Tag Archives: Bobby Petrino

Louisville CardFile: Syracuse

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For those of you Cardinal fans who said “to hell with it, I’m going to watch a football game where both teams are actually competing to win,” and stuck with Fresno State/ Boise State after the World Wide Leader switched the “battle” you were watching to ESPN7, the final tally was 54-23, favor of the Orange.

As if that rarely invoked TV coverage slight isn’t enough to confirm the desultory state of Louisville pigskin, as was on display again last evening, there are these two I’ve never really seen anything this bad before observations.

Syracuse coach Dino Babers on the Cards’ ineptitude: “Four turnovers in the first half and someone said they had four turnovers on four straight possessions. I’m not even sure I’ve been part of something like that in 35 years.”

Or TV color man Kelly Stouffer during Louisville’s second quarter meltdown, after the Cards had committed penalties on three consecutive plays, their 8th, 9th and 10th transgressions of the half — there would be another before intermission — who opined, “I’ve never seen anything close to it.”

So, yeah, just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse than surrendering 77 in Death Valley, it has. Continue reading Louisville CardFile: Syracuse →

Louisville CardFile: Georgia Tech

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In the Year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred Sixteen, the Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech under the mentorship of one John Heisman — yeah, the award namesake — was the victor in the most lopsided game in the history of college pigskin.

Against the woeful Cumberland College Bulldogs, Tech scored 63 points in the 1st Q, 63 points again in the 2d, 54 in the 3d, and a mere 42 in the 4th.

Final score Georgia Tech 222, Cumberland 0.

Even though Georgia Tech scored only 66 last night at Cardinal Stadium before an increasingly irritable gathering of Cardinal faithful, this nationally televised embarrassment of a beatdown sure felt like the most lopsided L in U of L history.

Louisville could not stop Georgia Tech.

Not figuratively.

Literally.  Continue reading Louisville CardFile: Georgia Tech →

Critical Year for U of L Cards, Part II: Questions, Answers, Reality

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Let’s start with The Truth.

The University of Louisville Cardinals football schedule in this transition season is not exactly a recipe for grannie’s beloved chocolate banana meringue pie.

The opener is on the road against consensus preseason #1 Roll Tide, defending CFP champs and in the argument for crafting the most dominant run of campaigns in the sport . . . ever. Not to mention that ‘Bama’s coach is among the handful in the argument as best . . . ever.

The Cards also face conference rival, preseason #2 Clemson on the road. The Tigers feature a front defensive four, heralded as the best DL . . . ever. Did I mention the game is in Death Valley?

U of L’s league slate includes a crossover battle with the nation’s hardest team to prepare for, Georgia Tech. Plus meet and greets with consensus preseason Top 25 Florida State, BC, NC State, Wake Forest and Syracuse. All are members of the ACC Atlantic, dubbed by The World Wide Leader as the 3d toughest division in college pigskin this year, behind SEC W, and B10 E.

Plus this reality: Bobby Petrino 2.2 commences, at least one guy’s opinion, with the most critical campaign of either of the mentor’s reigns as Cardinal coach. I sense he’s feeling a bit of pressure, if not exactly on a hot seat. Continue reading Critical Year for U of L Cards, Part II: Questions, Answers, Reality →

Critical Year for U of L Cards, Part I: How We Got Here

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Warning: Some content contained herein may be painful for diehard Louisville Cardinal football fans. 

November 9. 2006.

It was the moment Cardinal Faithful had believed would arrive since The Schnell had proclaimed it inevitable years before.

The Cardinals were not only on the cusp of a seemingly implausible dream come true, they had breached the perimeter.

Yes, Schnellenberger, not as wise about the future of college football as he thought, had jumped ship in a pique. He didn’t like that the school prexy had joined a conference. So The Pipe left for a one and done campaign as Supreme Commander Sooner Nation.

Yet his promise remained in the hearts of the loyal, though the vision faded somewhat in the campaigns right after he abdicated. There was the immediate and precipitous decline under Ron Cooper. A revival of belief under John L. Smith. But he too didn’t buy in entirely, going AWOL in Mobile during a bowl game after some success.

Enter the savant. Bobby Petrino 1.0. Continue reading Critical Year for U of L Cards, Part I: How We Got Here →

Louisville CardFile: NC State

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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 →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week I

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Thanks to the divine, full spectrum guidance of patron saint ROY G BIV, the Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii secured a waning moments W at UMass. Thus making for as satsifying a return trip to Diamond Head as there can be stuck in coach on a plane for 5100 miles.

Not to mention the victory secured as peerless an opening foray as yours truly could have hoped for. Along with wins by the Cougars, Bulls, Rams and The Cardinal, the kid started the season 5-0, prediction wise.

While I would like to boast ad nauseum, to be honest, last week’s meager slate of battles was hardly what could be termed a severe test of prognosticatory prowess.

A boffo schedule this coming weekend provides a legitimate chance to yet again prove my mettle. Thus I shall cut short the verbosity, and get right to it.

This week’s winners in five huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge games: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week I →

Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week III

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endimagesMore confidant than I had any reason to be, I was sure my less than stellar 2-3 performance in Week I was an aberration.

The proof, to coin a phrase, is in the proverbial pudding.

Tennessee, Pitt, Ohio, Florida and Louisville all won. Just as yours truly advised they would last week in this very space.

It was also a weekend which, strange as it sounds given how Kentucky spit out the bit in Gainesville, should provide some reason to smile a bit for UK fans. Watching way more of the Ohio Bobcats victory over Kansas than any human who savors good health should have, it became obvious that Kansas is easily the worst Power 5 team in the land.

So, Kentucky Wildcat fans, you got that goin’ for you. Which is nice.

Anyway, 5-0 for the weekend puts me at 7-3 for the young season, and raring to go again.

This week’s winners: Continue reading Seedy K’s Peerless Pigskin Prognostications: Week III →

Monday’s Card Quips: A New Bobby P; An Old Face: Cardinal Futbol & More

Basketball, Football, Soccer, , , , ,

petrinoStanding in the taco line next to U of L’s then new, recently anointed head coach at  2003’s Football Media Day, I attempted to engage Bobby Petrino, mentioning some imbroglio or another taking place at Auburn, where he’d been OC the season before.

Uneasy, fashioning a crinkly, forced smile, obviously wishing to be left alone, he mumbled, “Yeah, I saw that,” or something to that effect. Which, if subtitled, would translate into “I’d really like to grab a little lunch here without engagement, and head back to my office and watch film by myself.”

Fast forward to this Saturday past, at this season’s beginning of practice meet and greet with scribes and talking heads. Petrino is a different person. After his Belknap Campus abdication for a self-shortcircuited stint in Atlanta with the Falcons, his successful on-field performance and peccadillo engendered meltdown at Arkansas, a season in exile, a season helming the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, and a Tom Jurich rapprochement rehire at Louisville, Bobby P appears finally at comfort with himself.

Walking to the mic, he waved at a photographer, joked with good nature how quiet the room was, and hurled a gentle barb at one of the assembled writers.

With a welcome smile, he opened by saying  how much “fun it is to be in camp.”

He joked about defensive ace Devonte Fields, who was way out of shape this time a year ago, “We were waiting to see if he was going to throw up again or not.”

When asked how much freedom QB Lamar Jackson would have this season, Petrino smiled a totally different grin than the one a baker’s dozen years ago, this one warmer, confident, with a wink.

“He has the freedom to do exactly what we tell him.” Continue reading Monday’s Card Quips: A New Bobby P; An Old Face: Cardinal Futbol & More →

Friday Card Quips: Bobby P, E2 Y3 & Istanbul Russ

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petrinoBobby P, Era II, Year 3. There were moments of offensive firepower so explosive during Card Coach Bobby Petrino’s first two ventures in town, initially as offensive coordinator for a season, then as head mentor from ’03-’06, that the Red & Black Faithful were oft taken to exclaim, “He’s the next great college coaching genius.”

We were not alone in our assessment.

Not the least of his achievements was beating the Cats in his first game, when wearing the leader’s head set. And each season after that.

More monumental — after all, beating UK on the gridiron is no big deal — was an offense that trampled the tundra, seemingly at will. Wide open receivers, a deceptively effective running game. The Cards hung 50, 60, 70 on its mostly mid major schedule, at their pleasure. There were also big Ws over big time schools, skunking the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, eviscerating the Beavers from PAC-12 Oregon State. And that victory over Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl.

In ’06, Louisville was a W that wasn’t to come in New Brunswick, NJ away from a spot in the national title game.

Then . . . I’ll save you a reiteration of the details . . . he was gone.

Soon enough, he was back. Continue reading Friday Card Quips: Bobby P, E2 Y3 & Istanbul Russ →

Louisville CardFile: Texas A&M

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CardHelmetLamar Jackson.

Lamar Jackson early.

Lamar Jackson late.

Lamar Jackson often.

Lamar Jackson on the ground.

22 rushes. 226 yards. 10.3/ ypr. Two TDs.

Lamar Jackson in the air.

12/26. 227 yards. Two TDs. 144.9 QB Rating.

Lamar Jackson to close the deal.

Four yard rush for a 1st Down, on 3d & 3 on Louisville’s 32, to prevent the Aggies from getting one last chance.

Lamar Jackson.

LAMAR JACKSON!!!

Louisville 27, Texas A&M 21.

The L1C4 Nation thanks you, LJ, for putting the Cardinals on your shoulders and carrying U of L to the Music City Bowl victory. Continue reading Louisville CardFile: Texas A&M →