ESPN is gushing all over UofL football.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast

UC can beat them - they should have last year. But ESPN has already crowned UofL the king.

Spielman did say at UC was one of their toughest games.

Louisville will probably be the best team, but I'm not giving anybody anything that has to come into Nippert. If we take care of business at home, they'll likely need us to lose 2 other conference games.

Meh, as much as I hate to say it, they should be considered the favorite since they won a BCS bowl over a top 10 team to end the season, return most of their principle players and the have the continuity of keeping their head coach. That being said, UC has them at home for the last game of the season. I like our chances.

(04-16-2013 06:44 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  ESPN is gushing all over UofL football.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast

UC can beat them - they should have last year. But ESPN has already crowned UofL the king.

Spielman did say at UC was one of their toughest games.

If UC had won one of their BCS bowls in as impressive a fashion as Louisville did last year they would have gotten the same acolades. Let's face it, UC is looking up at Louisville right now as an overall sports program. Financially, structurally and logistically Louisville is light years ahead of UC.

I think Louisville will definitely be the favorite after their win over Florida. Mainly it's because Bridgewater is just that good. He killed us in the second half of our game and made play after play against both Florida and the season finale against Rutgers to lead Louisville to victory.

But I don't think Louisville is a flawless team. Let's not forget that down the stretch they got absolutely throttled by Syracuse then lost to 5-7 UConn at home. I think their defense is still suspect but in order to beat them you have to get to Bridgewater.

louisville who?

Despite beating Florida convincingly last year, they did lose to UConn at home and Syracuse. That's why the games are played. Lville opens with Ohio who is returning most of their skill players who were hurt much of last year like Tettleton & Blankenship. Should be a great test for Lville

Munchie had an awful game and we still only lost by three in overtime at their place. I'm not really sure what to think of Louisville. They obviously weren't head and shoulders above us as evidenced by the game we played against them and two losses to bad teams Cuse and UConn. That Florida win was impressive, but I also think a perfect storm of events for Lousiville. Florida was a very poor offensive team and after falling behind Louisville due to some turnovers their offense was forced into throwing the ball, which was not a strength of their team. Plus the being behind meant Florida had to largely abandon running the ball and Louisville's primary weakness last year was run defense. I definitely like our chances at Nippert.

This will be the first trip to Nippert for just about their entire team. If they beat us, it will be well-earned.

But, I'll be damned if I concede this game before it is even played.

(04-16-2013 08:48 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  I think Louisville will definitely be the favorite after their win over Florida. Mainly it's because Bridgewater is just that good. He killed us in the second half of our game and made play after play against both Florida and the season finale against Rutgers to lead Louisville to victory.

But I don't think Louisville is a flawless team. Let's not forget that down the stretch they got absolutely throttled by Syracuse then lost to 5-7 UConn at home. I think their defense is still suspect but in order to beat them you have to get to Bridgewater.

Let's be honest: the only thing Louisville can hang its hat on is the win over Florida. Otherwise, you can't look at last season as anything other than a disappointment for them. They nearly handed the game away to UNC; they only beat FIU by a touchdown; they nearly lost to a winless Southern Miss team; they BARELY beat USF by 2; the beat UC in overtime by 3; and, beat Rutgers by a field goal.

That's SIX games they easily could have lost, and instead of being 11-2, they easily could have been 4-8. I give them all the credit in the world for putting the beat down on Florida, but let's not act like they're world beaters. They've conquered one thing: the hype machine.

I agree with you about UL last year, I do throw out the USM game because the field was probably under 3 in. of water. I love our team this year, deep offensive line with experience, deep talented RB's, a QB who showed a lot of potential in about half a season last year and a good spring, and talented WRs. Defensively we have the best LBs in school history but we don't know as much about the front or back of the defense. The only thing I'll give UL over us is they have a legitimate Heisman trophy candidate and that's why they'll get a lot of attention this year.

(04-16-2013 11:21 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  I agree with you about UL last year, I do throw out the USM game because the field was probably under 3 in. of water. I love our team this year, deep offensive line with experience, deep talented RB's, a QB who showed a lot of potential in about half a season last year and a good spring, and talented WRs. Defensively we have the best LBs in school history but we don't know as much about the front or back of the defense. The only thing I'll give UL over us is they have a legitimate Heisman trophy candidate and that's why they'll get a lot of attention this year.

USM played on the same field in the same conditions. In that game, the weather neutralized Bridgewater's passing game. In the game a week prior, FIU's defense neutralized Bridgewater, and UL only won by a touchdown. If you can shut down Bridgewater, there isn't enough talent on that team to pick up the slack. Personally, I think our team talent level is much higher, but I also like our coaching staff's ability to shut down one dimensional teams. Texas Tech yanked the emergency brake on Geno Smith's season last year. I feel pretty confident they'll be able to put together a good plan for Bridgewater this year.

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  

(04-16-2013 08:48 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  I think Louisville will definitely be the favorite after their win over Florida. Mainly it's because Bridgewater is just that good. He killed us in the second half of our game and made play after play against both Florida and the season finale against Rutgers to lead Louisville to victory.

But I don't think Louisville is a flawless team. Let's not forget that down the stretch they got absolutely throttled by Syracuse then lost to 5-7 UConn at home. I think their defense is still suspect but in order to beat them you have to get to Bridgewater.

Let's be honest: the only thing Louisville can hang its hat on is the win over Florida. Otherwise, you can't look at last season as anything other than a disappointment for them. They nearly handed the game away to UNC; they only beat FIU by a touchdown; they nearly lost to a winless Southern Miss team; they BARELY beat USF by 2; the beat UC in overtime by 3; and, beat Rutgers by a field goal.

That's SIX games they easily could have lost, and instead of being 11-2, they easily could have been 4-8. I give them all the credit in the world for putting the beat down on Florida, but let's not act like they're world beaters. They've conquered one thing: the hype machine.

i didn't watch louisville as closely as you did and i think few ppl paid attention to them outside of other B.East fan bases. Therein lies the problem. i will remember the Southern Miss game more for the weather than the final score. i will remember that they barely beat us and Lyle trying unsuccessfully to freeze the kicker. i will also remember them beating rutgers, which paved the way for us to claim a piece of the B.East title. i will also remember the beat down they put on FL. i won't remember very much more about that season and as time passes will remember less and less, and i'm a fan of a B.East team. All these other outlets that are praising them probably don't care enough to peel back the layers. They will know what just about everyone else who doesn't care knows: The Cardinals are 11-2 and put a beat down on FL on the way to being Sugar Bowl champs, and that is good enough to put them in the drivers seat of our new conference going forward. Call it lazy/apathetic/irresponsible journalism, but the reality is that in terms of priorities, the AAC is probably 7th conference wise related to national interest. The media isn't going to give a gotdamn about being wrong about their AAC predictions.

And while everyone on here loves Coach Tubs and what the Bearcats have to offer going forward, we are very much a question mark. Sure we have the talent and experience to win now in a BIG way, but nothing is guaranteed.

(04-16-2013 12:56 PM)eroc Wrote:  And while everyone on here loves Coach Tubs and what the Bearcats have to offer going forward, we are very much a question mark. Sure we have the talent and experience to win now in a BIG way, but nothing is guaranteed.

Careful how you spell "big". Someone might read into your post that we are going to a different conference.

(04-16-2013 03:13 PM)bearcatdp Wrote:  

(04-16-2013 12:56 PM)eroc Wrote:  And while everyone on here loves Coach Tubs and what the Bearcats have to offer going forward, we are very much a question mark. Sure we have the talent and experience to win now in a BIG way, but nothing is guaranteed.

Careful how you spell "big". Someone might read into your post that we are going to a different conference.

Then let me rephrase. i think we can go undefeated if everything goes right and we get a little luck. i also hope that we put a beating on Rutgers.

(04-16-2013 07:11 AM)uccheese Wrote:  Louisville will probably be the best team, but I'm not giving anybody anything that has to come into Nippert. If we take care of business at home, they'll likely need us to lose 2 other conference games.

I have no idea how season ticket sales are going, or what demand will be given this conference situation, but I hope the athletic dept does what it can to keep this a UC crowd to the max. UL fans are now delusional to a fever pitch and will snatch up any available tickets the second they are available.

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  Let's be honest: the only thing Louisville can hang its hat on is the win over Florida.

I disagree, but even if what you say is true, then that is a pretty damn big peg

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  Otherwise, you can't look at last season as anything other than a disappointment for them. They nearly handed the game away to UNC; they only beat FIU by a touchdown; they nearly lost to a winless Southern Miss team; they BARELY beat USF by 2; the beat UC in overtime by 3; and, beat Rutgers by a field goal.

#1. It would be absurd - if not idiotic - to call an 11-2 season a "disappointment". That statements seems even more ridiculous considering that the season ended with a BCS Bowl win over a team ranked in the top 5. No one thinking logically/objectively can look at last season as anything other than a success for UofL.

I know you don't like UofL (you have stated as much over on the AAC boards), but I highly doubt that if UofL and UC's season were flipped, you'd be calling the Bearcats season a "disappointment".

#2. Look at every game you listed. Yes, UofL also handed the game away to UNC. But they still won. Yes, UofL only beat FIU by a touchdown. But they still won. Yes, UofL nearly lost to USM in a game that had 3 inches of water on the field. But they still won.

The point is nothing you typed in the above paragraph actually matters. So what if the games were close? They still won those games and they also won when it mattered the most (@Rutgers, UC, vs Florida in the Sugar Bowl). I'll take a team that squeaks by each week and wins versus a team that blows out opponents but chokes when it actually matters any day of the week.

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  That's SIX games they easily could have lost, and instead of being 11-2, they easily could have been 4-8.

But in this reality, they won all six of those games. So a hypothetical message board 4-8 season really doesn't matter

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  I give them all the credit in the world for putting the beat down on Florida, but let's not act like they're world beaters. They've conquered one thing: the hype machine.

#1. UofL does not own or operate ESPN, Athlon, The Sporting News, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Sports Illustrated, etc. If those businesses want to hype UofL, then it is their own doing.

#2. If you are referring to UofL fans hyping the team, then I'd say the have good reason to. Pre-season top 10-15 ranking, a potential Heisman candidate at QB, coming off an 11-2 season and the program's second BCS bowl win, kept Coach Strong and held off Tennessee, returned almost the entire team, etc. There are a lot of reasons for the fans to be excited for the upcoming season (just like UC fans have a lot of reasons to be excited about Tuberville and Bearcat football).

U of L--your points are good. I think the concern here is that UC expects to have a fine team too. If the 'Cats meet expectations, they'll deserve the Top 25 but UC is, once again, getting NO love from media this preseason--just like the previous UC teams that have won or shared the conference crown year after year.

(04-16-2013 10:57 PM)UofLgrad07 Wrote:  

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  Let's be honest: the only thing Louisville can hang its hat on is the win over Florida.

I disagree, but even if what you say is true, then that is a pretty damn big peg

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  Otherwise, you can't look at last season as anything other than a disappointment for them. They nearly handed the game away to UNC; they only beat FIU by a touchdown; they nearly lost to a winless Southern Miss team; they BARELY beat USF by 2; the beat UC in overtime by 3; and, beat Rutgers by a field goal.

#1. It would be absurd - if not idiotic - to call an 11-2 season a "disappointment". That statements seems even more ridiculous considering that the season ended with a BCS Bowl win over a team ranked in the top 5. No one thinking logically/objectively can look at last season as anything other than a success for UofL.

I know you don't like UofL (you have stated as much over on the AAC boards), but I highly doubt that if UofL and UC's season were flipped, you'd be calling the Bearcats season a "disappointment".

#2. Look at every game you listed. Yes, UofL also handed the game away to UNC. But they still won. Yes, UofL only beat FIU by a touchdown. But they still won. Yes, UofL nearly lost to USM in a game that had 3 inches of water on the field. But they still won.

The point is nothing you typed in the above paragraph actually matters. So what if the games were close? They still won those games and they also won when it mattered the most (@Rutgers, UC, vs Florida in the Sugar Bowl). I'll take a team that squeaks by each week and wins versus a team that blows out opponents but chokes when it actually matters any day of the week.

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  That's SIX games they easily could have lost, and instead of being 11-2, they easily could have been 4-8.

But in this reality, they won all six of those games. So a hypothetical message board 4-8 season really doesn't matter

(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote:  I give them all the credit in the world for putting the beat down on Florida, but let's not act like they're world beaters. They've conquered one thing: the hype machine.

#1. UofL does not own or operate ESPN, Athlon, The Sporting News, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Sports Illustrated, etc. If those businesses want to hype UofL, then it is their own doing.

#2. If you are referring to UofL fans hyping the team, then I'd say the have good reason to. Pre-season top 10-15 ranking, a potential Heisman candidate at QB, coming off an 11-2 season and the program's second BCS bowl win, kept Coach Strong and held off Tennessee, returned almost the entire team, etc. There are a lot of reasons for the fans to be excited for the upcoming season (just like UC fans have a lot of reasons to be excited about Tuberville and Bearcat football).

You've completely misconstrued my points.

First, as to the disappointment angle, I clearly said that statement applies to everything other than the BCS bowl win. I give UL all the credit in the world for that, but let's be honest here: the team fumbled away an outright Big East title to teams they had no business losing to in UConn and Syracuse. If UC had done that, there's no question I'd be disappointed if not outright pissed that we'd failed to bring home an outright title. Call it idiotic, but I hold my teams and coaches accountable.

Second, the point of my summary of last season wasn't to diminish anything that UL did last year. You are absolutely correct in that they won those six close games; however, you're missing the point in that my summary was about UL's ability to breeze through the Big East next year. My summary not aimed at diminishing UL's accomplishments from last year, but it's absolutely relevant in examining their chances for a league title next year. UL did not trounce through the Big East last year, and that raises legitimate questions about their ability to do so next year. Do I think that's because UL is a bad team? Absolutely not. To the contrary, I think it's because the Big East was a pretty good football league last year.

Third, I don't know where you got the notion that I think UL fans shouldn't be excited about their team. They have every reason in the world to be as you point out. That being said, there are a fair number of fans on this board and elsewhere that seem to think national title contention is a given. Sorry, but I'm not buying it until UL shows they can handle the UConn's and the Syracuses of the world, not to mention the FIU's and USM's.

Fourth, I think you've misconstrued my distaste for UL. I consider the school top amongst our rivals, so I can't stand them. Same goes for any other rival. Doesn't mean I don't respect them. My intent was an objective evaluation of UL's chances at a Big East title and a challenge to the notion that they're going to breeze through this league. If my motivation was simply disdain for all things UL, I would have just posted a picture of Teddy B in drag and called it a day.

Fifth, thanks for a respectful and well thought out response. +3 (even though you called me absurd and/or idiotic).

(04-17-2013 07:34 AM)indycat Wrote:  U of L--your points are good. I think the concern here is that UC expects to have a fine team too. If the 'Cats meet expectations, they'll deserve the Top 25 but UC is, once again, getting NO love from media this preseason--just like the previous UC teams that have won or shared the conference crown year after year.

The media is showing no love for the entity formerly called the B.East, and we are somewhat at fault for that. i don't think anyone was expecting us to beat the Tebow Gators, but that game against Tech in the Orange Bowl was there to be had and we lost. UConn shite the bed against the Sooners, and while WVU put a beat down on Clemson, they are a B12 team now. The credibility of the B.East, by the national media, continues to trend downward. Validation really comes in the form of quality OOC wins, including Bowl wins, and especially BCS bowl wins. While we haven't been bad in terms of OOC, we haven't been spectacular. For what it's worth, UL has won both their BCS games. Granted, the game against Wake doesn't rate in my mind but it's still a BCS victory. The W against FL needs no further comment. My personal opinion is that a W against Tech in the Orange Bowl would have changed a lot of peoples minds related to the national perception of UC. That is why this year is so crucial. We not only need to get the BCS bowl bid, but we need to get a W in a BCS bowl.