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After another day of controversy for Scott Satterfield where he made multiple statements at his Monday press conference that weren’t received particularly well by the Louisville fan base, a healthy number of current U of L and former Appalachian State players sent out tweets of support for Satterfield in what appeared to be a concerted effort to quash the ever-rising criticism.
Here’s just a sampling of the many examples:
Coach satt is a very honest guy. It seems like the media always has something to say when they know nothing !
— Malik Cunningham (@MalikMalikc10) December 7, 2020
Coach Satt has always been here for us! No matter what the situation is We trust him to the fullest @CoachSattUofL Love you coach!
— Tutu Atwell Jr (@c5_atwell) December 7, 2020
I chose to come here to play for coach Satt! Since I got here he has shown nothing but love and care for all of us! Wouldn’t want to play for any other coach!! All love coach❤️!!!! @CoachSattUofL
— Jordan Watkins (@jordantwatkins) December 7, 2020
Coach Satterfield has been nothing but honest since I’ve been here and wanting the best for us players. As a player I am 100% behind him. There is nothing that should be said on the outside that should effect us as a program!!! So y’all please let us be.
— Yaya Diaby (@greatyaya4) December 7, 2020
Y’all heard what my Coach said HE WANTS TO BE AT LOUISVILLE. We not about to sit up here and keep entertaining the media we got a game this week. @CoachSattUofL Let’s finish strong coach.❤️
— Greedy Vance (@iam_jvxiiii) December 7, 2020
Coach Satt is a honest guy, ever since he stepped on campus, he has told us nothing but the truth!
— ♠️Marshon Ford♠️ (@ford_marshon) December 7, 2020
To anyone in question of @CoachSattUofL don’t take the media and their opinions against one of the most genuine coaches that I know. The man truly cares about his players and the job that he does! He always took the time to help do what he could for myself. Full support for Satt!
— Noah Hannon (@HannonNoah) December 7, 2020
It’s certainly encouraging for the future of the program to see the team come together like this, and I definitely respect the “nothing anybody says outside of this locker room matters” mentality, but it’s more than a bit off-putting to see so many of these messages shifting the blame to the media or other outsiders. No one made Scott Satterfield talk to South Carolina, nor did they make him conceal the meeting.
There were a few former players, including recent first round draft pick Mekhi Becton, who sent tweets that were ... well, less supportive, but for the most part, the response from the Cardinal side has been nearly unanimous.
The words are fine — we’ve certainly seen and heard lots of positive stuff out of the Louisville camp throughout this disappointing season — but the real test of emotions will come on Saturday. For the sake of the future of U of L football, I hope the effort level is high and the game is clean.
While I’ll always support the players and will be watching and rooting hard for the good guys on Saturday, I’m also not going to sit here and act like Satterfield hasn’t taken a dozen missteps over the last month. I didn’t like his comments about Javian Hawkins, I didn’t like his initial reaction to the reports of South Carolina interest, I didn’t like him sneaking away to Bowling Green to meet with SC last Friday, and I thought his press conference on Monday was awkward at best and irritating at worst.
All that said, having been down this road a hundred times over the last two decades, I think all Louisville fans would tell you that there’s a pretty clear path to forgiveness and salvation for Scott Satterifeld: win more football games.