Jay Scrubb decides to bring his legend to Louisville Basketball


Louisville Basketball gets the first commitment of the 2020 class and it’s a big one.

If you love a good come back story then you will love cheering for Jay Scrubb. A guy who came up in the tough part of town Scrubbs personal and academic issues plagued his early basketball endeavors. He struggled to find his groove. A guy who could have easily given up and fell threw the cracks but continued to fight and find a way.

He found a way at Trinity High School and things started to change his junior year. Scrubb averaged 16 points per game and was named Seventh Region Player of the Year by The Courier-Journal. As a senior, he averaged 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and repeated as Seventh Region Player of the Year. He was also a finalist for Kentucky Mr. Basketball.

For Scrubb the struggle was real and he had to join a junior college team after his senior season because he was academically ineligible for an NCAA Division I scholarship. Again he overcame adversity and instead of becoming just another Juco casualty he turned up. And turned up in a big way.

Scrubb is the #1 JUCO player in the country. He has made a name for himself with his grit, determination, athleticism and unique skill set.

He has a 40-inch vertical leap and a silky smooth jumper. This dude can score at every level and has superior court awareness. Scrubb averaged 20.2 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 46.4 percent from 3-point range last season for John A. Logan College.

Recruiting guru Evan Daniels said:

”Landing the JUCO standout is equivalent to getting a top 15 high school prospect”.

This summer Scrubb was invited to training camp for the United States national under-19 team. He was the only junior college player to earn an invite.

I love it when the University of Louisville gets the hometown guy but this is something even bigger. This young man has took all of crap that life threw at him. He took some big punches and got back up. He embodies the spirit of a young Ali.

Jay Scrubb has created quite a legend for himself over the last few years and I love that he decided to make the Cardinal Nation part of his story. Can’t wait to cheer for him and can’t wait to see how this story ends.

Scrubb will have two years of eligibility once he arrives on campus next season.

Ready to see what Satterfield’s Cards have for the ACC


The team’s around the country are heading into the conference grind. This is where the rubber meets the road and it takes another level of play. The Louisville program has made some huge strides over the last couple of weeks and can take another big step forward on Saturday afternoon.

The Louisville offense found another gear taking out Eastern KY 42-0 and Western KY 38-21. Benefitting from some big passing plays in their win last weekend they’ve now scored 80 points across their last two games.

We’ve seen different offensive players breakout in the games with FSU. I go back as far as Dave Ragone and Joshua Tinch. Ragone completed 15 of 27 passes for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tinch was Louisville’s leading receiver with 101 yards on 5 receptions in that program defining win in 2002.

And most recently was the Heisman performance of Lamar Jackson in 2016. Jackson ran for 146 yards and four touchdowns. He threw for 216 and another. Don’t think any of us will forget that performance and College Gameday win against FSU.

Now a new group of Cardinals hopes to leave their mark in this game. Malik Cunningham posted 119 yards and two scores in the backup role last week. Even tho Jawon Pass is expected back on Saturday I think we’ll see Cunningham on the field in some capacity.

Javian Hawkins led the rush with 93 yards and a score. TuTu Atwell led the receiving corps with 141 yards and three TDs on four grabs last weekend. I can guarantee these guys will play a role in the outcome on Saturday.

The Cardinals are sixth in the nation in scrimmage plays of over 50 yards with four, and 11th in the nation in plays of 40+ and 30+ with six and 10, respectively. Tutu Atwell is tied for the national lead with three plays of over 40 yards and is tied for third with a pair of 50-yard plays from scrimmage. Javian Hawkins is tied for first in the country with three runs of over 40 yards in the first three games this year.

The defense will also be key… Without the Anthony Floyd interception of Chris Rix’s pass in the overtime in 2002 and Jaire Alexander’s big plays in 2016 we might be talking about different outcomes of those games.

The Louisville defense has looked impressive in the first three games of the year, holding opponents to an average of 18.7 points per game and 285.0 total yards per game. The Cardinals held the Colonels to just 74 yards in the second half, including just six passing yards after the half.

A new group of defensive guys is also looking to leave their mark on this game. Russ Yeast and Chandler Jones have solidified the Louisville secondary this season. Yeast and Jones are tied for fourth on the squad with 12 tackles. Up front linebacker Rodjay Burns continues to excel in Bryan Brown’s defensive scheme. Burns is tied for first on the team with C.J. Avery and Khane Pass with 16 tackles this season. Look for these names to come up a lot if the Cards are having some success on Saturday.

This game Saturday afternoon will basically boil down to speed on speed. The Cardinals will be facing some really good opposing players. FSU QB James Blackman has thrown for 843 yards and nine scores in the first three games and is completing 68.2 percent of his throws.

Tamorrion Terry is their top receiver with 14 receptions for 234 yards and one score, while Cam Akers has already rushed for 387 yards in the first three contests, an average of 129.0 per game. Like Louisville, this FSU team can put up points fast and I think the Cards will have to absorb an initial explosion.

FSU defense not so much. They are near the bottom of the national statistics in total defense, allowing 485.0 yards of total offense and 37.0 points per game to start the season. Cory Durden leads the Seminoles with 2.5 sacks, while free safety Ham-sah Nasirildeen is the team’s top tackler with 28.

Like many of you, I have been impressed with the last couple of weeks and a bit surprised. I think most of us hoped that these guys would play hard for the new staff but didn’t expect this level of play so early. The Cardinals are heading into Tallahassee with some newfound pop. These games against FSU have been transformational over the years. A win Saturday would mean a lot to this groups progression and a potential Bowl bid.

Louisville’s last road win in the ACC was a 31-28 victory at Florida State on Oct. 21, 2017. I really like our chances. Think these are programs going in very different directions. Win or lose I’m just looking forward to seeing what this team has for the ACC. Enjoy it, folks! Go Cards!

Louisville Football the change is real


Walking into the locker room area on Saturday night the walls vibrated as the Louisville Football team and coaches exorcised a year’s worth of demons with their post-game celebrations. The emotions of ridding themselves of the stigma of bad football were very raw and you could hear that in their voices.



Ending the programs second-longest losing streak is worth a celebration but going out and winning it in dominant fashion is something this team can build from. It’s something the program can build from. Just like losing winning can also be contagious. This team has the bug.



The game of football is mental but it’s also very physical. This team over the last two weeks has been physical. GG Robinson talked about the team’s newfound physicality on Saturday night mentioning that football is about being able to run and stop the run.



This team is doing both. Not only are they looking the part but the numbers don’t lie and Louisville finds it’s self vaulting in the FBS stats. Ranking 95th overall in rush defense and 33rd in total defense it’s a new day on this side of the ball. They have allowed just 576 yards during the first two games giving up 4.57 yards a play. A far cry from last season.


Talk about a new day… Louisville currently ranks 11th in rushing offense. Behind a much improved offensive line led by Tyler Haycraft and Mekhi Becton, the Louisville rushing attack has gained 571 yards this season averaging 6.72 yards a play. It also helps to have a running back duo like Javian Hawkin currently ranked 13th in the country racking up 245 yards and Hassan Hall ranked 109th pitching in 127 yards in the first two games this season.



It’s been fun to watch the transformation over the last two weeks and it was refreshing to see our Cardinals get back in the win column this past weekend. It will be the first of many I’m sure of it. A lot of good things happening at 2800 South Floyd Street… The change is real! L’s Up!

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Louisville Football is fun again


For the first time in 7 years, I didn’t take the time to write a game break down. I hadn’t spent any time around this Louisville team. Other than media day I hadn’t seen them. I just didn’t want to anticipate anything this season.

I hadn’t seen this Louisville team on a football field since last November. The only thing colder than the seats at Cardinal Stadium that night were the player’s hearts towards the program.

That along with the clowns dancing around on our logo at the 50 yard line with their L’s down was the low point for me. My beloved program had hit rock bottom.

Things were really dark on 2800 S. Floyd Street when Coach Satterfield and his staff rolled in. Coach Satterfield said that goal #1 was to put his arms around the team and love on them. During the spring, thru the summer and this fall, we witnessed that.

Crazy what a little love can do…

I had never seen a player more isolated and disconnected than Jawon Pass was at the end of last season. Monday night I saw a player out on that field giving it his best for his team and for the name on the front of the jersey. He never hung his head. More importantly, I saw a player who had confidence in the name on the back of the jersey again. Jawon led a few great drives down the field rushing for touchdowns of 8 and 17 yards in the first quarter. There was a Puma sighting.

The Cardinals had the worst defense in the country last season. I hadn’t seen any real pop out of a Louisville defense since 2014. The clickity-clack is back. Those big stops on third down were awesome. It was that stop on 4th and 1 that really stood out. The D line/linebackers shut those gaps down. LB Rodjay Burns second in tackles with 6. And the secondary was on skates. My son kept hearing Russ Yeast name and smiling. He’d say. ”Dad that’s ur name”. Russ led the team with 6.5 tackles. You couldn’t even hear the third-down music because the crowd was so loud. Been a long time since the D had the place rocking like that.

I went into this game excited about our running backs and the offensive line. Freshman Javian Hawkins rushed for 122 yards becoming the first 100-yard rusher since 2014. Oh and the Cardinals outrushed the #9 ranked Irish by 19 yards on the night. A lot of great execution and effort from these offensive units on Monday night. All a reflection of this young and hungry coaching staff.


We lost and that sucks but I’ve never been a football snob. Give me a good Bowl game every year and play competitive football. Just make it fun.


Card March was a fan frenzy, we had the Good Year blimp circling around Cardinal Stadium on Labor Day with the Cardinals in primetime. We had the lead on the #9 team in the country at one point. Cardinal stadium was rocking. Louisville Football is fun again.

L’s Up!