Louisville hoping to build momentum against UConn
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — When a reporter asked Steve Kragthorpe about his team's health heading into Saturday's game at Connecticut, the embattled Louisville coach couldn't help but have a little fun.
"We're all banged up," Kragthorpe said with a laugh. "I was a little banged up after you guys got a hold of me."
For once, it felt good to laugh.
The Cardinals (2-3, 0-1 Big East) snapped an eight-game losing streak to Football Bowl Subdivision opponents with a dramatic 25-23 win over Southern Miss on Saturday, a victory that quieted — temporarily at least — talk that Kragthorpe's third year with the program could be his last.
Following the game Kragthorpe was forthright addressing his possible dismissal, and on Monday said he's focusing on beating UConn (3-2, 0-1) and not his job status.
"I'm not in control of my situation and nobody on this earth is in control of my situation," he said. "I'll do what (God) tells me to do, I'll be where He tells me to be. But no one on this earth controls my life."
Maybe, but his players have little doubt Kragthorpe will be on the sidelines indefinitely.
"My coach isn't going anywhere," said defensive end Greg Scruggs. "He'll be here next week, the week after that and the week after that. He'll be here next year. ... If Coach K was going somewhere, he would address us like a man and he would tell us, we wouldn't have to listen to someone else or rely on any other sources for that info."
The Cardinals insist there is still plenty of time to salvage their season. Yet while they snapped one losing streak when barefoot kicker Ryan Payne drilled a 32-yard field goal with 30 seconds left against the Golden Eagles, another one remains. Louisville has lost six straight conference games and is just 4-11 against the Big East under Kragthorpe.
That mark includes two losses to the Huskies, both coming in painful fashion. UConn used a controversial punt return for a touchdown to win in Storrs two years ago. Last year the Huskies stunned the Cardinals when Lawrence Wilson returned an interception 45 yards for a score with 2:45 remaining to cap off a 16-point rally.
The losses have been largely symptomatic of the Kragthorpe era, games in which the Cardinals were competitive but found ways to lose. They hope the trend has finally reversed itself after their performance in the second half against Southern Miss.
Louisville trailed 16-7 at the half, but there were no locker room tirades by either Kragthorpe or his players. Instead they focused on getting after the quarterback and eliminating mistakes. The Cardinals responded with their best half of football this season, something that might not have happened last season.
"A lot of times last year we would have pulled apart," Scruggs said. "I believe everybody played for each other and continued to fight regardless of what the situation was on the scoreboard."
The Cardinals found an unlikely hero in Payne, a former soccer player who didn't take up football until three years ago. He's tutored by former NFL kicker Mike Lansford, who persuaded Payne to ditch his shoe and kick barefoot, a style Lansford used to carve out a nine-year career with the Los Angeles Rams.
Payne reluctantly agreed. A lot of practice and a little bit of luck — Lansford and Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich are old friends — helped Payne land a roster spot as a walk-on. He beat out Chris Philpott for the starting job and on Saturday night found himself attempting a game-winner for the first time.
Louisville quarterback Adam Froman pulled Payne aside shortly before the kick and told him his teammates had his back. It was all Payne needed to hear. He knew the kick was good the second it left his foot, and the last couple days have been a bit of a whirlwind.
"People you never even would talk to, just out of nowhere say 'Oh, great game,'" Payne said. "It's like 'Oh, I barely remember you from high school, thanks.' It's a great feeling. No one doesn't like a compliment."
Payne knows it might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Cardinals hope it's not.
"I think it was important for us to win a game we had to finish it like we did," Kragthorpe said. "It gives our guys a little bit of confidence knowing that's something we can and will do."
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