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Wednesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

U of L grads Nathan Fletcher, Patrick Fletcher, Kaela (Anderson) Fletcher and Trey Fletcher took some time to rep the 2016 Summer Tour after hiking up to the Nankoweap Granaries. This was part of a 16-day non-commercial river trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, from Lee's Ferry, AZ to Diamond Creek, AZ. The tour knows no limits.

By Mike Rutherford

I_medium Happy one month until the Florida State game day.

I_medium Also, happy move in day, U of L students. Don't jump in the baby pool.

I_medium Never too early.

I_medium A year after being picked to win the Atlantic, the Louisville men's soccer team has been picked to finish fifth in the division heading into the 2016 season.

2016 ACC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL 
Overall Champion
North Carolina (5)
Clemson (3)
Notre Dame (2)
Virginia (1)
Wake Forest (1)

Atlantic Division
1. Clemson (6) - 64
2. Wake Forest (6) - 62
3. Syracuse - 50
4. Boston College - 34
5. Louisville - 28
6. NC State - 14

Coastal Division
1. North Carolina (8) - 66
2. Notre Dame (4) - 62
3. Virginia - 50
4. Duke - 33
5. Pitt - 21
6. Virginia Tech - 20

I_medium The soccer season for the men kicks off with a double-header where the women will face UAB and the men will follow against Butler next Friday at Lynn Stadium. Here's how you can get both tickets for the price of one.

I_medium Louisville has the fourth-best group of wide receivers/tight ends in the ACC according to ESPN.

4. Louisville Cardinals: Though they aren't household names (yet), every single Louisville receiver with significant playing time returns, led by Jamari Staples, James Quick and Jaylen Smith. Ja'Quay Savage could have a big season; Reggie Bonnafon is now at receiver. Then there's the talent and depth at tight end, starting with Cole Hikutini (19 catches, 348 yards, three TDs).

Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina top the list.

I_medium While the folks in Lexington continue to toss stones in the direction of U of L, UK's president is busy ignoring the law time after time after time.

I_medium Clemson's new football facility will feature college football's first dedicated "nap room."

I_medium Tom Jurich made a brief comment this morning on the state of the NCAA investigation.

The University of Louisville's athletics director Tom Jurich said he and the school are still waiting out the NCAA's investigation into U of L's men's basketball program in a Wednesday interview on WKRD-790.

"We just wait," Jurich said. "I really don't know any more. They don't tell you anything. Whatever we're dealing with, we'll deal with it up front, like we have."

...

"The NCAA does know our stance is that we're not going to hide from anything," Jurich said. "We made a mistake. We'll fix it. We'll get to the bottom of it. The hardest part for all of us is we've not been able to talk to Andre. We don't know his side of the story. That's the hard part of it."

The university self-imposed a postseason ban and recruiting sanctions this spring after U of L president James Ramsey said it was "reasonable to conclude" that an NCAA violation had occurred. The scandal put Pitino under significant pressure and prompted some questions about his job security, though Jurich, Ramsey and other key figures at the university have backed Pitino, who is entering his 16th season at Louisville.

"What's important to me is as long as he's happy and healthy," Jurich said. "He's somebody I don't see just retiring and going and playing golf. ... He's a basketball coach and a damn good one and we're very happy to have him."

I_medium Romeo Langford has Louisville in his final(?) 10.

I_medium The folks in Huntington continue to be remarkably revved up for the Louisville game on Sept. 24.

I_medium Pitt should wear its throwback alternate uniforms for every game.

I_medium If the Big 12 does go ahead with expansion, our old foes from Cincinnati appear to be in good shape for a bid.

I_medium New favorite race call of 2016.

I_medium Local kid De'von Cooper, who played his junior season at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, will transfer back home to Waggener High School for his senior year. Cooper is a three-star prospect with offers from several schools, including Western Kentucky.

I_medium David Sipes is bringing the Summer Tour to Red Rocks (yeah a yeah) where Louisville's own My Morning Jacket was recently in concert.

I_medium UK's old offensive coordinator is now at Southern Miss and is talking some smack about the Wildcats. The teams open the 2016 season against one another in two weeks.

I_medium Some Devonte Fields love here from NFL Draft scout Matt Miller.

I_medium The Louisville Cardinal previews the 2016 women's soccer team.

I_medium Potential Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans seems like a very good dude.

I_medium ESPN covers the commitment of Darius Perry.

"I chose Louisville because I enjoyed the practice I watched," Perry told ESPN.com. "I like the way [Rick] Pitino coaches and orchestrates his team, and the family-oriented environment was a great feeling."

Perry had a strong spring session for Game Elite on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit, averaging 11.6 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from 3-point range.

"I feel like I can make a great impact on the team, and I hope to come in and do so," Perry said. "They have a great team and staff, and I hope to add to that. Pitino is a great coach, and under his wing I feel like I can become a really good player."

Perry wasn't offered by Louisville until June, but he quickly became one of the top point-guard targets on Louisville's board. Pitino watched him during the first July live period, and an official visit was scheduled shortly after.

I_medium Very sad news out of New Jersey, where former Cardinal offensive lineman Brian Roche passed away at the far-too-young age of 29. He was once a huge recruit for U of L who played here from 2005-08. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and loved ones.

I_medium College Football news has Devonte Fields (6) and Lamar Jackson (21) in its list of the 25 best players in the ACC.

I_medium This .... is embarrassing.

Every time I see some crazy realignment story I think of the scene in When Harry Met Sally where Princess Leia gets off the phone and looks at Harry's friend and says "Promise me I'll never be out there again."

It's not a life sane people should have to live.

I_medium And finally, John and I are out at CC Powersports in Shepherdsville for today's R&R. We'll have more on the commitment of Darius Perry, as well as a conversation with former Cardinal great Chris Redman. You can listen to the show here, or through your phone without using any data by calling 605-477-9680.

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