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Tuesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Obie Elijah Huff can't believe it's only Tuesday.

By Mike Rutherford

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I_medium Spread check: Florida State by 2.5.

I_medium If you're going to be watching Saturday's game at some place with other Cardinal fans anywhere in the world and would like to be featured in Friday's "where we're watching" post, shoot your locations to me at MikeRuth5@aol.com.

I_medium ESPN wonders aloud if Louisville is the toughest opponent left on FSU's schedule.

As for Florida State's quarterback, Deondre Francois has emerged as an early Heisman candidate, too, but he's still only made two career starts, both in pro-FSU environments. Will he display the same poise on the road?

Clemson figures to break out of its comatose at some point, probably this week with FCS South Carolina State on the schedule. They're still the ACC's most talented team on paper with the country's best player at quarterback. The silver lining is the rebuilt defense is playing well and it's an offense with a collection of experienced starters eliciting panic in Death Valley.

However, it wasn't just a lethargy hampering Clemson in a near loss to Troy -- a blown call ended the upset bid. The run game is stalling behind an underachieving offensive line, and the Tigers, No. 2 in explosive plays last season, are 102nd in yards per play through two games. There are growing reasons to be pessimistic the Tigers will be able to match 2015.

Coupled with the circumstances surrounding Florida State's game against Louisville -- health, location, confidence -- the scales tip toward Louisville. The Seminoles' biggest test comes a month earlier than anyone expected.

I_medium FSU made some changes to its depth chart this week.

I_medium If a "Bring Back DePaul Day" sign makes it on television Saturday, I will meet the hero up at a public location and buy him or her a beverage of their choice. Only if Louisville wins.

I_medium It's looking like at least 70 U of L recruits or commits will be in attendance on Saturday.

I_medium Clemson kicker Greg Huegel says Jordan-Hare's got nothing on PJCS.

"Everybody was talking about how loud Auburn was going to be and I still think that Louisville was louder but they probably won't like me saying that but it's true."

Let's build on this reputation Saturday.

I_medium Business Insider says U of L ranks No. 20 in the United States when it comes to school spirit.

I_medium Eli Rogers took some time to show Louisville love in the middle of his monster NFL debut last night, as did his teammate and fellow Cardinal brethren William Gay.

I_medium SB Nation's super early top four features three opponents.

I_medium Here's a great feature from Bleacher Report in which Urban Meyer speaks in-depth for the first time about his struggles with mental health.

I_medium I DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THIS I'M SORRY INSTALL AN AD-BLOCKER.

You should watch the show tonight at 10, though. It's really good and it's an inside look at the team that's about to play us in one of the biggest games in program history.

I_medium U of L men's soccer is back in action tonight at 7:30 hosting Xavier at Lynn Stadium.

I_medium Brandon Randolph, the young man who once played Russ Smith in a movie trailer, has narrowed his final list of schools, and U of L isn't on it.

I_medium Jeff Greer takes a look at the eight biggest home games in the history of Louisville football.

I_medium The NCAA announced Monday that it is pulling several events (including this year's NCAA Tournament) out of the state of North Carolina, which means the Yum Center could potentially wind up hosting first and second round games in 2017. Also, don't be surprised if the ACC takes a similar stance in the near future and pulls its football title games and future ACC Tournaments out of the state.

I_medium Twenty years ago today we lost 'Pac.

No word on whether or not his hologram is a candidate for GameDay celebrity picker.

I_medium Jason Kirk says that Mark Stoops arrived at Kentucky with so much promise, and now it's all gone.

I_medium John Cassillo breaks down Syracuse's offensive play-calling against Louisville, which he says really wasn't all that bad.

I_medium They're herrre, in our citayy.

I_medium Louisville Business First examines exactly what GameDay visiting means for the city.

I_medium Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow might miss the Louisville game in a few weeks because of a broken bone in his hand.

I_medium PennLive.com has a great piece on Eli Rogers and what it took to get to the point where he was last night.

Pecking orders are made so clear in training camp. Coaches equivocate about depth charts and the extent to which they exist. They're trying things, they say, and they are. But in Latrobe, whether from fans, coaches or teammates, there is no hiding. There's barely any cloud cover.

The defensive players Rogers was trying to keep as teammates quickly recognized. Unproven players are much more likely to be hit at full speed, crushed over the middle. They're not needed.

"Young guys tend to get hit more just because they're young guys, man," eighth-year safety Mike Mitchell said. "It's just the league."

Pittsburgh players, Mitchell said, didn't stop beating on Martavis Bryant until halfway through his rookie season. They started leaving Rogers alone in training camp 2015.

"We realized he's a good player and we're going to need him," Mitchell said. "Let's not hurt him."

I_medium Pat Forde has Louisville in consideration for his "Fab Four."

I_medium The U of L volleyball team has its rivalry match with Kentucky Thursday night at 7:30 inside the Yum Center.

I_medium The Numerical marvels at the fact that Louisville could make a record-setting night seem disappointing.

13 scoring opportunities

Anybody watching Louisville's 62-28 destruction of Syracuse on Friday night already knew this, but it could have been so much worse. The Cardinals gained 845 yards and generated a whopping 13 scoring opportunities in 19 possessions.

Bobby Petrino's Cards scored touchdowns in four of their first seven snaps, but they also lost a fumble at the SU 25, threw an interception from the SU 38, and settled for three field goals, missing one. If those darn Cardinals weren't so sloppy, they might have scored 90.

I_medium Today's U says that without Derwin James, Louisville-Florida State has changed.

I_medium Baby bird mask.

I_medium Fans of the television version of "Friday Night Lights," jot this down: there will be a show reunion to mark the 10th anniversary of the show this Wednesday night.

I_medium The Detroit Lions are must-see-tv, folks.

I_medium Don't know anything about him, but I'm sold.

I_medium Rick Pitino spent part of his Monday visiting class of 2018 guard Luguentz Dort.

I_medium The only weekend forecast you need.

I_medium Kirk Herbstreit confirmed Monday that he's on the call for U of L-FSU, which means we're getting the ESPN/ABC "A Team."

I_medium Lamar Jackson is better than Josh Dobbs.

I_medium The "fake" injury controversy from Louisville-Syracuse continues to linger.

I_medium Beat Florida State and DePaul.

I_medium Tomahawk Nation has a predictable top three in its weekly ACC power rankings.

I_medium ESPN gives a campaign slogan to each top 25 team in college basketball.

13. Louisville Cardinals: "It's Only Funny That Your Team Can't Score"

We've all had our laughs at Louisville's expense. The Katina Powell sex scandal that thrust the Cardinals into the plot of a Lifetime, uh, Showtime, uh, Cinemax movie cost Rick Pitino's squad its postseason aspirations last season. The NCAA could hammer the program at any moment. But the simmering vibe around the team suggests that school officials believe the self-imposed postseason ban might represent the most significant punitive measure. If that's the case, Louisville will finally focus on basketball, and with a backcourt of Quentin Snider, Donovan Mitchell, grad transfer Tony Hicks and five-star recruit V.J. King, the Cardinals should compete for the ACC crown. They boast the talent to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. How? By suffocating opponents: Louisville has finished fifth or higher in KenPom.com's adjusted defensive efficiency rankings since 2011. This time, however, they'll play with that vengeful edge. The targets? Everyone. We'll see who's laughing in March. -- Medcalf

I_medium The Florida Times-Union says Lamar Jackson's presence gives Louisville a shot at an upset on Saturday.

I_medium Rex Ryan had some significant praise for Preston Brown today.

I_medium A local business is helping Cards fans get decked out in the proper attire for this weekend's big game.

I_medium USA Today has Lamar Jackson all the way up at No. 1 on its Heisman Watch.

1. Louisville QB Lamar Jackson

He's been incredible: Jackson is easily the nation's best player through two weeks, blending sublime athleticism with a passing game tailored to his strengths. He can put an even stronger hold on early front-runner status by leading the Cardinals past Florida State on Saturday.

I_medium A reminder that Lamar will be on SportsCenter tonight at 6.

I_medium Baby Lamar could not be more focused.

I_medium State of the U (Miami) bumps Louisville up to No. 2 in its ACC power rankings.

I_medium Jimbo Fisher says Louisville "is as good as anybody," and then does his best John Calipari impersonation.

"Oh, they've got good players," Fisher said. "I mean, just like a couple years ago in 2014 they said man how'd you go through Louisville? They had 10 guys drafted. We had 11; they had 10. Last year, look at the high picks they've got. They've got guys, receivers, players too. They've got really good players. Josh Harvey-Clemons and (Shaq) Wiggins, and the junior college guys, (James) Hearns who is a defensive end from right here in town at Lincoln. (Keith) Kelsey at linebacker, the corner, the receivers (James) Quick, and the linemen. They've got good linemen, tight end can run and kick, the backs are good players, and all two or three of the receivers, those guys are big guys, No. 18, the tight end is athletic. They've got really good players and they're coached well. That team, you look at the history of the players that have come out of there recently, they're as good as anybody."

Playing with ESPN's College GameDay in the house is nothing new for Florida State. The program has played on the biggest stages, and in some of the most difficult environments, in college football. It opened the season with a comeback win over a very good Ole Miss team. After a bit of a breather, it comes into Louisville.

"It's going to be that way the whole year," he said. "You're everybody's Super Bowl. You're ranked up there high, that's what you do at Florida State. You get used to going into those environments and hopefully it's like going to work every day. That's what it is and you respect it and you do it. You put your work in, don't get caught up in the clutter and the hype. You concentrate on what you do and how you prepare and how you play, and learn to have the great process of getting ready."

I_medium U of L students are all sorts of excited for GameDay.

I_medium And finally, a reminder that 24 straight hours of damn Louisville-Florida State coverage is coming your damn way starting Friday at noon.

If you're drunk in line for GameDay at 4 a.m., there's only going to be one station in town giving you something to listen to.

Also, Rece Davis is on R&R today. Listen here.

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