By David Hamrick
Louisville is the new kid in the sandbox this year when it comes to the Big East conference. And, of course, the other schools in the league need some time to adjust to the newcomer. But Rutgers learned last Friday night in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium just what the Cards are capable of after the Scarlet Knights stomped all over the Cardinal emblem painted on the field and stirred up some surprising avian anger.
Not only did fans in the sold-out stadium boo and jeer, but the players seemed to take to heart the Knights’ insults, so much so that the Cardinals (7-2, 3-2) pulled out a 56-5 kill, sending Rutgers home with a loss to add to the team’s 6-4, 3-3 record.
“We don’t like to be disrespected,” senior wide receiver Joshua Tinch commented on the pre-game activity. “I don’t know if they meant any disrespect but our guys didn’t like it. We told them, you stomp on the bird, we stomp on you.”
It seems, though, that the Knights should’ve realized that stomping on the Cardinal bird was the wrong thing to do, especially if they learned anything from Cincinnati’s mistake last season when the team pulled a similar move and then got pummeled 70-7.
The last three teams that have done a little dance on the Cardinal left the ‘Ville wondering why they had done it.
“Our guys are very protective of the Cardinal,” Head Coach Bobby Petrino said.
“We have tried to instill Cardinal pride into our team and if teams want to stomp on the bird, and it gets us that fired up, I hope every team does it.”
Two weeks’ time will tell whether or not Syracuse learned anything from Rutgers’ foul as Louisville takes on the Orange on Nov. 26. Kickoff time is still to be announced.
According to a rivals.com site for the Orange, fans are asking Syracuse coaches to bring floral arrangements as an appeasement of sorts to lay in the center of the field before the game.
