The Louisville Cardinals (also known as the Cards ) are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, cheerleading and dance team. In recent years, the football team has also gained national attention with a 70-30 record since 2001 and finishes in the top 6 in both the final Bowl Championship Series and AP polls in two of the last four seasons. On the gridiron, the Cardinals were the 2006 champions of the Big East Conference and the 2007 Orange Bowl. Since 2000 the Cardinals are the only NCAA team to win a BCS bowl game; to appear in the men's basketball Final Four, the College Baseball World Series, and the women's basketball Final Four (and title game); and to win a national championship in Track and Field, Co-ed Cheerleading and Dance Team. The total sales of U of L merchandise has tripled since 2001, now ranking 32nd nationally in sales. Since 1997, the school has spent more than $150 million, all from private funding, in upgrading its sports facilities. Since 2004, U of L has won conference titles in eight sports. U of L currently fields 13 women's teams and 10 men's teams. In the Sears Directors' Cup final standings released in June 2007, U of L finished 28th nationally. In 2008, they finished 32nd. In 2009 32nd again.

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Louisville team sports

Baseball

The Louisville Cardinals Baseball team had a dream season in the 2007 season under the guidance of first year Head Coach Dan McDonnell. The Cardinals finished 47–24 and finished the season ranked as high as 6th in some major polls while advancing to the College World Series for the first time in school history. Throughout the NCAA Tournament the Cardinals were considered the Cinderella of the tournament and made national headlines for their powerful offensive play. Louisville also hosted an NCAA Super Regional for the first time in school history at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Men's Basketball

National Championship Years

1980, 1986

Final Four Years
1959
1972
1975
1980
1982
1983
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UofL's basketball tradition was established by Muhlenberg County native, Coach Bernard "Peck" Hickman. The Cards never had a losing season in Hickman's 23 years, prior to his arrival the team had only had 11 winning seasons. In 1956, Hickman's team won the NIT, then considered a national championship on a par with the NCAA tournament. After retiring he became the school's A.D. and hired, then John Wooden assistant and future Hall of Famer, Denny Crum, who led the team to two NCAA's Division I basketball championships in 1980 and 1986 and eight Final Fours. The men's basketball team currently ranks fifth in all-time NCAA Tournament wins and has been in the top five in average attendance each year since the 1982–83 season. Perennial rivals include the University of Kentucky, University of Cincinnati, and the University of Memphis. Over the past 12 years, Marquette University has also become a heated rival.

The Cardinals' hired former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino in 2001, adding fuel to the UK rivalry. In the 2004–2005 season, Pitino led the Cardinals return to the Final Four after a 19-year absence.

Women's Basketball

Cheerleading

The squads are also a national powerhouse, with the co-ed squad winning 11 NCA (National Cheer Association) championships since 1985 and the all girl squad winning 5 consecutive championships since 2001.

The teams are coached by Todd Sharp, Misty Hodges, and James Speed.

The Cardinal Bird Mascot also falls under the jurisdiction of the University of Louisville Spirit Groups. The "Bird" also competes with the cheerleaders in national competitions and makes regular appearances in the Louisville Metro Area.

The University of Louisville Spirit Groups hold more national titles than any other sport offered at the University.

Field hockey

The UofL women's field hockey team received the NFHCA Division I National Academic Team Award for their 3.65 GPA, which was the highest in the nation. ^[2] The team also won two MAC tourney titles in 2003 and 2004 and finished one game back in their first Big East season.

Football

Under the guidance of head coaches John L. Smith (1998–2002) and Bobby Petrino (2003–2007), the Louisville football program went to nine consecutive bowl games, a streak that ended in the 2007 season.

Under Coach Smith, the Cardinals spent 11 weeks in the AP Top 25, including a #17 final finish in 2000.

Under Coach Petrino, the Cardinals were ranked in all but three of the weekly AP polls since the beginning of the 2004 season. This includes a #6 final finish in both 2004 and 2006, as well as a #19 final finish in 2005.

In the 2004 season, the Cardinals went 11–1 and won the Conference USA Championship; their only loss was against third-ranked Miami, a game in which the Cardinals led by 17 in the third quarter before falling 412004 NCAA Division I FBS football season38. The Cardinals went to the Liberty Bowl, where they defeated #10-ranked and previously-undefeated Boise State.

In 2005, the Cardinals finished 9–3 after falling to Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl and completed the season ranked #19 in the AP Poll and #20 in the Coaches' Poll.

In 2006, the Cardinals began the season ranked #13 in the AP poll and finished the season with a 12–1 record, their first Big East Conference title and completed the season with a 24-13 victory over the Atlantic Coast Conference champion Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. The Cards finished the 2006 season ranked #6 in the AP Poll and #7 in the Coaches Poll, while being ranked #6 in the Bowl Championship Series Poll.



On January 9, 2007, Steve Kragthorpe was introduced as the new head coach of the Cardinals, within 48 hours after Bobby Petrino announced his departure to take the head coaching position with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. The Cardinals went 6–6 in Kragthorpe's first season and the second season 5–7.

None of the football program's recent success would have been possible without the vision and efforts of former coach Howard Schnellenberger, who was the head coach from 1985–1994. His greatest achievement at U of L was a 34–7 drubbing of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl, which culminated in U of L's first national ranking (11th) and a 10–1–1 record.



The University of Louisville football program's home is Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Retired numbers

• The only number retired by the University of Louisville's football program is #16, which was worn by NFL legend Johnny Unitas. A statue of Unitas prominently overlooks the north end zone of Cardinal Stadium and is touched by every Cardinal as he enters the field prior to kickoff.

Retired jerseys

• U of L has retired the jerseys (not the numbers) of the following former Cardinal football players: Bruce Armstrong, Ray Buchanan, Doug Buffone, Ernie Green, Tom Jackson, Joe Jacoby, Otto Knop, Lenny Lyles, Sam Madison, Frank Minnifield, Chris Redman, Otis Wilson, Roman Oben, Dwayne Woodruff, and Jeff Brohm.

Football All-Time Bowl Appearances

1958 - Sun Bowl

1970 - Pasadena Bowl

1977 - Independence Bowl

1991 - Sunkist Fiesta Bowl

1993 - St. Jude Liberty Bowl

1998 - Motor City Bowl

1999 - Humanitarian Bowl

2000 - AXA Liberty Bowl

2001 - AXA Liberty Bowl

2002 - GMAC Bowl

2003 - GMAC Bowl

2004 - AutoZone Liberty Bowl

2005 - Toyota Gator Bowl

2006 - FedEx Orange Bowl





Rowing





Lacrosse



To be added in 2007



Soccer

Women's

Team Established: 1985
All Time Record: 125-234 (.348)
Fall 2005 record: 11-7
Playing Facility: Cardinal Park Soccer and Track Stadium (2200)
Head Coach: Karen Ferguson
Conference Titles: 0
All Americans: 1




Men's

Team Established: 1979
All Time Record: 185-272 (.404)
Fall 2005 Record: 5-11
Playing Facility: Cardinal Park Soccer and Track Stadium (2200)
Head Coach: Ken Lolla
Conference Titles: 2




Softball

Team Established: 2000
All time record: 259-157 (.622)
2006 record: 48-10
Playing Facility: Ulmer Stadium (2000)
Head Coach: Sandy Pearson
Conference championships: 2



NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2
Last NCAA Appearance: 2006
All-Americans: 1




Volleyball

Team Established: 1975
All Time Record: 662-360 (.647)
Playing Facility: Cardinal Arena (1990)
Record at Cardinal Arena: 153-19
Head Coach: Leonid Yelin
Conference Titles: 16
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 16
Last NCAA Appearance: 2008
All-Americans: 2


Volleyball has traditionally been one of UofL's most successful programs, led by head coach Leonid Yelin, whose .772 career winning percentage ranks 9th among active coaches. During the 2005 season, UofL was ranked as high as #6 en route to a 30-3 record, a regular season tie for the Big East title, and a second straight trip to the Sweet 16. The team also had an average attendance of 1,215 per game in their 840 seat Cardinal Arena, with fans turned away at several games. Currently UofL is seeking state funding to expand the arena to better meet fan demands and prevent unsafe "standing room only" crowds. UofL also hosted both the 2005 Big East Volleyball tournament and the first two rounds of NCAA volleyball tournament at the Kentucky International Expo Center in Downtown Louisville, and will host the Women's Final Four in 2012 at the city's new downtown arena.

In 2005, two Cardinals, seniors and , were named second team All-American. Previously only one Big East volleyball player had been named an All-American. ^[3] Ustymenko was also named the 2005 Big East player of the year and Hoffman led the nation in hitting percentage in the Card's 6-2 offense. The program has won 14 of its last 15 conference titles (with another in 1983) and has been to the NCAA tourney 16 times since 1982, with 44 players making their all-conference team. The team has a 153-19 all time record at .



Cross Country



Men's CC

2006: Finished 15th at NCAA Championships

2007: Finished 9th at NCAA Championships



Golf

• Distinguished amateur and now professional golfer Derek Fathauer enjoyed four solid seasons at Louisville as a Cardinal. He was the first player ever from the University of Louisville to be named an All-American.

Swimming And Diving





Tennis

Coach- Rex Ecarma (251-195 in 17 seasons)
Established- 1980
Record- 409-306 (57%)
Conference Champinonships- 5 most recent- (05-06 Big East)
Ncaa apperences- 7 most recent (08-09)




Director's Cup



UofL has risen from 174th in the Director's cup standings in 1999-2000 to 28th in 2006-2007.



Sport Facilities

Facility	Team	Capacity	Year built
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium	Football	42,000 (expansion to 63,600)	1998
Freedom Hall	Basketball teams	19,000 (future arena will be at 22,000)	1957
Cardinal Park Soccer and Track Stadium	Soccer and Track & Field teams	2,200	2000
Jim Patterson Stadium	Baseball	1,500	2005
Cardinal Arena	Volleyball	840	1992
Ralph Wright Natatorium	Swimming	800	2005
Ulmer Stadium	Softball	700	2000
Trager Stadium	Field Hockey	600	2000
Bass-Rudd Tennis Center	Tennis	400	1994
Lacrosse Field	Women's Lacrosse	300	2006
Trager Center	Football indoor practice facility		2006
The Yum! Center	Men's Basketball/Women's Volleyball practice facilities		2007
Marshall Center	Soccer/Track/Field Hockey strength and conditioning		2008





UofL Team	All-Time Record	Winning Percent
Men's Basketball	1,587-831	66.202%
Volleyball	687-367	65.180%
Softball	259-147	62.2%
Women's Basketball	664-442	60.0%
Men's Tennis	409-306	57.2%
Football	431-411	51.1%
Baseball	1,450-1327	52.2%
Field Hockey	229-286	44.4%
Men's Soccer	190-282	40.2%
Women's Soccer	138-239	36.7%
Overall	5843-4554	56.1%





Fan Support

Team	National Attendance Rank
Men's Basketball	4th [4]
Women's Field Hockey	7th [5]
Men's Soccer	17th [6]
Women's basketball	25th [7]
Volleyball	30th [8]
Football	54th [9]





Average Per-Game Attendance by Sport





Team	06/07 Attendance	05/06 Attendance	08/09 Attendance
Football	42,481	41,101	39,000
Men's Basketball		18,645	19,000
Women's Basketball		2,649	11,000
Volleyball		1,215*
Men's Soccer	1,325	1,075
Baseball		523
Softball		365
Women's Soccer	554	332
Field Hockey	323	237




• * Volleyball total includes three games at the 3,000 seat Kentucky International Convention Center.

Notable athletic alumni

Radio affiliates

Nelligan Sports' Paul Rogers is the play by play person for U of L football & men's basketball. Assisted by Doug Ormay in football & basketball along with Bob Valvano.

U of L games are broadcast in Lexington KY on WMKJ 105.5 FM and WKRD 790 AM - Louisville, KY (Flagship Station)

ALL WOMENS GAMES HEARD ON WKRD 790 AM or on FM 101.7 in Louisville.

Women's Play by play provided by Jim Kelch & Adrienne Johnson will be the color analyst.



Rivalries



The Louisville Cardinals rivalry with the Kentucky Wildcats is widely considered one of the most intense college rivalries in the United. ^[10] It is also one of the few rivalries to be equally intense in basketball and football, and practically every other sport as well. The men's basketball game is called the Battle for the Bluegrass; the football game is officially called the Governor's Cup.

Tradition has held since the rivalry returned if UK wins the basketball game, Louisville will win the football game. However in 2003 Louisville broke that tradition by winning both the football and basketball game.

Unlike many in-state rivalries that have been played continuously for many decades, these two schools went through a long period from the 1930s to the 1980s of rarely facing each other. They did play frequently from the 1900s to 1920's. The results have been mixed since the renewal of the men's basketball rivalry in 1983–84 and football in 1994, with UK leading the modern basketball rivalry (17 of 27 games or 62.9%) and Louisville leading the modern football rivalry (9 of 14 games or 64.3%). UK leads the overall football rivalry 11 games to 9 and the overall basketball rivalry 26 games to 13.

Louisville's other rivals include the University of Cincinnati, West Virginia University, Marquette University, and Memphis Tigers



Sports trivia

• Within the intrastate rivalry with UK, the team that has won the football game has lost the following basketball game every year, except in 2003 when UofL won both.
• In 2005, UofL was among only a handful of schools to average better than 97 percent attendance to capacity in volleyball, men's basketball, and football.
• The film "The Replacements" was based on former Cardinal quarterback Ed Rubbert (played by Keanu Reeves), who led the Washington Redskins' 1987 strike team to a 3–0 record en route to the franchise's Super Bowl XXI championship.
• The high five was popularized by the Cardinal basketball team during its run to the 1980 NCAA Championship.
• UofL is one of two universities in the state of Kentucky to have a women's rowing team, the other being Murray State University.
• The UofL football program annually plays for the Governor's Cup (awarded to the winner of the Louisville-Kentucky football game) and the Keg of Nails (awarded to the winner of the Louisville-Cincinnati football game). The Governor's Cup is currently residing in Lexington, and the Keg of Nails in Cincinnati.
• The Cardinal volleyball team has won 14 of the last 15 conference championships. In the past two years the team has a combined 60-6 record with consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances.
• The 2006 Baseball Cardinals broke the Big East Conference Tournament record with a .409 batting average. ^[11]

See also

• Sports in Louisville, Kentucky

References

1. Louisville Cardinals Logos - NCAA Division I (i-m) (NCAA i-m) - Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page
2. LOUISVILLE FIELD HOCKEY RECEIVES NFHCA DIVISION I NATIONAL ACADEMIC TEAM AWARD :: The Cardinals were ranked first in the nation with a 3.65 GPA
3. THREE BIG EAST VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS EARN SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA HONORS FOR FIRST TIME IN LEAGUE HISTORY :: Notre Dame's Brewster and Louisville's Ustymenko and Hoffman headline a list of nine players from the league to earn national recognition
4. 2006 NATIONAL COLLEGE BASKETBALL ATTENDANCE
5. 2006 NCAA DIVISION I FIELD HOCKEY ATTENDANCE REPORT
6. 2005 DIVISION I MEN’S SOCCER AVERAGE ATTENDANCE
7. 2006-07 Women’s Basketball Attendance
8. NCAA Division I 2005 Volleyball Attendance by Average
9. 2006 NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL ATTENDANCE
10. Best teams make today's best rivalries
11. Louisville Official Athletic Site - Baseball