Louisville football: Cardnation, it’s time to show up and show out

Yes, Louisville football is 2-8. The season has been far from a success. Blowouts have been plentiful and butts in seats have been sparse. With two games to go, it’s time for a #CARDNATION ROLL CALL!

None of us anticipated the season going the way it has for Louisville football. Justifiably, a lot of fans are upset and have voiced their displeasure by not showing up to games. Many of us saw that in person three weeks ago at Cardinal Stadium by the lack or fan turnout. Many of us have heard a myriad of reasons as to why Cardinal fans aren’t showing up.

Reasons like, “The players aren’t trying. There’s a complete lack of effort.”

Or, “I’m not showing up until Bobby’s fired.”

Or my personal favorite, “I set my tickets on fire. Those are my seats and I want to make sure there’s no one in them. That way they’re empty and Vince Tyra hears my voice loud and clear, until something changes.” Sounds rational.

A lot has happened since the last home game three weeks ago where the Cards fell to Wake Forest 56-35. The Cards got boat raced the following two weeks by both Clemson and Syracuse. Players were threatening to leave, recruits decommitting and Bobby rumors were abound.

That all came to an end this past weekend. Louisville AD, Vince Tyra saw a product that wasn’t showing signs of getting better, or likely to improve next year. He saw a Louisville football program losing traction nationally on the recruiting trail.

He listened to disgruntled, current players on the team and heard the fans displeasure. Tyra had seen and heard enough.

This past Sunday he pulled the plug on the Bobby 2.0 era effective immediately. He also made it official that Petrino’s family members on staff, assistant coaches Nick Petrino, LD Scott, Ryan Beard as well as Director of Football Operations Andy Wagner would all be relieved of their duties.

Lastly, Tyra would appoint Secondary/Safeties Coach, Lorenzo Ward as Interim Head Coach. A move met with great praise by players and the remaining staff. “Whammy” as he’s known by, was credited by Tyra as “having great respect from the players regardless of position.” Tyra also said he “felt he was the one who could step in an administrative role as well as a leadership role in the program.”

In his first press conference as interim head coach, Ward said “It’s not about these coaches, it’s about these young men. We’re gonna control what we can control and everything else will take care of itself.”

Ward would go onto say, “It’s all about attitude. No matter the situation, you can find a positive and that’s the way I’ve always lived my life. I always want to find a positive, even when it’s a negative situation. We will do things in an enthusiastic way, in everything we do from this point forward. The spirit will be up.”

A man of his word, reports out of practice this week are Coach Ward brought that overwhelming positive attitude and the players are responding. Senior wide receiver Jaylen Smith was quoted by local media as saying, “There is new energy with this team. It was time for a change.”

A source around the team who wished to remain anonymous told me,

"“The energy and atmosphere has changed a lot. The guys seem committed to playing for one another given the recent changes. They seem to have put it all behind them. They look ready to focus on the next two games and eager to get the bad taste out of their mouths.”"

They would also go on to say that the team’s focus has lead to “everyone being on the same page as far as the game plan and they’re poised to show what Cardinal Pride is really about.”

Something else Coach Ward seemed to think needed refining was the level of toughness and competition. He introduced “Call Out” drills which are believed to not been implemented at a Cardinals practice since the Charlie Strong era. It’s the kind of drill that not only breeds a desired toughness and competition, but confidence and team unity.

Which speaking of unity, it’s the small things that can make the biggest impression. For the first time, Coach Ward and the rest of the remaining coaches have been eating team meals amongst the players, as a team. A positive gesture of solidarity that I know has earned the coaches more of the player’s trust.

Wow GG Robinson said that the coaches never ate with the players. Was just happy they ate with them. How do you build team unity and family atmosphere when you don't break bread together? Underscores the lack of positive culture.
— Raashaan Myers (@raashaan) November 12, 2018

Things appear to be about as positive as they’ve been since the Summer leading up to the opener against Alabama. The guys are working hard! The vibe around practice is extremely positive! Morale is up!

The team is recommitted to playing for each other and showing “what Cardinal pride is all about and primed to put the transgressions of this season behind them.” So where does that leave us Card nation?

More from Louisville Cardinals News

I think we as fans need to seriously question ourselves as a fan base if the attendance isn’t vastly improved this Saturday. With Bobby and the other assistant staff members (who many fans had problems with) dismissed; all but one of the rumored players who were believed to be asking for transfers deciding to stay due to their satisfaction in Vince Tyra’s decision; the positivity coming out of practice this week.

It may be Week 11 of the college football season, but it certainly feels like a new start and clean slate. That being said, we as a fan base should wipe the bias of this season clean from our memory banks. We have two games left to go out there and show these guys the support they deserve.

Nobody could’ve anticipated the season going like this and no one is proud of it, most notably the players. Things could’ve been different and one could argue should’ve been different, but it’s all a moot point.

We more than ever #CARDNATION need to adopt Coach Ward’s mantra and ‘make a positive, out of what has been a negative situation. We as Cards fans need to approach the final two games in an enthusiastic way; everything we do from this point forward, we must make sure the spirit is up!’

In the end, it’s about all of us, our love for the Cardinals and “these young men” who bear the Cardinal name. We as fans “gotta control what we can control” and that means putting butts in seats!

I’m begging you all! We’ve yet this season to give these guys a real home field advantage. The players really love the support from all of #CARDNATION. No matter what, all they ask is we show up and cheer them on. Regardless of the season record, the last two weeks they deserve it. If we as fans can just do that, “everything else will take care of itself.”

Get there! Be in your seat at Kickoff! Be loud and enjoy these guys playing for the name on the front of the jersey. I for one will be there (as I am every week) showing my Cardinal pride. The players sound ready to answer the call.

The question is will you?

– GO CARDS!