New PapaJohn’s Cardinal Stadium still loud, annoying

All the hype in Louisville has been about filling the renovated PapaJohn’s Cardinal Stadium, and a crowd of just over 55,000 pulled that feat off on Friday night. Unfortunately for those wearing Louisville red, the Cardinals lost to the UC Bearcats 35-27.

Can I be honest? I hate Louisville's stadium layout. It’s a great city, it’s a nice place to be, but their football stadium stinks to use a nice word. I’ve hated it ever since my first visit in 2008. At least this year, though, the weather was nice.
That horn above is one reason I absolutely cannot stand PapaJohn’s Cardinal Stadium. After each Cardinal touchdown, extra point or field goal the horn blows. Now, I come prepared for the horn’s noise with heavy duty headphones, but they do very little to deaden the sound of a horn that literally shakes every bone in one’s body.

Another reason I can’t stand the place is because I have to film out of a little box, which could be all some people need. I, however, love to feel the atmosphere of the stadium, and love to see what’s going on during TV timeouts. This is why I loved Oklahoma, NC State, and love each opportunity we have to play at Nippert Stadium.

You can feel the energy from the fans, you can watch the band play, and sometimes catch some fun and interesting things going on below you. You can’t do much of that at PapaJohn’s Cardinal Stadium—at least from my angle, and that’s all that matters today.

It's difficult to see much out of that tiny window

So I might seem harsh on the new digs, but to be honest, I’m harshly opposed to the stadium in general. I love the new additions of the third deck on the visiting side of the stadium and the terrace that connects the two sides of the stadium. Unfortunately, everyone else you talk to probably loves the place, and that’s what it’s all about.

The new deck, above the shadows, is a huge addition to the stadium

I’m not selfish, I just love to watch the entire game, and get the feel for the place I’m at. And that horn, well, we’re not on speaking terms to say the least.
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Join me tomorrow for some class work, which will be posted here for your reading enjoyment. The Big East weekly preview will be out this week along with a look back at the first 40 games in the endzone for yours truly, and a look back at the 24-10 UC/USF Thursday night game that took place in 2008 in Cincinnati. Until then, have a great day.

Cincinnati reclaims Keg of Nails in 2008

Louisville needed one more win to go to a bowl game in 2008, Steve Kragthorpe’s penultimate year in the Bluegrass State. Standing in their way was the hottest team in Big East play, coming off of one of the biggest wins in program history, the No. 22 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats, led by Brian Kelly.

One week earlier, the UC Bearcats defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers in overtime at Milan Puskar Stadium (stay tuned for more on that later in the season) and had a short turn around before a game at Louisville. UC hadn’t beat Louisville since 2002, and in order to keep momentum and set up a “Big East Championship game” with Pittsburgh the next week.

On a rainy, cold, mid-November Friday night (in fact, the night before my own 20th birthday) near the banks of the Ohio River, UC and Louisville fought for the right to hold on to the Keg of Nails.

But before that even happened, there was controversy on the field. After Louisville entered the stadium, the Bearcats walked out to midfield, circling the Louisville Cardinal logo and said a prayer. After the game, Kelly and Kragthorpe had a discussion about the incident.

“I think we can all say the rivalry is back,” Kelly said. “There was a lot of emotion out on the field in this game.”

John Goebel scored with 6:29 left in the fourth to put Cincinnati up for good, 28-20. Dustin Grutza came in for the first time since breaking his leg against Oklahoma in early September, and led the Bearcats to that score. Tony Pike, the starter, completed 19 of his 33 attempts for 250 yards and two scores.

For Louisville, it was the first time since 1997 that the Cards had dropped three straight games, and Kragthorpe was taking heat from fans. “"We're not winning football games, and that's on me,” Kragthorpe said.

It was the beginning of the end for Kragthorpe, and another positive for Kelly. One year later, Kelly was moving to Notre Dame and Kragthorpe was cleaning his office out for Charlie Strong to move in.

For more on the 2010 matchup, stay tuned right here for the weekly preview where WPTS Sports Director Jake Meyer joins me to talk Big East football. It will be up before Thursday.