University of Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.  That is if it were up to him.  During his weekly press conference with the media to discuss last Saturday’s game against Syracuse and preview the upcoming showdown against South Florida, Kragthorpe was asked about his job speculation.  His response, ” I have no idea what my future holds.  I have no idea what tomorrow holds.  I’m planning on being here.  I’m not going any place voluntarily.”  Kragthorpe would go on to say that he wants to return next season to coach the Cards. 

I have to admire Coach K for standing up to the media and answering that question.  He could of easily avoided it and said nothing, but he was honest and showed some guts.  It would be easy for him to quit and want out of town due to the turmoil he’s been through the past two seasons.  He wants to stay and try to rectify the program next year, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.  This quote also puts the pressure soely on athletic director Tom Jurich.  The ball is in Jurich’s court to make a move.  We all know that a change is needed, but fans are getting a little anxious as to when it will happen.  Will Mr. Jurich admit he made a mistake in hiring Kragthorpe and make a change?  It would be a major hit to Jurich’s pride to realize he messed up, but he needs to bite the bullet.  I expect him to make the change a few days after Louisville finishes the season against Rutgers, and we can all move forward.  But in the next few weeks, the attention all goes to Jurich. 

With that being said, who is the right man for the job?  Jon Gruden has been ruled out due to his extension with MNF.  The usual names are still being floated around in Phillip Fullmer and Tommy Tubberville.  But there is a new name emerging in Texas Tech’s Mike Leach.  According to the website footballrumormill.com, Leach and the University of Louisville have shown mutual interest in each other.  Leach tried to get out of Lubbock last season, but things didn’t work out.  Louisville will most likely be looking for a high profile name to replace Kragthorpe.  The match makes sense.  But I am a little skeptical about Mike Leach.  He would bring a lot of baggage with his antics that we have seen over the last few years.  I don’t think he is serious enough about his job to be a fit here in Louisville.  What’s to say he won’t want to leave after a season or two?  I think the next coach will be a name that we have not mentioned yet.  Jurich has said in the past that he always has a list of replacement candidates.  Hopefully this time, he will make a better decision. 

Chris Campa Named Big East POW

Louisville senior linebacker Chris Campa has been named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week for his effort against Syracuse.  Campa had a monster game against the ‘Cuse, recording a career-high 15 tackles.  He also had two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.  Campa has emerged into a beast for this Louisville defense.  He is one of the main reasons the Cards have played better lately on that side of the ball.  I look for him to continue his stellar play over the last two games, hopefully helping the Cards get a few W’s.