By Mitch Streufert
Since 1998, the University of Louisville football team has called Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium home. The 2010 season has been unique. Every game has shattered attendance records for the previous 11 seasons. The stadium expansion, started in December of 2008, cost an estimated $71 million. In 1998, Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium cost $63 million to construct. The expansion has added 13,000 seats, including 33 new suites on the east side of the stadium and a terrace for standing room, connecting the east and west sides.
Since the inception of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, the program has had marked success. The Cardinals are 100-54 since 1999. However, when playing in Cardinal Stadium, the team has a 53-14 record. Matt Ryan, a sophomore business major, believes the new expansion will make it even harder for visiting teams to win games in Cardinal Stadium.
“Well, those stats tell the story,” said Ryan. “The Cardinals play good at home. That was with 40,000 screaming Cards fans. Now we have 55,000 plus. How can that not be an advantage?”
Charlie Strong, the Cardinals’ new head coach, comes from a national champion SEC team and knows what a stadium needs to have a good atmosphere. Strong came in and immediately wanted the students closer to the field, to make more noise and give the team the energy they needed to win at home. The student section was quickly moved down to the 100 level on the east side of the stadium. A poll of 30 U of L students revealed that 25 believed the atmosphere had improved. However, Chris O’Shea, a junior sport administration major, said it could still be a lot better.
“I know Rome wasn’t built in a day,” said O’Shea. “But at the Cincinnati game I saw students sitting down in the third quarter. I grew up in Houston, Texas and I’ve been to many Texas football games. And U of L fans don’t compare. I think with Strong here that could change. But we will see.”
With Strong’s arrival in Louisville, the city has gone “Card Strong” crazy. Of the 30 students polled, 18 believed Strong has improved the experience at U of L football games. Drew Park, a junior biology major, feels Strong not only improved the experience, but also saved the program.
“Last year, I was worried,” said Park. “Towards the end of the year we had 10,000 fans showing up to the game. Strong has rejuvenated the football program, if not the entire city. In my opinion, U of L will be in a BCS bowl game within three years. That’s how much confidence I have in Charlie Strong.”
The Cards still have some important games in the Big East coming up in the next few weeks, most notably against West Virginia University in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on Nov. 20. Strong has put the Cards in a position to fight for the Big East title in the inaugural season of the expanded Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
