Blair Curtis and her wedding party are ready for a little revenge against Florida International this weekend. Except for that groomsman second to the left. Apparently he's ready for a little going against the wishes of the bride and groom and tarnishing an otherwise flawless picture this weekend.
You feel good about that, pal? You feel proud about what you accomplished in this photograph?
Spread check: Louisville by 13.5.
Despite the fact that FIU is off to a rough start, the Panthers will have Louisville's full attention on Saturday night after what took place 12 months ago.
Cardinals' sophomore safety Calvin Pryor concedes that he and his teammates underestimated the Golden Panthers last year in their first-ever matchup.
"It was early in the season and we just thought FIU was a bad football team to be honest with you," said Pryor, who leads U of L with 23 tackles and is tied for second nationally with three forced fumbles.
Louisville feels differently now about FIU now, even though Hilton is now a member of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Coach Charlie Strong said his club respects this year's squad, which returns 18 starters and was the preseason pick to win the Sun Belt Conference.
There are 28 remaining unbeaten teams in college football. Of those 28, Beyond the Bets says that Louisville is the fourth-most likely to run the table. The Cards' 16% chance of finishing the regular season 12-0 is behind only Alabama (40%), Oregon (27%) and Florida State (25%).
If you're looking for a place to watch the Louisville/FIU game on an actual television screen, The Brewery, the new Tin Roof in St. Matthew's and the BBC in St. Matthew's all have you covered. If you know of any additional locales that will be showing the game, feel free to share and I'll update this blurb.
Some Cardinals have dismissed the notion that Louisville will be out for revenge against FIU, but not Teddy Bridgewater.
"I remember seeing a team that came here and sucked the breath out of us," Bridgewater said this week. "They defeated us on our home turf, and it's something that we want revenge on, but they are a team that plays with a lot of energy."
You don't want to see me if anyone even looks at Will Stein the wrong way tomorrow.
Part II of the official 2012 Card Chronicle Halloween costume is now available at your local Sears department store.
The Louisville rushing attack is off to a solid star through three games, and a chunk of the credit for that belongs to the play of fullbacks Nick Heuser and Jarel McGriff-Culver. The former of those two found the endzone for the first time in his career last Saturday against North Carolina.
Heuser said being able to pick up speed before hitting defenders gives the fullbacks a bit of an edge.
"Basically, I just think of myself as a smaller offensive guard and I'm just in the backfield," he said. "I enjoy blocking; it's something that I don't hate. It doesn't really bother me if I get the ball. That's just an added plus."
Heuser did get to experience the jubilation of reaching the end zone against North Carolina. He caught a 4-yard touchdown pass, which also happened to be his first career catch. Watson joked that Heuser and McGriff-Culver might have to wait a while longer for that first carry.
"Every once in a while we throw it to them," Watson said. "Eventually we may give it to them, but we're going to have to make them earn that one."
"I just come, you know, ready to hit somebody with a bad attitude, and whatever happens, happens. Sometimes people fumble, sometimes they keep the ball. But I just come with an angry issue, a bad attitude, bad intentions, and try to make a play."
In case you were wondering, Calvin Pryor is a bad, bad man.
Man is RACING up my list of favorite Cards.
Bears running back Matt Forte is officially out for this weekend, which means it will be center stage for Michael Bush against the Rams on Sunday. Take full advantage, 29.
Did you guys know Louisville has a lot of football players from Florida? Louisville has a lot of football players from Florida.
Speaking of which, WDRB lays out its U of L All-Florida Team.
Offense
QB: Teddy Bridgewater, Miami
RB: Kolby Smith, Tallahassee
RB: Bilal Powell, Lakeland
WR: Arnold Jackson, Jacksonville
WR: Ernest Givens, St. Petersburg
WR: J.R. Russell, Tampa
TE: Gary Barnidge, Middleburg
OL: Jason Spitz, Jacksonville
OL: Bruce Armstrong, Miami
OL: John Miller, Miami
OL: Danny Barlowe, TallahasseeDefense
DE: Elvis Dumervil, Miami
DE: Marcus Jones, Alachua
DT: Ted Washington, Tampa
DT: Jim Hanna, West Palm Beach
LB: Alan Campos, Miami
LB: Tyrus McCloud, Fort Lauderdale
LB: Abe Brown, Sarasota
S: Curry Burns, Miami
S: Brandon Heath, West Palm Beach
CB: William Gay, Tallahassee
CB: Johnny Patrick, Deland
I was the biggest Abe Brown fan you've ever known.
The now famous Cardinal football gloves that the team wore during last season are being sold (or were being sold as of yesterday) at the Neutral Zone store off Shelbyville Rd. I know they were already low in stock when I got word yesterday afternoon, but they're expecting more to be shipped in shortly. The cost is 50 bucks per pair.
Also, today only, everything at the Neutral Zone is 40% off. The store is open until 9 p.m.
Couldn't make the LEO Reader's Choice party at the Watertower last night because of our radio show, but rest assured if I had I would have showed up with three prostitutes on my arms and a full band playing my theme song (Nelly "E.I.") wherever I walked.
This is the world Third-Place Mike lives in now.
No, but seriously, I would have had a drink, told a Gaston joke that would have flopped miserably and then left crying after five minutes. Everyone knows what they're getting when they invite me to parties. They call it "The Mike."
No, but seriously, seriously...I've got some Gaston jokes that are just dying to breathe right now. Someone invite me to a party.
DePaul basketball is already off to a great start.
Looks like this season will include 1,000% more unabashed public crotch-grabbing. Also, they've added Peter Griffin to the staff.
Shaping up to be one hell of a 2012-13 campaign.
In related news, Boston Marathon winner and U of L graduate Wesley Korir recently spoke to the freshman class at DePaul about his story.
In even MORE DePaul news, tonight marks the start of Big East play and also DePaul Day for your 10th-ranked Louisville volleyball team. The Cards will take on the Blue Demons at 7 p.m. inside the luxurious KFC Yum Center. U of L will be back in action on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Notre Dame.
Also taking on the Fighting Irish this weekend will be the men's soccer team, which hosts No. 2 Notre Dame (7-0-0) in a huge match at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Cardinal Park. It's the first Big East tilt for both teams.
You can also check out the 5th episode of "Shakin' It Up With Salt 'N Pepp" where the guys challenge the U of L swim and dive team.
Great shot of The Prez being The Prez.
The Montral Alouettes of the CFL have lost starting running back Brandon Whitaker for the season and are now choosing to sink or swim with former Cardinal star Victor Anderson. Vic rushed for 102 yards on 18 carries when Whitaker was out of the lineup for a game earlier this season.
Louisville isn't back to where it was under Bobby Petrino just yet, but it's getting there.
I'm a huge fan of the song "Smile" by Scarface, so I enjoy this piece of brilliance even more than I would otherwise.
Never leave, Charlie.
An early heads up that I'll be a guest panelist for U of L's "Meat & Potatoes" program on the evening of Oct. 1. I fully expect to never be invited to participate in anything at U of L ever again.
Florida International beat Louisville last season. Louisville does not want Florida International to beat them this season.
Several Louisville recruits will be in the national spotlight this evening when Louisville Trinity takes on Indianapolis Cathedral at 8:30 on ESPN2.
A quick look at some of Louisville's history in the state of Florida and with FIU.
--The Cardinals are 2-0 in the state of Florida under the guidance of head coach Charlie Strong with wins at USF in 2011 and over Southern Miss in the Beef ‘O' Brady's Bowl in St. Petersburg in 2010.
--Louisville is 34-25 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference.
--The Cardinals' Teddy Bridgewater, Michaelee Harris, Corvin Lamb, Jermaine Reve and Eli Rogers all attended Northwestern High School in Miami with FIU's Kenneth Dillard, E.J. Hilliard, Dominique Rhymes, Billy Rolle, Donald Senat, Clinton Taylor and Wayne Times.
And finally, Beat FIU.