Louisville Cardinals Team Thread-Attack of the Birds

['Sider]

Coach Steve Kragthorpe







Steve Kragthorpe begins his second season as head coach at the University of Louisville after guiding the Cardinals to a 6-6 record in 2007.

The season was certainly not what the second-year head coach expected when he took over the program, but Kragthorpe is determined to bring the Cardinals back to the top of the BIG EAST Conference with a tremendous work ethic and an ability to attract recruits to the Derby City.

Kragthorpe's first season Louisville was full of ups-and-downs. Despite a couple of early losses, the Cardinals defeated 15th-ranked Cincinnati last season, 28-24, at Nippert Stadium for Kragthorpe's first signature win, and battled back from a 38-24 fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Rutgers, 41-38, in the regular-season finale.

Offensively, the Cardinals finished sixth in the country in total offense, fourth in passing offense and 18th in scoring. Quarterback Brian Brohm set the school record for touchdown passes in a season with 30, while throwing for 4,024 yards.

The former head coach at Tulsa University and the architect of one the nation's most heralded rebuilding efforts, was named the 20th head football coach at the University of Louisville at a press conference on Jan. 9, 2007 in the press lounge at U of L's Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Prior to taking over at Louisville, Kragthorpe was named as the Golden Hurricane coach on December 18, 2002. Kragthorpe turned around the Tulsa program immediately. Prior to his arrival, Tulsa was a combined 2-21 in 2001 and 2002. However, it didn't take Kragthorpe long to turn around the Golden Hurricane program, compiling an impressive 29-22 record and guiding Tulsa to bowl games in three of the last four seasons.

"Steve has everything I look for in a head coach," said U of L Vice President and Director of Athletics Tom Jurich. "He has a proven track record and has high integrity, great morals and values. I like that he's a coach's son and his father Dave is a highly decorated coach. Steve is a great fit for this community. He has produced extraordinary results in a difficult situation at Tulsa and has endeared himself to that community. Everyone I've spoken with nationally says Steve is a great young man and one of the top young offensive minds in the nation. We welcome Steve and his wonderful family to our community and hope they call Louisville home for a long time."

Kragthorpe takes over for Bobby Petrino, who was named the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and ended his U of L tenure with a 41-9 record. The Cardinals finished the 2006 season at 12-1 and won the 2007 FedEx Orange Bowl with a 24-13 win over 15th-ranked Wake Forest. Louisville finished No. 6 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

In just four seasons at Tulsa, Kragthorpe took the Golden Hurricane to three bowls: the Humanitarian, Liberty and the Armed Forces Bowl. His teams won more games in his first three years than Tulsa had won in the preceding seven seasons combined, captured Tulsa's first conference championship since 1985 and put the Tulsa football program back on the map of national prominence.

Known as one of the best offensive minds in the country, Kragthorpe's teams have scored 30 or more points 29 times, 40 points on 10 occasions and 50 points three times. His 2006 squad was second in Conference USA in total offense and scoring.

In 2005, Kragthorpe guided Tulsa to its third winning season in four years, going 8-5 and advancing to the Armed Forces Bowl before falling to Utah, 25-13.

The 2005 campaign was Tulsa's first year as a member of Conference USA. Kragthorpe proceeded to lead the Hurricane to the C-USA West Division title with a 6-2 record and capturing a victory in the inaugural Conference USA Football Championship Game with a 44-27 win over Central Florida. Tulsa represented C-USA in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and left with a 31-24 victory over Fresno State, finishing the season with an overall 9-4 record.

In his first season in 2003, Kragthorpe was faced with the difficult task of attempting to reconstruct a football program that had just two victories over the previous two seasons. During that first year, Kragthorpe led that Tulsa team to an 8-5 overall record and the school's first bowl game in 12 years. The Golden Hurricane finished in a tie for second in the Western Athletic Conference with a 6-2 record and played in the Humanitarian Bowl.

His leadership helped produce the NCAA's biggest turnaround that year. The eight victories were the most at the school since 1991 and for that, Kragthorpe was voted the WAC Coach of the Year.

He was also one of six semifinalists for the Eddie Robinson/FWAA Coach of the Year Award as selected by the Football Writers Association of America. Kragthorpe was selected as the FWAA/Scripps First-Year Coach of the Year award winner, an honor given to the nation's top first-year head coach. He was also a finalist for the Paul "Bear" Bryant and Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Awards and finished in a third-place tie with Oklahoma's Bob Stoops in the voting for the Associated Press' National Coach of the Year.

Kragthorpe came to Tulsa from the Buffalo Bills and 15 total years of coaching expertise, including 13 years on the college level, two years as a graduate assistant coach and 11 years as a full-time assistant, and two years of professional football.

Before coming to Tulsa, Kragthorpe spent the previous two seasons (2001-02) as quarterback coach with the NFL's Buffalo Bills. In 2001, he tutored Rob Johnson and in the 2002 season he coached All-Pro Drew Bledsoe. Kragthorpe also coached Alex Van Pelt in his two years with the Bills.

Prior to his brief stint in the NFL, Kragthorpe worked four years (1997-00) as an assistant coach at Texas A&M, including the final three seasons as offensive coordinator. He also coached the wide receivers from 1997-99, before becoming the quarterback coach for the 2000 season.

In his first year with the Aggies, A&M posted a 9-4 mark and had a 6-2 Big 12 record to finish in first place in the Big 12 South Division. The 1998 team, his first as offensive coordinator, posted an 11-3 overall record and a 7-1 conference mark to win the Big 12 South Division and the overall Big 12 Championship.

Kragthorpe entered the coaching profession in 1988 as a graduate assistant coach on his father's Oregon State staff. The younger Kragthorpe assisted with coaching the quarterbacks and receivers.

In 1990, Kragthorpe became the quarterback coach at Northern Arizona and remained in that position until being elevated to offensive coordinator for the next two seasons. While at NAU, he coached quarterback Jeff Lewis, who spent five years in the NFL as a reserve quarterback for the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.

Following his four-year tenure at NAU, Kragthorpe became the offensive coordinator at North Texas in 1994, spending two seasons with the Mean Green. At North Texas, he oversaw an offense that led the conference in total offense. While there, he coached quarterback Mitch Maher who broke single-season school records for passing yards and total offense. After two seasons, Kragthorpe then moved to Boston College where he spent the 1996 season as quarterback coach, coaching current NFL signal-caller Matt Hasselbeck.

Playing collegiately at Eastern New Mexico (1983-84), Kragthorpe quarterbacked for two seasons before transferring to West Texas State. He started 11 games as a senior and completed 179-of-344 passes for 1,980 yards and nine TDs.

Kragthorpe earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from West Texas State in 1988. He also received his master's degree in business administration, while serving as a graduate assistant coach at Oregon State in 1988 and '89.

Kragthorpe, 42, and his wife, Cynthia, have three sons: Chris, Brad and Nik.

['Sider]

Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium

['Sider]

Players to Watch in 2008

Hunter Cantwell

Cantwell on Watch List for Unitas and Maxwell Awards


Senior quarterback takes over the Cardinals' offense in 2008






Louisville, Ky. - University of Louisville senior quarterback Hunter Cantwell has been nominated for two of the nation's top awards heading into the 2008 season.

Cantwell was selected as one of 26 of the nation's top senior college quarterbacks for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented by Transamerica Insurance and Investment Group, a leading provider of innovative business and personal financial services.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the nation's top senior collegiate quarterback, by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. This prestigious award bears the name of who many refer to as the finest quarterback to ever play the game of football. Established in 1987, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award has previously honored 20 outstanding young men. The award takes into consideration these candidates impressive collegiate careers to this point, as well as their off-the-field values of good character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, and strong leadership qualities.

Cantwell was also one of 75 players selected to The Maxwell Award Watch List has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell.

The senior from Paducah, Ky., played in two games a year ago and has made four collegiate starts in his career.


----------------------------------------------------------------


Brock Bolen



At Louisville: Solid two-year performer at running back after transferring from Illinois... versatile back who runs with power and can catch the ball out of the backfield... finished second on the team in rushing... has two 100-yard rushing games at Louisville.

2007: Second on the team in rushing with 456 yards... was second among the running backs with a 5.2 per carry average... tied with Anthony Allen for the team lead with seven rushing touchdowns... recorded two 100-yard rushing games... carried 13 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns against Rutgers...rushed for a career-long 55-yard run... rushed 16 times for 60 yards and caught a career-high five passes for 32 yards against Connecticut... caught four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati... carried eight times for 43 yards and a touchdown versus Utah... recorded his first 100-yard game of his career with an 112-yard performance against NC State... scored a touchdown in the win over Murray State.

2006: Carried 48 times for 296 yards... averaged 6.2 yards a carry... carried four times for 28 yards and a score in the Orange Bowl win over Wake Forest... caught a five-yard touchdown pass against Connecticut... ran eight times for 44 yards, including a run of 42 yards against Pittsburgh... rushed eight times for 43 yards against South Florida... carried six times for 45 yards against Cincinnati, including a team-high 18 yard run... rushed three times for 33 yards, including a 27-yard run... carried five times for 53 yards and a 17-yard touchdown run against Kansas State... rushed six times for 33 yards against Temple... made his debut in the second quarter against Kentucky... caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Brian Brohm... carried two times for five yards.

2005: Red-shirted after transferring from Illinois.

2004: Played in all 11 games for the Fighting Illini, competing mainly on special teams... carried the ball 11 times for 51 yards and also caught two passes for 12 yards.

Before Louisville: Ranked the No. 1 fullback by Tom Lemming coming out of Valley View High School... rushed for 2,087 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior, while running for 2,287 yards and 43 touchdowns during his junior campaign... totaled 6,099 yards and 108 touchdowns during his high school career... three-time Most Valuable Player... voted first-team All-State by the Dayton Daily News and Middletown Journal Herald... garnered first-team All-District, All-League, All-Conference honors and was a PrepStar All-Region selection... set seven school rushing and scoring records and was the Middletown Journal's Player of the Year... ranked the No. 28 running back prospect by Scout.com... son of Gail and Jim Bolen... born 3/24/85... sports administration major.

Career Statistics
Year GP Att. Net Avg. TD Lg
*2004 11-0 11 51 4.6 0 11
2006 13-4 48 296 6.2 2 42
2007 10-4 88 456 5.2 7 55
Totals 34-8 147 803 5.5 9 55
Year GP Rec Yds Avg. TD Lg
2004 11-0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2006 13-4 5 43 8.6 2 21
2007 10-4 14 121 8.6 1 28
Totals 34-8 19 164 8.6 3 28



--------------------------------------------------------------


Trent Guy



At Louisville:
Speedy wide receiver who has big-play potential... has become a valuable special teams performer... has worked hard to be a more consistent wide receiver.

2007:
Appeared in 12 games as a wide receiver and on special teams... caught 11 passes for 177 yards and a pair of scores... returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns... averaged a team-best 7.2 yards a punt return and a 22.4 yards a kickoff return... was second on the team with 990 all-purpose yards... recorded two receptions for 50 yards versus NC State... caught a career-high six passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns versus Utah... also returned a career-best seven kicks for 144 yards... returned a punt 54 yards in the season-opener against Murray State... also scampered 100 yards for a touchdown on a kickoff off return versus Kentucky... averaged a season-best 37.5 yards a kickoff return in a loss to Kentucky.

2006:
Appeared in nine games... averaged 7.4 yards a punt return... returned five kicks for a 14.2 average... returned three kicks for 46 yards against Connecticut... returned a punt 40 yards for a touchdown against West Virginia... returned four punts for 20 yards against Syracuse... had a long return of 14 yards.

Before Louisville:
Two-year starter at West Charlotte High School... also outstanding track and field performer... caught 36 passes for 609 yards and five touchdowns as a senior... rushed 28 times for 138 yards and a score... named the team's offensive Most Valuable Player... selected All-Conference and All-County... returned five kicks for touchdowns as a junior... averaged almost 40.0 yards per punt and kick return... earned All-Conference special teams honors... played only two seasons of high school football after breaking his arm and transferring from Martin High School... son of Elaine and Willie Guy... born 8/22/87... undecided major.

Career Statistics
Year GP Att. Net Avg. TD Lg
2007 12-0 4 49 12.2 0 22
Year GP Rec Yds Avg. TD Lg
2007 12-0 11 177 16.1 2 29
Year GP PR Yds Avg. TD Lg
2006 9-0 10 74 7.4 1 40
2007 12-0 13 93 7.2 1 54
Totals 21-0 23 167 7.3 2 54
Year GP KR Yds Avg. TD Lg
2006 9-0 5 71 14.2 0 20
2007 12-0 30 671 22.4 1 100
Totals 21-0 35 742 21.2 1 100

['Sider]

2008-2009 Football Schedule

2008-2009 SCHEDULE


Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result

08/31/08 vs. KENTUCKY PAPA JOHN'S CARDINAL STADIUM 3:30 p.m. ET
09/06/08 vs. TENNESSEE TECH PAPA JOHN'S CARDINAL STADIUM TBA
09/17/08 vs. KANSAS STATE PAPA JOHN'S CARDINAL STADIUM 8:00 p.m. ET
09/26/08 vs. CONNECTICUT # PAPA JOHN'S CARDINAL STADIUM 8:00 p.m. ET
10/10/08 at Memphis Memphis, Tenn. 8:00 p.m. ET
10/18/08 vs. MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (Homecoming) PAPA JOHN'S CARDINAL STADIUM TBA
10/25/08 vs. USF PAPA JOHN'S CARDINAL STADIUM TBA
11/01/08 at Syracuse Syracuse, N.Y. TBA
11/08/08 at Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pa. TBA
11/14/08 vs. CINCINNATI # PAPA JOHN'S CARDINAL STADIUM 8:00 p.m. ET
11/22/08 vs. WEST VIRGINIA PAPA JOHN'S CARDINAL STADIUM TBA
12/04/08 at Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. TBA

['Sider]

Personal Louisville Cardinal Overview


Coming off a disappointing season with Brian Brohm behind center, the Cardinals feel pretty good about his replacement in Hunter Cantwell with Matt Simms, Phil Simms son as backup to this years squad. It seems that the team in general hasnt adapted to Kragthorpes way of doing things as we have seen Larry Allen (RB) transfer, Mario Urrutia leave early for the draft (Bengals), Harry Douglas's graduation and draft (Falcons), Rob Council (dismissed for armed robbery), JaJuan Spillman (dismissed for weapons and numerous DUIs) Art Karmody PK-graduation, (U of Ls all time leader in points) Willie Williams LB (charged with possession of marijuana, felony tampering with physical evidence and driving without a license, dismissed from team) George Stripling RB (dismissed for not following team rules, leading to recent curfew and restrictions from players going to clubs and concerts) and as of last week, WR Trent Guy was shot in the back at a local nightclub after an altercaton involving his fiancee and two other assailants. He was released this past Friday from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

All of this after such high expectations for this program just two years off a Orange Bowl victory over Wake Forest, Coach K has his hands full and AD Tom Jurich is only holding on to his job thanks to basketball coach Rick Pitinos success in that program. Some say they should have given the job to Quarterbacks Coach Jeff Brohm, but Coach K and AD Jurich go way back and he chose to give the job to him after Bobby Petrino packed up and headed south to Atlanta. This years Cardinal squad has alot to prove in a tough conference especially the defense, which was last years Achilles heel, keeping them out of a bowl game. Coach K's recruiting has been kept low key here in the city so who knows what to expect for years to come, but the fans are restless after a tax hike due to more seats being put into Cardinal Stadium. I can remember after our loss to Kentucky last year, fans had their FIRE COACH K signs out and about, already causing waves throughout Cardinal Nation.

['Sider]

Bump--Ill be posting some info today and/or tomorrow recapping my current games

[sg_HustlinOwl]

Where the hell are the recaps? LOL

['Sider]

lol, Im gonna have to get online with my PS3 and the wifeys laptop to do them, I didnt know we were supposed to recap them here, too

My bad. Ill look at the stats and photos, vids Ive saved and go from there


Cut a brotha some slack ;)

[sg_HustlinOwl]

Recaps coming anytime soon?

['Sider]

Lose, lose, lose.............and then lose again, after going 6-0 against even worse teams. The sliders are whack, just my take