This has been the year of the Louisville Cardinals and Cardinal Nation has enjoyed living in the spotlight of the college sports world this past season. Today all eyes will be on Churchill Downs and the annual “Run For The Roses.” And the 2013 Kentucky Derby will have a lot of Cardinal Flavor as well. Coach Charlie Strong will deliver the “Riders up!” call to jockeys in the paddock, Gorgui Dieng, Peyton Siva and Mike Marra, will walk the garland from the paddock to the winner’s circle 69 minutes before post time, and the U of L marching band, with 16 U of L choir students, will perform “My Old Kentucky Home.” Oh yea, and Coach Rick Pitino is a 5% owner of one of the Derby favorites Goldencents and it would be icing on the cake to see that horse in the winners circle.

Today will end Peyton and Gorgui’s whirlwind of appearances and celebrations and the two will head on to their future ventures after this weekend. Both are expected to start working out and they hope to continue their basketball careers in the NBA. Gorgui is predicted by most sources to be around the 22nd pick in the 2013 NBA draft while some expect Peyton to go somewhere late in the second round. Coach Pitino will also head out of town on a little hiatus with a group of friends to a remote Island in the Bahamas after the Derby weekend.

The Derby will be a grand finale to a wonderful year of sports in Louisville and what a way to put a bow on it by seeing the University of Louisville play such a big part in such a meaningful and historic event. Go Cards and Go Goldencents!