Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VIII

Football, Gaming

Confirmation that this has been a  less than stellar season for yours truly came today via UPS.

Joey the Vig, a made guy known to have saved the first farthing he ever bilked, sent me a commiserative gift basket of fruit from Harry & David. One can only hope those pears help my predictionary acumen.

To shake things up in hopes of ratcheting up my winning percentage, I have retaken the Briggs Meyers to check for any personality disorder(s), reconfigured my big data algorithms and trekked to Saint Thomas Cemetery in Koochiching County, Minnesota to visit the grave of college pigskin nonpareil Bronko Nagurski. (Bronko’s spelled with a “k”, who knew?)

Last weekend, Wazzu State got its comeuppance in Berserkely, Auburn lost again in Death Valley, Bayou Edition and U of L’s defense decided to sit out the battle against BC in front of a half full Papa J’s. Sparty and the Horned Frogs came through. Thank you Green. Thank you Purple. 2-3 for the fifth weekend this campaign, lowers my record to 23-17 in toto.

Chastened, embarrassed but never reluctant to forge ahead, here are this week’s prognostications:  Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VIII →

Louisville CardFile: Boston College

Football,

The University of Louisville Cardinals did not lose to Boston College yesterday because Jaylen Smith fumbled the ball after a 20 yard reception with less that 2:00 to play and the game knotted.

Anybody who blames the still not 100% healthy Cardinal wideout as the goat is an idiot.

The Cardinals did not lose the game because, up 21-7 in the 2d, their porous defense surrendered 4 consecutive TDS.

U of L did not lose the game because BC’s marvelous real frosh RB AJ Dillon rushed like a man among boys Pop Warner fashion for 272 yards and four scores. Or, that his final TD scamper saw him surrounded and in the clutches of the entire Cardinal D Line at his own 25, escape that peril, then literally throwdown a final would be tackler with his off arm like some comic book superhuman, then locomotive 3/4s of the gridiron to give the Eagles a second 14 point advantage in the 4th.

This game was not lost because the increasingly hapless U of L defense couldn’t cover, couldn’t wrap on tackles, couldn’t contain on special teams and couldn’t recognize the same Eagle swing pass, which the visitors successfully ran for significant yardage, what, five, six, seven times.

The Cardinals didn’t lose because they made 2d Team QB Darius Wade look like an efficient five star field general, in the chase for all conference honors.

The Cards didn’t lose because, failing to score at the end of the first half, the offense was moribund in the 3d.

No, it says here this game was lost, that U of L football lost its way, in the middle of last November. Continue reading Louisville CardFile: Boston College →

Seedy K’s Scrimmage Scribbles

Basketball,

The times they are changin’.

I didn’t take long Friday evening for yet another confirmation that it’s a new dawn for Cardinal hoops.

The first vision when walking into the Media Room before the game was U of L Basketball Heritage on display. A trio of guys from the glory days chatting each other up.

Roger Burkman. The vision of that game winning jumper against #11 Florida State in the ’77 Metro Tourney title game always brings a smile.

Jerry Jones. The loyal, solid second banana during the halcyon days of U of L hoops.

And Hall of Fame, two-time NCAA champion mentor, cool-handed Denny Crum.

His name’s on the court, his visage is in the rafters, he is beloved by the faithful and has been close to the university, but, to the best of my memory, I’ve never seen Denny in the Media Room since his retirement.

Let’s just say his relationship with Tom Jurich and his successor has been . . . uneasy . . . and I’ll leave it at that.  Continue reading Seedy K’s Scrimmage Scribbles →

Trent Johnson Named Cardinal Hoops Assistant

Basketball, , ,

During the few moments when I’m able to move on from depression over the state of U of L Men’s Basketball, I can summon the perspective that the situation is as fascinating as it is sad.

Off the court, there’s the NC2A sanctions surely over the horizon, recruiting woes and the curiosity what Rick Pitino will say when he finally talks, because I’ve been around him enough to know he’s dying to be heard. And will break his silence, no matter what legal advice he’s getting.

On the court, there’s wondering about how David Padgett’s going to be as the new Coach P, whether the players will respect and respond to him as they have for his predecessor?

There’s also been conjecture about when and how many new assistants there will be on staff? And who they’ll be?

Padgett: “There’s no shortage of interest.”

That conjecture itself has been intriguing to consider and talk about. I’ve had any number of conversations in the last week about the situation. A constant thread has been the suggestion that former Cardinals will be tapped to fill the spot(s).

Here’s a partial list of names that have been posited to me during verbal back and forths with fellow Cardinal fans. Denny Crum, an octogenarian for heavens’ sake, who just had a stroke. Butch Beard. Jerry Eaves. Kyle Kuric. Rodney McCray. Peyton Siva. To name a few.

To all of which suggestions, I’ve offered a counterpoint. Those are fans’ thoughts. Padgett’s going to choose folks he’s comfortable with, not some members of the Cardinal family for families sake.  Continue reading Trent Johnson Named Cardinal Hoops Assistant →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VII

Football, Gaming

Well, Florida State proved one thing when it couldn’t prevent rival Miami from marching down the gridiron for a last second victory.

OK, two things.

One, that the Seminoles’ game next weekend with U of L will feature two teams with no D. And, two, that my weekend before’s perfect 5-0 prediction tally might have been an aberration. (Hold both your guffaws and brickbats s’il vous plait.)

Not only did the Seminoles spit out the bit after scoring a last minute go ahead TD of their own, but their cross-state rivals, the Gators, lost to invigorated LSU . . . at home. And, of course, U of L lost. Purdue and the Wildcats were the only schools that came through for me.

2-3 for the weekend. Not so good. But I’m still a solid 67% on the season at 21-14.

With a new philosophy, at least about Louisville Cardinal games, which shall soon be disclosed, I forge on, projecting these five victors this round o’ games, as the season heads into its second half.  Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VII →

Louisville CardFile: NC State

Football, , ,

At The All-American — the marvelous college football section of theathletic.com, a great new sports site worth subscribing to — Stewart Mandel recently listed 15 coaches at Power 5 schools he believes have job security.

Bobby Petrino was among three from the ACC. (Dabo Swinney and David Cutcliffe are the other two. Though after last night’s performance, NC State’s Dave Doeren might be added were Mandel to update this morning.)

The pundit is maybe, probably correct. Given all the turmoil at U of L, given that the school’s troubles have taken permanent residence on ESPN’s screen scrawl, it is most doubtful the BP is going anywhere. Some stability, or at least a sense thereof, is required.

But, after another underwhelming performance in an important game, the question must be asked: When, if ever, will Bobby Petrino Era II live up to expectations? Is that still dumbfounding smackdown of Florida State on Game Day last season it?

That remains the only Cardinal W against a ranked foe during Petrino’s second go round.

The loss to #24 Wolfpack seemed so very familiar. Continue reading Louisville CardFile: NC State →

The New Coach P Meets the Press

Basketball, , ,

Acting U of L hoops coach David Padgett held a quickie press conference this afternoon.

Acting U of L AD Vince Tyra stopped by also, providing a short update and a couple answers.

Then, for the first time in years, we media types were actually invited in for 15 minutes of practice. The Rick only let in his pals and national media types.

What, if anything, did we learn?  Continue reading The New Coach P Meets the Press →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VI

Football, Gaming, ,

I needn’t explain why now more than ever, we must cherish the importance of the diversion we know as college pigskin.

As the calendar flips to October, when games mean more as league races ratchet up, it’s important that squads hit mid-season form.

So too prognosticatory savants. Thus, it is with a great deal of pleasure that the Kid provides these stats from last weekend: 41-21, 31-21, 34-23, 24-20 and 55-10. These are the final scores of wins by Fresno State, Navy, Akron, Kentucky and the University of Louisville Cardinals.

Need I mention who correctly picked the outcome of All Those Games?

That’s right, class, it isn’t necessary.

The second perfect weekend of the campaign has my season success soaring to 19-11.

So, with wind in my sails, and a firm hand on the rudder, I sail off into . . . sail off into . . . uh, oh well, I’ve lost my metaphor . . . but here are this coming weekend’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week VI →

Tom & The Rick: Greek Tragedy x 2

Basketball, ,

It was the best of times,
it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief,
it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light,
it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope,
it was the winter of despair . . .

. . . it is the Tale of Two Men.

Fallen.

The tale of two empires really, one inside the other, conjoined, intertwined, two conquerors of all that could be seen and beyond.

Two “brands,” to use a term these men in full so often invoked, who reached further, higher than than their constituents would have ever hoped.

Two empires, two men, whose reigns have collapsed under the weight of their own hubris and neglect. Two stars, their light extinguished, their constituencies swallowed into a black hole.

Tom Jurich and Rick Pitino were the greatest show in town from the get go. Continue reading Tom & The Rick: Greek Tragedy x 2 →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week V

Football, Gaming

You think UK fans are sad — and they certainly are — how about the kid?

I picked the Cats, and, after a long day and with Kentucky ahead by 13 and looking like a streak breaker, I hit the hay. Only to awake to the stunning news that the Cats had once again found a way to lose on the gridiron when victory seemed assured.

Which, for me, and frankly that’s all that matters for my purposes here, was the appropriate capper for another less than prophetic day of predictioneering. Okie State’s Cowboys were thrashed at home. Mississippi State’s Cowbells were thrashed on the road.

Can I get a break here?

Fortunately, Louisville had a walk over. And I was somewhat prescient in believing that Jeff Brohm’s Boilermakers aren’t quite ready for prime time.

So, 2-3, for the third losing weekend out of the last four, has me gasping for air at a head just above water 14-11 for the entire campaign.

Geesh.

Yes, I could throw in the proverbial towel. I could use the excuse that I learned this day that my beloved U of L Cardinals appear headed for a lengthy stay in hardwood purgatory. I could fold the tent and watch the weekend’s pigskin action without my ever diminishing pigskin expertise on the line.

But nooooooooooooo. I’m in this for the long haul. Law of averages, etc, etc.

So, here goes with this week’s winners (?????): Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week V →