Some Compelling Krag Information

Krag By The Numbers

Instead of doing a game review of whatever you call that sport played in Hartford on Saturday, we here at Inside The Cards will choose to look at The Krag a little closer than normal. What can we even say about the UCONN game anyways, did we look any different than we have for the past year and a half? No, it is unacceptable and let's face it, UofL football has been lowered to a level few of us thought we'd see ever again.

Not since the Ron Cooper era has UofL been in the dire of a situation. Want proof, allow me to show you -

Ron Cooper, 1995-1997 = 13-20

Steve Kragthorpe, 2007-present = 13-17

What does that tell you? The program hasn't seen mediocrity like this since the Cooper era, and remember the uproar at that time? Of course you do, did anybody defend Ron Cooper (exceptions to Louis Coleman & Al Sharpton after the firing) to the extent that some still defend Kragthorpe? No. If that's not enough of for you to see my point, allow me to bring this to the table -

UofL has not had back to back losing seasons since the 1996 & 1997 seasons. At this time Ron Cooper was the head coach (his next to last, and last, season's)

Want more? Let's take a look at Krag by the numbers, because when it comes to coaching it is about win's and losses.

Big East Record = 4-12

Coming Off a Loss = 7-8

Coming Off a Win = 4-8

Nationally Televised Games

On ESPN = 1-6

On ESPN2 = 3-3

Nationally Televised When We Are The Only Game On

Thursday = 3-2

Friday = 1-4

Sunday = 0-1

The proof is in the record - UofL is no longer a nationally relevent. We built a program off of playing when nobody else would play (ie. Thursday & Friday night games), the eyes of the nation were upon us, and we would look good. As you can see by the current record on nationally televised games, weeknight games, etc. we are not looking good and we are losing more than we are winning.

Next point, do we see this changing anytime soon? Let's take a look at the rest of the season and give an honest view of how we see things going -

@Cincinnati - Do we realistically see victory in this game? No chance, in fact, I'm expecting being embarrased.

Arkansas State - This is a possible victory, and I'm hopeful. Something that makes me doubtful is that Arkansas State looked pretty good against an Iowa team that would beat us by 40 (for the record, I think Iowa is overrated).

@West Virginia - WVU is in a down year, and they are still very impressive. Morgantown has never been kind to us, and this year will be no different; another blowout loss at the hands of the Mountaineers.

Syracuse - I am getting more and more nervous about this game. Being 0-2 against much worse Syracuse team's, while our team's have been much better, helps nothing. I am going to say we win, mainly for the reason that I can't wrap my mind around going 0-3 under The Krag against the Orangemen.

@South Florida - Blowout loss, now chance of victory. I am getting more and more upset typing this many losses in this article.

Rutgers - I don't see us winning this game, but again, I am hopeful the senior's can pull it out. Still will call this a loss.

I am very sad after typing that up, but honestly, it really is a best case scenario. This puts us at 2-4 for the rest of this season, assuming we can beat Syracuse (big assumption). A 4-8 season would solidify the first back to back losing seasons since Cooper, and a third declining season under The Krag. What more do you need?

The program is in dire need of rebuilding, we are not a good football team, we aren't even close to average at this point. This needs to end, and it needs to end soon.

Southern Miss Game Notes

This Is Winning Football at UofL Now

For those of you lucky enough to be in attendence at Saturday's scrimmage between two intramural teams football game, you witnessed something that is hard to come by at UofL, a Division-1 football victory. 8 straight losses to Division-1 opponents, a sad state of affairs, that was ended with Ryan Payne's game winning field goal. Gone are the days of 40 point beatdowns, impressive victories, statistically unbelievable games; in their place has come happiness over beating a below average C-USA team who was starting their backup QB.

• Maybe it was just my vantage point, but the stadium didn't look like it had 37,000 people in it, as the official recording stated. I saw a lot of empty seats, and some sections were nearly a quarter of the way empty in the top of the end zone.

• The excitement level during the pregame was at a 0...The volume of the fans was as low as I've heard during the players coming out and the video they play beforehand.
  
 
• What can you say about guys like Vic Anderson & Scott Long besides how much they have given to the football program. Both of those guys have earned a spot in the hearts of Card fans everywhere, when they are healthy they are hard to beat. I wish we could have hope to get them both some postseason play again before their time's at UofL are up, but that might be a lofty goal.
  
 
• Take nothing away from Bilal Powell, his scoring run was just what we needed at exactly the right time. Here at Inside The Cards you will probably see us be critical of Powell, but when he breaks plays like that (which he has potential to do every time he touches the ball), it helps you forget the fumbles or lossed yardage.
  
 
• For God's sake, Krag, quit calling deep pass plays for Froman! That's not his game, he is good on the intermediate passes, but his accuracy is JaMarcus Russell-esque on the deep ball.
  

• Does anybody else feel like the real turnaround point of the game, for the crowd at least, was when the guy won the Punt Pass & Kick contest at halftime? This was amazing. I'm sure this guy probably has some eligibility left to play football, no way he is any worse than any current players on our roster. The field goal he made was unbelievable, far hashmark, from a solid distance out. Things like this always impress me, if for the only fact that after the pass and punt I would probably still be at the 45 yard line (on the beginning side).

• Questionable Play Call of the Game - This play call had no real effect on the outcome of the game, but it made not sense whatsoever. Why did we go for 2 to make it a six point game instead of a four point game? I understand that it doesn't really matter at all, but what is his thought process? Either way we are still trying to hold them to a field goal. Is The Krag really putting enough though into the fact that we can hold them to two field goals, and technically based off of that make it a two score game? Why go for two when it doesn't matter here, when against Utah we opted against it when it was actually a necessary decision? Too many situations like this in 3 years.
  
 
• Our defense played lights out...Johnny Patrick stepped up again and left it all on the field. He came up with some clutch tackles in crucial situations. Campa, defensive MVP, week in and week out he is the best player on that side of the ball.
  
 
• Can we have a safety lay a hit on a receiver and not be injured afterwards?
  
 
• In the section where I sat, we were all in agreement before the kickoff that led to our game-winning drive, that Southern Miss would surely not kick to Trent Guy. As the ball was in the air, happiness came over us, and Trent delivered as we had hoped he would. Trent Guy deserved to be the one responsible for a victory, not blamed for a loss. This was perfect redemption for the UK fumble.
  
 
• That being said, why is Southern Miss kicking to Trent Guy! I'm happy they did, but if us fans can see it, surely their coaching staff can see not to kick to him. A guy looking for redemption, and who is a real threat everytime he touches the ball anyways. No way UofL pulls out a victory without that return, Trent Guy is the hero for the week.
  
 
• My heart and stomach were somewhere in my throat before Ryan Payne's kick. I would be lying if I said I had faith, in fact, I was hoping we could get the guy who won the car back out there to attempt this field goal, he had nerves of steel. Payne won me over though, that guy is clutch, at least for now.

• Postgame Krag Quote of the Week -

(On whether it's been difficult for him to block out off-the-field distractions) "It's actually not real difficult for me. I think it's more difficult for my family than it is for me because I come to work every day at 6:30 and I leave here at about 10 o'clock at night. By the time I get home, I go to bed before all the newscasts come on at 11:30 or 11:20 or whatever it is, so it's a lot easier for me. It's hard for my wife too. She calls me and says 'what the heck is going on?' I say 'I don't know.' She says 'have you talked to Tom.' I say 'no, I haven't talked to Tom.' She says 'well, everybody thinks you've talked to Tom.' I say 'well, I haven't talked to Tom.' It's not easy for me and it's not easy for anybody, but I'll be at work tomorrow."

Be sure to register for the UK v. UofL basketball game tickets that we are raffling off.

Follow us on Twitter @insidethecards