No Payne No Gain

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I’m not ashamed to admit that when Kenny Payne was hired to be the head coach at Louisville I thought he’d be the guy who would revive this once-great basketball program.

They say you can be loyal to a fault and I think my loyalty along with the University of Louisville’s loyalty was at fault for that disaster. Not only did he not revive the program but took it lower than ever before.

For two years most of us had forgotten what good basketball at Louisville looked like. We had forgot the joy that it could bring into our world. Most stopped watching and supporting the program all together.

Finally, things got so bad that the University was forced to end the Kenny Payne era and a new coaching search would begin. Sadly that wouldn’t be the end of our pain. Louisville Basketball fans would have to endure months of rejection from several big name coaches who would turn down the once prestigious job.

There for a while it felt like nobody was going to take the job. Then an unlikely candidate emerged. None of us knew much about Pat Kelsey and the hire failed to generate much excitement at first. But this guy hit the ground running and his passion and excitement became contagious.

Within months of his hire he had already generated more excitement and hope than the fan base had felt in years. And he would have us looking forward to a real reviVILLE.

Things looked much different inside the KFC Yum Monday night. An exciting brand of basketball has finally found its way back to Louisville. All that buzz and excitement Coach Kelsey had provided during the off-season made its way to the court.

It has been a long time since we have been able to enjoy good basketball and after years of torture the PTSD from Cardinal Nation was evident on social media during the game:

Not since Pitino’s bombinos had we seen the up and down style of basketball on display Monday. The Cardinals would hit 24 three point shots. That’s the most ever in a game for a Louisville team inside the Yum. 72 percent of their shots were threes and they hit 24 of 56. That made for 42.9 percent shooting from the three.

The Cards had 63 points at halftime. They did not score more than 54 points in a half in any game last season. If the exhibition game Monday was a glimpse of whats in store this season then we will all be able to take a deep breath and finally be able to move on.

Sure it’s been a long haul and at times didn’t feel like we’d ever feel good about basketball again. It’s never easy to get to anything good and there is always going to be some suffering involved. No Payne No gain. Hopefully its nothing but good times ahead.

L’s UP!

He gave us our moment now its time for Teddy’s moment

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If you are a sports fan you dream of that time when you get to witness something special, that moment of greatness. You dream of getting to watch a legend. Have you ever heard your parents, or someone older talking about that great player, that great play, and wished you could have been there or that you could have seen it? Well, Cardinal fans Teddy Bridgewater gave us our moment.

So happy to hear that on Saturday vs. Miami Louisville will add Teddy Bridgewater’s Jersey to the honored jerseys inside L&N Stadium. This is much deserved. It is Teddy’s moment.

Teddy is the most transformational player of my lifetime. He brought so much to the football program. Had some of the most gutsy performances ever and always left it all on the field. His genuineness was just as impressive as his performances on the field. Proud that I got to cover some of his football journey.

One of my favorite memories is when Teddy led his team to a Big East championship over Rutgers and he did it while playing with one arm and on one leg. It was a heroic effort and a moment that will remain in Cardinal lore after most of us are long gone. Afterward, Teddy and Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson shared one of my favorite moments. I think we will all feel this way when that cover drops revealing his name in the ring of honor tomorrow.

From now on when me and my son are in Cardinal Stadium and we look up to those numbers that have been honored I will be the one who can say proudly that I got to watch that great player. Thanks to Teddy we now have our legend and we had our moment.

Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!

TBT Gearing Up for Battle of the Bluegrass

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The TBT Tournament, also known as The Basketball Tournament, is an annual event that brings together some of the best basketball talent from around the world. With a grand prize of $1 million on the line, the competition is fierce and the stakes are high. One of the most highly anticipated matchups in this year’s tournament and maybe ever is the game between The Ville and LaFamilia.

The TBT Tournament has always been known for its electrifying atmosphere, with passionate fans filling the stands and creating an incredible atmosphere. The game between The Ville and LaFamilia is expected to draw a large crowd, with fans from both teams eagerly cheering on their favorites.

This will be the first time in TBT that the University of Louisville-based “The Ville” team will face off against the University of Kentucky-based team “La Familia”. The teams in this game have a long history of rivalry and the players have all squared off against each other in the college version of the rivalry.

Thru 3 game The Ville is averaging 77.7 points a game shooting 47.8% from the field, 32.9% from the 3, 67.3% from the free throw line, 36.3 rebounds and 15.7 assist.

Leading the guys in red is David Johnson averaging 16.7 points shooting 50.0% from the field (59th overall), MontrezL Harrell averaging 13.0 points a game shooting 50.0% from the field with 8 blocks a game, Russ Smith averaging 13.0 points a game shooting 43.3% from the field (105th overall), and Chris Jones averaging 12.7 points a game shooting 43.3% from the field (123rd overall).

Leading Defensively for the Louisville team MontrezL Harrell has 3 blocked shots (16th overall) and Chris Jones with 3 steals (55th overall).

Thru 3 games La Familia is averaging 86 points a game shooting 47.3% from the field, 36.7% from 3, 77% from the free throw line, 40.7 rebounds and 14.3 assist.

Leading the blue team is Kerem Kanter averaging 22.3 points a game shooting 76.9% from the field (9th overall), Eric Bledsoe averaging 17.7 points per game shooting 41.0% from the field (44th overall), Nate Sestina averaging 12.7 points per game shooting 48.1% from the field and Andrew Harrison averaging 11 points a game shooting 34.8% from the field.

Leading Defensively for the Kentucky team Willie Cauley Stein has 13 blocked shots (1st overall) and Andrew Harrison has 5 steals (16th overall).

For The Ville its been more of a team and collaborative effort thru the first three games. With MontrezL being the standout emotional and more physical presence on the team. You can tell by watching these guys that they are all still very capable basketball players but some of them have lost a step with age.

For La Familia it has been hard for anyone to stay in front of Eric Bledsoe defensively and he has been a force to be reckoned with and him along with Kerem Kanter have done most of the damage for the team scoring-wise. While Cauley Stein has been an emotional leader on the defensive end.

We haven’t seen our Louisville Cardinals have much success in the rivalry game against Kentucky in the last 10 years besides a win in 2016 and in 2020 it has been all blue. John Calipari always has teams full of elite talent and this TBT is just a small sample size of the talent they produced during his run in Lexington. It will be nice not to have to deal with that anymore.

This Louisville TBT team has guys on the roster that did see some success against Kentucky during their college matchups. Russ, Peyton, MontrezL and David all have wins against the cayuts. And I know that Peyton, Russ along with assistant coach Luke Hancock still have a bitter taste in their mouths about how their college carreers came to an end at the hands of Kentucky in the Sweet 16.

The matchup between The Ville and LaFamilia promises to be an exciting and intense game. Both teams have a history of success and are hungry for a shot at the championship title. The game is expected to showcase a high level of skill, athleticism, and strategic play on both sides. Throw in some bad blood and you’ve got the making for a great summer basketball game.

As far as the outcome goes I think that if The Ville can come up with a way to stop or at least slow down Eric Bledsoe while neutralizing Kanter and Cauley Stein they’ll have a good shot at moving on. That will be a tall task but I think that there is still some old last-minute magic left in Freedom Hall and we’ll see some of it Monday night.

There still may be a few seats left for the game on Monday night and you can secure your seats AT THIS LINK

The VILLE TBT Team has Revived a Cardinal Nation

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Behind Cardinals’ legends Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, MontrezL Harrell, Chane Behanan, Chris Jones, Chinanu Onuaku, David Johnson and others the Cardinal Nation has been revived thru nostalgia and some great basketball. After the last couple of seasons of Louisville Basketball, it has been refreshing to see the success and efforts of the Louisville TBT team.

Freedom Hall has been rocking over the past couple of weeks watching this version of The Ville contend for the $1 million and TBT glory. The Louisville TBT (The Basketball Tournament) team has become a force to be reckoned with in recent years. With a rich basketball tradition and a roster filled with talented players, the team has consistently made deep runs in the tournament.

The Louisville TBT team is made up of former players from the University of Louisville men’s basketball program. Led by head coach Reece Gaines, assistants Luke Hancock, Keith Odfo and others the team showcases the skills and competitiveness that made them successful during their college careers.

One of the key factors that sets the Louisville TBT team apart is their chemistry. Many of the players have a history of playing together during their time at the university, which translates to a well-coordinated and cohesive unit on the court. This chemistry allows them to execute plays with precision and make quick decisions during intense game situations.

In addition to their chemistry, the Louisville TBT team is known for their defensive prowess. The players are known for their tenacity and ability to disrupt opponents’ offensive sets. They are relentless in their pursuit of steals and deflections, which often leads to fast break opportunities and easy baskets on the other end.

Offensively, the Louisville TBT team is a well-rounded unit. They have players who can score from all areas of the court, whether it be from beyond the arc or in the paint. The team’s ball movement and unselfish play make them difficult to defend, as they are always looking for the open man and making the extra pass.

This current TBT team is now set to make an appearance in the Sweet 16 version of this summer tournament. They are a force to be reckoned with. With their chemistry, defensive prowess, and offensive firepower, they have consistently made deep runs and have the potential to win it all this year. Their success is a testament to the talent and legacy of the University of Louisville basketball program.

Be sure to get your tickets to support this team in the round of 16 Wednesday night AT THIS LINK. You can also watch the action on FS1.

Go Cards!

The Brohm Legacy Comes Full Circle: A College Gameday Story

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It was another rough ending to the season for Cardinal Football fans. It was much of the same old same as Louisville football dropped its 4th straight in the Governor’s Cup. My son and I taking the walk of shame out of the stadium for a fourth straight season.

It was hard for me to find any optimism left after another letdown by Coach Satterfield and his staff in this game. You have to beat the in-state rival. But Satterfield always seemed apathetic about this game. The same type of apathy that was here with a guy named Kragthorpe. The type of apathy that took years to get out. I never thought it would go this way for Coach Satterfield. He had a good reputation and background from App State. We were on board.

This coaching experiment by former AD Vince Tyra didn’t work. But thanks to our friends to the north it’s no harm no foul. We are good. Now let’s go get a football coach who understands Louisville Football understands the tradition, and knows that it’s not ok to lose to Kentucky in anything.

Now picture if you will a family born and raised just miles from Cardinal Stadium with Louisville Football flowing thru their veins. A family legacy like no other in college sports. A story that has College Gameday written all over it.

If your last name is Brohm you are born a football fan. They are arguably the first family of football in this hoops-crazy state of Kentucky and in the city of Louisville they are football royalty. The Brohm family, including mother, Donna, and sister, Kim, were recently inducted into the Louisville Catholic Sports Hall of Fame for their contributions to the game.

It all started with the patriarch of the Brohm family Oscar. Oscar Brohm was a Football standout at Flaget High School in Louisville during the 1962-65 seasons. An all-state performer he led Flaget to a 10-1 record and the Louisville City Championship in 1965 setting a Louisville city school record with 23 touchdowns. He was a passing QB when passing wasn’t cool. Oscar played QB for the Cardinals during the 1968 and 69 seasons.

He would pass his offensive prowess down to his sons and they all helped create a football dynasty at Trinity High School in Louisville and for the hometown Cardinals. Four Brohm family members are letter winners at the University of Louisville, Oscar (quarterback 1966-69), Jeff (quarterback 1989-93), and brothers, Greg (wide receiver 1989-92) and Brian (quarterback 2004-07).

Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm had an outstanding career at Louisville from 1989 to 1993. He ranks among the Cardinals’ career leaders in touchdown passes. Jeff Brohm also served as an assistant coach at Louisville (quarterbacks coach in 2003-06, assistant head coach/passing game in 2007, and assistant head coach/offensive coordinator in 2008).

Greg Brohm is the executive director of administration and operations at Purdue. He was the starting wide receiver during the Cardinals’ 1991 appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, catching passes from his brother, Jeff. Greg served as the director of football operations at Louisville from 2004 to 2008. He also worked in local media and served as an analyst for the Louisville Cardinals’ radio broadcasts.

Brian Brohm is the Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks coach for Purdue… Before there was a Teddy and Lamar it was Brian who led the 2006-7 Cardinals to a 12-1 record, an Orange Bowl championship, and a #5 final ranking in the Associated Press poll. His 30 touchdown passes that season is tied for second in school history with 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, and one behind Minnesota Vikings’ 2014 first-round draft pick Teddy Bridgewater. Brian is the only Louisville QB to be so close to a National Championship. In my humble opinion, that team was a field goal away from playing for the Title. What could have been that season still haunts me.

During their three seasons together Jeff, Greg, and Brian helped lead the Louisville program to 32 wins, a Liberty Bowl win, Orange Bowl Championship, Conference USA, and Big East championship, and twice finished in the Associated Press top 10. And by popular opinion were a field goal away from a possible National Championship. There isn’t anyone who has had a bigger impact on the rise of the Louisville football program than the Brohms.

This family making their way back to the Louisville Football program would not only be the answer it would be the biggest sports story in 2022. I can hear Michael Rapaport narrating the story on College Gameday. If this blog post finds the right audience I hope they understand how big this could be.

The decision that Josh Heird and the administration make regarding the current state of Louisville Football could offer up two very different extremes. I know what extreme I choose.

Go try to convince the first family of Louisville Football to come back home. Have Cardinal Stadium busting at the seams and the College Football World is ready to watch how this great story plays out.

I read an article lately talking about how it’s not so much where Louisville Football is now but where it’s heading if things don’t change. It’s time to breathe new life into Louisville Football. The same new life that the athletic department and Basketball program got this past year. New energy is good especially if there is a great legacy behind it. Our new AD Josh Heird is a perfect example of that. I hope he can relate to what a Brohm hire could mean around here.

Of course, all of this is under the assumption that Jeff Brohm and his family would consider coming back to Louisville. I don’t know why they wouldn’t. I know that their hearts are still here. And they do have some unfinished business. If this program wins a National Title someday it would be much better to do it with family.

I’m ready for a change. A few years ago Cardinal Stadium came full circle. Now it’s time for the Brohm family legacy to come full circle.

This is my plea…

Go Cards!

Beak Gameday Preview: Just show me something

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Yes in one week I have gone from showing me Louisville Football is back to just showing me something…

The one thing that Coach Strong established again quickly when he took over was confidence and a winning attitude. During his time at Louisville, he had his team believing they could play and beat anybody and anywhere. His teams were world beaters. We’ve got to get that confidence back.

I’ve seen the Cardinals finish just one season with that type of confidence/swagger since Coach Strong left. The 2015 group won 6 of the last seven games including that big win against A&M in the Bowl game. That group finished as world beaters. Hey Coach Satterfield stop giving me excuses and give me some of that.

I’m hoping that the game Friday night brings out more of a winning attitude and spirit from this team. I saw individual plays in the Syracuse game that showed some attitude but nothing as far as the team as a whole. We heard all offseason of a team refocused and a team committed to being better. They came out and did a belly flop. And not a very good one. It sure knocked the air out of me.

This game is another opportunity for this Louisville Football team to show me a winning attitude or any attitude at all. Just show me that you want to win more than I want you to win. Just show me something. Louisville Football fans are back in. We are talking the talk now it’s time for that dog to bark. Or at least yap a little.

By my count, there are 16 guys on the Louisville roster from Florida. Not as many as it used to be but still a lot of dudes from that area. Families are going to be at this game. Grandma is going to be at this game. They are going to know guys on the UCF roster and there are going to be some rivalries playing out on the field.

Games against the Florida schools usually evoke special energy as a result of these personal connections and rivalries. If this team doesn’t respond to this energy on Friday night this might become Chicken Littles Beak preview next week.

Instead of talking football this week, it was everyone telling their version of how this coaching staff and the team have put themselves behind the eight ball.

The Cardinals have lost 3 of their last 5 road games. Now they go on the road again to play a team that has won each of their last 8 at home and been one of the best home teams in the country over the last five years or so. UCF hasn’t lost at home since November 2020 and looks to be on a path to another solid season.

UCF has a big-time playmaker at quarterback in Rhys Plumlee. He is completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 308 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. He also leads the team with 86 yards and 1 rushing touchdown. The Louisville defense had no answer for the Cuse QB on Saturday. Don’t know how they will contain this guy.

Monty Montgomery leads the Louisville defense coming in with 8 tackles along with Ashton Gillotte with 1.5 sacks. We are going to need to see other signs of life in this unit to contain Plumlee and the Gus Malzahn-led offense. You can bet he wants to score and score a lot.

Speaking of signs of life… Earth to Lance Taylor… Earth to Lance Taylor… 7 points brah? Coming into this season I had no worries about an offense that added two studs during the offseason. The Newcomers Tyler Hudson and Tiyon Evans each performed well in their UofL debut. Hudson caught eight passes for 102 yards, while Evans rushed 13 times for 89 yards, scoring the lone touchdown on a 36-yard rush in the first quarter.

While Malik was just over 150 yards passing with two interceptions and other contributors like Huggins-Bruce and Marshon Ford were a non-factor.

These guys can not be a nonfactor in this game. If we don’t hear our studs names called repeatedly Louisville football will be headed to an 0-2 home opener against Florida State.

This Louisville team might come out like men possessed and still fall short in this game. UCF is that tough at home. But if they give me any type of sign that they believe in themselves it will be a start. We are still waiting for them to start something.

Show me a sign of life Friday night Louisville Football. Go Cards!

GOCARDS.COM COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

Beak Gameday Breakdown: Cards vs. Cuse

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Louisville has one of the toughest schedules in college football this season and it doesn’t start easy either. The first game of the year can always be a challenge in its own right but when you have to play a conference game that can be tricky.

It is often the unknown that can be a problem in the first game of the season but with this Syracuse team, it’s what we know about them that says this will be an interesting game.

This Syracuse team has playmakers at all three levels of the offense. A great dual-threat QB in Garrett Shrader who led the Orange last year with 1,445 yards and 9 scores on just 53% passing while also rushing for 781 yards and 14 TDs.

They also have one of the best RBs in the country Sean Tucker who rushed for almost 1,500 yards with 12 touchdowns and 9 100-yard games last season. He is going to challenge the Louisville defense at every level.

Cuse has a set of very capable WRs. Courtney Jackson returns as Syracuse’s leading receiver after putting up 37 catches last season while Damien Alford reeled off 19 YPC last season.

The Cuse will also be sporting a formidable defense on Saturday. Led by a pair of great LB’s. Stefon Thompson and Marlowe Wax combined for 11 sacks while Mikel Johnson had a team-high 110 tackles and 4 sacks in his last season.

They also have a solid secondary that may see a former Cardinal make an appearance. Now on the Cuse roster, Bralyn Oliver is a 6-foot-2, 209-pound defensive back that had yet to play a down for Louisville. He was an early enrollee this past January and was named as the backup free safety behind Kenderick Duncan in Louisville’s pre-fall camp depth chart.

Louisville will have its hands full with this Cuse team in the season opener. But with a solid core of returning players and playmakers added the Cardinals must take care of business. With the renewed excitement around this program, you can’t start the season with a loss.

I mentioned that unknowns can play a big part in the first game of the season. One of the unknowns in this game is how all of the playmakers added to the Louisville defense and offense will perform on Saturday.

On offense, the biggest add in the off-season from the portal is former Tennessee RB Tiyon Evans. This dude ripped off 300 yards of offense and four touchdowns in back-to-back games last October and was averaging 6.5 yards a carry as the Vol’s leading rusher.

Evan’s numbers went down after an ankle injury that eventually shut down his season. If Evans can make the impact most expect it will bold well for the game on Saturday and the season.

Another big add at the skill positions is WR Tyler Hudson who had 1,229 yards, and 8 touchdowns with 19.8 yards per catch last season for Central Arkansas. He helps make up a receiving corps with a ton of potential.

Perhaps the biggest unknown in this game Saturday is the Louisville defense. It got shredded at the end of last season in back-to-back games and folded with its back against the wall all season.

As a result Coach, Satt and staff hit the transfer portal especially hard in the secondary, bringing in Jarvis Brownlee (30 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 passes defended in ‘21) from Florida State, MJ Griffin (47 tackles, 4 passes defended in ‘21) from Temple and Quincy Riley (24 tackles, 5 INT’s, 9 passes defended in ‘21) from Middle Tennessee.

There is not a defensive unit in the country that needs to get off to a good start more than this Louisville group. With the guys added and Yassir Abdullah (43 tackles, 10 sacks in ‘21) returning at linebacker, Ashton Gillette (19 tackles, 4 sacks in ‘21) returning as a solid pass-rushing defensive end, and Kei’Trel Clark (30 tackles, 3 INTs, 9 passes defended in ‘21) returning to the Louisville secondary I feel good about that.

I do think this game is decided by the unknown so haven’t even mentioned some of the known. I know that Louisville has a “cheat code” in Malik Cunningham. But think in this game he will be more decoy than detrimental to the outcome. There have been words between Malik and that Cuse Linebacking Corps… They will have their eyes all over him.

Jalen Mitchell will also be lurking in the Louisville backfield. Back after leading all of the Cardinals’ running backs with 722 rushing yards and 5 TDs last season. I expect a big game from this guy on Saturday. Already proved can put the team on his back.

Other knowns but not mentioned… Louisville has also emphasized improving special teams. I didn’t research this but do expect to see improvement on Saturday. In games like this, this unit could be the difference. And hope to see a solid day from talented WR Braden Smith who returns after an injury-plagued 2021 season. Think he could have a big play or two.

Hope we see a lot of big plays from the guys in the Red chrome helmets. Hope I’m wrong about Malik and he torches those Cuse linebackers for 400 yards and 8 touchdowns to start the Heisman hype. Maybe another leap!

Louisville has always had its way with Cuse. I think they will Saturday.

Go Cards!


GO CARDS COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

Hey son meet Louisville Football

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When my son was born in 2011 I couldn’t wait to take him to a Louisville Football game. We had made it thru the Kragthorpe debacle and Charlie Strong was in his second year.

That season you could tell that things were going to be better. A share of the Big East Title and after four long years of losing to them finally a win over the arch-rival Cayuts in Lexington.

That 2011 victory sparked the most dominant streak in this series with Louisville Football winning the next 5 straight and winning the next six out of seven against Kentucky.

For the first few years of my son’s life, the Louisville Football team was rolling. 10 win seasons, Conference Titles, Bowl wins, Sugar Bowl win and never lost to Kentucky. I took him to games and he was with me at open practices. But being so young I don’t think he remembers all the success and great times.

I’m afraid around the time his memory kicked in Louisville Football started getting its teeth kicked in. Literally and figuratively… Since the end of Bobby 2.0’s run, it’s been nothing but bad. A run that includes three embarrassing losses to Kentucky.

Coach Satterfield and his “Satturdays” started with a sputter but with a renewed spirit from him and his staff, the program has started to take some shape. After a few years of moving in no direction, last season at least had a direction.

A promising 2021 campaign ended with a 6-7 record, which included a 4-4 mark in ACC play before falling to Air Force in the First Responder Bowl. It was an appropriate Bowl game for a bruised and battered Louisville Football team. Health was that team’s biggest obstacle.

The clouds have parted over my old Kentucky home and Louisville will open its 2022 season with a lot of optimism and more promise than I’ve felt in a while. Maybe… just maybe this will be the year Brody gets to meet “Louisville Football”.

This team has the pieces to be competitive and fun again. It starts on offense with the epitome of a dual-threat quarterback, Malik Cunningham 3,000 passing yards and 19 TDs with just 6 INTs while also rushing for over 1,000 yards and 20 TDs. He is a human highlight reel.

No coach in the country improved their team more thru the transfer portal than Coach Satterfield did. On offense, Tiyon Evans (525 yards, 6 TD in ‘21) will start at RB. Averaging 6.5 yds a carry in the SEC last season. He was a big get for the Cards. While Dee Wiggins (6.3 yards per catch in ‘21) comes in from Miami and Tyler Hudson (1,229 yards, 8 TD’s with 19.8 yards per catch) transfers in from Central Arkansas to make up a receiving corps with a ton of potential.

On defense, Jermayne Lole (17 tackles, 1.5 sacks in ‘20) transfers in from Arizona State, and Momo Sanogo (12 tackles 1, 5 sacks in ‘21) enters from Ole Miss to help the cause. The Cardinals hit the transfer portal especially hard in the secondary, bringing in Jarvis Brownlee (30 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 passes defended in ‘21) from Florida State, MJ Griffin (47 tackles, 4 passes defended in ‘21) from Temple and Quincy Riley (24 tackles, 5 INT’s, 9 passes defended in ‘21) from Middle Tennessee.

Adding players who can have an immediate impact with the returning guys on offense and defense is a winning strategy.

The offense returns guys like RB Jalen Mitchell (722 rushing yards, 5 TDs in ‘21) and talented WR Braden Smith who returns after an injury-plagued 2021 season.

On the defensive side of the ball a front seven that has some solid pieces returning like Yassir Abdullah (43 tackles, 10 sacks in ‘21) at linebacker and Ashton Gillette (19 tackles, 4 sacks in ‘21) as a solid pass-rushing defensive end. Kei’Trel Clark (30 tackles, 3 INTs, 9 passes defended in ‘21) is back in the Louisville secondary after an injury-shortened season. DB Kenderick Duncan (53 tackles, 1 INT, 4 passes defended in ‘21) is also back. DB Chandler Jones (27 tackles, 7 passes defended in ‘21) is a solid veteran cover corner.

There is a reason why guys like Phil Steele and other reputable folks have predicted an upswing season for this Louisville Football program. This coaching staff went to work solidifying the current roster and it is loaded with potential.

The Cardinals have more continuity throughout the lineup than they’ve had in a long time. I think we have just as much big-play ability as anyone in the country. That is going to be the difference in the first game against Syracuse and several games this season.

My son turns 11 in November. I got that same feeling as the year he was born. Louisville Football is finally back in a good spot. I feel like the program is moving forward and have told Brody to prepare for lots of winning. And for things to be different this year in the Governor’s Cup. This is the year “Louisville Football” makes its return.

Hey son meet Louisville Football… Go Cards!

COACH SATTERFIELD PREVIEWS SEASON OPENER

House of Payne

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It has been a while since I wrote on the website. Part of that has to do with me now spending my days running up and down the road with my son’s sports teams and the other is just lack of inspiration. If there is one thing I’ve learned doing this it’s that I have to be inspired to write.

There has been a lack of inspiration to write anything about Louisville Basketball but today I’ve been inspired and decided to dust off the keyboard and give this writing thing a whirl.

My inspiration comes today as bigtime sports names start dropping the news that Kenny Payne will be the next head basketball coach at the University of Louisville. This news comes during a time of despair for Louisville fans but tells me that the Athletic Department has decided to invest in us again. This is the hire that needed to happen and it appears that it has been done.

For year’s now the Louisville Basketball program has been trying to get back to its roots. Coach Mack will be known for a lot of things he did wrong but the one thing he did right was to start to connect that bridge to the past. We may not be here today without him making that effort.

Watching how far the program had drifted from those guys in the 80s it’s awesome that now one of them will shape the Louisville Basketball program for generations to come.

For it to be Kenny Payne makes it even cooler for me. He was one of my favorite Louisville players. At one point I looked up to and imitated him right down to my socks. He would wear those socks up to his knees. He was such a laid-back/cool player on the court but when he got the ball in the post he took care of his business.

He seems very much like that same guy today. All of his peers and anyone who knows him personally raves about his laid-back and cool demeanor. A quality that some have mentioned makes him a beast on the recruiting trail. We could count on Kenny Payne to deliver when he was a player and we can count on him to do it as a Coach.

With NIL and the transfer portal, the game of college basketball has changed forever. It’s more important than ever to have the right person representing your brand and I can’t think of a better person than Kenny Payne. Regardless of what your UK buddies tell you Kenny is one of us. He represents a time when our program was a giant. A time that we all long for.

The Louisville Basketball program had so much swag and so many characters back then. And they won. I want to see our program get all that back and believe that it will under Coach Payne. I have a renewed sense of pride and enthusiasm again that I haven’t had in a while. I’m going to get myself some tube socks and start wearing them to my knees, I’m going to hang my flag up and throw my L’s up. Can’t wait to watch my first game in the House of Pain with my son. It’s all happening! Enjoy it folks!

Go Cards!