Monday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

—Former U of L basketball standout turned entrepreneur Junior Bridgeman may be on the verge of buying Sports Illustrated.

—We’ve got problems(?) in Tuscaloosa.

—Roll Bama Roll takes a deeper look into the latest development in the QB “controversy.”

—Joseph Goodman thinks Alabama will be better off because of Hurts speaking out.

—Our friends over at From the Rumble Seat (Georgia Tech) have an entertaining preview of the Ramblin’ Wreck’s Friday night trip to U of L in October.

—Streaking the Lawn (Virginia) also previews the Cards.

—The Regulators are enjoying their new digs.

—Louisville’s Justin Thomas captured the Bridgestone Invitational title over the weekend. Thomas is currently the No. 2 ranked player in the world and is within shouting distance of getting back to No. 1.

—ESPN ranks the top 50 players in college football for 2018.

—Three U of L women’s golfers are participating in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, which begins today.

—College GameDay will kick off the season in South Bend.

—If you missed it, here’s how U of L recapped the first day of fall camp.

—Alabama needs a new starting middle linebacker for the Louisville game. As you might have guessed, they have options.

—Jonathan Brown, who played soccer at both Louisville and Kentucky, is now looking to complete an improbable journey to the NFL.

—Scary T.

—Dolphins coach Adam Gase wants DeVante Parker to “fight through the holds” this season.

—Louisville is No. 2, training only Pitt, in the ACC’s preseason volleyball poll.

—The CJ continues its preseason hoops series with a profile of Darius Perry.

—The early leader in the race to be Louisville’s starting running back seems to be Trey Smith.

Louisville football’s running backs competition may have an early leader. Running backs coach Kolby Smith, who said earlier this summer that redshirt junior Trey Smith was the top back, said Smith has maintained his advantage.

”Trey is the guy,” Kolby Smith said. “He did a great job of earning it, and I don’t see him letting it go.”

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Trey Smith, the oldest running back on the roster, drew praise from his coaches during the spring and again Saturday.

”He does a good job running, this spring did a good job of really being patient on his runs and getting up in those little small cracks,” Kolby Smith said. “Thought he showed great vision. Definitely brings toughness. He’s probably one of the best pass blockers on the team. Does a good job of being violent with his hands.”

After a summer of healing, Louisville opened preseason practice Friday with Trey Smith, redshirt sophomore Dae Williams, redshirt freshman Colin Wilson and junior Malik Staples, plus true freshmen Javian Hawkins and Hassan Hall, all healthy.

Asked if he thinks it’s finally his time after earning just 32 carries in his first three seasons, Trey Smith said, ”I really do hope so. I’ve been working my butt off just trying to get on the field. I’ve been trying to prove to the coaches that I’m working, trying to prove to my teammates that I’ve been working.”

—Louisville City FC played Indy 11 to a 2-2 draw over the weekend.

—Former U of L goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland made his MLS debut with the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

—Gobbler Country (Virginia Tech) has Louisville at No. 6 in the Atlantic in its preseason ACC power rankings.

6. Louisville Cardinals: I almost put the Cardinals at the bottom of the Atlantic. I legitimately think that the generational talent of Lamar Jackson hid the gross deficiencies of the overall Cardinals effort. I genuinely feel that Louisville will only be considered a bowl contender because they rolled easier teams (UVA and GT) out of the Coastal. They already must face Alabama, FSU, Clemson, and the full compliment of the Atlantic… if they had rolled Miami and VT they would certainly be watching the bowl season from their couch. As it stands now, I still think they will be.

—The CJ’s fourth annual high school media day is set for Tuesday at Churchill Downs. Here’s the lineup.

—Louisville field hockey’s Ayeisha McFerran was named the Best Goalkeeper at the Field Hockey World Cup. Her Ireland squad finished second in the event.

—Former U of L linebacker James Hearns was cut by Dallas and claimed by Green Bay over the weekend.

—The Louisville football team practiced as a full squad for the first time on Sunday.

—And finally, R&R is back this afternoon with a football-heavy three hours from 3-6 on 790-KRD. You can listen here.