Chances are that if you are a sports fan then there are moments in your life where sports have transcended the competition on the field of play and provided defining moments in your life. Sports have healed relationships, created long lasting bonds, brought nations together, brought communities together, and sports have inspired people for generations. In some way or other sports will impact a person in some way in their life’s journey.
I will always cherish those moments shared with my friends over the years going to basketball and football games. The high fives, the hugs, and the chest bump when our favorite player made the big play. All of those laughs I’ve shared before and after the games have been great times indeed. I got to share time with my best friend just a few weeks ago at the Clemson game. We hadn’t hung out for a year and a Louisville football game provided a platform for that to happen.
My son is only three years old and I have already had immeasurable joy taking him to his first Cardinal basketball game, and watching that big smile come on his face when he seen the mascot for the first time. I’m certain that the feelings a father has at that moment can only come from that experience. Recently he shared a moment with Louie at the Football Luncheon and I smiled so big it made my face hurt.
With all of the positive moments that sports brings to our lives there are times that the cruel world in which we live creeps in to the thing that serves as our escape. This week money, greed and the morally corrupt put a dark cloud over that which we all hold dear to our hearts. As great as escape as college sports are from the real world sometimes it to become captive to the grind.
I can’t lie I was very disheartened to hear of the allegations brought against the program for which I dedicate so much of my life to and a program that gives me my escape from the daily grind. Heading into the weekend there were clouds in the sky and clouds over the Louisville athletic program. But just as it has done so many times over the last 40 years of my life the Louisville athletic program was able to rise above the distraction and put a smile on my face.
“We Are Still Here”
Louisville football kicked off a great weekend with a big win on the road over conference foes and undefeated NC State. Our Louisville football team has faced a lot of adversity this season. They’ve taken their knocks and on Saturday it paid off. I have to mention the Louisville freshman first. From a freshman QB to the freshman wide receivers and offensive lineman these youngsters have been thrown to the wolves and they are responding. Freshman QB Lamar Jackson had 121 yards rushing and a 68-yard touchdown in the game against NC State. Through five games, Jackson already has set a single-season school rushing record for a quarterback at Louisville with 435 yards and sky’s the limit for this young man. Freshman Offensive lineman Geron Christian and Kenny Thomas blocking the way for the Louisville rushing attack to have their way with 203 yards against a defense that came in ranked third nationally allowing just 205.8 yards. And a freshman wide receiver DeVonte Peete who caught his first college touchdown pass to help seal the deal.
And enough can’t be said about the Louisville defense that stepped up big time, holding the Wolfpack to 228 yards of offense while forcing two turnovers and racking up 10 tackles for loss. The Cardinals defense also did another great job at getting off the field on 3rd downs only giving up 5 of 16 conversions. The bash brothers James Burgess and Keith Kelsey led an inspired defense to one of their best performances of the season. Josh Harvey Clemmons, and Shaq Wiggins have established themselves as a consistent threat and former Big 12 defensive player of the year DeVonte Fields had his best game of the season and appears to be getting back to his old self. Coach Petrino was captured at the end of the game Saturday telling his defensive coordinator Todd Grantham “Great Job” and it was. Defense has become a staple of Louisville’s success over the last four years and will continue to be a vital part of success going forward.
The Louisville football team has had a modest start to the season, but on a soggy Saturday afternoon in Raleigh North Carolina this team came together and showed the ACC that they are still in the mix and that they will contend for an ACC title.
“A Lot of Positive Energy in the Yum Center”
After the football team took care of their business it was time for Cardinal Nation to turn their attention to Yum Center for the first look at the 2015-16 Louisville Basketball team at the first Red & White scrimmage. There was a great crowd that filled the lower bowl on Saturday and you could tell that Louisville basketball fans are ready for another season and that they aren’t going to let themselves get distracted cheering for the team they love.
As far as how the team looked there isn’t much you can take away from the first scrimmage as the guys had only practiced one day in advance. Here are a few assessments: Deng Adel really stood out and he is going to be a special player. He’s got a great basketball IQ and his potential is off the charts. Matz Stockman and Anas Mahmoud have been labeled as projects and I could see that they have gained a lot of confidence in the off season and both looked much more comfortable on the floor. Chinanu Onuaku is the most physically transformed player on the team. He must now work to put that towards his game. He should have a great season. Really excited about our freshman class and I think they could be one of the best ever after it’s all said and done. Trey Lewis and Damion Lee are still trying to figure out how to best help this team, but both are great individual talents and have great attitudes. They will be difference makers when they settle into their roles.
There was also another thing I noticed on Saturday evening inside the Yum Center. This is a special group of young men. Their chemistry with each other and positive energy was very apparent. I think the trip to Puerto Rico really helped them achieve some of this cohesiveness but I also think that this group just fits together. Great leadership and a great respect for one another. It’s a good thing to see with guys this young. They are all wise beyond their years.
The Red & White Scrimmage was the perfect ending to a great Louisville sports day. Amidst all of the negative allegations our student athletes just went out and performed. Saturday was a much needed distraction and it did quiet the noise. There are always going to be some who try to tear down that which we all hold sacred but we can’t let them win. I refuse to let them win. The weekend started out gloomy but Sunday the sun was shining bright. Go Cards!
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