2013 has been dubbed: “The Year of the Cardinal” with the University of Louisville athletic department shining as brightly as any in the country for the last 6 months. The football team beat Florida in the Sugar Bowl. The baseball team is currently competing in the NCAA Super Regionals. The women’s basketball team finished a surprising season upsetting Brittany Griner and Baylor on the way to a NCAA runner up finish. And, yes, the men’s basketball team won the program’s third NCAA title. So far, 2013 has come up nothing but roses for the Cards and they’ve finally justified the banner by the downtown campus proclaiming Louisville as “The Best College Sports Town in America.” It’s been quite the impressive run. And you’ll find no argument here.
Apr 10, 2013; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva (3) carries in the NCAA National Championship trophy through the crowd at the KFC YUM! Center during their celebration for winning the NCAA Men
But, to quote Wesley Snipes in White Men Can’t Jump, “Even the sun shines on a dog’s ass sometimes.”
Too many things had to go right for Louisville to succeed this year, especially playing a disinterested Florida team in the Sugar Bowl and NCAA Men’s hoops being at the lowest talent level in a generation. So, going forward, is Louisville going to grow up and leave the Big Brother Cats in the dust?
The short answer is no. No, they won’t.
The Elite Eight has become a disappointing finish for Coach Matthew Mitchell and the UK Women’s Basketball Team. After three straight finishes in that round of the tournament, the lady ballers are ready to make the leap to that next level in women’s college basketball. The Coach is hungry. The team is hungry. And now, the fans are hungry and demanding more from the team. Coach, players and fans all on the same page? How does that usually work out for Kentucky Basketball?
Mar 30, 2013; Bridgeport, CT, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens guard/forward Elena Delle Donne (11) shoots the ball against Kentucky Wildcats forward/center Azia Bishop (50) during the semifinals of the Bridgeport regional of the 2013 NCAA womens basketball tournament at Webster Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
The Kentucky Men’s Basketball Team will be markedly better this upcoming season, with the loaded freshman class and the veteran returning players. Don’t let one off year lead you to think otherwise. For those folks that didn’t that didn’t take statistics in school, it’s what is known as an aberration (noun; ab·er·ra·tion; A deviation from the proper or expected course). Expect the Cats to once again be in the NCAA Title hunt. The Empire Will Strike Back
And as far as football… well, new Coach Mark Stoops has things rolling and he hasn’t even coached one down of football for the boys in Blue. He’s recruiting 3 and 4 start high school players AND signing them. Stoops is particularly making strides in the state of Ohio, where I have long wondered why the Wildcats don’t have more of an impact. Kentucky may not be able to get the elite talent yet, but Coach Stoops has shown that he and his staff are willing to do what it takes to give UK a presence in the Buckeye State. And even more than that, he’s brought excitement back to the Bluegrass. And with a fan base as devoted as the Big Blue Nation, it’s only a matter of time before the football move themselves up into the upper echelon of the SEC. Remember when Commonwealth Stadium was sold out and rocking for 7-6 seasons? I don’t believe we’ve seen anything yet.
If there’s one thing that people in Blue don’t like is finishing second. If there’s anything worse than that, it’s being behind the University of Louisville in anything. The good news is, it won’t last long. From volleyball to hoops, from softball to the gridiron, the Cats will be back and better than ever. Because Lexington, Kentucky really is the best college sports town in Kentucky and in the country.