U of L fans; crybabies

U of L fans are the biggest band wagon jumpers among sports fan. Nothing they do ever seem to not amuse me. Three years ago all U of L fans did was brag about how they “up and coming” or the future “elite team” in college football. This was based on a 12-1 season beating up on the Major Conference known as the Big East; a conference weak compared to the likes of the SEC, Pac-10, Big 12 and Big 10.

U of L fans seem to enjoy forgetting the past. This is not the first time in history they had one great season to only turn around and go back to a .500 or less team. They did this during the 1980 and 1990’s. Funny how U of L fans never recall the bad seasons they’ve had.

If we are going to judge teams by one good season as “up and coming”, then we should get ready to fear Ball State and Utah. I wonder are their fans as insane as U of L fans? Or do they have more common sense? My guess is no fan base is as fake as U of L fans.

Since this future “elite” team has gone 6-6 and 5-7 the past two seasons, their fan base wants their coach fired. And why? Do you truly believe U of L was on the brink of being a top 10 team year after year? Going 9 and 3 in the Big East is laughable to fan bases of the SEC and other elite conferences. Going 9 and 3 in the Big East simply means you beat up on a basketball conference beating such bad football programs such as UConn, Rutgers and Syracuse.

U of L fans should stick to the truth. Maybe move to division two if you wanna be ranked in the top 10 yearly. Hey wait, I am pretty sure back during the 1970 and 1980’s you all almost made that move. After years of bad football in the weak Metro Conference and only 4,000-7,000 fans showing up in your old 35,000 seat arena, you all almost gave up playing division one football. Maybe you crybabies should do that now.

My guess for next year is 3-9. Kiss the bowl bid for next year goodbye. Kiss the dreams of a Big East Championship goodbye. And oh yeah, please kiss the dream of being Elite goodbye. Stick to basketball. At least you all are good at something. Well I take back; you all are also good at making us Kentucky and SEC fans laugh hearing you all call yourself “up and coming” in football.

Fans split on support for Kragthorpe

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081209/OPINION02/812090359/1002/SPORTS

Not optimistic
To paraphrase Yogi Berra, sometimes people tell us the most just by talking. I have no reason to believe that Coach Steve Kragthorpe is anything but a good man, but it just isn't working. Twice in the past 10 days, within the context of C-J interviews about his disappointment with the team record, he has used the phrase "If I were a U of L fan. ..." In my opinion, that's the problem. We need a coach who actually is a U of L fan and will have the same passion for the program as those of us who have been flash-frozen in Liberty Bowl games and drenched by torrential rains at the Florida State upset.

Kragthorpe came to the U of L program with great credentials, and I have no doubt that he knows the sport. Since Tom Jurich has assured us that the coach will continue in his position, I sincerely hope that it begins to click immediately. However, as I look at the 2009 schedule and the prospective recruiting class, I just don't see it getting any better. I've never wanted to be so wrong in my life.

JIM DECKER
Louisville 40245


Fan base problem
The problem with the University of Louisville's football program is not the coach, the coordinators, the players or the athletics director. The problem is the fans, and I speak from experience and as a fan myself. I understand Tom Jurich's support for Steve Kragthorpe and the rest of the coaching staff, but I don't understand the absolute hate the fan base has shown Kragthorpe since he arrived from Tulsa.

Perhaps, the fan base is still disgruntled by the disappearing act Bobby Petrino pulled on us. Perhaps, the fan base is hard-headed and runs away from change instead of embracing it. Perhaps, the fan base is ignorant of college football ways since we are traditionally a basketball school.

I may be cursed and hated among my fellow fans for saying this, but I believe in Kragthorpe and what he is doing with the football program. You can't start building a program back up without tearing it down first. You have to hit your low before you can hit your high, and you can see that progressing all throughout college football.

Louisville can rise to the top again, but it needs a supportive fan base that is willing to trust Kragthorpe until his contract has ended. Again, a football program cannot get better without getting worse. I know it's hard, but that is the way it is. That is why I will continue to be out at every game -- painted up, screaming my heart out and supporting my team, because that is the only way players, coaches, coordinators and our football team will get back to prominence.

SCOTT BEARD
Louisville 40208

U of L tries to end season at .500

http://uoflcardgame.com/

From the moment he stubbed his toe on the way to the podium at his introductory news conference as the new football coach, things have not gone well for Steve Kragthorpe at the University of Louisville. That little stumble would become emblematic of a major two-year crippling of the football program.

His assumption of the reigns of UofL football was ill-timed at best, the first week in January, forced to select a staff, retain some key players, and get in the thick of the recruiting battles quickly before the February deadline. Kragthorpe also encountered significant pressure from the administration and fans to retain some people he had never worked with as a coach.

On top of that, he was replacing the most successful football coach in the university’s history, still celebrating the Orange Bowl appearance and its first BCS win while finishing eighth in the national polls. While his predecessor was not well liked, Bobby Petrino was a winner on the football field and could do no wrong as far as fans were concerned. Kragthorpe took the position in spite of the conventional wisdom of never following a legend.

The observer recalls standing in a long line at the Neutral Zone store in Middletown, waiting for the coach to sign a football for the grandson. We waited, waited and waited some more. The coach would be over an hour late before getting there. Word was that he was lost, trying to find the place.

No apologies, at least none that may it back to our place in the long line. The ball coach sits down at a table, methodically signing the memorabilia handed to him. A minimum of effort to get to know the fans, the coach rarely acknowledging the person standing in front of him, little time or no interest in fan introductions.

Then came a long string of mysterious dismissals of players from the team with minimal communications from the coach. Lackluster performances against the equivalent of Division II teams. Loss after loss, including losses to mediocre Division I football teams. Players missing games because of suspensions or injuries, again with little explanation. As his tenure progressed, there were few signs of improvement on the offensive side of the ball. Too many recruits favoring other scenarios. The outlook for next season appearing even more grim.

The coach made minimal effort to win fans over to his side, expecting them to somehow understand the obstacles he was up against. The worn out clichés wore thin quickly. He was unwilling or incapable of relating to the fans’ frustrations, a martyr wanting to bear the burden while hoping he would have plenty of time to turn the program around.

These handicaps put his friend and boss Tom Jurich in the unenviable position of attempting to defend Kragthorpe. Certainly a football coach should have more than two seasons to build a program, but not when all available evidence indicates that the program is going in reverse.

Steve Kragthorpe may be a fine person. We have no reason to believe otherwise. But we may never know for sure, because Kragthorpe has been unable to relate to Louisvillians and their expectations for the University of Louisville and U of L football. These shortcomings may have been his biggest stumbles.

U of L and UK Football - Who is better now?

I am a die hard Kentucky Fan. After seeing them blow out U of L during the season opener and hanging close against Alabama, I truly thought Kentucky would finish 8 and 4 during the season.

Injury after injury has changed my opinion about that. I am not sure if Kentucky can even pull off a 7 and 5 season. Heck, after seeing them play Florida (which was a total nightmare) I'd be happy seeing them go 6 and 6.

U of L on the other hand has many things going in their favor. First off, they are much more healthier. Their schedule is also nothing like that of UK. U of L has a very legit shot at either an 8 and 4 record and even a 9 and 3 record. No one in the Big East really stands out. Every team left on U of L's schedule is beatable. And the Cards look much better then they did in game one against UK.

One thing U of L has that UK doesn't is a running game. UK cannot run the ball against any good defensive team. Proof of that was clearly seen against Florida. Besides the UK and UConn game, U of L has looked good rushing the ball.

U of L freshman have also looked good. Besides Cobb, who does UK have that looks like a future star? And even Cobb is unproven. He's only getting playing time because UK sucks at the QB position. If Woodson was still there Cobb wouldn't even be a name talked about.

If UK and U of L were to play today, I'd say U of L would win 17 - 7. Again, I am a die hard Kentucky fan. U of L has improved game by game. Kentucky has done the exact opposite.