National Signing Day, Louisville Recruiting: Ace Wales Headed To Western Kentucky
by Mike Rutherford on Feb 1, 2012 2:09 PM EST
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PrintIt's been a bizarre final recruiting period for Central running back Anthony "Ace" Wales, and it has come to an end with him signing to play football at Western Kentucky.
The leading rusher in the history of Jefferson County, Wales announced on Jan. 16 that he had committed to U of L and that he wanted "to be the face of Louisville football." This came just about an hour after another running back, Brandon Radcliff out of Miami, had also committed to Charlie Strong.
Louisville fans celebrated the dual commitments, but then word began to spread that the Cardinal coaching staff may not have been as thrilled.
What happened over the succeeding couple of weeks is murky, but the common thought is that Wales held a scholarship offer from Louisville for two years and if he wanted to be a Cardinal as badly as he claims he did, then he probably shouldn't have waited until another running back committed before he pulled the trigger.
Wales now joins DaMarcus Smith, Tyrone Pearson and Michael Fluellen as talented local players who were heavily recruited but who will now play their college ball in the Sun Belt for one reason or another.
I received a text when news of Wales' commitment broke saying that Western should change its nickname to "Misfit Toys." Although that's probably not going to happen ("Never say never" --Bieber), the image of Charlie in the Box serving as a college football mascot brought a smile to my face.
Anyway, it's always disappointing not to see the top local talent wear (Cardinal) red and black, but there's every indication that Wales had ample opportunity to play football at Louisville if he really wanted to. I'm disappointed it's not going to happen, but I wish him the best at WKU.
So Louisville's recruiting class is now set at 24 players. Charlie Strong is set to speak on the class momentarily.
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Ace Wales:
(a pimple on) The Face of Louisville Football.
by Get_In_My_BELLY_ on Feb 1, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions
they don't have a football team
by PS3theFuture on Feb 1, 2012 4:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Wales told WHAS:
“If Charlie Strong is going to keep going to Florida to get his players, us Louisville players are going to go to WKU.”
Yeah, that makes sense. Don’t want to be on the same team with no Floridians.
WTF?
"I am willing to donate to the charity that is working on the prevention of whatever the hell Dick Vitale has." - noobmaster
so....
Louisville being good is good for WKU?
by BetaCard466 on Feb 1, 2012 2:27 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
And Strong says:
“Every one of these young men wanted be in this program…They see something special that’s about to happen here.”
I mean, basically
he’s saying that if he’s not going to be the face of the program here, he’ll go somewhere else where he can be. He’d rather be the star of a mid-major than just another good player on a great team.
"I am willing to donate to the charity that is working on the prevention of whatever the hell Dick Vitale has." - noobmaster
He has a point.
All those years under Petrino when we had recruits coming in from Florida, no local talent wanted to stay. I mean Bush definitely never came here, and Brohm certainly never set foot on this campus.
~
by TheV!lle on Feb 1, 2012 2:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
i understand his decision, i guess but..
why take shots at us? I’m sorry but I don’t want any players that are scared to compete for playing time. Smith did it last year and now wales is doing it this year… GET ON THE TRAIN OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!
by BirdsWithTeeth! on Feb 1, 2012 2:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He is clearly not a "team player..."
He wants it to be all about Ace Wells… We don’t have room for characters like that on our team anyway. HCCS is a “team first” kind of guy…
I guess if they go elsewhere
At least it’s not to that other team down I-64..
by twistedwedge on Feb 1, 2012 3:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
"If Charlie Strong is going to keep going to Florida to get his players, us Louisville players are going to go to WKU."
I just did a really quick count which is probably a bit inaccurate but, I had WKU with 34 Florida players while we have 30. According to the rosters currently listed on ESPN.
Didn’t do a city or state count.
Mangini apologist by default.
I’m speaking about his innate accuracy, not how well that innate accuracy is translating on the field.
Sounds like Ace may have more touchdowns than IQ points.
by Carolina Cardinal on Feb 1, 2012 2:31 PM EST reply actions
DaMarcus Redux
We don’t need any kid who is too afraid of having serious competition to earn a starting role. Go on and play what amounts to FCS ball somewhere like WKU and be the big fish in a small pond. Charlie doesn’t have any time for head cases. Neither do I. You either really want to play for this team and this coach or you go somewhere else. Enjoy Bowling Green.
Whoa whoa whoa
Although I agree that Louisville has no room for someone afraid of a little competition, I don’t appreciate the shots being thrown at WKU and Bowling Green here. WKU is a program on the rise, and soon to be the second best football team in the state of Kentucky.
by Kevin Spradlin on Feb 1, 2012 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Kevin, come on, you have got to know this isn't about throwing shots at WKU.
The overwhelming majority of people on CC pull for WKU, or any Kentucky college (with the exception of a school 90 miles down the road) every day of the year, except when they play the Cards. Signing day is like playing a head to head game…it’s one of the times you are allowed to bash the crap out of your competitor for that day.
There is a ton of love for WKU, I assure you. Just not today.
Good luck, kid.
WKU seems like they’ve turned the corner, and quite quickly.
If local kids can’t stand competition with out of state players, maybe they should go somewhere else. Being local doesn’t give you a free pass to this program.
Not sure why all the negativity since we still landed a good running back
Best of luck Ace, hope to see you do well and make the Ville proud
the negativity is bc he is taking potshots at our program...
Make your decision and ride off in the sunbelt…
by BirdsWithTeeth! on Feb 1, 2012 2:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
I'm glad he's staying in state
and wearing red. We should totally schedule WKU.
"I am willing to donate to the charity that is working on the prevention of whatever the hell Dick Vitale has." - noobmaster
YES
Seeing what the UK rivalry has done for football in this state, I can only imagine what having another great rivalry would do.
by twistedenglish77 on Feb 1, 2012 6:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Kentucky is no Florida
If these in-state kids think they earn some right to preferential treatment by an accident of birth or their parents’ decision about where to raise them, someone needs to set them straight. Louisville is a national program. Maybe if it was Louisville, Florida or Louisville, Texas or Louisville, California – then sure, you can build a powerful program with in-state players. No such luxury in Kentucky, although if Louisville could land basically the entire Trinity High School Juniors and Seniors this year and next, an argument could be made.
WKU has quite the Louisville pipeline going!
Be nice to see them WHUP SOME uk ASS!!
it would be nice
WKU does play UK in 2012+2013 and it would be a MAJOR coup if the Tops could pull off the upset. I think WKU’s defense can hold UK to 15-20 pts, its just a question of Can WKU’s offense score 20+ on UK?
I humbly ask you to read back to yourself what you just wrote
Not all of it, just the last part, and read it aloud: Can WKU’s offense score 20+ on UK?
Danny Trevathan aside (he’s gone now anyway isn’t he?) UK’s defense has not exactly turned heads under Joker. A quick look at the turn over of coaches on that side of the ball makes it look almost like a train wreck situation. Can WKU beat UK? HELL YES.
Some kids never learn
by CardTrainHustle on Feb 1, 2012 2:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Man this video gets me hyped!!!!!!!! GET ON THE TRAIN OR WE WILL RUN YOU OVER!!!!!!!!!!!
by CARDS#1ALLDAY on Feb 1, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
Hate to lose a local kid this talented.
But at the same time, c’mon, he’s bright enough to see what’s happening here at U of L. Why in the world wouldn’t you want to be a part of that, especially if you are as talented as Wales’ numbers say he is?
On a completely different note: One of college basketball’s really good guys, Charlie Spoonhour, died today at age of 75. Worked wonders at St. Louis U, then went o Missouri State and worked wonders there, too. And as I said, a terrific country gentleman on top of all else.
theoldman
When I think of Billikens, I think of Spoonhour
by UL is my hot hot sex on Feb 1, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
When I think of Majerus, I think of Rudy Gay & Ashley Judd
by UL is my hot hot sex on Feb 1, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I think of really fat and unhealthy
Sorry but that is what he is. Aside from being pretty funny.
Ace
While I was always hoping he would come to UofL I was always worried about his size. Guy is little and I have to wonder how many hits he could handle. Look at Vic Anderson and how banged up he always was. Ace is smaller. Gotta wonder.
The funniest part is that he said "us Louisville players are going to go to WKU."
#UKfootballdoesn’texist
ALL HAIL
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