDIA DAY TODAY

Jeff Walz is having all the boys and girls over to his place today at noon to discuss UofL WBB. Following that, the media will get a chance to descend upon the squad to ask questions. This could be a pretty fun hour...

We'll have the recap, a few pictures and maybe some great audio for you in the Thursday Cardinal Couple. I gotta see if I can get Arica Carter to serve as my interview intern again this year...

paulie
xxxxx 

Saturday Cardinal Couple -- Softball win, Big Sports weekend!

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SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Connell blanks Kent State in Cardinal Classic

-Lacrosse hosts Old Dominion today

-Oh, yeah...it's on!


The University of Louisville Softball team is glad to be home and playing softball after two straight weekends on the road playing in tournaments in Las Vegas and Jacksonville. Probably no one more happier than junior pitcher Caralisa Connell...who blanked Kent State Friday in softball action at Ulmer Stadium. "Carl" allowed one hit in the win, picking up her second shutout of the year in a 5-0 win over the Golden Flashes.

How much is enough? Coach Pearsall waxed philosophical about the win:

"Caralisa pitched a very good game. Defensively, I thought we did what we needed to do. Even though we scored five runs, as an offensive coach, I'm always thinking we can improve and make better decisions. Overall, I was pleased with the win."

( Awwww...Coach P, we love ya and don't find anything at all offensive about ya. Unless you let your dogs do their business in the outfield berm..)

Louisville broke open a scoreless battle in the second inning, using hits by Jordy Trimble ( my favorite player!) and Whitney Arion...plus a couple of Kent State defensive errors to go up 2-0. Louisville added three more runs in the fifth, Arion getting a triple and scoring on Katelyn Mann's single and Katie Keller driving home two more.

Connell (2012 CARDINAL COUPLE reader-selected Favorite UofL women's athlete) retired the final 10 batters she faced. What she's doing pitching to people getting ready to retire...we have no clue...but I hope their financially ready for the "golden years".

#18 Louisville (9-2) plays again tomorrow at Ulmer. Get out there and cheer them on. They face Buffalo at 12:30 p.m.

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Lacrosse attempts to go 3-0 against Old Dominion at 1 p.m. in the Lacrosse Stadium today. Been to a lacrosse game yet? It's a shame that softball and lacrosse are within a half-hour of each other...gotta choose Cardinal fans...but Kellie Young has a heckuva team and they are a lot of fun to watch.

Go see one or the other, Cardinal fans. You'll have a big time at either.

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And, yes...it's true! CARDINAL COUPLE will be going on the radio with a weekly show beginning next Saturday (March 2nd.) on Crescent Hill Radio

http://www.crescenthillradio.com

We report on the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports here. It's what we do. We're going to do the same on the air. We've got our favorite Robbie Bartlett for the intro and exit song, the staff chimps have been bathed and dressed for the occasion and Bill the Goat will be out front nibbling on the hedges and chasing people down Frankfort Avenue.

A guaranteed good time for all...




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Friday Cardinal Couple - More BIG EAST Changes

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

(Game final from Colorado...Buffs 70-66) We'll have more later on this wild finish)
 
- Non BCS schools vote to leave BIG EAST.

-Texas, Oregon advance in NCAA Volleyball Final Four

-WBB travels to Boulder for showdown with Buffs

On the never ending carousel that also goes by the name the BIG EAST...another development. It looks like Providence, Villanova, Seton Hall, St. John's, Georgetown, DePaul and Marquette have decided to leave the conference that they founded and try their luck elsewhere.

The seven catholic-based schools would retain the automatic bid to the NCAA Basketball Tournaments...should they either decide to go form a new league or go as a group to a different conference. Could the Atlantic 10 become the Atlantic Whole Bunch of Teams? Might they form the Papal Conference and pick the Pope as the new commish? How about from BIG EAST to BIG PRIEST...

What this does is open the possibility and the door for Louisville and Notre Dame to join the ACC a year early. Aren't you glad we've already started our ACC womens' sports reviews early ?

And, just what does all this mean for womens' sports at UofL? A possibility that the Lady Cards might not play Rutgers and UConn in hoops next year? Justine Sowry and Karen Ferguson-Dayes speeding up their look at future conference opponents? Gotta believe Sandy Pearsall is grinning ear-to-ear with the distinct possibility of not having to worry about below freezing temperature games in Storrs, Providence, South Orange and Queens.  

Also, what now for Cincinnati and Connecticut, who desperately wanted to join Louisville in the latest ACC acquisition and now find themselves in a football division without Louisville?

The move by the 'Catholic Seven' has been talked about for several weeks now. It is now a reality. Tired of being driven around as passengers in the economic-engine football sedan, they've stopped by the dealership and bought a new ride.

In women's hoops, we've met some pretty interesting coaching characters over the past eight years in the BIG EAST. Some favorites have been "Q"...Quentin Hillsman,
of Syracuse...who has stormed the court like an enraged K-Mart shopper on Black Friday, passed out on the sidelines and danced in front of the visitor's bench with the precision moves of one of Gladys Knight's Pips. Who could forget Harry Perretta...dressed in the white shirt and tie...untucked by the midway mark of the first half and giving the appearance of a frazzled, stressed out accountant instead of a basketball coach. Doug Bruno, institutionally clad in that blue DePaul logoed long sleeve shirt. C-Viv. Geno. Muffett. Gonna miss some of these folks. A couple will join us out on the Atlantic Coast.

The BIG EAST brought Louisville women's sports titles in volleyball, softball and track. The Cards made a Final Four women's basketball appearance while a member of the BIG EAST. We said goodbye to Collen, Yelin, Clark-Heard, Ord and Bustin in the BIG EAST. We welcomed Walz, Kordes, Sowry, Newbauer, Williams and Trimble.

We started Rowing and Lacrosse in the BIG EAST. We moved from Freedom Hall to the KFC YUM! Center in the BIG EAST. We found out just how horrible it is to tailgate and attend a football game or the BIG EAST WBB Tournament in Storrs and Hartford while a member of the BIG EAST. 

As we like to say here...interesting times ahead. Sit down, buckle up, adjust your seat and close the door. This trip continues...

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Semi-final action from the KFC YUM! Center in the Final Four NCAA Volleyball Tournament provided a thriller in the first match...with Texas needing a fifth game to finally dispose of pesky Michigan. It looked like the upstart Wolverines were poised for the upset, going up 2-1 in games...but the Longhorns used some pretty impressive blocking at the net to slow down the Wolverine offense and advances to the finals Saturday night.

They'll meet Oregon there, who upset #2 in the nation Penn State three games to one. Hopefully, Jeff, Sandy or Jenny will stop by and add comments on this one. Truth be told, I was watching at home on ESPN2 and fell asleep at the halftime break with the games 1-1.

They announced on the "Deuce" about 13,000 in attendance. Not enough to break an NCAA record, but a nice crowd from all reports. Staff columnist Sandy Walker notes that there was  massive confusion over seating for the games...with many duplicate seat tickets printed for the evening that resulted in some last-minute seating shifts and long lines at the will-call and event services stations.

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Lest we forget in all this hub-bub and drama, the UofL WBB squad is in action tonight in Boulder, CO. to face the Colorado Buffaloes at 9 p.m. EST. The Cards will be without the services of Sara Hammond (last we heard) because of the death of her grandmother. Her board prowess will be missed. Time for Vails, Dyer, Walton and Reid to step it up one notch and let's hope the Rocky Mountain rare air equals lots of net-swishes for Shoni and Nita from beyond the arc.

We have a report from Sandy that we may be able to see this one on TV. The link is:

Louisville v Buffs

http://pac-12.com/ScheduleResults.aspx#networkId=Live%20Stream

Also from Basil G. Brooks, out of the CU sports information department, this link (for ALL CU home games).

Colorado Women's Basketball broadcasts


You know how we roll here...turn down the video feed sound and listen to our own Matt Andrews and A.J. with the call on 790 WKRD AM.




The Buffs are not to be taken lightly. 8-0 and striving for some national attention by knocking off #8 Louisville. This matchup eerily reminds of us the 2008-09 season...when 5-0 Louisville went to Nevada and dropped a 85-82 decision. The Cards went on to win their next 14 games.

6'1" forward and redshirt freshman Arielle Roberson, who leads CU with 16.5 ppg, talks about the ramifications of a Buffs victory:

" I think more people would definitely recognize Colorado women's basketball...it would be a big boost in a lot of areas, especially in recruiting. I also think it would give our team a lot more confidence and it would really give something to the fans."

Armageddon in the aspens? Clash in Colorado? Beatdown of the Buffs? Rock steady, Cards.

We'll be back tonight with the recap.

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Finally, fingers crossed and good thoughts, all, for staff columnist Jenny O'Bryan...in for a little out-patient surgery today. The rumors that we're having a tracking chip implanted in her or transplanting her brain with Timmy the Intern's are totally false...




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Cards get first road test against Lady Govs

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THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-WBB travels to Clarksville for first road game

-Cards sign three for 2013-14

The University of Louisville womens' basketball team plays their first road game of the season against a familiar foe tonight...the Austin Peay Lady Governors. Austin Peay is located in Clarksville, TN. (not Indiana). The game will take place at 8 p.m. and can be followed on OVC TV, Cards TV and 790 AM WKRD. The feed on the OVCDigitalNetwork.com is free if you register.

The two tangled last year in the KFC YUM! Center on Nov. 22nd. Louisville had defeated Xavier 62-44 a couple of nights earlier, without the services of Monique Reid, and came into the game with a 4-1 record. The Cards won 78-60 after leading by just five
at the break at 34-29. Reid returned to the floor after sitting out the last three games for Louisville and led the Cards with 18 points in 16 minutes. Becky Burke (15), Bria Smith (13) and Shoni Schimmel (10) were the Cards other double-figure scorers...the Lady Cards outrebounded Peay 52-34 and shot 49% for the game.

Louisville is 7-0 lifetime against Austin Peay...Jeff Walz 2-0. In Walz's second year at Louivsille, the Cards downed the Lady Govs 72-42 in a game played at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Despite 30 turnovers (must have been the arena's fault) the Cards won easily. We wonder how many sprints the girls had to run after that one...

Austin Peay comes into tonight's game 0-1...losing their season opener on the road to UAB. The Lady Govs were selected to finish fifth in the OVC's Western Division in a preseason conference coaches poll. They return four starters from last year's squad. Junior guard Meghan Bussabarger averages 16 ppg for the Govs. She had seven points against the Cards last year in 16 minutes. Leslie Martinez also scored 16 points in the Peay opener and had four points in 26 minutes last year against Louisville.

The Cards go into the contest ranked #8 in the polls and sporting a 2-0 record...defeating Texas A&M and Portland. Stat leaders for Louisville are Sara Hammond (13 ppg and 11 rebs) and Shoni Schimmel (12 ppg and 4 assists) per game.

If you make the three-hour drive from Louisville to Clarksville...we recommend a stop before or after the game at the Blackhorse Pub and Brewery on Franklin Street. It's just a few blocks from the campus arena and features great pub food and a wide selections of beverages. Paulie recommends the Cowboy Burger and a Beer Cheese Dip appetizer, made with their excellent Barnstormer Ale. For lodging, you can't beat the Riverview Inn on College Street and be sure to ask for a room with a view of the Cumberland River.

We'll be back later tonight with a recap of the action.

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As expected, UofL WBB got LOI's from Emmonie Henderson, Janelle Cannon and Starr Breedlove yesterday.

Henderson is the #21 player in the country, according to All-Star Girls Report. She'll participate in both hoops and track and field events at Louisville. Entering her senior season, she's third on the all-time Edwardsville, IL high school scoring list and averaged 15.2 ppg for the 34-2 team as a junior.

She's also the Class 3-A defending state champion in the shot put and discus.

Breedlove fell in love with Louisville after visiting last weekend and taking in the Texas A&M and Portland games. Out of Teaneck, NJ...the 5'6" point guard averaged 9.4 ppg and 6.3 assists for Trinity Valley Community College...who won the NJCAA championship. She's decided to sit out the 2012-2013 season and concentrate on individual workouts...so she'll have three years of elgibility at UofL

Cannon, a 5'9" point guard is widely considered the best junior college point guard in the nation. During her freshman year at SW Illinois College, she averaged 16 ppg and eight assists and rebounds. She can also go to the two-guard. She was originally slated to attend Minnesota...but left after summer classes there and also spent time at Illinois State before enrolling in SW Illinois College. She'll have two years on the court with the Lady Cards.

A good, solid and productive 2013 class for the Cards it seems. Is it finished? One really never knows in the topsy-turvy world of recruiting...but these three future Cards will all battle for playing time when they arrive on campus and they give Louisville some depth, skill and strength for the 2013-14 roster. 
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Monday Cardinal Couple -- Volleyball sweeps against Big East foes

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MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Volleyball vs Seton Hall and Rutgers, Texas on deck

- Field Hockey upsets #11 Iowa

- Soccer battles to tie with #11 Georgetown

**BREAKING NEWS**BREAKING NEWS**BREAKING NEWS**

2013 Cardinal WBB prospect Brianna Ruiz announced this afternoon that she's committed to University of Washington and head coach Kevin McGuff. Oh, well...go get the next one Jeff...


VOLLEYBALL ROLLING OVER BIG EAST FOES

Let's talk about Seton Hall and Rutgers now, so we can focus on a big match against Texas on Monday night.

Seton Hall at Cardinal Arena

Floyd Street, on campus, was a busy place Saturday as the Cardinal Volleyball team returned to their old digs in Cardinal Arena for a noon first-serve match, while Softball and Field Hockey were having contests of their own in the same block.

Katie George got things off on the right foot with 2 service aces to start the match, but then things started to get a little rough...fortunately for us, Seton Hall hit the same rough patch.  Our Cards only hit a .104 hitting percentage in the first set...definitely not a number to be proud of...but Seton Hall only managed .047.  Fortunately, the second set looked better...of course the Pirates also seemed to pick it up a bit as well, keeping the game close.  The third set was not nearly as close as the score would suggest. The Cards got out to and early lead and Coach Anne Kordes took the opportunity to get spread some playing time around.

In the 3rd set, we saw Courtney Robison come back and showed no ill effects from her time off with the cast on her hitting hand.  Davionna Holmes came in and showed athleticism, but maybe is still struggling to come up to the playing speed of college ball.  She has a lot of very real potential in the middle and I suspect will be a lot of fun to watch once she gets adjusted to the level of play.

Caitlin Welch...I'm running out of interesting ways to say it...is amazing on defense.  She seems to have developed a sixth sense to know where to be on the court to get digs.

Kaitlynn James continues to play well and really seemed to lift the level of the play of the whole team when she was on the court.

Carly Sahagian did have a higher hitting percentage than James...albeit on fewer attempts...but just doesn't seem to bring as much of the spark with her off the bench.  Good play is very appreciated, to be sure, but it sure is nice when it comes with so much of a lift to the rest of the team.

Rutgers at the KFC

Lola Arslanbekova became the all-time kill leader at the University of Louisville on Sunday, leading the Cards with 20 kills and 14 digs in a straight set sinking of the Scarlet Knights 25-20, 25-13, 25-18.

The Cards used a 7-2 run in the first set to take a 12-7 lead in the first game. Although Rutgers rallied to get within two at 16-14, Louisville allowed them to climb no closer and took the game 25-20.

Louisville continued the hot-hitting and, using a 9-1 run, broke open the contest to go up 19-12. The Cards extended that run to 15-2 in defeating the the Scarlet Knights by eleven in the second game.

The Cards closed out the match by keeping Rutgers at bay and scoring the final four points of the game to win by seven.

Tonight, #9 Texas visits the KFC YUM! Center at 7 p.m.

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FIELD HOCKEY DEFEATS #11 Iowa 2-1

Victoria Stratton picked a great opportunity to score her first career goal, breaking a 1-1 tie in the 56th minute to give the Cards a 2-1 win over the Hawkeyes.

The teams were tied at the half...Louisville getting their score when Elisa Garcia scored on a penalty corner assisted by Paige Monson and Mallory Mason.

The Hawkeyes out-shot Louisville 15-11 in the contest, but strong goal play by Erin Conrad and the Cards defensive backs in the final 14 minutes preserved the win for UofL.

Field Hockey (8-6) travels to Rutgers Friday for a BIG EAST match and finished the weekend in Winston-Salem, NC with an out-of-conference match against Wake Forest.

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SOCCER TIES GEORGETOWN 1-1

Gutsy effort out of the women's soccer Cards yesterday in Cardinal Park, rallying from a 1-0 deficit in the second half to tie #11 Georgetown and keeping them scoreless through two overtimes to get the draw.

Charlyn Corral got an unassisted goal 16 minutes into the second half to knot the contest up and the Louisville defensive unit did an excellent job of containing the Hoyas the rest of the way to preserve the tie. It was the fifth goal of the season and second of the weekend.

Louisville outshot the Hoyas 20-10 in the contest...Chloe Kiefer had four saves for the Cards to help preserve their third place standing in the BIG EAST National Division. The Cards are now 3-2-3 in BIG EAST play and 8-3-3 overall.

Louisville heads to New Jersey for two BIG EAST contests next week, with stops at Rutgers (Friday, 5:30 p.m.) and Seton Hall (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
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Weekend sports

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Volleyball travels to USF

-Field Hockey headed to Syracuse

-Soccer to face Marquette

-Softball with Fall Tournament at Ulmer

Three UofL women's sports squads hit the highway this weekend in BIG EAST competition. Pack up the GPS, look for available parking and don't text while driving...here we go.

*****#17 ranked VolleyCards face raging Bulls*****

A tough Friday evening match for Anne Kordes' crew in Tampa awaits against the USF Bulls...who have won seven of their last eight outings. South Florida (9-6, 1-1) has five players with 100+ kills on the season and will throw a very balanced attack against Lola and the other net defenders. After the Notre Dame loss in the the YUM! it's gut-check time for this talented but sometimes inconsistent Louisville Volleyball squad. The environment should be lively and raucous for the 7 p.m. match and hopefully the Cards will be focused and ready to do battle.

It's a change of venue after the Friday match. The Cards will head north to Pittsburgh for a Sunday, 1 p.m. game against the Panthers (10-6, 1-1).

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*****#1 Syracuse awaits Field Hockey team*****

At 9-0, the Syracuse Orange are the #1 team in womens' college field hockey. They'll host the #25 ranked Cards Saturday @ noon on the Syracuse campus. They'll make it tough on the Cards...goalkeeper Leann Stiver allows a scant 0.60 scores per contest and has recorded five shutouts this year. Louisville has lost the last three times against the Orange...all by one goal and the last two went to overtime. Time to notch a "W", Justine...

After the contest, the Cards return to action at Albany, NY against the Great Danes (no, I'm not kidding) of the University of Albany. They're currently
ranked #24 in the nation...so the Cards have their work cut out for them by facing two top 25 teams in a 24 hour time frame.

Crush the Orange and cage the dogs, Cards!

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***** Women's soccer goes to Marquette*****

In a near reversal of what Volleyball is doing, the UofL women's soccer team goes north first to Milwaukee on Friday and then to Florida on Sunday. First up for Charlyn Corral and crew are the Golden Eagles of Marquette. The #19 Hoyas (7-2-1, 3-0-0) have won their last two with shutouts against Seton Hall and Rutgers. Louisville will look to continue the scoring frenzy they exhibited last weekend when the knocked off St. John's 6-0 in Cardinal Park. The 8 p.m. match against Marquette will test the Cards against a close RPI ranked squad....Marquette is 40th. in the NCAA RPI and Louisville 42nd.

After Marquette, Louisville and USF will play Sunday in Tampa.

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***Softball hosts Fall Tournament this weekend***

Not all the UofL women's sports teams are vacating the Belknap Campus this weekend.

Sandy Pearsall's sluggers are hosting a pre-season tournament and Bellarmine, Eastern Kentucky and Murray State are the guests. Admission is free and the schedule of tomorrow's events is below:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
5 p.m. - Louisville vs. Bellarmine
7 p.m. - Bellarmine vs. Eastern KY.
9 p.m. - Louisville vs. Eastern KY

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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Another busy UofL women's sports weekend

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

****** These updates on Friday action...The Cards defeated MTSU in three sets 25-19, 25-11, 25-19 in Volleyball. Field Hockey won 3-2 in double overtime against Central Michigan and Soccer fell to Notre Dame 2-1. Full stories on all three games in the Saturday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. Be sure to check back! ****** 

-Volleyball hosts Louisville Tournament...MTSU first opponent

-Women's soccer travels to Notre Dame

-Field Hockey @ Spartan Invitational 

-Jay Miller joins Softball coaching staff

-Two special WBB recruits in this weekend

-Notre Dame to ACC -- Some final thoughts

A very busy weekend for UofL women's sports coming up...beginning today with volleyball, field hockey and soccer all in action. Let's get right to the coverage! 

Three Volleyball matches in the KFC YUM! Center

UofL will occupy the KFC YUM! Center for three matches as part of the Louisville Invitational this weekend, the first match against Middle Tennessee State University. Despite the Blue Raiders record (3-9), they pose a tough challenge for the Cards. MTSU has had a brutal pre-conference slate of opponents and the roster is young. They'll have a say in the Sun Belt Conference title this season and are led by freshman Chelsea Ross (177 kills, 103 digs) and Ashley Adams (144 kills).

Louisville will also face UNLV and Miami (FL) on Saturday. The MTSU game starts at 7:30 p.m. tonite.

Soccer travels to South Bend

If you're in a road-trip frame of mind...

Karen Ferguson-Dayes' soccer squad begins BIG EAST competition against Norte Dame today at 4 p.m. The match will be televised on ESPNU and also available on-line at ESPN3 at WatchESPN.com. 

The Irish (3-3-1) return from a west coast swing that saw them tie Portland and lose to Washington. Louisville (5-1-0) comes into the game after hosting the Marriott Louisville Airport Classic where they bested Toledo and lost to Kentucky. 

The Irish hold a 8-3 lifetime series advantage over the Cards, but Louisville won both contests last year...winning 1-0 at South Bend and 2-1 in the semifinals of the BIG EAST tournament at West Virginia. 

Field Hockey battles in Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational

Another destination you could motor to would be catching Louisville Field Hockey on the road. 

Justine Sowry's girls also swing into action with a 4 p.m. clash against Central Michigan on the M.S.U. campus in East Lansing, MI. They'll also face either Michigan State or American University on Saturday, depending on the outcome of the games. 

Central Michigan (3-2) takes the field after a loss at Stanford and win over Maine. They feature Erin Dye, who has netted four goals on the season and Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week in goalkeeper Anastasia Netto. 

The Chippewas lead the series against the Cards 17-11. Louisville won the last match back in 2010...getting five goals from Nicole Youman in a 9-0 drubbing.

Chong, Harris visit this weekend

Jeff Walz and the University of Louisville basketball team host two major players in the class of 2013 this weekend for official visits. Saniya Chong, a do-everything guard from Ossining, NY and Alexandra "Alex" Harris, the 6'3" board terminator from Lorain. OH. will take in the sights and see the best college sports town around this weekend. Could be a busy weekend for the duo, with football at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium against North Carolina and the volleyball at the YUM. 

Chong is one of the best, if not the best, point guard in the 2013 recruiting class. A prolific scorer, distributes the ball well and a team leader. She's down to four schools...the CARDS, UConn, Maryland and Ohio State. WE feel once she sees all that the Louisville campus and facilities offer, she'll pare that list down further. She was low-flying on the national radar until the beginning of her junior year. She's blossomed into the type of guard that can be a difference-maker in a close game. Imagine her in a lineup with Mercedes Russell in the KFC YUM! Center. If we dream it, we can achieve it...

Harris dominates action on both ends of the court with her paint presence. Scores easily from inside and is a ferocious rebounder and defender. She's pared her list to the CARDS, Penn State and Michigan. Watching her game film eerily reminds me of a slightly taller version of Candyce Bingham. She'd be a great catch for the Cards. I bet she'd like playing with Chong and Russell, also. 

Enjoy Louisville, girls! It's a great place to spend four years! If you see the dynamic duo on campus or at a sporting event this weekend, flash them an "L" and tell them you'd like to see them in the red and black. 

Jay Miller joins Cardinal Softball staff.

Miller comes to Louisville as a volunteer assistant after an impressive career. Head coach at Mississippi from 2003-11. Prior to that, 15 years at Missouri from 1987-2002. 11 NCAA tournament appearances. A lifetime record of 1004-668, just one of 13 NCAA Division I coaches to hit the 1000 win plateau. 

"We're very happy to have somebody of Jay Miller's caliber join our staff. He brings a great deal of experience not only with the USA team, but also has an extensive college background and we are excited to have him join our program." -- Sandy Pearsall, UofL head softball coach. 

A great addition to an already stellar staff that Pearsall had on board. Miller replaces Lacy Wood, who has accepted an assistant coaching position at Eastern Kentucky. Miller's offensive strategies will only buoy a Cardinal attack that features eight returning starters this year. The Ulmer will be rocking! 

When Irish Eyes are smiling...

 So much has already been said and discussed about the Notre Dame departure from the BIG EAST to the ACC, that I'll limit my commentary to the effect it will have on women's sports in the BIG EAST. 

Muffett McGraw takes a talented basketball team that has been near or at the top of BIG EAST women's hoops for a decade to a conference that may well be the second strongest in women's college basketball.

New challenges in recruiting. New opponents to learn and face. And, with the vacating of the top rung on the ladder that the Irish shared with UConn, who will climb up? 

Obviously, Louisville will vye for that spot. DePaul, Rutgers and St.John's will try and lay claim to that rare air as well. 

The Irish were contenders in BIG EAST softball, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, track and field, swimming and diving and golf each and every year. Their departure weakens the league but also provides the chances for other programs to capitalize and move up. 

Most people I've talked to in the 48 hours since the Irish announcement agree that it is a strong blow to BIG EAST conference stability but rationalize that it doesn't hurt the already wobbly football coalition.  

These same people, in a vast majority,  also would like to see the Cards follow suit and try their fortunes in another conference. Big 12, Big 10, ACC...with the BIG 12 getting the majority of the favoritism. 

Here at CARDINAL COUPLE, we'll go on record as wondering if it's better to be a big fish in a rapidly draining pond or a new fish in a different lake? 

Notre Dame and Louisville have easily been the top two programs in BIG EAST overall women's sports since the Cardinals joined the conference in 2005. With the departure of the Irish, more conference championships are in Louisville's women's sports destiny. Better to be a giant in a small kingdom? 

Of course, any move in the future will be dictated by the economic engine of football. For now, Tom Jurich better get the UofL maintenance staff busy installing more trophy cases and shelves. Cardinal superiority will only increase.

And, that's not a bad thing at all.

Finally, if you attend the Louisville vs, North Carolina football game Saturday...make sure and stop by 80 under 80 to hear Robbie Bartlett and take a bath with Poobah, Sonja and Carol the Kid. MArkie MArk might even tell you about the festivus stick we left in Charlotte. 

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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Women's Soccer and Hunter Punter

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FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Hunter Punter checks in

-Women's soccer exhibition tonight vs. OSU

( Hunter Punter is a fictitious character created by Paul several years ago. In 58 years of coaching  multiple sports on the grade school, middle school, high school and collegiate levels -- he never had a winning season. He resides now at the Peaceful Palmettos Retirement Community, where he organizes shuffleboard and bocci tournaments and occasionally forgets to wear pants. Some say he looks a lot like the late Ted Knight. We wouldn't defame the lovable actor with such an insult. ) 

Got a phone call today from, "the ol' ballcoach" Hunter Punter. Still a big UofL fan and we discussed the upcoming fall season for UofL women's sports. 


C.C. "Hello?"
H.P. " Yes, I'd like to have delivered a six-inch sub with ham and cheese, mustard, no mayo and extra tomatoes. Pronto, bucko, I'm a hungry man." 
C.C. "Uh...I think you've reached the wrong number, sir..."
H.P. "Doesn't matter...this isn't my cell phone. Chop,chop...junior! Add some chips, too." 
C.C. "Coach...is that you?"
H.P. "Of course it is! Who did you think it was...Henny Youngman? Barack Obama?"
C.C. "Coach..it's Paul with Cardinal Couple! How have you been?" 
H.P. "When did you start working at Jimmy John's? And, where that $20 you owe me from my NCAA Basketball Bracket Tournament?" 
C.C. "Check's in the mail, coach...How have you been?"

H.P. "My lawyer tells me I got a good chance of getting off with probation and some public service. Hey, it looked like my car and I have no idea how the pistol and the Depends got in the front seat." 
C.C. "Well, that's good news! I'm so glad you called. Been meaning to give you a ring and get your views on the upcoming Cardinal fall sports." 
H.P. "You mean it's fall already? Well, there goes my plans to attend the Derby. How'd Secretariat do?"
C.C. "Lost by a nose, coach. Have you been keeping up with the Cardinals down there?"
H.P. "I don't seem them often. Seagulls,robins..those pesky starlings and a mockingbird that I'd pay someone good money to pick off with a rifle...darn thing won't shut up in the morning. Who did you say this was?"
C.C. "Paul with Cardinal Couple."
H.P. "Oh, yeah...the sandwich guy. Well get moving, Chef Boyardee...Dr Oz. comes on in a few minutes and I can't spend all day waiting for your delivery." 
C.C. "It looks like the Louisville Volleyball team is going to do great things this year coach...any comments?"

H.P. "I coached volleyball for many years, Never could figure out why you only got three chances to get it over the net. I had a girl once that could serve with speed, power, velocity and she'd put a wicked backspin on it. Problem was, she never could get it over the net. I tried to get the rules changed. After all,  when a basketball player puts one through the net, everyone gets excited. I even put her on stilts, to see if that would help. Everytime she'd serve, she'd fall off them and still couldn't get it over the net." 
C.C. "What do you think about Louisville's chances in Big East Volleyball?
H.P. "They're in the Big East? Who's idea was that? The Missouri Valley Conference...now that was some stiff competition. I liked that conference so much I named my sons Bradley, Drake and Creighton. I wanted to name my daughter Tulsa but the wife wouldn't go along with it. I remember this trip to New Mexico State back in the late sixties when the bus driver got lost and we ended up...
C.C. "Not to interrupt, Coach...but what's your favorite fall sport?"
H.P. "Well, back in my Louisville days, I always enjoyed soccer. All I had to do is roll the ball out in the middle of the football field and those kids would run around for hours trying to kick it, move it and I'd sneak off to the track and play exactas. We didn't have the money back then for goals...I just had two engineering students stand at either end of the field holding two broomsticks taped together over their heads. Get the ball by them, you got a point. Water polo was always a favorite of mine but I couldn't keep the players on the horses."
C.C. "The Louisville field hockey team looks pretty good this year also, Coach."

H.P. "Field hockey. That was one sport I never could understand. I don't know how many girls I had with sprained ankles and banged up knees trying to run around in the grass wearing ice skates. We couldn't afford sticks, so I bought a bunch of used golf clubs from the thrift store. Had one girl actually get a hole-in-one once...hit the ball right through the dean of student's window and in his fish tank."
C.C. "Well coach, it's been great catching up with you. What fall sports do you plan on attending this year?"

H.P. "I'll try to get to a few football games. Not a fan of that Ring Road over at the fairgrounds but I can usually park right at the entrance gate. Till they tow the car away, but I never take my own car so, what does it matter? I'd like to attend a few volleyball and soccer matches as well, but the last time I drove down to campus, I ended up wandering around this big indoor swimming pool looking for Crawford Gym. Took three tow trucks to get the car out of the water. Do they still validate parking?"
C.C. "Give us a call when you get in town." 
H.P. "I just called you! Who do you think I am, Ma Bell? Now get that sandwich over here. And toss in a Fresca." 

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Louisville women's soccer gets the season started with an exhibition game this evening against (The) Ohio State University at 6 p.m. in Cardinal Park. Good chance for Coach Ferguson-Dayes to get a look at the depth of the squad...and get some things in place until leading scorer Christine Exeter gets back from Japan. 

Admission is free and the Cards also play on Sunday, this time against Wright State. 
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