Monday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

—The CJ’s Cameron Teague Robinson profiles new U of L safeties coach Greg Gasparato.

—Louisville cornerback Jamel Starks has entered the transfer portal.

—U of L hosted Texas QB Gavin Rutherford at its camp over the weekend. For purely selfish reasons, I believe this young man is Scott Satterfield’s must-get recruit from the 2023 class.

—The Lindy’s college football preview magazine is not high on Satterfield’s Cards.

Louisville

National Ranking: No. 74

All-Conference: Hassan Hall, first-team all-purpose offensive player; Kei’Trel Clark, first-team cornerback; James Turner, third-team kicker; YaYa Darby, third-team defensive line.

All-American: None.

Legitimate Concern: Replacing Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick at receiver.

Miscellaneous Tidbit: Clark was ranked the 11th-best cornerback in the nation

Recruiting: No. 9 class in the ACC, led by running back Trevion Cooley and Benjamin Perry, a safety from Country Club Hills, Illinois.

Conference Projection: Sixth in the Atlantic Division, ahead of Syracuse.

Lindy’s Call: “Louisville and its coach went from earning the benefit of the doubt to deserving no respect.”

—WDRB’s Tom Lane has a good read on U of L swimming star Nick Albiero.

—Tickets to see Simone Biles in Louisville will go on sale this week.

—As a kid, I lived for the train ride at the Louisville Zoo. I even had a couple of birthday parties there in large part because at the end of the day you got to ride in the front of the train with the conductor. Now, the zoo is selling the trains. Sad day.

—Legends.

The trio were on hand to check out the unveiling of the newly renovated basketball court in west Louisville named in honor of Breonna Taylor that the Russ Smith Foundation helped make happen.

—U of L women’s golf has added Kendall Griffin, a graduate transfer from LSU.

—The latest Hoop Vision newsletter looks at the rise and fall of the flex offense.

—Louisville’s Mercedes Pastor has been named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) West Region Player of the Year.

—Drew Ellis is still dropping bombs.

—Alabama has extended Nick Saban through 2028. He’ll be 77-years-old when his new contract expires.

—Jeff Goodman writes that college basketball is (once again, I guess) at a crossroads.

—Louisville has offered class of 2023 running back Kaleb Jackson out of Louisiana.

—Jim Mora Jr. says making a bowl game is a must for Scott Satterfield in year three.

Louisville was able to generate some positive momentum by winning their regular season finale vs. Wake Forest, as well as signing one of the best on-paper recruiting classes in school history, but the program is heading into a pivotal season. Fan buzz is seemingly non-existent due to the disappointing 2020 campaign coupled with Satterfield’s flirtation with South Carolina, and Satterfield himself is heading into a crucial year three with the program.

There’s some pressure to be successful in 2021, both for his sake and the sake of the program. But what would be a benchmark for said success? Former UCLA head coach, NFL head coach and current ESPN analyst Jim Mora Jr. recently sat down with Louisville Report, and gave his opinion on what Satterfield needs to accomplish next season.

“I think he needs to get into a bowl game, and I think he needs to bring back that electrifying style of offensive play that we’re used to seeing Louisville play with,” he said. “I think that’s what the fans want. They want that energy. You got the cool uniforms, you got that reputation of being an electric offense, and they want to see that.”

—Cardinal Authority has a notebook from day two of Louisville’s elite camp.

—MLB Pipeline has Henry Davis going No. 2 overall to the Rangers in its latest MLB mock draft.

—FanNation’s Clemson site takes an early look at Louisville football.

—And finally, new U of L hoops assistant Ross McMains is the guest on the latest episode of Jeff Greer’s podcast. You can listen to it here.