This weekend was great for Cardinal fans and Monday night was the greatest moment of my life as a Cardinal fan. Most of us got to finally see a championship for the first time in our adult lives and it is a moment that I will cherish forever. I was there on Monday night and it was awesome to witness the pageantry and glory of a National Championship game. I took some photos before and after the game to try and capture what I could of this magical and memorable night.

Last night was the greatest sports moment of my life and I know I share that sentiment with the Card Nation. That was one of the best national title games of its 75 year history. It had everything the pageantry, the stars, two great teams, two incredible fan bases and one shining moment. And our Louisville Cardinals seized the day as they beat the Michigan Wolverines 82-76 in an instant classic. The win gave our Cardinals their 3rd National Title and puts them in an elite group with only 8 other programs reaching that mark. They closed out this magical season on a 16 game win streak.

This season has been like a fairy tale in many ways and one that could be a future 30 for 30 feature on ESPN. In a college basketball culture with kids coming to school for one year to boost their NBA draft stock Louisville has established a team first approach. Coach Pitino and his staff have done a great job of recruiting the guys that fit into this team first system. Louisville really has become the model program for doing it the right way and in a more traditional way. The emotional journey to this championship story started with that 5 overtime loss to Notre Dame. After that loss Coach Pitino challenged this team to bond together and to win the rest of the way. And they answered his challenge by winning out the regular season and winning the final Big East tournament championship. That alone will be something that will never be forgotten but this team wasn’t done yet. They would parlay the great season into the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament. They had a great team run through the first round in Lexington and then in Indy Cardinal Nation and the rest of the world would understand what it means to be bonded together as a team. That’s when we really started to understand how special this group really was. The Cards rode that wave of emotion of losing one of their brothers into the Final Four. Here they would run into two great teams who also seemed to be playing for something greater than themselves. And this is where this fairy tale story had its greatest moments. A walk on who had only played sparingly and had scored 16 points on the season comes into the national semi-finals and hits two of the biggest three point shots you’ll ever see to give the Cards a spark to overcome a 12 point deficit. Then in the national title game a guy that had been averaging around 6 points a game becomes the first player to come off the bench to win the tourney’s most outstanding player. In the end of this fairy tale season the Cards turned out to be the most dominate team in the country.
The Cardinals were locked-in on defense, momentously hot on offense and too emotionally charged to let this one get away from them. They had the experience of last season, a Hall of Fame head coach, the emotional leader Ware and the individual playmakers Peyton, Russ, Gorgui, Wayne, Chane, Hancock, Montrezl, Stephan and Tim. This was a great season and a great story and these Cardinals seized the day.

I know I will never forget this group and the experiences they have awarded me from being a Cardinal fan. I have written so much about these guys that I feel like I know each of them personally. And I’m very grateful to be somewhat connected to them through those words. I’m going to seize this moment and this day for the rest of my life. My Louisville Cardinals are National Champions. Oh and I’m glad I can finally sleep and shave.

Now the college Basketball Hall of Fame does, and many think its about time. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said Thursday that Pitino’s induction was long overdue. “Should’ve been in last year, but I don’t see any way in the world that he wouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame,” Boeheim said. “He’s got better credentials than probably 80% of the coaches in there.” I know that many of us have always considered Coach Pitino a Hall of Famer but it is great to see it finally become official.

“Pitino went back to the NBA in 1997, but returned to college—and his adopted home state—on March 21, 2001 to coach the University of Louisville following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum. In the 2005 season, Pitino led Louisville to their first Final Four in 19 years, and became the first men’s coach in NCAA history to lead three different schools to the Final Four. Immediately following their Final Four run, several players graduated or entered the 2005 NBA Draft. The inexperience caused the Cardinals to limp into the Big East Tournament seeded 12th, and miss the NCAA tournament. They made the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), where they were defeated by eventual champions University of South Carolina. The 2007 Cardinal team was primarily the same team, with added freshmen. Picked to finish towards the bottom of the Big East Conference again, Pitino led them to a second-place finish, 12–4 (tied with the University of Pittsburgh, who had been beaten by the Cardinals during the regular season) in the conference standings and a first round bye in the conference tournament. Pitino implemented a 2–2–1 and 2–3 zone defense midway through the season. The 2007 team’s season ended when the Cardinals lost to Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2008 Cardinals finished second in the Big East and ranked 13th in both the AP and Coaches’ polls. Louisville was the third seed in the 2008 NCAA tournament’s East region. They defeated Boise State, Oklahoma and Tennessee to advance to the Elite Eight, where they were defeated by North Carolina. Louisville was the top seed overall in the 2009 NCAA tournament and was planted as the first seed in the Midwest region. They defeated Morehead State, Siena and Arizona to advance to the Elite Eight, where they were defeated by Michigan State. In 2010 the Cardinals suffered a disappointing 15-point loss to their first round opponent, the California Golden Bears. In 2011, Louisville was upset by 13th-seeded Morehead State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2012, Pitino coached the Cardinals to the Big East tournament championship and a berth as a 4 seed in the West region of the NCAA tournament. The Cardinals defeated Davidson, New Mexico, and top seed Michigan State to advance to the regional final against Florida and his former player and friend Billy Donovan. The Cardinals would go on to win that game, but lost to arch-rivals and eventual national champions Kentucky in the 2012 Final Four.”- Wiki

This year Coach Pitino is in perhaps his most promising season at the helm of our Louisville Cardinals. He has led them to a 33-5 record, tied for the Big East regular season crown, won the Big East Tourney title and currently has them riding a 14 game win streak heading into their 10th Final Four. It is the Cardinals 3rd Final Four under Coach Pitino and he has a 308–111 (.734) record in 12 seasons as the Louisville head coach. This years team is the odds on favorite to win a National Title and it would be icing on the cake of a remarkable career for coach Pitino.

Coaches: Rick Pitino, Tom Heinsohn, Guy Lewis, Jerry Tarkanian and women’s coach Sylvia Hatchell.

Russ Smith, a Junior on Louisville’s 8th-ranked men’s basketball team, has been named a finalist for the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year Trophy and it was announced this morning by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Members of the association’s board of directors chose the finalists and the entire 900-member USBWA will vote on the awards as well as the annual All-America and All-District teams.

The recipient of the award will be announced on Friday, April 5, at the Final Four in Atlanta, Ga. They will then be formally presented their awards at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards on Monday, April 15, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award, named after the former Oklahoma State Hall of Fame coach, will also be presented at the gala to be held annually the Monday following the NCAA Men’s Final Four.

As it stands right now our Louisville Cardinals are ranked #10 in the country and are firmly in second place in a brutal Big East. And with the Cards being a legitimate national title contender this season it could be a very memorable one. But whats next? With the news from Coach Pitino a few weeks ago that he will encourage Chane, Russ, and Gorgui to test the NBA draft waters plus Peyton graduating what can Cardinal Nation expect next season and beyond? ESPN offered their opinion on this very topic:

Ballard High School Junior Quentin Snider, is considered a top candidate for the 2014 Kentucky Mr. Basketball award and was voted the Seventh Region Player of the Year this past week. We also found out yesterday that fellow 2014 signee Shaqquan Aaron was named to the Star Times all-area team.

In addition to that information we found out today that future point guard Chris Jones has been named the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year for the 2nd year in a row. Not really a surprise considering he is the best Juco player in the nation.

We also learned today that future Cards Anton Gill and Akoy Agau have been named to the roster for the 2013 Derby Festival Classic. The All-Star event will take place on Friday April 19th at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

“We were able to select and attract many of the best players in the country to complete the roster,” said Mike Gandolfo and Keith Conrad, the event’s co-recruiting chairs. “The 2013 class is loaded with really good players who will put on a great show.”

It is a very exciting time to be a Louisville basketball fan and everyday is filled with positive news about the future of the program. If you would like to read more about the incoming class next year check out the recruiting page.

Have you ever watched a sports movie and said to yourself “man I’d love to have been a part of that?” Well last night Card Nation got to be a part of something that you usually only see in the movies. We got to watch our Teddy QB lead his team to a Big East championship, a BCS bowl 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.

Somebody get Disney on the phone because this last week at the University of Louisville has had enough drama to be an instant classic. And at least enough for one of those ESPN inspirational shorts.

Teddy and Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson hug it out after the emotional game in Rutgers:

– Big recruiting weekend for football program

This Sunday is a big football game for the University of Louisville. It will set the tone for the entire season, and could have major implications on recruiting. On the sidelines, a talented cast, of almost 50 unofficial visitors. 

Though Charlie Strong and his staff will no doubt be occupied with the team in blue and white, they’ll be spending some time thinking about the biggest visiting weekend Louisville has seen in a long time.

Headlining the list are 2013 in-state stars James Quick, Kyle Bolin, Jason Hatcher, Ryan White and James Quick, and out of state stars Jalen Ramsey, Makail Grace and Jonathan Howard.

You will see a lot of guys in this group that are from the state of Kentucky. Coach Strong was ask Monday about in-state recruiting and if this game Sunday means anything:

“Look at in-state recruiting and all the good guys are leaving. We just have to find a way to keep them home.”

-Louisville Cardinals 6th best in the nation

Using a point system devised by the ESPN Stats & Information department, ESPN.com counted down the 50 most successful programs of the past 50 years. 

Our Louisville Cardinals come in at number six in that countdown. Our program has previously been named the seventh best all-time basketball program by Street and Smith’s, The Sporting News, and CBS Sportsline. 

Our program has been in 38 NCAA Tournaments ranked 5th, have 64 tournament wins ranked 6th, been to 9 Final Fours ranked 6, have 1662 wins that ranks 16, and have a winning percentage of .658 that ranks 8th nationally.

I’m very proud of our program and it’s achievements over the past 50 years. Looking forward to the next 50 years of Cardinal basketball. And looking forward to watching the program add to these already impressive numbers. 

Go Cards!

-Biggest games of the upcoming football season:

Yesterday 247sports came out with their list of the 100 most attractive games of the upcoming football season. 4 of the Louisville games below made that list. I agree with their assessment but decided to add a few games of my own to the list. I also added my own insight into why these games are so important for the Cardinal Football program.

-Kentucky at Louisville, Sept. 2, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) – The bitter banter has heated up this summer between UK and Louisville fans. We have had twitter wars, Facebook wars, and billboard wars but now its time for the gridiron version of “The Battle of the Bluegrass” to take center stage. Both programs will be on display for the nation to watch on a Sunday afternoon. The build up for this game has been as big as ever. UK leads the all-time series 14-10, but UofL snapped a four-game losing streak with last year’s 24-17 win in Lexington. Our Cards are the heavy favorites in this one and victory will be sweet. Its Louisville versus Kentucky and possibly the most important game on our schedule.

-Louisville at Pittsburgh, time and TV TBA – Another big rivalry game as the Cards head to Pitt to face the Panthers. Pitt has won four straight in the series, including 21-14 last year. The Cards need to stop their streak and show them why we are the Big East favorites. Plus this game will mark the last against Pitt as a Big East member. They will be headed to the ACC for 2013. Would be nice to send them out with a big L. This game could really play a major role in deciding the Big East Champion.

-USF at Louisville, Oct. 20, TBA – This rivalry has added some sparks in recent years. Both were picked at the top of the Big East at media days. Louisville was picked #1 with 219 votes and USF was picked #2 with 176 votes. It is almost certain that both will be battling it out for the conference title this season. Both of these schools also have the best young coaches in college football with Charlie Strong and Skip Holtz. Louisville won the game last season in South Florida 34-24.

-Cincinnati at Louisville, Oct. 26, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) – This should be a great Friday night battle for the Keg of Nails. U of L and UC have a football rivalry that has stretched over the span of 3 conferences from the Missouri Valley Conference, to Conference USA, and more recently in the Big East Conference. It is believed to be the oldest rivalry for the Louisville football team and the second oldest for UC. UC has won the last 4 in this series. Time for our Cards to win back the keg.

-Louisville at Rutgers, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) – I don’t need to remind Cardinal fans about the last time we were Big East favorites and had a perfect season going into New Jersey. I still get a sick feeling in my stomach just thinking about it. It may be déjà vu as they may need this game to win the conference title and advance, most likely, to the Orange Bowl. Let’s hope for a better outcome this time around.

-Orange Bowl (at Miami Gardens, Fla.), Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) — ACC champion vs. BCS at-large.

-Sugar Bowl (at New Orleans), Jan. 2, 8 p.m. (ESPN) — SEC champion vs. BCS at-large.

I put the Bowl games most likely to have our Cardinals in them if we have the season we expect. I would prefer to face a SEC powerhouse in the Sugar Bowl. Would be awesome to get a shot at one of the big boys. But the Orange Bowl would be great as well. I just want to see our football program bring home another BCS trophy in what will be the final season of the current system.

Enough with the hype, breakdowns, and preseason rumblings. Let’s play some football..!