If Charlie Was Lookng to Make a Statement, Consider it to be a Strong One: 56-0

[Paul]

CD Photo - 10 9 2010 HC Charlie Strong

By Paul Sykes - Managing Editor of Cardinal Couple

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Charlie Strong told the players before the game that the game would be a statement. The Cards promptly delivered it Express Mail and served notice to the college football world and the BIG EAST that this ain't just a bunch of Steve Kragthorpe leftovers.

 

Consider the numbers. 299 yards rushing on 34 carries. Powell with 204 of them. Back up running back Jeremy Wright looking impressive with 7-58 in mop up duty. Four Cardinal quarterbacks combining for 275 yards in the air...Adam Froman contributing the lion's share with 235 on 12 for 16 passing.

 

Powell is tied for eight place on the all-time single game rushing stats with yesterday's performance. Froman threw four TD's. Powell with an electrifying 74 yard dash for a second quarter score to put the Cards up 28-0. A second quarter that mirrored Louisville's success in the second this year...28 points.

 

Defense? Yeah, we got a good one. Memphis did not advance the ball past midfield in the second half. No slack off or nervous moments in the second half of this one. One attempt to score the entire game for the Tigers...a 42 yard field goal that was wide left. Darius Ashley looking like Sam Madison on a cornerback blitz...sacking hard luck Memphis QB Williams. Johnny Patrick with a snatch and grab.

 

A team still in the rebuild mode? Don't see it. The Cards have demonstrated in their last three outings that they are well capable of scoring with multiple options and have several shutdown artists on defense. Let's call it fine tuning instead. There are still gaps in coverage when the opponent goes to the passing game. Memphis did manage 184 yards against the Cards in the air. For the most part, though...the Cards did what you're supposed to do against lesser opponents...dominate them.

 

Friday Night will not be as easy. Forget about the 2-3 record that Cincinnati has. They gave Oklahoma all they wanted a few weeks back. That's #6 in the nation Oklahoma. Zach Collaros...UC QB...can beat you on the ground or through the air. Isaiah Pead is a tough ground gainer out of the backfield. The Bearcats romped Miami (OH) 45-3 yesterday. At halftime. They must have taken the second half off to commiserate about the Reds.

 

Friday Night...will it be a continuation of the Strong success story this season or a rude awakening to BIG EAST football for the Cards? UC put up 609 yards of offense yesterday. Can Powell plunder the Bearcats front seven for dashes like the ones we've seen all season?

 

Would they move the Seneca vs.Ballard game to Saturday so I could see both? Interesting times ahead and a new statement awaited from the guys who spoke clearly and loudly yesterday at PJCS.  

[Terry Jackson]

Great review Paul. It will be interesting to see if the Cards can either score with the Bearcats or stop them from scoring.

[Jugdish Mohatmas]

Paul, I must have had too much beer and too much sun yesterday, because I could have sworn that I once again saw you go up the steps in Section 125, with a black Cards t-shirt on.

[Dustin]

One thing we all can agree on is that this staff is leaps and bounds further along with this team than the previous regime... I can only be positive with what I have seen so far and I'll still be satisfied with making a bowl game even if its with a 6-6 record. Considering we havent sniffed a bowl game for awhile now this team DESERVES a post season game just for buying in to what the coaches have been preaching and for there commitment to the UL program and to its future.

[Paul]

Yeah, it was me again., Jugs. You need to stop me and introduce yourself or something..hand me money for a beer or tell me that I'm headed the right way for the urinal...GO CARDS!

Jugdish Mohatmas said:

Paul, I must have had too much beer and too much sun yesterday, because I could have sworn that I once again saw you go up the steps in Section 125, with a black Cards t-shirt on.

[Adam Small]

I believe that the way our team is playing is proof that it wasn't the players/lack of talent, instead it was just horrible coaching. There is alot of talent on this team and with coach Strong in the drivers seat now i believe the talent level will only get better. GO CARDS! L YEAH!

[Kenneth L Stark Sr]

Adam Small said:

I believe that the way our team is playing is proof that it wasn't the players/lack of talent, instead it was just horrible coaching. There is alot of talent on this team and with coach Strong in the drivers seat now i believe the talent level will only get better. GO CARDS! L YEAH!

I knew after Kragthorpe's first season it was the coach, not the talent level. We went backwards in wins in each of his 3 seasons. Many games it looked like many of the players were not giving it their all, to me, a sure sign of no respect for the coach or his coaching abilities.