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Monday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Justin Thurman pooled all his vintage Louisville gear together for his family's Christmas card this year, and it turned out fantastic ... even if his youngest doesn't agree.

By Mike Rutherford

I_medium Spread check: Way too many days between games by five.

I_medium Lamar isn't willing to take the key from Teddy just yet.

I_medium Charlie Strong is officially headed to South Florida, where they use the same hook 'em hand gesture that they do at Texas. So that's convenient.

I_medium Flawless execution here from BTY.

I would wear that.

I_medium College football has already had 16 head coaching changes so far. Keep up with all of them here.

I_medium Louisville commit Russ Yeast has been named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Indiana.

I_medium SB Nation ranks every bowl game in terms of watchability, and has Louisville-LSU in the top five.

The games to absolutely, undoubtedly watch

Fiesta Bowl semifinal, Ohio State vs. Clemson. Dec. 31, 7 p.m, ESPN.
Watchability score: a perfect 5

Peach Bowl semifinal, Washington vs. Alabama. Dec. 31, 3 p.m., ESPN.
Watchability score: 4.8

Orange Bowl, Florida State vs. Michigan. Dec. 30, 8 p.m., ESPN.
Watchability score: 4.8

Citrus Bowl, Louisville vs. LSU. Dec. 31, 11 a.m., ABC.
Watchability score: 4.8

Rose Bowl, Penn State vs. USC. Jan. 2, 5 p.m., ESPN.
Watchability score: 4.8

These are games you'd expect: the Playoff and other New Year's Six fare. But the Citrus Bowl has broken through to the top rung, too. Lamar Jackson trying to solve LSU's athletic defense in a game between two programs who haven't played each other in their history? Yes, that dog will hunt. The Fiesta Bowl semifinal gets top billing, because it figures to be more competitive than the semifinal that happens to involve Alabama.

I_medium Lamar Jackson headlines ESPN's 2016 All-American team.

I_medium A couple decades from now, I'd be willing to bet that more than a few Louisville fans point to this as either their first real Cardinal football memory or the moment they knew they were a diehard fan.

I_medium Quick update on former Cardinal hoopers who are now playing their college basketball elsewhere:

Shaqquan Aaron -- Averaging 12.4 ppg (third leading scorer) and 4.1 rpg for 9-0 USC

Anton Gill -- Averaging 3.3 ppg and shooting just 25% from the field for 5-5 Nebraska

Akoy Agau -- Averaging 5.5 ppg and 3.3 rpg for 6-4 Georgetown

Dillon Avare -- Averaging 6.8 ppg for 6-5 Eastern Kentucky, who will visit Louisville on Saturday

I_medium This is cool. Now start giving us those crazy uniforms you've been talking about.

I_medium NBC's Rob Dauster looks at the last seven undefeated teams standing in college basketball.

I_medium Four-star Belfry OL Cole Bentley officially confirms that he will enroll at U of L in January.

I_medium Emotional Bobby Petrino is one of the rarest sights in college football, but we saw it Saturday night (with video).

Soon after Lamar Jackson was named the winner of college football's greatest award Saturday night, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino received an obvious question from a reporter.

How does it feel to say, "I've coached a Heisman Trophy winner?"

"I haven't said it yet," Petrino said with a laugh.

And then Petrino, the noted quarterback guru who played the position under his father, Bob, at Carroll College in Montana, nodded his head and got choked up.

"I think I want to call my dad and say it to him," Bobby Petrino said, his voice quivering. "That will be pretty cool."

Standing beside him, Petrino's boss, U of L athletic director Tom Jurich, smiled broadly and leaned over to put his arm around Petrino.

Bobby Petrino has achieved a lot in football, coached a lot of good quarterbacks and earned a reputation as an offensive expert, but to now be the coach of a Heisman-winning QB? This was heady stuff, and after the media huddle dispersed, Petrino stepped to the side and made a quick call on his cell phone, presumably to his father.

I_medium Ticket packages for the 2017 ACC baseball tournament at Slugger Field are now on sale.

I_medium Through 10 games, Donovan Mitchell is on pace to challege the ridiculous steals record that Russ Smith set in 2011-12.

I_medium Here's your inspiration for the day.

I_medium Jimmie Terry, the former U of L OL commit, has now committed to Minnesota.

I_medium Chris' submission sort of makes it looks like the tree-topper is crying.

I_medium Louisville's 2017 football recruiting class is currently ranked 21st by Scout.

I_medium The women's basketball team showing their support for the newest Heisman Trophy winner.

I_medium Yahoo's Jeff Eisenberg gives eight takeaways from the weekend that was in college hoops.

I_medium Ken Pomeroy still has Louisville at No. 7 and is currently projecting a 77-76 Cardinal victory over Kentucky in nine days.

I_medium This will not be on the highlight reel at the end of the year:

I_medium Kelsi Worrell just won another gold and set another American record. Ho-hum.

I_medium Ronald Rudd, a highly-rated JUCO offensive lineman who just visited Louisville last weekend, has now decommitted from UCLA.

I_medium A Lamar Jackson reference during a call of a Lions touchdown ...

This year has been dogshit, but last weekend was all right.

I_medium Speaking of which, Bilal Powell had a career day in the Jets' win yesterday.

I_medium Love this guy.

I_medium The Louisville All-Stars pulled away from the Kentucky All-Stars yesterday in a football game played at St. X. Waggener QB Larry Harper, a U of L preferred walk-on, led the charge for the local guys.

I_medium Losing to UCLA put Kentucky in a position where it really needs to win at least one of its next two games against North Carolina and Louisville.

I_medium Hideki is your friend who says they failed every test and always comes back with a 95% two days later.

I_medium Massive recruit C.J. Avery, a DB who is also a consensus top 200 over player in the 2017 class, will announce his decision on Wednesday. He would be a major get for Louisville.

I_medium Five ACC quarterbacks rank in the nation's top 20 in passing efficiency.

I_medium And finally, R&R is back from 3-6 trying to process the fact that Louisville is home to a Heisman Trophy winner. Listen here.

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