As a lover of and advocate for our city, I feel a sense of duty and pride in supporting our local purveyors. Of course this is true for our restaurants and shops, but also for our artists and entertainers. Louisville has always had a thriving music scene and The Winston Hours may have a shot at being "the next big thing". The talented quartet consists of Taylor Nicholson (lead vocals / guitar), Russell Allen (base / keyboards), Nick Beach (drums), and Jim Bob Brown (keyboards / vocals).
Their style is a melodic form of rock similar to indie. Their songs (they do write their own music) are harmony driven and designed to have mass appeal. Some of the bands influences include Arcade Fire, Avett Brothers, and The Killers.
Taylor's voice is soothing. He knows his range and stays within it well. There are a few tracks, however, where the decibels are raised quite a bit, but nothing resembling heavy metal. Nick, Russell, and Jim Bob have been friends for years. They have performed in several local bands both together and separately from each other. When their most recent band, well, disbanded they were fortunate enough to come in contact with Taylor to complete the current lineup in August of 2011.
Each member is uniquely gifted. One of my friends referred to Nick as "the best drummer I have ever heard live". They are one of the few bands anywhere that sound just as good in person as they do in studio. The Winston Hours have played at many local venues including Wick's, Mag Bar, and The Grand in New Albany, to name a few. You can also catch them tonight at Phoenix Hill Tavern.
The Winston Hours need your help in reaching their real musical dreams, though. They have an opportunity to play in the Hard Rock Rising Global Battle of the Bands. Thousands of bands have entered, but only a few hundred will get to compete. Eighty-six Hard Rock Cafes are hosting preliminary events in their respective cities. The one winning band will be flown to London to play "Hard Rock Calling" in Hyde Park. The Winston Hours need your vote! In order to be considered, they must first get selected to play at the Hard Rock Cafe here in Louisville. Go to http://www.facebook.com/hardrockcafelouisville and follow the voting instructions. You can also learn more at http://www.reverbnation.com/. The voting ends at 11:59 PM on February 6th so hurry!
If you can't make it to see the band play live this evening, go to their facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Winston-Hours/109849309098729. There, you can hear some of their songs and view the band's profile. Support you local artists!
Go Cards!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Fitness Test For Refs?
As you know, I am a huge Louisville Cardinals fan. My mood can be very much affected by how my Cardinals perform in a given sporting event. I attend most U of L home basketball games and find it quite disturbing that we can't seem to get a call on our own court! Of course some may assume that this is just my biased opinion as a fan. Perhaps that is true to a degree, but my friend, who happens to be a die hard Kentucky fan, reiterated those same sentiments after a U of L game he recently attended.
I am not trying to suggest that there is some sort of conspiracy against my Cardinals, but there does seem to be an alarming trend. Assuming the referees don't actually have it out for Louisville, there may be a way to help remedy the situation: Get new officials! No, not because the current ones are all corrupt, but because they are just too darn old! The vast majority of referees in major college basketball are way too old and out of shape to keep up with the elite athletes running up and down the floor.
I realize that there are certainly some elderly people that have a high level of cardiovascular fitness, and plenty of young people that couldn't jog to the end of their driveway. My question would be: What is the fitness criteria (if any) a college basketball referee must meet in order to prove that they can carry out their responsibilities on the court? If there is not something in place, then there should be. And if they have something in place already, it needs to be reevaluated.
I understand that officials are human and they will not always make the correct call. The game is played at a fast pace and we often miss things in live action. There is no excuse, however, for not being in the proper position to make the call. When a ref makes an incorrect call because they were trailing the play and didn't see what actually happened, I get very frustrated.
If you are a referee at the highest level of college basketball, you should be one of the best officials in sports. Unfortunately, it appears that the same refs that were running the floor when Denny Crum started his coaching career are the same ones attempting to run the floor now. It's time for a new standard for officiating to be set, not to mention some new bodies.
Go Cards!
I am not trying to suggest that there is some sort of conspiracy against my Cardinals, but there does seem to be an alarming trend. Assuming the referees don't actually have it out for Louisville, there may be a way to help remedy the situation: Get new officials! No, not because the current ones are all corrupt, but because they are just too darn old! The vast majority of referees in major college basketball are way too old and out of shape to keep up with the elite athletes running up and down the floor.
I realize that there are certainly some elderly people that have a high level of cardiovascular fitness, and plenty of young people that couldn't jog to the end of their driveway. My question would be: What is the fitness criteria (if any) a college basketball referee must meet in order to prove that they can carry out their responsibilities on the court? If there is not something in place, then there should be. And if they have something in place already, it needs to be reevaluated.
I understand that officials are human and they will not always make the correct call. The game is played at a fast pace and we often miss things in live action. There is no excuse, however, for not being in the proper position to make the call. When a ref makes an incorrect call because they were trailing the play and didn't see what actually happened, I get very frustrated.
If you are a referee at the highest level of college basketball, you should be one of the best officials in sports. Unfortunately, it appears that the same refs that were running the floor when Denny Crum started his coaching career are the same ones attempting to run the floor now. It's time for a new standard for officiating to be set, not to mention some new bodies.
Go Cards!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Poor City Planning?
This past Friday night I went downtown to watch the University of Louisville men's basketball game. This is not uncommon as I attend most games. This night was different, however, because "Light Up Louisville" had been scheduled for the same evening. There was to be an expected turnout of around 75,000 people for the event, plus 22,000 fans heading to the game. Needless to say, packing 100,000 people in the same vicinity downtown, was a traffic nightmare.
I drove around for 45 mins looking for some way to get to my regular parking spot, only to learn that a parade was going directly around where I needed to be. I eventually gave up and parked several blocks further away. Fortunately, it was a nice night and I am capable of making the trek. I am not sure who to blame for this debacle, but if the city knew of both events ahead of time (which I am not sure of how much notice they had, especially for the basketball game), making a change in the schedule would have been appropriate.
I am all for attracting people to our revitalized downtown, but this was not a well planned or well executed strategy. I realize that times for sporting events are often dictated by television and it may be the week of the game before you actually know what the game time is going to be. With that said, this was Louisville vs Ohio, a game that was not to be nationally televised. I am sure that "Light Up Louisville" had been planned some time in advance. You would think that something could have been done to prevent the craziness I experienced. Oh well, I made it, and the Cards won!
Go Cards!
I drove around for 45 mins looking for some way to get to my regular parking spot, only to learn that a parade was going directly around where I needed to be. I eventually gave up and parked several blocks further away. Fortunately, it was a nice night and I am capable of making the trek. I am not sure who to blame for this debacle, but if the city knew of both events ahead of time (which I am not sure of how much notice they had, especially for the basketball game), making a change in the schedule would have been appropriate.
I am all for attracting people to our revitalized downtown, but this was not a well planned or well executed strategy. I realize that times for sporting events are often dictated by television and it may be the week of the game before you actually know what the game time is going to be. With that said, this was Louisville vs Ohio, a game that was not to be nationally televised. I am sure that "Light Up Louisville" had been planned some time in advance. You would think that something could have been done to prevent the craziness I experienced. Oh well, I made it, and the Cards won!
Go Cards!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Family Comes First
I was taught at a very young age that nothing is more important than family. Family can mean different things to different people. Having lived here my entire life and, by virtue of being the offspring of people whose families have been in Louisville for several generations, my family is very much biological. My wife, however, is a first generation Louisvillian. Her family consists of people that her parents befriended when they first came here over 30 years ago. Through various organizations to which they belonged, they have developed life-long relationships. So, family is not always biological, but more so the people that you know you can depend on in any situation.
There is no doubt that life will test you. Regardless of your economic status, race, religion, sexual orientation; we all have our struggles. Whatever it takes for you to get through it is generally fine by me. One thing about life that is certain: none of us will make it out alive. I just feel that, while we're here, it is most important to focus on the things we can control.
I have lost several people that I was closely connected to recently. Many people will turn to God for the strength to get through times like these. Again, whatever it takes for you to get through this life, I will not judge. For me though, my family is who I look to for strength and who I try to be strong for.
My dear friend Justin Ford once wrote "I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything and there are many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we're here." The truth is nobody can tell us for certain, what our purpose is. As individuals, we have to figure it out. One thing I am pretty certain about, however, is the importance of family. As you wander through life searching for answers to age-old questions, remember that you do control your own destiny...on Earth.
By focusing on doing what is necessary to take care of yourself and your family, and worrying less about how others take care of themselves and their families, I feel that people in general, can really get the most out of their lives. When I say that you control your own destiny, I mean it in a philosophical sense. I believe that all humans have and should be able to express their free will. In this country we can do that more so than in most others. You cannot control the situation you are born into, but you do have the ability to choose your own path as an adult. It may not be easy, but your reality is ultimately what you create within yourself.
I am an idealist. I can't help it. As I get older, I realize more and more that the world is not always fair or fun. I have been hardened by situations I have gone through, but I still remain eternally optimistic. I will get what I want out of this life. The road has been more difficult than I imagined it would be, but I will get to where I want to be. It is sad to me, though, that people as a whole remain so divided. Whether its religion, politics, ethnicity, or social status we are all subject to certain labels. I try to disprove stereotypes and stigmas, but again, I am an idealist.
As I've mentioned, I do not have a problem with people believing in certain things. I just don't want someone to try and force me to believe what they believe. You may suggest that I am trying to do just that in this post, but my goal is not to change your convictions. I just hope against hope that our society will eventually learn to live together peacefully. I realize that there will always be crime and heartache, but so much of it is baseless and truly tragic. If you do not like me, that's fine, but hopefully it is based on what you know about me as a person and not the fact that my family is Jewish or that I have freckles or dress a certain way. There are assholes in every subcategory of humans you can think of. It doesn't mean, however, that everyone from that particular subcategory is an asshole.
We have progressed so much in terms of technology, but as far as I can tell, the thought process for humans is very similar to that of humans 1000 years ago. Virtually every country has been annexed through war. Fighting and conquering. Is there no better way? I do not expect all of the world's problems to be solved, but I would like to see some global progression. What if today was your last day on Earth? Would you care about what God someone else believed in? Would you care about the skin color of the person sitting next to you?
The world will go on without me. This much I know. While I'm here though, I plan on enjoying the ride. It takes enough energy to be productive for those you care about. I really don't see a point in worrying about how others choose to live their lives. As long as it doesn't interfere with or infringe on my personal freedoms, I don't have a problem.
My family will always be my biggest influence. We do not always see eye to eye, but our love and respect for each other does not wain. There is an understanding; we don't always have to agree, but we are still family. It is an unbreakable bond. As long as I do right by my family, I will feel good about my time here.
After reading this piece you may think that I am unrealistic. You may be right. Maybe there is no hope for a better future, but I just can't help thinking that the future absolutely can be better. You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
Go Cards!
There is no doubt that life will test you. Regardless of your economic status, race, religion, sexual orientation; we all have our struggles. Whatever it takes for you to get through it is generally fine by me. One thing about life that is certain: none of us will make it out alive. I just feel that, while we're here, it is most important to focus on the things we can control.
I have lost several people that I was closely connected to recently. Many people will turn to God for the strength to get through times like these. Again, whatever it takes for you to get through this life, I will not judge. For me though, my family is who I look to for strength and who I try to be strong for.
My dear friend Justin Ford once wrote "I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything and there are many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we're here." The truth is nobody can tell us for certain, what our purpose is. As individuals, we have to figure it out. One thing I am pretty certain about, however, is the importance of family. As you wander through life searching for answers to age-old questions, remember that you do control your own destiny...on Earth.
By focusing on doing what is necessary to take care of yourself and your family, and worrying less about how others take care of themselves and their families, I feel that people in general, can really get the most out of their lives. When I say that you control your own destiny, I mean it in a philosophical sense. I believe that all humans have and should be able to express their free will. In this country we can do that more so than in most others. You cannot control the situation you are born into, but you do have the ability to choose your own path as an adult. It may not be easy, but your reality is ultimately what you create within yourself.
I am an idealist. I can't help it. As I get older, I realize more and more that the world is not always fair or fun. I have been hardened by situations I have gone through, but I still remain eternally optimistic. I will get what I want out of this life. The road has been more difficult than I imagined it would be, but I will get to where I want to be. It is sad to me, though, that people as a whole remain so divided. Whether its religion, politics, ethnicity, or social status we are all subject to certain labels. I try to disprove stereotypes and stigmas, but again, I am an idealist.
As I've mentioned, I do not have a problem with people believing in certain things. I just don't want someone to try and force me to believe what they believe. You may suggest that I am trying to do just that in this post, but my goal is not to change your convictions. I just hope against hope that our society will eventually learn to live together peacefully. I realize that there will always be crime and heartache, but so much of it is baseless and truly tragic. If you do not like me, that's fine, but hopefully it is based on what you know about me as a person and not the fact that my family is Jewish or that I have freckles or dress a certain way. There are assholes in every subcategory of humans you can think of. It doesn't mean, however, that everyone from that particular subcategory is an asshole.
We have progressed so much in terms of technology, but as far as I can tell, the thought process for humans is very similar to that of humans 1000 years ago. Virtually every country has been annexed through war. Fighting and conquering. Is there no better way? I do not expect all of the world's problems to be solved, but I would like to see some global progression. What if today was your last day on Earth? Would you care about what God someone else believed in? Would you care about the skin color of the person sitting next to you?
The world will go on without me. This much I know. While I'm here though, I plan on enjoying the ride. It takes enough energy to be productive for those you care about. I really don't see a point in worrying about how others choose to live their lives. As long as it doesn't interfere with or infringe on my personal freedoms, I don't have a problem.
My family will always be my biggest influence. We do not always see eye to eye, but our love and respect for each other does not wain. There is an understanding; we don't always have to agree, but we are still family. It is an unbreakable bond. As long as I do right by my family, I will feel good about my time here.
After reading this piece you may think that I am unrealistic. You may be right. Maybe there is no hope for a better future, but I just can't help thinking that the future absolutely can be better. You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
Go Cards!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Shameless Self-Promotion
Here's the deal: I need money! We all do right? Well, I certainly do not expect any handouts, but in order to have the things I want in life, money is an unfortunate necessity. I am willing to work for it though. As a matter of fact, I am willing to work for you to attain financial reward.
As with virtually every industry, real estate has been hit hard in the current economic climate. This does not mean that you should be afraid to get involved in a real estate transaction, though. As a consumer, there has never been a better time to purchase real estate. Mortgage rates are at historical lows.
It is harder to get approved for a loan these days, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Predatory lending, where lenders were approving loans for people that had no business purchasing, has essentially been eliminated. Shady lending practices by banks and mortgage companies is one of the biggest reasons we are in our present economic situation. As a result, buyers are more protected now than ever before.
As a seller, it is important to be realistic. Having your house appraised is not going to give you the true value of what your home is worth. Only the housing market in your specific area can predict the value of your home. If houses are selling in your neighborhood for $150,000-$175,000, it would be quite difficult to justify an asking price of $210,000. There are many factors to consider, however. The best way to ensure a swift sale of your home is to get the property in good selling condition. Updates in kitchens and bathrooms in particular, are very attractive to prospective buyers. Remember though, just because your home is in better condition or has more upgrades than the house for sale down the street, doesn't mean it will sell for significantly more money. It will, however, make it easier to sell.
I am in a unique position. I am a Realtor that works for a builder. Therefore, I have resources available to me that most other agents do not. I would love to represent you as your buyer's agent or sell your property as your listing agent. If you need to renovate your home prior to selling, however, I can help with that too. Judah Real Estate Group can assist with virtually any type of home improvement. If, after I sell you a home, the roof leaks, the floors need to be replaced, a deck or addition is desired, I hope to be your first call. If it has to do with real estate or home improvement we have the resources to accomplish the task at hand.
Regardless of how you feel about me personally, I can ensure you that professionally, your complete satisfaction will be top priority. Whether you are buying, selling or custom bulding a $500,000 home or just need your driveway repaved, the level of service provided will not waiver. I understand that consumers have many options when choosing real estate and home improvement professionals. All I can ask for is an opportunity to prove myself as your Realtor and our company's expertise in the other aspects of our industry.
Go Cards!
As with virtually every industry, real estate has been hit hard in the current economic climate. This does not mean that you should be afraid to get involved in a real estate transaction, though. As a consumer, there has never been a better time to purchase real estate. Mortgage rates are at historical lows.
It is harder to get approved for a loan these days, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Predatory lending, where lenders were approving loans for people that had no business purchasing, has essentially been eliminated. Shady lending practices by banks and mortgage companies is one of the biggest reasons we are in our present economic situation. As a result, buyers are more protected now than ever before.
As a seller, it is important to be realistic. Having your house appraised is not going to give you the true value of what your home is worth. Only the housing market in your specific area can predict the value of your home. If houses are selling in your neighborhood for $150,000-$175,000, it would be quite difficult to justify an asking price of $210,000. There are many factors to consider, however. The best way to ensure a swift sale of your home is to get the property in good selling condition. Updates in kitchens and bathrooms in particular, are very attractive to prospective buyers. Remember though, just because your home is in better condition or has more upgrades than the house for sale down the street, doesn't mean it will sell for significantly more money. It will, however, make it easier to sell.
I am in a unique position. I am a Realtor that works for a builder. Therefore, I have resources available to me that most other agents do not. I would love to represent you as your buyer's agent or sell your property as your listing agent. If you need to renovate your home prior to selling, however, I can help with that too. Judah Real Estate Group can assist with virtually any type of home improvement. If, after I sell you a home, the roof leaks, the floors need to be replaced, a deck or addition is desired, I hope to be your first call. If it has to do with real estate or home improvement we have the resources to accomplish the task at hand.
Regardless of how you feel about me personally, I can ensure you that professionally, your complete satisfaction will be top priority. Whether you are buying, selling or custom bulding a $500,000 home or just need your driveway repaved, the level of service provided will not waiver. I understand that consumers have many options when choosing real estate and home improvement professionals. All I can ask for is an opportunity to prove myself as your Realtor and our company's expertise in the other aspects of our industry.
Go Cards!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Cards Conference Realignment Breakdown
As many of you are aware, there is quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding several conferences in NCAA Division I, including the Big East. You may be wondering what this means for the University of Louisville. I do not claim to be an expert on this topic, but I feel my opinion is valid. Here is my prediction: The University of Louisville will be in a an "AQ" or BCS power conference, regardless of whether or not that conference is the Big East.
With the abrupt and unexpected departure of Pittsburgh and Syracuse (the latter a charter member of the league), the future of the Big East as a relevant football conference seems very much in doubt. In almost every other sport, most notably basketball, the Big East is extremely competitive with the other power conferences. Unfortunately, this current shift in the conference landscape is all about money. Football is the engine that drives most athletic programs; from ticket and concession sales to multi-million dollar contracts with television networks.
Why Louisville will not be left out in the cold: The vast majority of athletic programs lose money. Louisville is one of the top 25 most profitable athletic programs in the country. Our athletic facilities rival anybody's in the country, regardless of sport. U of L's athletic teams are also littered with conference champions from track & field to tennis. Again, football is where the money is, but being one of the top programs in our conference in virtually every sport in which we participate makes us an attractive addition to other power conferences looking to expand. Having the best athletic director in the business certainly doesn't hurt either.
We are not guaranteed of anything. Some conferences, namely the ACC, have said that they have no interest in adding Louisville. Most people do not see the SEC being a viable option either. As a fan, it is hard not to take those snubs personally, but I am extremely confident in our administration. They are not just sitting around waiting for something to happen. They are being proactive and diligent in their efforts to find the best situation for my beloved Cardinals.
As a huge fan of college basketball, it would be sad to see us leave the nation's best basketball conference, but the league has already taken a significant hit in that regard with Syracuse and Pittsburgh leaving for the ACC. As I mentioned, our administration must make the best decision for the University of Louisville. Remaining in a league with questionable stability, that could quite possibly be on the outside looking in for a BCS bid, would not be in the best interest of our athletic program.
Although I would have not considered the Big XII as an option, even a couple of weeks ago, it seems to be the most logical place for U of L to land. Apparently, geography has little to do with which teams end up in which conference these days, so our location should not be a significant hurdle to overcome. The Big XII has already expressed interest in Louisville as they look to again be a 12 team league (currently there are only 9 members, with Texas A&M officially heading to the SEC).
I am not picky. The most important thing is to remain in an AQ conference and, at this point, I have no reason to believe that we won't. As much as I adore my hometown school, I understand that these things don't always work out the way we hope, or even expect, especially when big dollars are involved. If we are not in a BCS conference when the Big East's automatic bid to a BCS bowl is reviewed in 2013, however, I would be shocked and appalled. Even a Kentucky fan could not argue that the Cardinals unquestionably belong in a major conference!
Go Cards!
With the abrupt and unexpected departure of Pittsburgh and Syracuse (the latter a charter member of the league), the future of the Big East as a relevant football conference seems very much in doubt. In almost every other sport, most notably basketball, the Big East is extremely competitive with the other power conferences. Unfortunately, this current shift in the conference landscape is all about money. Football is the engine that drives most athletic programs; from ticket and concession sales to multi-million dollar contracts with television networks.
Why Louisville will not be left out in the cold: The vast majority of athletic programs lose money. Louisville is one of the top 25 most profitable athletic programs in the country. Our athletic facilities rival anybody's in the country, regardless of sport. U of L's athletic teams are also littered with conference champions from track & field to tennis. Again, football is where the money is, but being one of the top programs in our conference in virtually every sport in which we participate makes us an attractive addition to other power conferences looking to expand. Having the best athletic director in the business certainly doesn't hurt either.
We are not guaranteed of anything. Some conferences, namely the ACC, have said that they have no interest in adding Louisville. Most people do not see the SEC being a viable option either. As a fan, it is hard not to take those snubs personally, but I am extremely confident in our administration. They are not just sitting around waiting for something to happen. They are being proactive and diligent in their efforts to find the best situation for my beloved Cardinals.
As a huge fan of college basketball, it would be sad to see us leave the nation's best basketball conference, but the league has already taken a significant hit in that regard with Syracuse and Pittsburgh leaving for the ACC. As I mentioned, our administration must make the best decision for the University of Louisville. Remaining in a league with questionable stability, that could quite possibly be on the outside looking in for a BCS bid, would not be in the best interest of our athletic program.
Although I would have not considered the Big XII as an option, even a couple of weeks ago, it seems to be the most logical place for U of L to land. Apparently, geography has little to do with which teams end up in which conference these days, so our location should not be a significant hurdle to overcome. The Big XII has already expressed interest in Louisville as they look to again be a 12 team league (currently there are only 9 members, with Texas A&M officially heading to the SEC).
I am not picky. The most important thing is to remain in an AQ conference and, at this point, I have no reason to believe that we won't. As much as I adore my hometown school, I understand that these things don't always work out the way we hope, or even expect, especially when big dollars are involved. If we are not in a BCS conference when the Big East's automatic bid to a BCS bowl is reviewed in 2013, however, I would be shocked and appalled. Even a Kentucky fan could not argue that the Cardinals unquestionably belong in a major conference!
Go Cards!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Leave Will Alone (for now)
As a die hard U of L fan and alumni, I want to see all of our teams do well. Like most red-blooded American males, though, football and basketball are the most important to me. So, watching the first two games of the University of Louisville football team's season has been painful. We have struggled against opponents that should not be able to compete with us. Especially on our home field. Replacing our starting quarterback is not the answer though. Not yet!
We have not looked great on either side of the ball. Our defense gave up several big plays in the loss to Florida International, and our offensive line couldn't block anybody. As a fan, it is sometimes hard to keep things in perspective. After all, fan is short for fanatic! It is easy to let your emotions get the best of you because you want your team to win so badly. If you take a step back, however, you can see why this Cardinal football team is having such a difficult time.
Louisville lost 26 seniors from last year's squad. Regardless of the talent level of those departed, it is a tall order to replace that many players, not to mention their leadership and intangibles. We have no returning starters on our offensive line (Mario Benavides was supposed to return as the starting center, but he is injured). We have had several key injuries on our defensive line including starters Greg Scruggs and B.J. Butler, and both cornerbacks are first-year starters. The Cards are an extremely young team, and consequently, rely on underclassmen (including many freshman) to help win ball games. Several of our young players have performed well. In most cases, they are more talented than their upperclassmen teammates. But playing at this level is a very difficult transition for most kids right out of high school.
Everybody has an opinion, but we aren't the coach. I am extremely confident in Charlie Strong and believe he will do everything possible to give us the best opportunity to win. Getting Teddy Bridgewater to sign with U of L was huge for coach Strong and his program. Don't you think he would play him if he thought Teddy was ready? Will Stein has not been the reason we have performed badly in the first two games. I am not saying he has been spectacular, but he has had very little support from his teammates. We haven't been able to run the ball effectively and Stein has been scrambling for his life to avoid sacks (FIU recorded 6 of them).
Coach Strong feels Will gives us the best chance to win right now and I don't have the credentials to argue with him. Frankly, most Stein detractors don't either. Be patient! This team will improve. As a fan, though, I certainly hope to see vast improvement from our squad in Saturday's game against that team down the road!!
Go Cards! Beat UK!!
We have not looked great on either side of the ball. Our defense gave up several big plays in the loss to Florida International, and our offensive line couldn't block anybody. As a fan, it is sometimes hard to keep things in perspective. After all, fan is short for fanatic! It is easy to let your emotions get the best of you because you want your team to win so badly. If you take a step back, however, you can see why this Cardinal football team is having such a difficult time.
Louisville lost 26 seniors from last year's squad. Regardless of the talent level of those departed, it is a tall order to replace that many players, not to mention their leadership and intangibles. We have no returning starters on our offensive line (Mario Benavides was supposed to return as the starting center, but he is injured). We have had several key injuries on our defensive line including starters Greg Scruggs and B.J. Butler, and both cornerbacks are first-year starters. The Cards are an extremely young team, and consequently, rely on underclassmen (including many freshman) to help win ball games. Several of our young players have performed well. In most cases, they are more talented than their upperclassmen teammates. But playing at this level is a very difficult transition for most kids right out of high school.
Everybody has an opinion, but we aren't the coach. I am extremely confident in Charlie Strong and believe he will do everything possible to give us the best opportunity to win. Getting Teddy Bridgewater to sign with U of L was huge for coach Strong and his program. Don't you think he would play him if he thought Teddy was ready? Will Stein has not been the reason we have performed badly in the first two games. I am not saying he has been spectacular, but he has had very little support from his teammates. We haven't been able to run the ball effectively and Stein has been scrambling for his life to avoid sacks (FIU recorded 6 of them).
Coach Strong feels Will gives us the best chance to win right now and I don't have the credentials to argue with him. Frankly, most Stein detractors don't either. Be patient! This team will improve. As a fan, though, I certainly hope to see vast improvement from our squad in Saturday's game against that team down the road!!
Go Cards! Beat UK!!
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