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Lost in the shuffle of practice starting and other college football offseason mile-markers was the note that Wednesday marked exactly 100 days until the start of college hoops and Louisville's 2016-17 season-opener against Evansville. It's crazy how rapidly things start moving once September rolls around.
Louisville's two practices were open to the media for only about 20 minutes on Wednesday. Still, the C-J's Steve Jones had some astute observations to share.
***The most interesting thing about those groupings is probably that Shaq Wiggins is on the second team while Jaire Alexander and Trumaine Washington are on the first team. That's the same as we saw in the spring game and in the media-guide depth chart, but it shows again that Wiggins appears to be behind the other two guys to start camp.
***The first-team offensive line for a sled drill was the lineup Bobby Petrino suggested Tuesday - T Geron Christian, G Khalil Hunter, C Tobijah Hughley, G Kiola Mahoni, T Lukayus McNeil.
***Senior Lamar Atkins, who I believe had briefly left the team earlier this year, was out there and playing fullback, which he played as an underclassman. He was a linebacker last year.
**Gary McCrae was not at either session today, which isn't too surprising since Petrino said yesterday that he still had some work to do to report from JUCO.
**A revelation to me today is that former JUCO OL transfer Kevin Austin, who signed late last year but never played, is no longer on the team. He apparently left during the spring. I believe he'd been passed on the depth chart by some of the walk-ons.
U of L has its own recap of Wednesday's practices.
Some Vegas over/under win totals for college football teams of note in 2016:
2016 Regular Season Wins - Clemson Tigers
Over/Under 11 (+120, 6/5)
Under 11 (-160, 8/5)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Duke Blue Devils
Over 6 (+125, 5/4)
Under 6 (-160, 5/8)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Florida State Seminoles
Over 11 (+160, 8/5)
Under 11 (-225, 4/9)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Over 6½ (-140, 5/7)
Under 6½ (EVEN, 1/1)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Houston Cougars
Over 9½ (-300, 1/3)
Under 9½ (+200, 2/1)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Indiana Hoosiers
Over 6 (+175, 7/4)
Under 6 (-250, 2/5)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Kentucky Wildcats
Over 6 (+160, 8/5)
Under 6 (-240, 5/12)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Louisville Cardinals
Over/Under 9½
2016 Regular Season Wins - Marshall Thundering Herd
Over 8½ (-200, 1/2)
Under 8½ (+150, 3/2)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Miami Hurricanes
Over 8 (-130, 13/10)
Under 8 (EVEN, 1/1)
2016 Regular Season Wins - North Carolina Tar Heels
Over 9 (-140, 5/7)
Under 9 (EVEN, 1/1)
2016 Regular Season Wins - North Carolina State Wolf Pack
Over 6½ (+150, 3/2)
Under 6½ (-190, 10/19)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Pittsburgh Panthers
Over 8 (+140, 7/5)
Under 8 (-180, 5/9)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Syracuse Orange
Over/Under 4
2016 Regular Season Wins - Texas Longhorns
Over 8 (+150, 3/2)
Under 8 (-200, 1/2)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Virginia Cavaliers
Over 5 (-140, 5/7)
Under 5 (+110, 11/10)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Virginia Tech Hokies
Over 6½ (-200, 1/2)
Under 6½ (+150, 3/2)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Over 6½ (+175, 7/4)
Under 6½ (-250, 2/5)
2016 Regular Season Wins - Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Over 9½ (+120, 6/5)
Under 9½ (-160, 5/8)
Devonte Fields checks in at No. 27 on The Big Lead's list of the 50 best players in college football for 2016. DeShaun Watson is No. 1.
Sept. 17 won't be the first major test of the season for Florida State, which opens up week one against Ole Miss. The Rebels might have the tools necessary to slow down Dalvin Cook, but that might not matter if freshman QB Deondre Francois is as good as advertised.
Sometimes I love the dead period.
@CardChronicle watching 2004 70-7 UC game. It looks like DePaul also struggled that day pic.twitter.com/bu9DGsm0Pl
— Cards forever (@EthridgeKen) August 3, 2016
Card Chronicle will name its ninth annual Least Cool Person Tournament winner in about 24 hours. To cast your vote for either Andre McGee or Katina Powell, go here.
This case should 100 percent be re-opened.
ESPN names the best football player on each basketball team ranked in its preseason top 25, and I disagree vehemently with their selections for Louisville.
13. Louisville Cardinals: Matz Stockman, Anas Mahmoud
This has everything to do with size. Louisville's tallest football player stands at 6-foot-6, so what will coach Bobby Petrino do when he's holding a two-point lead and the opponent lines up for a potential game-winning field goal? He'll turn to Stockman and Mahmoud, of course. The pair of 7-footers would surely send such a kick back from where it came, and they might be able to do it without jumping. -- Strong
Donovan Mitchell. Zero hesitation.
Former Cardinal linebacker Dexter Heyman likes what he sees out of the current crop.
Acting U of L president Neville Pinto will host an informal Q&A session with reporters today. Let's see just how informal we can get by asking at least three Earl Clark-centric questions.
ESPN officially announced Wednesday that Tom Jackson is calling it a career after 29 years. I look forward to his posts on CC this fall.
Jeff Greer continues his summer profile series with a look at Deng Adel.
Pretty cool.
.@UofLBaseball alums Dean Kiekhefer and @aduvall123 together before tonight's game in Cincinnati. #L1C4 #ProCards pic.twitter.com/ucVOND9ael
— Louisville Baseball (@UofLBaseball) August 3, 2016
For the first time since Teddy Bridgewater roamed the sidelines, Louisville doesn't find itself with a quarterback battle heading into fall camp. A number of ACC teams, however, aren't so fortunate.
Phil Steele says (insider) that Louisville has one of the 15 best wide receiver situations in college football.
Marquette site Paint Touches has a way too early Bracketology which features Louisville as the three seed in a South Region also featuring No. 1 seed Duke and fifth-seeded Kentucky.
Get that money, gents.
Three former Cardinals in the field this week on the @pgatour at the @travelerschamp. #GoCards pic.twitter.com/Y7vJK6G02X
— UofL Men's Golf (@UofLMGolf) August 3, 2016
Louisville QB recruit James Blackman committed to Florida State Wednesday night.
Expectations are at an all-time high for Western Kentucky football under the direction of Jeff Brohm.
This was actually my snapchat.
@CardChronicle I found your phone pic.twitter.com/Nje0UVhsBc
— JNone (@rawlingsStreet) August 3, 2016
Auburn running back Jovon Robinson, whom Gus Malzahn was planning to build his offense around, has been dismissed from the Tiger program for "not meeting his coach's expectations."
It's a hard word to spell.
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You're still cool, Rebecca.
The Detroit Free Press has Louisville at No. 11 in its preseason top 25 countdown. Florida State tops the list, with Clemson checking in at No. 4.
Bobby Petrino says true freshman QB Jawon Pass is a "natural leader," which is good news.
Pass, a former U.S. Army All-American, was the lone scholarship quarterback to participate in the morning newcomers practice. Starter Lamar Jackson and junior backup Kyle Bolin went in the afternoon practice for the veterans.
"I thought (Pass) did some real good things," Petrino said. "He's very smart, picks things up real quick. He needs to get his feet in the right position at times. He's got a quick release. I didn't think he spun the ball as well as he will, but he can deliver it quickly, and he's got the arm strength to make all the throws.
"He's a natural leader. He steps right in the huddle and takes charge, so there's a lot of really good things. I think he'll throw the ball better as we get going."
The C-J lists seven potential offensive breakout candidates for Louisville in 2016.
I know this is a panorama, but in my mind it's triplets scaring the absolute shit out of everyone in their general vicinity.
The best kind of panorama @CardChronicle pic.twitter.com/gcp8nUNCJU
— Taylor Sabo (@MrSabolicious) July 31, 2016
The battle to be Louisville's new punter and kicker isn't one of the most-discussed storylines heading into fall camp, but it's one of the most important.
Today's U says Clemson's Oct. 1 game against Louisville is one of their three biggest hurdles on the way to another perfect regular season.
This is terrifying.
@CardChronicle In Norway, looking for some more Matzes. pic.twitter.com/HfhBHfZik1
— centigray (@centigray) August 3, 2016
More love for Jamari Staples this week.
Ryan Kantor of Shakin' the Southland (Clemson) says that while expanding the ACC schedule for football would be a bad move, it's going to work for basketball.
Beautiful.
@CardChronicle only one thing for your daughter to see when she's welcomed into the world #GoCards #cardnation pic.twitter.com/UIibC4pwg3
— The Freshest Prince (@notthefakejenky) July 15, 2016
The Red Rage Tailgate folks will be teaming up with 93.9 for some pregame shows this fall. Details can be found here.
Nic Cage being in town remains a huge story.
Leaving Las Vegas is an awesome movie. The Wicker Man is not. The Family Man is ok. Raising Arizona is that one movie that everyone with whom I share similar tastes says I have to love that I just don't.
I'm sorry to everyone that just got offended after reading that. I wish I liked it more. I've tried two and-a-half times, and I just don't. Adaptation is great.
And finally, screw politics and/or whatever else is making you feel angry or depressed, just watch this on a loop.
LOOK HOW HAPPY THIS DOG IS AFTER THEY PUT ON HIS PROSTHETIC LEGS pic.twitter.com/D1PAISeKIf
— Jack Mull (@J4CKMULL) August 1, 2016
You've never had a better start to a Thursday. You're welcome.