Sunday Cardinal Couple - Basketball, Softball, and more

Basketball Bonanza

The big event for the Cardinal Couple Crowd is today's Women's Basketball matchup vs North Carolina at 2:30.  The men couldn't get the job done last night at the KFC Yum! Center, falling to the Tarheels 93-76.  Early in the season, we had a little pattern develop where the men would lose to a school, then the women would play that same school the next day and get the W.  Let's hope that pattern continues today in Chapel Hill.

On the women's side of things, UNC is a bottom third team in the ACC.  With a 4-9 conference record and 14-12 overall, this hasn't been a great year for Sylvia Hatchell and the UNC squad.  Some hint of the struggles developed early, with early season losses for the Tarheels to Hampton and South Alabama, and later in the non-conference slate against Mercer.  Some signs of life for the squad came with a win over Minnesota.

The 'Heels started off conference play getting drubbed by Florida State, which isn't that much of a shocker, but then they went up to Chestnut Hill and took a double-digit loss to Boston College.  A win over Duke again shows some hints of positivity for the squad, but otherwise there's not a lot to write home about for this UNC squad.

The WBB team did get a chance to cheer on the Softball team, who is playing this weekend in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge being hosted by NC State just down the road, alas their hype wasn't enough for the Pearsall squad as they fell in 9 innings to a pretty darn good Ohio State team.  More on that in a minute.

In Other BBall News

Donovan Mitchell threw down a few fun and stylin' dunks in the NBA All-Star Weekend Dunk Contest and took the trophy home.  An homage to Darrell Griffith's iconic dunk while wearing the Griff's #35 Jazz jersey, particularly with the common link back to UofL, is enough to get all of CardNation on its feet, reportedly during a timeout at the UNC game that didn't get CardNation hyped otherwise.  Congratulations to Donovan Mitchell for taking home that trophy as one of the youngest winners ever of the dunk competition.

If I may digress for a moment, I think, as a Cards fan, one of the things that I like most about the likes of Mitchell, and similarly for Teddy Bridgewater, and I think soon to be for Lamar Jackson (and plenty more, could probably be named), is not just that they perform well on the next level of play and the reflected glory that brings to UofL.  Nearly universally, these players get to the next level and while performing well, end up being well liked by other players, coaches and fan bases.

Teddy Bridgewater goes up to Minnesota, acquits himself well on the field, and then suffers a massive knee blowout.  And then something happened with the Viking fanbase that you just almost never see at the professional level like that...they continued to cheer for him through his injury and recovery.  Teddy B made an impression on that fanbase, and it wasn't his on-the-field actions that did it, it was Teddy being Teddy...off the field, being just a genuinely nice guy, making friends, being a giving and caring person to his community, and the community and fan base responded.

I see Mitchell doing some of the same in Utah.  It's clear that, besides being a very likely contender for Rookie of the Year based on his playing, that the Jazz fanbase, his teammates, the coaches, and opponents, just genuinely like the guy.  I'll be a happy Cards fan if that's the association that gets made with UofL athletics, regardless of what happens on the field, or maybe even in the courtroom.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse suffered their first loss at the hands of a very good Denver squad in a sloppy mess at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium, 12-5.

Not exactly ideal Lacrosse playing conditions.

A mid-day snowfall resulted in a slushy snowy mess on the field, necessitated an extended halftime to give the grounds crew time to try to clear off part of the field.  UofL suffered from the conditions, but of course, both teams are playing on the same field and Denver was able to execute.  The Pioneers shut down what looks to be the two main scorers for the Cards this year, Tessa Chad, and Caroline Blalock, getting out of the game with neither scoring a goal.

Shayla Scanlan got her scoring career as a Cardinal started as the only Card to score more than one in the game.  Her two, combined with single goals by Julia Wood, Lexi Cheetham and Ally Hall would account for Louisville's 5.  Lexie Ball did well between the pipes, with 10 saves, equaled by Denver's GK.

The takeaway here is that this one was a cold, sloppy mess.  They need to support each other, and go out and play their game, regardless of the conditions they face.  Denver is a good squad, a loss to them isn't a killer, and this UofL team is still figuring out who they are and developing the team culture...that takes time.  There were some good looks yesterday, and more and better will come for this team and future teams.

Lacrosse will be back in action Thursday against Butler in Indianapolis.

Our post game interview with Coach:

LINK: HEAD LACROSSE COACH SCOTT TEETER DISCUSSES DENVER GAME

Softball

In Raleigh, NC for the ACC/Big 10 Challenge in Softball, the Cards took their first loss of the season against an Ohio State squad that's ranked 22nd in one of the polls.  No real shame, there, particularly when the Cards made the Buckeyes go to 9 innings to get the win, 6-5.

Credit Megan Hensley with a touch-em-all that brought Jamie Soles home.  The New Pride of New Egypt New Jersey had gotten on base as a result of a 2 out walk.  That evened the score at 2 apiece after just one inning.  Caitlin Ferguson would make the trip around the bags in the 7th.  Alison "Mike" Szydlowski gets the RBI after Ferguson got on base with a walk.  The Cards would then leave the bases full, a result in the 7th inning virtually guaranteed to draw the unwanted attention of Coach Pearsall.

In extra innings, both teams would get 2 around in the 8th.  Celene Funke reached on an error, and then scored on a Ferguson double.  Ferguson would then finish the trip on a Sid Melton single.  Ohio State answered in the bottom half and then went on to hold the Cards scoreless in the 9th, and the Buckeyes finished it all with an RBI single.

UofL will get a rematch with OSU today, getting underway as of the time of this writing.


THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

We don't have a link to provide for our weekly radio show because it never took place. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we never got a chance to get in front of the microphones and chatter. We hope that the production issues can be resolved next week and we can return to the airwaves and Facebook Live at 11 a.m .Saturday.

What a day. Softball loses, lacrosse loses, men's basketball loses, no radio for us. Let's hope Sunday is better.

-- JMcA

Cardinals open first (and last) season of league play in the AAC today

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

The women’s basketball team opens conference play in the American Athletic Conference today at the KFC YUM Center with a 3:00 tip against Southern Methodist University (SMU).  The Cardinals are entering the game on a 5 game winning streak and a 12-1 overall record.   The Mustangs of SMU have a 9-2 overall record. 

Senior guard Keena Mays is coming off a huge game, scoring 32 points to lead the Mustangs in an overtime victory against North Texas.  Mays is also the leading scorer in the AAC averaging 20.9 points per game.  No doubt, the Cardinals scouting report will focus heavily on Mays.   Supporting Mays on the court in scoring is senior forward Akil Simpson who is averaging 14.1 ppg and is also the leading rebounder with 8.3 per game. 

The Mustangs lone elite matchup of the season they were crushed by Tennessee.  In that game Mays was held to just 12 points while Simpson 11.  The Mustangs lost to Tennessee by 40 points. 

Unfortunately for the Mustangs I do not see this game much differently.   The Cardinals should dominate from the tip.  One could likely expect Henderson, Niamke and Deines logging extended minutes in this one.   In my opinion, this is likely to be the kind of game where the Cardinals can really work on specific aspects of their individual game, as well as specific aspects of team play.  In recent games the Cardinals have been focusing specifically on passing in and out of the post and working hard to manage the ball and limit turnovers. 

The team is reconvening after a brief holiday that break that likely saw most of the team headed home for the Holidays.  They were to report back to campus on Thursday, December 26. 

The Cardinals will hit the road for a midweek matchup against the Temple Owls on New Years Day.  They will return back home next Saturday for a match against Cincinnati.    We hope to see you at The YUM Center!

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The men’s basketball team had a tall order in Lexington and fell just shy on the day losing by 7 to the Cats.  National Championships are not won, or lost, in December.  Bragging rights go to the Cats for a sweep of the men’s and women’s team this season.

The highlight of the day was the dominant performance of the football team pounding Miami, winning the Russell Athletic Bowl, handedly.  Cardinal fans now await the announcement of Teddy Bridgewater, will he stay or will he go?     While I would love for Teddy to usher the football program in the to ACC, with a degree under his belt (how impressive is that, by the way?), I expect we will see Teddy in the NFL Draft. 

Jenny O'Bryan

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EDITOR NOTE

Teddy Bridgewater may have put on the most spectacular performance by a UofL quarterback in a bowl game ever. Some would counter with Browning Nagel in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl...but "Teddy Bowlgame" shone on a night where the Miami defenders mirrored the cartoon characters a few miles away at Disney World. Goofy. Donald Duck. Mickey Mouse and Dumbo.

Teddy needs to go. Best to walk out in the white hot spotlight when you can. (See Brian Brohm and Steve Kragthorpe as a "not to do" example). Maybe Devante Parker goes, too. It does not matter. Coach Charlie will reload, rebuild and make the Cards competitive in the ACC. I wonder how the 'Canes would vote now about accepting Louisville into the league?

Good luck Teddy! As a friend remarked last night, "So, if Teddy goes...can we consider it 'water under the bridge'?".  Hmmm...more like a raging river headed to the vast seas, maybe.

paulie



Jenny O'Bryan

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Friday Cardinal Couple -- Year of the Cardinal delivers

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- ESPNU broadcast "Year of the Cardinal" soars

- CU ready for the rematch


On Thursday evening ESPNU presented the Tom Jackson narrated Year of the Cardinal documentary...a 60 minute look the the successes of 2013 Louisville men's and women's basketball, Louisville football and Louisville baseball.

It did not disappoint.

The highlight clips of Louisville's incredible run to the NCAA Men's basketball championship, Women's basketball NCAA runner-up finish, Football's Sugar Bowl win over Florida and Baseball's march to the College World Series were "must see TV". The ending segment with Tom Jurich outlining his philosophy toward Louisville athletics and academics was a glowing reminder that he is the best A.D. in college sports.

Jackson's precise and complimentary recap of the events left me with the feeling that there is no better feeling than being a UofL sports fan.

What the Cardinals did in the 2013 season has never been matched in college athletics. Watching brave Teddy, fearless Shoni, Russdiculous and baseball's Jeff Thompson brought back some very great memories and good times.

As Jeff Walz candidly commented:

"People may not remember who won the 2013 NCAA Womens' Tournament five years from now...but they will remember that Louisville beat Baylor."

I hope you caught it. I hope ESPNU replays it many times in case you didn't. It is a testimony to an incredible year for a university that has one of the most devout, supportive and enthusiastic fan bases in the nation.

We see it every day here at CARDINAL COUPLE. Not only for women's basketball...but for the fortunes of volleyball, field hockey, soccer, softball, lacrosse and all the other women's sports that UofL fields team for.

Bright times ahead. A bowl game in Orlando, outstanding achievements by our basketball squads. An 18-0 run for volleyball in the AAC. Softball returning a powerhouse squad.

And the ACC competition that lies ahead.

Several years ago, it was offered that Louisville was the best college sports town in the nation. The accomplishments of the 2013 season, the current successes and the future solidify that.

It was nice of ESPN to put it all together in a captivating 60 minute recap. Let us not forget the athletes, coaches, staff, professors and fans that dedicate themselves to it 365 days a year, though.

Tom Jackson was a heck of a football player at UofL in his day. He went on to be one of the best linebackers in NFL history. He definitely sacked the QB Thursday night.

Kudos, sir.

How about "Decade of the Cardinal?" It is within UofL's realm. Believe, support and remain dedicated. We are UofL.

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The Colorado Buffaloes come to the KFC YUM! Center Saturday at 1 p.m. with an undefeated record and high expectations for their match with Jeff Walz's squad.

You really need to attend this one. Fill the lower bowl, make them open the upper deck. Help the squad get revenge against the team that beat them in Boulder last year.

The Buffs ain't skeered. Thanks to Jenny for sending me the clip below about how CU is approaching this #11 vs. #7 matchup.


http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=209344173


-paulie

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"Floored" ida. Cards upset #3 Gators in Sugar Bowl 33-23

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Louisville's fast start leaves Gators toothless

It is the biggest victory in Louisville football history.



The champ.

Just as Muhammad Ali shocked the world with a knockout over Sonny Liston in 1965 to claim the heavyweight boxing title, another Louisville legend -- the Charlie Strong coached Louisville football team -- shocked the world (as least the college football world) with a 10-point win over #3 Florida in Wednesday night's Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Make that Lou Orleans.

Ali was on hand to see the win. So was a 5 year old cancer patient from Louisville who wanted to see this game with only months possibly left in his young precious life. The champ is smiling. The young man has his belief renewed that miracles can happen.
 

Scoring on the first play from scrimmage in each half, the Cards dominated the air game behind the heroics of Teddy Bridgewater. The Cards shut down the Florida offense for the majority of the contest and pulls off the biggest BCS bowl upset quite possibly in history. They moved the unmovable object. They danced past the gator pit unscathed.  

A 14-point underdog, the #21 ranked Cards proved the Vegas odds-makers wrong...holding off a desperate Florida rally in the fourth quarter. Gator bait? Not tonight.

Sugar Bowl champs. Right here in Derby City.

Charlie wears a Sugar Bowl confetti wig.

A win that proves the ACC chose the right school. Another notch in the totem pole for the best college town in America. A righteous justification for the coach who had been a bridesmaid so very often in the quest for a head coaching job. A testimony that there is no better athletic director in college sports than Tom Jurich. 

Louisville Cardinals. L1C4. Big East 1 - SEC 0.

We'll return to our usual coverage of UofL women's sports Friday. Today's column is for Teddy Bridgewater and his mom, a breast cancer survivor. For Eli Rogers and his mom, an 11-year AIDS survivor. For the 20,000 fans who made the trek to New Orleans and for those who watched on TV or listened on radio. For an athletic director who gave a man a chance. For a coach who urged fans to "get on the train." A coach who believes that when you give your word, you keep it. A guy who turned down the money and the SEC. A guy who kept pointing to the Louisville fan section and telling the world that "this one is for those people up there" -- dressed in red and black.

Strong? Yeah, you betcha.

Arlo Guthrie wrote a song years ago about a train that rode the rails to New Orleans. "Riding on the City of New Orleans" came true tonight. And, to paraphrase Aerosmith...the train kept a rollin' all night long. Ozzy Osbourne sang about riding on the rails of a crazy train. The Cards have done all that and more with this win. The Cardinal Cannonball.

Down goes Frazier? How about down goes Florida? Gators, you just been "Carded"?

Teddy hits the deck on first UofL offensive play
but Florida ends up on mat in the end.

A win that few...except Cardinal fans...expected. A win that had ESPN announcers stunned, stammering and shuffling for material. A win for a young team that the pundits claimed achieved false success against a weak schedule. A team that would not be able to withstand Florida's vaunted defensive pressure according to the experts. Big East beating the SEC? Impossible...

How does 33 points taste, Florida?

Have some.

A win for the ages. And a victory for underdogs everywhere. A Sugar Bowl shocker.

The team will arrive at 3:30 today back at PJCS. IF you aren't working, go to greet them. A larger celebration is needed. Maybe over the weekend in the house where it started. The pizza oven.

Sugar?

How sweet it is.
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Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Volleyball defeats Illinois, Field Hockey over Ohio

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Lola-led Cards down Illinois 3-2 in Volleyball

- Paige Monson provides game-winner for Field Hockey

- Football goes to 2-0 with win over Missouri St.

( We'll also have an in-depth report by Jeff Mc Adams today on the VolleyCards successful weekend. DON'T MISS IT! )




CARDS DIG IN, OUT-POINT THE ILLINI

They may be the best un-ranked team in women's college volleyball and Anne Kordes' VolleyCards added to that legacy with a 3-2 win over #20 Illinois in the BIG EAST/BIG TEN Challenge Saturday in Cincinnati.

( EDITOR'S NOTE: I have since been corrected and told that Louisville is, in fact, 24th in the nation. Must be some hanging chads or voter machine malfunction still out there, though....because the Cards have defeated three teams this year with better TOP 25 rankings. The very un-official Timmy the Intern and Bill the Goat poll puts Louisville at #9 in the nation. We have no idea how they did their research and no clue who they've placed in the other Top Ten Spots.)

Leading the way for the Red and Black  was senior outside hitter Lola Arslanbekova...who delivered 22 kills and 21 digs against the Fighting Illini. 

"I'm so proud of the girls for these two wins because  the BIG EAST/BIG TEN Challenge is a prestigious tournament. We came so close last year, dropping both matches against Purdue and Illinois in five sets by the narrowest of margins. It just makes it that much more exciting to see the progress we have made. They are putting in the work and playing with confidence. I am very pleased." -Anne Kordes, head UofL Volleyball coach.

It didn't come easy for the Cards...who took the highly contested match 25-18, 23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-9. 

Louisville roared out to an early lead in game one and at 12-4, looked to be catching the Fighting Illini unfocused and unprepared. A Illinois rally made it 17-13 but Lola led the Cards on a 5-0 run after that to snuff the UofI surge. 

The Cards appeared to have the edge early in game two and actually led 11-7, forcing a Illinois timeout. Still in command at 20-15, Louisville ran into some inspired blocking at the net and was outscored 10-3 the rest of the game to knot the contest at 1-1. 

Game three saw the Cards jump out early again and grab a 8-3 advantage. Lola continued to fuel the Cards progress and enjoyed dominance at 14-6 and 21-11. Aided by Kaitlynn James and Emily Juhl late...the Cards coasted in with a eight-point victory. 

Illinois would not go away, though and hung tough with the Cards in game four, forcing 14 ties and five lead changes in the hotly contested battle. The Cards posted a 22-21 lead after a Lola kill...but UofI swept the final four points to knot the match at 2-2.

In the deciding game, Louisville sprinted out to a 8-2 edge and stayed in the drivers' seat at 12-5. A Gwen Rucker block and two straight Lola spikes provided the Cards with the final three points needed to take game and match. 

Lola was named All-Tournament for her efforts. 

The Cards return to the KFC YUM! Center for the Louisville Invitational on Friday and Saturday...with UNLV, Middle Tennessee and Miami (FL) the other participants. 

FIELD HOCKEY DOWNS OHIO IN BLOOMINGTON

Paige Monsen picked a great time for her first career goal as a Cardinal, delivering at the 57 minute mark in the second half yesterday to give UofL a 2-1 win over the Bobcats in Bloomington. 

The first half provided an intense, scoreless battle until the final minute...when Elisa Garcia also got her first goal in college...driving a shot into the net with 41 seconds left on the clock.

Ohio tied it at the 56 minute mark, but Monsen retaliated for Louisville to make it 2-1 and the Cards defense kept the Bobcats out of the net the rest of the way. 

Senior goalkeeper Erin Conrad with a busy day, gathering nine saves. Louisville (4-2) takes to the road again next weekend...headed to East Lansing for games against Central Michigan and either Michigan State or American University Sept 14th and 16th.

GOOD JOB, TEDDY

Finally, props to the Football Cards who whipped the Missouri State Bears 35-7 in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Teddy Bridgewater throwing for a career high 344 yards against the Bears. 

A wonderful day for tailgating and football and most excellent results for the 2-0 Cards. It gets considerably tougher next week...North Carolina visits the Pizza bowl and they'll probably be looking for a fight after losing 28-27 to Wake Forest Saturday. The Cards 14-7 loss to the Tar Heels easily qualified as the most boring football game of the Cardinals 2011 season.
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Softball takes two and Spring Game a fun affair Saturday

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SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Cards sweep Longwood 8-0, 7-1. Collins gets
no-hitter.


-Dullahan upsets Hansen in the Bluegrass Stakes


-Spring Football game showcases Teddy's Talent


Louisville softball took two from Longwood yesterday at Ulmer Stadium...Tori Collins getting the first no-hitter of her collegiate career in the first game. 


The Cards go to 37-2 with the win and can get out the broom and sweep the series with a Sunday game at noon today against the Farmville, VA squad.


GAME ONE

Louisville wasted no time getting an early lead against the Lancers. Jennifer Esteban and Katie Keller socked back to back singles in the bottom of the first and Alicja Wolny drew a walk. The bases were covered in Cards for Taner Fowler who singled to bring Esteban home. Jordan Trimble got the Cards fourth single of the inning and Keller scored to make it 2-0 UofL. Hannah Kiyohara got the second base on balls off Longwood starting pitcher Ashley Cornell which allowed Wolny to greet the home plate umpire. 3-0 Cards after one inning. 

Louisville increased the margin to 5-0 in the second. Esteban getting her second single of the game and Keller pounded a double to center next. Wolny drove both home with a single and the Cards were well in command after two. 


Meanwhile, Collins was dominating inside the pitching circle, allowing just one base runner on a walk in the second inning. Louisville added a run in the third when Esteban lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Kayla Soles. 

The Cards ended it in the bottom of the fifth. Soles started the inning with a double and scored on Hannah Kiyohara's triple. Whitney Arion doubled home Kiyohara to make it 8-0 and end the contest because of the "mercy" rule. 


Collins goes to 17-1 with the no-hitter. She struck out eight Lancers in her five innings of work. Four Cards had two hits in the white-wash.


GAME TWO


Once again, the Cards put runs on the board early. After a Kristin Austin single and Esteban walk, Wolny drove in both with a single to give the Cards an early 2-0 lead after one inning.

Wolny would lead the Cards again in the bottom of the second. After Kiyohara walked and Arion reached on a bunt, Austin singled to fill the bags with Cards. Esteban tapped a grounder and Kiyohara beat the throw to the plate to make it 3-0. That set the stage for Wolny's double which scored Arion and Austin. Wolny scored on a Fowler single and the Cards were in control 6-0 as the team went to the third inning. 


Louisville pushed their final run across in the bottom  of the third. Once again, Wolny figured in the tally...singling with two outs and getting home on a Fowler double. 

Sandy Pearsall used both Caralisa Connell and Chelsea Leonard in Game Two...Connell getting the start and win to go to 13-1 on the season. She pitched four innings of one run, two hit ball before giving way to Leonard. Leonard earned her eighth save of the season by shutting out the Lancers over the final two innings and striking out three Longwood batters. 

Sunday is the Cards "pink" game so get out and support Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing your Pink at Ulmer today! 


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DULLAHAN, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, unleashed a furious stretch run at Keeneland Saturday to catch front running HANSEN and win the Bluegrass Stakes by a length. 


It looked like HANSEN had put away challenger GUNG HO as the horses charged down the Keeneland stretch and was well on the way to victory...but DULLAHAN switched from the rail to the center of the poly-turf and gained rapidly on the leader...catching the grey just shortly before the wire and breezing by for the win.


DULLAHAN went off at 3-1 odds. HANSEN was the 6-5 favorite. Sonja long-shot favorite GUNG HO held on for third and HOLY CANDY came from far back to finish a rapidly closing fourth.  


The trifecta (6-4-2)paid $82.25 on a .50 cent wager and the .10 cent superfecta (6-4-2-9) returned $148.92. 


Dullahan               8.40 3.60 3.00
Hansen                         3.20  2.60
Gung Ho                               9.20


Not a bad return on investment. Two trifecta box tickets purchased for $24 returned $164.50. A .10 superfecta wheel cost $24 and returned $148.92. Straight out bets of $4 across the board on Hansen and Gung Ho cost $24 and returned $11.60 on Hansen and $18.40 on Gung Ho. 


We wonder if Hansen is capable of getting the mile and a quarter distance of the Kentucky Derby in first after losing the 1 1/8 mile distance Saturday in Lexington. Or, is Dullahan just that good in the stretch?


We'll know in 3 weeks.


BODEMEISTER ran away and hid from the field in the Arkansas Derby with Mike Smith on board...winning by almost 10 lengths. Trained by Bob Baffert, who also had second place finisher SECRET CIRCLE, the chestnut 3 yr. old went off at 2-1 odds. "The Bode" is now Paul's pick to win the Derby. 


Well played, sir.

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Over 15,000 attended the Spring game

The Louisville Football Spring Game on Saturday was a fun afternoon of pre and post game tailgating and the precision passing of sophomore UofL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.   

Poobah in disguise in a blue shirt and seen here calling
security to have Sonja locked up. 

The format featured Bridgewater and the first string offense and defense and Will Stein and the second string offense against the second string defense. It was Louisville against the Cardinals and Stein's squad got a 21 point advantage to begin the game. 

Poobah has gathered several devout followers
but the "Chair of the Divine (Miller) Lite" has
not been filled yet. 

WE were impressed with Teddy's accuracy and his hookups with former Ballard great DeVante Parker and Louisville Trinity grad Scott Radcliffe. It also looks like Louisville will have no shortage of capable and talented running backs this year. Senorise Perry, Dominique Brown, Jeremy Wright and Corvin Lamb will all keep defenses honest with their carrying skills. 

Tillie the Tour guide proved to us later that she
knows how to display the "L" the correct way. 

The rain early Saturday morning was a bit depressing weather...yeah it was ominous as we prepared to go over to Papa John's. Rained on us, in fact, pretty heavily as we made the drive to Floyd and Central. Just as we reached the I-65 cutoff for Eastern Parkway, though, the raindrops stopped and the rest of the day turned out beautifully. 

Upon arrival, we met up with CARDINAL COUPLE readers and staff members Tillie the Tour Guide and Tom the Transportation Captain. WE discussed shortening Tom's title to something like Tranny Tom or Tom the Trans-Sport but the motion was tabled when the "Tillie-ritas" (her EXCELLENT version of Maragarita's) came out.  

Poobah  details the events surrounding his trip to remove
Bobby Petrino from Fayetteville and his subsequent addition
of four Guatemalian engineers to his palace staff. 

The couple of hours before kickoff seemed to fly by. Plenty of Cardinal fans stopped by our tailgate staging area to say "Hi!" and, fortified with delicious food and beverage...we were prepared to make the walk inside PJCS and get an early look at the 2012 Football Cards.

Cardinal Couple readers and good friends Bill and
Barbara Hancock offer to take Sonja away from our
tailgate area and put her in a secure and safe area.

The crowd wandered inside in typical tawdy and casual Louisville fashion as the contest began. A brief second quarter rain sent some to the parking lot but most just sought higher, covered seating or braved the short shower out. It was 24-14 at the half and public address Sean Moth was covering the contest from field. He got Cards engaged in a side-to-side chant of "Go...Cards" and it could be a popular cheering tactic when the regular season arrives. 


Louisville has the potential to be great this year on the gridiron but needs to bolster the thin offensive line ranks. Two O-Line Cardinals suffered injuries early in the first quarter...but neither injury appeared to be serious and both are expected to be ready for fall practice. 

Popular Louisville Sports Report and local media impresario
Howie Lindsey stopped by to exchange greetings with our
group and take photos. He is seen here reacting to our shouts
that the stadium is in the opposite direction. 

Teddy's team defeated Stein's Squad 27-24 in the Spring Game but just because the contest was over didn't mean that the parking lot festivities were through. 

Several K.B.'s are hidden in this group of
Poobah disciples. They must be sought out,
revealed and eliminated.  

Plenty of Cardinal fans fired up the grills and brought the coolers back out for post-game discussions, bean bag toss and tailgating. We also were blessed with a group-consciousness vision and apperance of POOBAH. He appeared before us in his red chariot of fire, sacramental beverages magically appeared with this vision and he spoke of things relevant, forecasted future events and appearing with him our...the legendary "five horse" BABS. She brought word of her encounters with the evil Kitchen Biotches...the demons that have brought us all pain, suffering and bloating.


Poobah also revealed his dislike of a certain type of steak and told parables of the epic "battle of the mulch" and his "against all odds" winter campaign and victory...armed with only a rope and plastic garbage can lid. He then magically disappeared again and we departed as well shortly thereafter, honored and a bit humbled with this unexpected revelation. 


A great afternoon for football, fun and friends. WE arrived home a few hours later just in time to see Hansen's disappointing defeat on television and several hours later...were fast asleep after a full and rewarding day of gridiron and socializing.  
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