Thursday evening Cardinal news and notes

—It’s draft night, and it seems like there’s a pretty real chance that either Jaire Alexander or Lamar Jackson are going to remain Cardinals.

—Quick reminder that Lamar is the absolute best.

—Lamar has never let us down as a quarterback before. Don’t expect him to start now.

—Sound the U of L lawsuit alarm. We had two in one day on Wednesday.

A former high-ranking University of Louisville athletics official has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the university, claiming she was let go earlier this year because of her health issues and reporting “wrongful conduct.”

Kimberly Maffet, associate athletics director for human resources, was laid off in February along with Mark Jurich, the son of former longtime athletics director Tom Jurich, and Julianne Waldron, associate athletics director for marketing.

At the time, the university said the moves were done as part of restructuring the department to save money and reorganize staff responsibilities.

But a lawsuit filed on behalf of Maffet in Jefferson Circuit Court this week claims she was retaliated against in part because she learned a U of L coach (described only as “Coach 3”) “was having an affair with a co-employee,” violating the university’s sexual harassment policy.

Maffet claims her attempts to report the violation “were rebuffed” and other employees “attempted to hide” the information.

The lawsuit also alleges Maffet told the university about another coach, “Coach 4,” verbally abusing employees.

The suit also raises concerns about “a coach’s unused University office reserved for his private Foundation.”

Remember a time where this would have all anyone around here could talk about for the next 24 hours? Instead it’s just another brick in the ever-expanding gross wall.

—U of L will take on top-seeded Boston College Friday in the first round of the ACC lacrosse tournament.

—Courtney Ramey’s father went on Louisville Sports Live last night to try and clarify some things about his son’s recruitment.

“The community, the facilities, the players, the conference, the location — all that hasn’t changed,” Terrell Ramey said. “Now, a whole new staff does mean a whole lot. I can’t undersell that. Like I told Chris Mack, there’s other programs that have that leap-frog over you. Are those deal-breaker things? Who knows? That’s the conversation me and Courtney are going to have and go from there.

”But what Chris Mack has done, he’s come out and sprinted and tried to make up ground and still be genuine in the process, and I appreciate that and Courtney appreciates it. That’s why we appreciated it enough to go up (Tuesday) and make sure he got that presentation and got that information.”

The elder Ramey said that the scheduling mix up that led to U of L’s in-house visit being canceled at the last second was his fault, and that he and Courtney plan on making a final decision very soon.

—The Louisville women’s golf team is headed to the San Francisco regional to compete in the NCAA championships. The Cards were one of 11 ACC teams to make the field.

—Mike Mayock says the defensive coordinators of the 31 teams that don’t draft Lamar Jackson tonight are going to be very nervous afterwards.

—Donovan doesn’t plan on being back in Oklahoma City for game seven.

—Athlon takes an early look at Louisville’s 2018 football schedule, which features the past two national champions.

—Liquor Barn is hosting a Bourbon Extravaganza to support USA Cares this weekend.

WHAT: Liquor Barn presents a Bourbon Extravaganza unlike ever before. Saturday April 28th the Liquor Barn in Springhurst off Westport Road will host a raffle of items including Pappy Van Winkle bottles. There will be over 25 bourbon and food vendors all of which will be sampling their product at the event. Every vendor participating is a local Kentucky Proud Label. The event will be from 10am to 2pm with check-in starting at 8:30am. Tickets are only $10 and available online on Eventbrite under Liquor Barn Bourbon Extravaganza. The $10 ticket includes, entry and sampling from your choice of over 25 vendors. The ticket is also your raffle number and your chance to win a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle along with other amazing items every 10 minutes. Proceeds from ticket sales will support USA Cares.

WHO: Liquor Barn and USA Cares

WHEN: April 28th / 10am – 2pm

WHERE: 4301 Towne Center Dr, Louisville, KY 40241

—Woj says any change to the one and done rule won’t come before 2020.

—Billy Gillispie is doing well after undergoing a successful kidney transplant on Wednesday.

—Buyout didn’t go up though.

—Louisville has been named a top 10 city in America for new college grads.

—Cool time of the year around here.

—It’s Patriotic Day tomorrow night at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville and Indiana State will get game one of a three game series underway at 6 p.m. Here’s a preview.

—I’m enjoying the new graphics the U of L football recruiting people have been throwing together.

—Dez Fitzpatrick’s brother, Christian, is another blue chip recruit (subscription) who was at the spring game watching his brother take home MVP honors.

—U of L lacrosse standouts Caroline Blalock and Emily Howell have been named All-ACC Second Team.

—Enjoy the sights and sounds from the Louie Awards earlier this week.

—The art and science of the College Football Playoff selection process, and what six new committee members bring to the process this season.

—U of L CB signee Jairus Brents from Waggener High will perform 40 hours of community service to have his shoplifting charge dismissed. He did not enter any guilty plea.

—Ever wonder what cornerbacks say when they line up across from top wideouts? Jaire Alexander has some hilarious insights.

—And finally, a last look at the first round projections for Louisville players tonight.