Your 2011 Card Chronicle Man Of The Year Ballot
by Mike Rutherford on Dec 26, 2011 2:09 PM EST
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PrintHere are your 2011 nominees (in no particular order), as selected by you.
CHARLIE STRONG
Resume:
--2010 Card Chronicle Man of the Year.
--Led one of the youngest teams in the country to an improbable share of the Big East title, Louisville's first since 2006.
--Crowd-surfed in the locker room following U of L's upset victory at West Virginia, the Cards' first in Morgantown since 1990.
--Led Louisville to its first win over Kentucky since 2006.
--Established a new reputation as a die-hard Cardinal basketball fan.
PRESTON KNOWLES
Resume:
--Was the leader as well the heart and soul of a Louisville basketball team that drastically overachieved and became one of the most beloved squads in recent memory.
--Led the Cards to an undefeated home mark in Big East play, a runner-up finish in the Big East Tournament and a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
--Could be identified simply with an exclamation point.
--Gave one of the more remarkable individual performances in Cardinal basketball history during U of L's improbable comeback win over Marquette.
--Spawned his own top ten.
ANTHONY CONNER
Resume:
--Was having a tremendous senior season as Louisville's No. 1 cornerback before breaking his neck on Oct. 21 against Rutgers.
--Served as inspiration for a Cardinal team that went 5-1 and won a share of the Big East title following his injury.
--Finished the season with 21 tackled, one interception and one forced fumble.
CHICKEN KNOWLES
Resume:
--Was the basis for the "Bring Chicken to the Bucket" campaign which attracted national attention from various outlets (including Sports Illustrated and MSNC) during the summer months.
--Could very well be the only player in the history of college basketball to be recruited entirely by a fan base.
--Inspired "Saved by the Chicken Express," a short film combining one of his highlight videos and the Saved by the Bell wedding song.
--Called me after his commitment to Houston to "make sure I was OK."
--Still supports U of L athletics and loves the Cardinal fans.
"THE TRAIN"
Resume:
--Created out of U of L defensive coordinator Vance Bedford's media address, in which he went into an impassioned spiel about the future of Cardinal football that included the line: "The train is rolling. Get on board or get out of the way."
--Became a battle cry for Louisville fans and players alike.
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER
Resume:
--Has earned just about every freshman award possible after leading Louisville to a 7-5 record and its first share of the Big East title since 2006.
--Replaced injured junior Will Stein in the first half of Louisville's Sept. 17 game at Kentucky and led the Cardinals to their first victory over the Wildcats in five years.
--Will politely hold your baby and pose for a picture if requested at home basketball games.
--Is incredibly cool.
All right, so now it's all in your hands. Voting begins now (obviously) and will end Thursday morning at 8 a.m.
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Question
Why is it that the Least Cool Persons get their own tournament, and the highest honor is bestowed based on a single poll?
BCS : NCAA Tournament :: CCMOTY : CCLCPT
Wow.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
I think this is a more exact science
Everyone has the opportunity to nominate and then make one vote on the finalists. You get to pick your ultimate favorite, not your favorite out of two candidates.
Enjoy both processes, though.
by Mike Rutherford on Dec 26, 2011 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously, though
I voted for HCCS, but I have to say the timing of this poll greatly favors him. If you went by school year rather than calendar year, and had taken the vote in May, Preston would have had a shot at the title – but with the poll being taken on the eve of the Belk Bowl, he doesn’t stand a chance. Next spring our biggest hero might be Peyton or Gorgui; but unless they get at least to the Final Four, Charlie can win the championship of a mediocre Big East (which by all rights, he should) and walk away with a third straight CCMOTY crown next December.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Gotta be Preston!
I’m 58 years old, I’ve watched a lot of basketball, and this guy is my favorite player of all time. To me, this is no contest.
Charlie Strong, hands DOWN!
Charlie Strong – The man, the myth, the legend (responsible for his own success and we’re lucky to have him and that nobody called on him prior)
Preston Knowles – Awesome inspiration and a large part of our success during our “bridge year”, but only had an effect on maybe a hand-full of teammates – and the entire fan-base.
Anthony Conner – Awesome inspiration on the football field and for anyone familiar with UofL athletics of any type. HWSNBN or part of HWSNBN’s staff recruited him to the Ville, but HCCS and staff are probably a large reason for his development up to the unfortunate incident. HCCS in a way was a large reason for how inspirational AC was/is/and will be.
Chicken Knowles – No contest. It was fun while it lasted and Chicken might come to the bucket with some finger rolls, but…
The Train – Who’s responsible for this? That’s right, HMFCCS! And the staff in large part – because they’re loyal to HMFCCS because he’s the HMFC and they apparently love him! Why? Because HMFCCS is MFA! (Awesome). Everyone knows HMFCCS is building something special here!
Teddy Bridgewater – Teddy is probably the single largest individual player on the field who has everything – and it shows in all the accolades he’s received, but c’mon – AGAIN – who’s responsible for Teddy even sniffing Louisville? OK, it was Hurtt, but who brought Hurtt with him to The ’Ville? Who did Hurtt remain loyal to instead of jumping ship? ETC. ETC. ETC.
Essentially, HMFCCS is at least partially responsible for what, 2/3rds of that list of nominees… HMFCCS wins in a landslide and the results are showing this anyway.
GO! CARDS!
BEAT!
PURDUE!
by 4ul4life on Dec 26, 2011 11:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Anybody else get the feeling ! is getting screwed by the recency effect?
If preston’s 2010-2011 season ended at the same time as the football season, I have no doubt ! would crush charlie strong. Is Preston you’re favorite basketball player of the last decade? Strong’s been great, but preston is a once in a decade player. Hell, once in a generation. A 2-star? recruit becomes the heart and soul and best player on a 4-seed UL team? Has it ever happened before? Will it ever happen again?
by johnnyjoejohnson on Dec 26, 2011 2:47 PM EST reply actions
GMTA
See my follow-up comment above.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Agreed.
As much as I love HCCS, Preston! should win this. Whereas HCCS will (hopefully) be around to claim multiple CCMOTY awards, ! only gets this one shot.
by SpeedStudent on Dec 26, 2011 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
AC35
Inspired this team and has showed incredible heart and courage throught. Easy vote for me.
Louisville Cardinals
Governors Cup Champions 2011-3011
Let's all take a minute to read this;
Preston from CC in March right before Preston Night.
Also, this may be the funniest paragraph ever:
The defense of Andre McGee and Preston Knowles has been praised at length on here in recent weeks, so I just want to take this opportunity to compliment McGee on his two big three-pointers, and Knowles on his short jumper and great assist on one of Samardo’s dunks. Also, watching you two play defense gives me a massive erection. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it.
Don’t forget about preston. I’ve written the read the word “preston” so many times in the last five minutes that it no longer has meaning to me. Is preston even a name?
by johnnyjoejohnson on Dec 26, 2011 3:00 PM EST reply actions
Such an Original Mike Rutherford passage
by Mike Rutherford on Dec 26, 2011 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
Thought this would be a dog-fight between PK and HCCS
Really underestimated the effect “Teddy and a Baby” had.
by Mike Rutherford on Dec 26, 2011 3:13 PM EST reply actions
My God this field is stacked.
It’s like trying to pick which Victoria’s Secret model is the best.
I think I have to go with Preston. It’s his only shot. And I’m a football guy at heart.
by CARD_G6 on Dec 26, 2011 3:25 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Charlie Strong is man of the year
But I still voted for Chicken Knowles. I’m clinging to the past.
#StillWantChickenInTheBucket
Slightly more disturbing than Brian Brohm's sleeveless shirt.
Gotta be HCCS
Team full of kids in diapers? 2-4 start to Big East Champs? TEDDY and PK deserve to tie for 2nd, but this year was all about CHARLIE.
I voted for Preston
but as long as we can all agree that Lil Buckets is CC Dog of the Year, I’ll be happy.
by Ellis from Compton on Dec 26, 2011 4:50 PM EST reply actions
Can I change my vote?
Got too excited seeing the crowd surfing Charlie picture.
All are deserving. Why can’t we just declare them all Man of the Year?
Preston vs Charlie
Charlie has certainly done everything necessary to win this award again. Our football program is returning to relevancy thanks to his arrival in Louisville. However, I not only believe that last year’s basketball team is a bubble team without Preston!, but I believe he returned a fervor to Pitino’s coaching style and instilled an attitude among the players that we’ll see the effects of for some time to come.
My vote went to Preston!, but I’m a happy dude to have experienced ALL of these nominees.
Stout Out!
We might as well have been a bubble team.
4 seed didn’t help much.
I like preston
but he did not accomplish more than strong or bridgewater. Now if he had taken us to a final four, then yeah maybe.
But I mean in basketball one person can literally put the team on their back. He did that often, but not when it counted, at the end.
Dude definitely deserves his place in Louisville history, but he did not do more in 2011 for basketball than strong or teddy did for the football team.
Is the belk bowl that great, really?
by johnnyjoejohnson on Dec 26, 2011 8:37 PM EST up reply actions
Apparently it is.
In fact, it seems to be equivalent to a Final Four in basketball. Thus, “maybe” if Preston! had taken us to a Final Four, he would not be less valuable than Strong or Bridgewater. (????)
It is equivalent
when our team is supposed to finish last place.
Are you seriously telling me we weren’t expected to make the NCAA tournament but thanks to Preston we did? That is f-ing lame.
Here's what's lame -
“yeah, maybe” Preston would have accomplished more than Strong or Bridgewater “if he had taken us to the final four.” You’re confusing the Belk Bowl with the National Championship.
Actually that's pretty accurate
We were considered a bubble team at the start of the season. We wound up with a 4 seed.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Now i'm getting more pissed than I was 2 minutes ago.
no offense Jason G… but WRONG
Last season’s team was a REBUILDING year. That he took us to the dance AT ALL was big, let alone as high seed.
Roundball: One man took the program to the dance.
Pigskin: Strong needed Teddy.
“If he had taken us to the FInal Four” my ass. Ingrate.
I'll take it a step further
The whole rebranding that Pitino did to “Louisville First” was lead by Preston’s attitude and work ethic. He really set the groundwork for the success we will have this year and for years to come.
by Ellis from Compton on Dec 26, 2011 8:45 PM EST up reply actions
In all fairness, 97
You must admit that the Belk Bowl is the rough equivalent of a Final Four.~
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Your ass is where your head is.. from the officlal media guide last year:
The Cardinals return one starter and nine lettermen from last year’s squad, which finished 20-13 overall following 77-62 loss to California in the NCAA Tournament. On Wednesday, Louisville selected to finish eighth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
ONE returning starter. UL lost Russ Smith before season started. UL lost Marra in Dec. UL lost Buckles before the NCAA and had to rely on Belgium-bound non-rebounding Jennings.
Yet Preston! carried Louisville from preseason small expectations to 3rd place in the best conference in America and a top 25 ranking with no stars helping and until his body broke. Preston! did more for the program than anyone regardless what the votes in this tally say.
Again, this isn't football.
Kentucky seems to do OK without returning starters.
This.
Kinda hard for the kid to put the team on his back when he was injured.
by CardinalDude on Dec 26, 2011 8:51 PM EST up reply actions
Very unfortunate.
But it doesn’t change the facts.
totally agree
the bball team was a first round flameout (again), albeit with some of the best regular season moments in memory. the football team defied all expectations – going from picked last in the conf to co-champs is a bigger deal than going from picked 8th to tied for 3rd. so to me, PK is third choice here. Teddy and HCCS are the obvious choices; it’s hard to see how you pick TB5 over HCCS (if not for HCCS, TB5 wouldn’t even be here) unless you subscribe to the “retire HCCS from the voting and name the award after him” school of thought. Since we’re not doing that, the answer is HCCS.
Let's be honest here
The football team tied for 1st by default. Finishing 3rd in basketball is the equivalent of wining the big east 6 times in a row in football.
We’ll all feel like idiots when Strong is coaching Mississippi state to a 2-6 SEC record in 3 years.
by johnnyjoejohnson on Dec 26, 2011 9:38 PM EST up reply actions
that comment may have been extreme
I’d consider erasing it if I could.
by johnnyjoejohnson on Dec 26, 2011 9:42 PM EST up reply actions
The Mississippi State part, yes
but your point is valid. Third place in the basketball BE with two wins over the eventual national champions is a greater accomplishment than a third of the football BE championship.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
This argument is a fallacy
because, in general, yes this is true. But it doesn’t take into account the fact that we were playing a football team that was half freshmen and expected to finish last in the big east. THAT makes it a great accomplishment.
Now you can say last year was a “bridge year” in basketball but that is bullshit. Its Pitino lowering expectations so he has an excuse when the team underachieves. I mean come on we had peyton siva, preson knowles, terrence jennings, the best shooter Pitino has ever seen, etc. Seriously, we weren’t expected to make the tournament?? Bullshit.
I think you're missing the point.
preston knowles was an average player in 2009-2010 (at best). He was a hustle player, coming off the bench, playing defense good enough to give mike rutherford erections. Suddenly, in 2010-2011, he’s a nationally known player. That’s what was so awesome about his 2010-2011 performance. He was a fan favorite for 3 years, buried on the bench behind more talented players, who became a great player in his 4th year.
Isn’t that better than 7-6 with loses to teams like FIU and Marshall. Was the 1st round fluke loss worse than a loss in the department-store-no-one-has-ever-heard-of-bowl that was never close?
by johnnyjoejohnson on Dec 28, 2011 9:21 AM EST up reply actions
I don't think it's extreme.
(Except perhaps for the second sentence.)
I think the first two sentences encapsulate precisely WHY people are way offbase in acting as if the football team accomplished more than the basketball team did in 2011.
Duh. I mean the second paragraph, not the 2nd sentence
may be extreme. I really don’t think Strong would go to Mississippi State or that he’ll leave in 3 years. But elsewhere in the SEC after 4 or 5 years? I wouldn’t be surprised.
I went Preston
I believe he inspired the new brand for the team; but I also think they are all great choices Where is Russ’ name?
I voted Coach Charlie Strong...for two reasons:
1. He turned a “sure-fire” losing football season into a Bowl game, broke 3 really bad losing streaks (UK, WVU and So. Fla), and did it with a bunch of rookies. This made hearing all the bad news about the BB injuries that much easier to handle.
2. He turned down and re-affirmed his standing on being Louisville’s Head Football coach. The way he said it meant a lot. The man has Character (with a Capital C), unlike most other head coaches.
No offense meant to Preston!, and I agree that he got swamped by the recency factor. If CCS is 1A, then Preston! is 1B.
And what of Rick Pitino?
1. He turned a “bridge year” into arguably the most memorable season and most beloved team since the height of the Denny Crum years.
2. He reaffirmed his commitment to coaching the Cardinals, with the stated goal of bringing another NCAA championship to Louisville.
And Pitino’s name doesn’t even appear on the ballot.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
Oh and
3. He started the 2011-2012 season 12-0, the Cardinals’ best start in 37 years. If the Cardinals beat Georgetown on December 28, they will tie for the longest season-opening winning streak in Louisville history.
"...and the present, for us, is something that we really look forward to."
- Rick Pitino
NOTHING basketball-related appears on the
ballot except for Preston! I suppose you could count Chicken Knowles, but he’s more site-joke-related than basketball-related. I do not even begin to understand anyone who thinks Teddy Bridgewater or a “train” comment is more valuable to U of L than Pitino is.
hey no Villen???
y no villenhd nomination???
i have to say Mr. Conner. he wasnt a bad cb either!!!!!
by j.boy on Dec 26, 2011 8:12 PM EST via Android app reply actions
Very strong ballet this year!
But I have to give Preston! my vote with Conner being the runner up. Teddy 3rd, Strong 4th, and the train beats out Chicken for 5th.
Yes, that is Spike Lee.
by TheRealSlimShady on Dec 26, 2011 8:55 PM EST reply actions
The night before the Belk Bowl
I presume it’s reasonable to expect that those looking in on CC are weighted heavily toward the football-first people. It is thus that I am attempting to rationalize the voting. Otherwise, how could Preston be losing to both Strong AND Bridgewater??
I love basketball too much
I went with !
by Chris Redman is my hero on Dec 26, 2011 10:21 PM EST reply actions
In all seriousness, Tom Jurich deserves a little something here. Next year, Tom, next year.
by Louisvillegocards on Dec 26, 2011 11:02 PM EST reply actions
Hands Down the toughest Poll yet.
I’m actually not going to vote, because not only is it to hard, but I hate the fact that I’m taking something away from probably some of the coolest people in the world.
RUSS SMITH's #1 fan.
!
Need I say more??
In case I do… my votes for P Knowles
by Mr.Bigtym on Dec 26, 2011 11:35 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
I don't like this.
Taking nothing away from Teddy, Chicken, or the Train, I personally feel like HCCS, Preston!, and Anthony are the only viable candidates and quite frankly, I feel dirty voting for one of them and not the other two. A lot of people have pointed out that this will be Preston!‘s only shot, but the same can be said for Anthony Conner, too. That said, I have no idea who I’m voting for. I. Don’t. Like. This.
by Cool Hand Cards on Dec 26, 2011 11:45 PM EST reply actions
The fact that Chicken Knowles has only 30 votes should be a crime.
"Free throws don't win and lose games." -John Calipari
How about...
Preston! Teddy and Anthony are all holding hands on a Train with Charlie as the conductor and Chicken calls them on speaker phone- then we vote for the train as a whole??? Why is this not an option?
by kyle.will.u.marry.me on Dec 27, 2011 9:13 AM EST reply actions
Chicken Knowles
Apparently I am the only person who finds someone who committed to Houston being named CC Man of the Year pretty awesome…
Is the state of Florida voting? Something doesn't seem fair LOL
by kyle.will.u.marry.me on Dec 27, 2011 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
I voted for Preston! this morning
But only once. I swear.
by sarasota-card on Dec 27, 2011 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
I must say
this poll has improved considerably in the past few hours. Maybe Preston’s fans just sleep later?
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