By Harlie Leffler
The University of Louisville football team held it’s annual media day on Saturday morning. In past years, the players came to the photo/interview session with a bit of tension and apprehension. Yet, this year the players hit the field loose and full of laughter. Jokes were many and the smiles were wide as the Cards not only prepare to defend their Conference USA crown, but also look at going into the season has the highest preseason ranked U of L team in school history. Both the USA Today/Coaches and the AP Polls have placed the Cards at No. 17.
With such high expectations, sportswriters around the country have deemed Louisville the team to break the BCS bubble and attend a major bowl game this winter. While not agreeing that such a finish will happen, head coach John L. Smith pointed out that with this year’s team it is an objective that cannot be overlooked. “It’s got to be our goal,” he said. “I don’t know how realistic it is. Even if it’s unrealistic, we’ve got to continue to do that and bang at the door.”
Besides the players being unveiled to the media, the university also displayed a Cardinal customized tractor trailer that had been created by Pegasus Trucking. “You take a look at that and you say ‘that’s a Top-10 truck,'” said Smith. “We’d better have a Top-10 team to go with it.”
The highlight of the day came when Devon Thomas grabbed his moment in the spotlight. Holding a Dave Ragone bobblehead doll, the senior defensive end explained the reasons behind the doll’s design. Thomas said that the bobblehead action of the doll was actually a secret play that Heisman candidate Ragone had developed to fool the University of Kentucky players during the team’s first game. As Thomas explained: When Ragone drops back in the pocket he will bobble his head around like the doll and defenses will think he is having an epileptic seizure. While they’re calling for assistance, Ragone will complete the play.
Ragone refused to demonstrate the play.
