Wednesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

—The preseason college football AP top 25 was released on Monday, and Louisville will face the No. 1 (Clemson), No. 9 (Notre Dame) and No. 22 (Syracuse) ranked teams in 2019. Additionally, Cardinal opponents Miami (70) and Virginia (44) each received significant votes in the poll.

—The U of L men’s soccer team was picked to finish second in the ACC’s Atlantic Division by the league’s coaches.

—This website continues to evolve into a Keith Oddo fan blog.

Also, Fresh Kimble finishing third just a few weeks after Chris Mack said that he arrived at U of L out of shape is awfully impressive and encouraging.

—Nationally-ranked U of L volleyball held its media day on Monday.

—Cardinal Authority believes Hassan Hall is primed for a big season.

—Louisville makes the final 10 for top 40 class of 2020 player Jaemyn Brakefield.

—Over the last decade, seven teams have followed up a 10-loss season by going to a bowl game in the next year. The Cardinal Connect wonders if Louisville can be the next.

—This story of a 9-year-old Red Sox fan writing Chris Davis a pick-me-up letter during his 0-for-56 slump and Davis going 3-for-3 the day he got it is very awesome.

—Here’s the accompanying video for that story.

—247 Sports looks at how every ACC football team can exceed expectations in 2019.

—The Read Option newsletter ranks a variety of things, including fast food chicken sandwiches. Those rankings from Spencer Hall include the best description of Burger King’s chicken sandwich that you’re ever going to read.

6. Burger King Original Chicken Sandwich. No, not the Crispy Chicken Sandwich. Put some respect on the name of the O.G. fast food chicken sandwich product, because we mean The Plank, i.e. the surfboard-shaped pressed chicken ... um ... thing, always encased in a minisub of weirdly tasteless bread and always served with no less than a half-gallon of mayonnaise and a handful of freshly wilted lettuce. It defies belief how Burger King still sells this in the era of abundant fried chicken sandwiches that actually look like fried chicken. It also defies belief how much you, after reading this right now, inexplicably crave one.

—Deion Branch was one of six individuals inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame Monday night.

—The Crunch Zone crew is back with their latest podcast.

—Weirdest state ever.

—U of L’s Yacine Diop helped Senegal earn the silver medal at the FIBA AfroBasket tournament.

—Dates and times for the Scott Satterfield radio show are here.

—Here’s the programming lineup for Thursday’s launch of the ACC Network.

Fifty percent Duke basketball. Setting the tone right off the bat.

—The Louisville Bats are offering up $5 tickets to any of their remaining home games.

—Former Card Lance Thomas has established himself as a leader for Memphis State.

—The NBA to Louisville folks are hosting an event Thursday evening at the Manhattan Project off Frankfort Ave. You can register to attend here.

—U of L has announced that current LPGA golfer and former Ole Miss All-American Dori Carter has been named an assistant coach for the Cardinal’s program.

—We’re all voting Chris Mack “Best Local Comedian” in this year’s LEO Reader’s Choice Awards.

—ACC football odds from SportsBetting.ag:

—247 Sports has bumped Louisville recruit DJ Steward up to a five-star ranking. U of L and Duke are widely-believed to be the front-runners for Steward’s services. Bardstown standout JJ Traynor (Jason Osborne’s son) has entered the top 100 at No. 76, and is a 4-star recruit.

—Summer assignments for the 2019 U of L baseball team have now been completed.

—Two separate multi-billion dollar industries rely heavily on quarterbacks. So why does the position remain so difficult to evaluate?

—U of L has now confirmed the Ali uniforms, which will be worn during the team’s home game against Boston College.

—High school football kicks off locally on Friday night. The CJ lays out the area’s top teams and the best games to keep an eye on for week one.

—In first day as a Major League player, former Card Nick Solak went deep and produced a walk-off hit(?).

—Banner Society breaks down how to watch a college football game.

—The CJ’s Cameron Teague has a really good behind the scenes look at Scott Satterfield’s plan to rebuild Louisville football.

—The celebrity fans continue to pile up.

—The U of L men’s soccer team continues its exhibition slate tonight at fellow national power Indiana.

—Each member of CBS’ college football staff picks Louisville to finish last in the Atlantic Division.

—Clemson Sports Talk previews U of L.

—Will Smith refused to let Nick Solak have all of the former Cardinal spotlight on Tuesday.

—As you would hope, Dorian Etheridge has emerged as the leader of the Cardinal defense.

—An incredible discovery in France has a Louisville family in awe.

—Louisville basketball is hosting Jeff High sophomore Brian Lovings-Watts on an unofficial visit today.

—And finally, Louisville and Kentucky are both spending significantly less on football recruiting than their conference peers. Also, the biggest recruiting spender in college basketball over the last five years is .... Indiana?