By Benjamin Lampkin
In a Thursday night matchup that was supposed to showcase the two best quarterbacks in Conference USA, offensive blunders and a pair of strong defenses were the story as Cincinnati took back the annual Keg of Nails trophy from Louisville in a 24-14 victory.
In the moments following U of L’s third home debacle, head coach John L. Smith and his players found it difficult to convey anything other than the usual hackneyed catch phrases. They did, however, manage to put into words the thoughts to which every U of L fan was privy after the loss.
“All we can do now is say goodbye to the conference title,” said Smith. “We looked like a very poor coached football team, and that all starts right here.”
“We’re struggling right now. We’ve got to come out and prove that we’re a decent football team. And right now we’re not.”
Many players, as well as Smith, were upset at the finger-pointing that has taken place on the sidelines and in the locker room. The cohesiveness and chemistry that were staples of the last two conference champions have never materialized in this group.
“I know how the coaches feel, and there’s nothing they can do… it’s not the coaches fault,” said senior safety Curry Burns. “Sometimes a player has to do and show more than they’re doing or showing.”
“Personally, I think we have internal problems with our team,” said senior running back Henry Miller. “If you look at the games we win, we play together. And the ones we lose, or when we start losing, everything goes to hell. We shouldn’t be fighting amongst ourselves… I think we have to respect each other more.”
Those internal problems have crept into the problems with the Cardinal offense and defense. Offensive ineptitude was one of the major contributing factors in the Cardinals’ second loss in three games. Dave Ragone and the passing attack only managed 106 yards through the air, and the 91 yards Ragone contributed was the lowest output of his career. Ragone also lost two fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and he was quick to place the blame squarely on his shoulders.
“There’s no excuses for my turnovers,” said Ragone. “The offense just kept shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Defensively, the Cards’ unit, which many expected to dominate, is struggling to put teams away. Although the offense hasn’t been much help, and the special teams seem content on employing the running punt that does little but give the opposing offense good field position, the defense has not controlled games like they did last season.
“Everybody came out looking at us, expecting us to have one of those magical seasons,” said Burns. “And it’s just not going the way everybody planned.”
“Sometimes we just don’t put a whole game together,” said Devon Thomas. “Talentwise, we’ve got to be one of the best teams in Conference USA. We’ve just got to put the whole game together.”
The Cardinals’ 5-4 record, and 3-2 mark in C-USA, ensures nothing at this point: not a conference championship, a winning season, or a postseason bowl game. Going from conference champion to fighting for a postseason bid is not something any player would have believed.
“I’d call them a liar (if he was told they’d be 5-4); I’d basically laugh in their face,” said Burns. “This is not something that was expected. But it happens to a lot of ball clubs. Hopefully we can pick it up for the last three games.”
The hopes for a third consecutive conference title for the Cards have all but vanished, and for seniors like defensive end Devon Thomas, the disappointment of losing many of the trophies they’ve earned over the past four seasons is hard to comprehend.
“All the trophies from last year- the Governor’s Cup, the Keg of Nails, the Liberty Bowl trophy and the Conference USA trophy- are gone,” said Thomas. “We’re playing for pride now.”
That pride is something John L. Smith has been looking for all season, and his hope is that his players realize what they’re a part of and begin playing like it means something.
“Gosh, you don’t get to experience being on the football team all your life,” said Smith. “Put your arms around each other, give to each other. Come out to the practice field and play for one another. Make it important. If it’s not, then go somewhere else.”
In the meantime, the players must find a way to salvage a once-promising season that will not feature a conference championship or a trip to the Liberty Bowl.
“Yeah, we got complacent out there,” said Miller. “Ever since I’ve been here, we’ve been to a bowl game, won the conference. I’m one of those guys that was just expecting it, too.”
