Ahead of Schedule

Finally, after what seems like a lifetime, the University of Louisville football team is getting the opportunity to stand in the spotlight.  Granted, they are facing a University of Florida team that has looked quite impressive for the majority of the season, and due to this the Gators are a 13 point favorite.  The national pundits mock the Cardinals, giving them little to no chance of victory, and of course they ignore what is the bigger picture.  Just three full seasons ago the Cardinals finished with a 4-8 record and were not invited to a bowl game for the third straight season.  My how the tides have turned.

Three short seasons later and the Cardinals jumped off path.  Not in the way most would have thought either.  Under Coach Charlie Strong, the Cardinals steadied the ship, and looked as if this could be the year to take a step forward and become an 8-9 win team.  These Cardinals had more confidence in themselves, and made the 2012-13 campaign just the third 10 win season in a decade. 

This season has at times been what we thought it would be.  UConn saw the Cardinals struggle to do anything as receivers dropped multiple passes, Syracuse saw a defense that missed made more mistakes than positives, and we continued to see a team let lesser teams control the game.  Then we also saw special moments, the magical third quarter against Rutgers, the manhandling of UNC (for 30 minutes) and the ability to overcome adversity throughout the season.  I as a UofL fan have decided on one thing:  I'm not going to let the national pundits take this season away from me.  In the same season these Cardinals leaped into the top-ten, then came crashing back out, the University was accepted into the ACC, and Charlie said "no" to the "big boys".  This has truly been a magical season for the University of Louisville and its fan base. 

One thing that has seemed to be a constant all year, these Cardinals tend to play to their level of competition.  While that is not exactly a recipe for victory, it just may be in New Orleans.  We have seen, in spurts, this team's best, and in their best, I'll put my Cardinals up against anybody.