Who’s to Blame for Cards’ Getting Dumped?

In a week in a half, the University of Louisville has gone from Big 12 front-runner to the odd one out.

Both the New York Times and the New York Post reported this morning that West Virginia will make the jump to the Big 12 Conference, replacing Missouri, whose acceptance into the Southeastern Conference is no longer a question of if but when. Those two reports along with several others that have come since have confirmed that the Big 12 will stick to 10 teams, destroying all hope for Louisville to join the Mountaineers.

Missing out on the Big 12 is a bummer for everyone at U of L.

This was the worst case scenario for the Cardinals. Now UofL is likely stuck in a floundering Big East that could lose its Bowl Championship Series eligibility. Without that, the Cards will take a huge hit in program prominence, prestige, and most importantly (to school officials) the hefty check that comes along with the lucrative BCS television deal.

To even begin to recover the Cardinals and the Big East have to bring in some new members. The decimated conference now features Rutgers, South Florida, Connecticut, Cincinnati, and Louisville. Unfortunately there aren’t any big names left or likely to head east.

Even if the Big East can survive in some capacity, what does the failure to receive a Big 12 say for Louisville’s athletic program?

Athletic Director Tom Jurich is the country’s 3rd-highest paid AD. Isn’t this why we pay him $1.43 million a year? How could the Louisville officials continue to sit on their hands while the Big East crumbled around them? Why wasn’t Jurich schmoozing with Big 12 officials making sure that Louisville stayed top of their list? Should we blame Rick Pitino? President James Ramsey?

Ever since Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced their departure from the Big East, Louisville has remained loyal. In a climate of greed and chaos, Louisville athletics chose to be the good guy and stick by its guns.

The University of Louisville failed to realize (perhaps even ignored,) that in conference realignment nice guys finish last.

So much has been said about the profitability of Louisville athletics, and the amount of money that UofL spends on its sports. It’s hard to believe that Jurich, who had dollar signs in its eyes for a new basketball arena, football addition, and now replacing a barely-a- decade old soccer stadium; couldn’t see the huge financial benefits the Big 12 had to offer.

Yes, Jurich has done wonders for Louisville athletics. Without him, we would still be rotting in the depths of Conference USA. He is paid big money to further the athletic success of this institution and for the second time (see: Kragthorpe) he has let Louisville down. You don’t get $1.43 million to sit and wait; you get it to act.

Perhaps the fans are to blame. Instead of the contained and quiet optimism that has blanketed the media coverage on the conference circus, perhaps a more loud and obnoxious “Big Blue Nation-esque” reaction was more appropriate.  There was no massive social media campaign to “Free UofL.” No signs at the basketball scrimmages or football games. Simply the hope that when the time came Jurich and Ramsey would take the Cardinals to the promised land.

Whatever happens to the Big East, Louisville athletics will take a hit in prestige. It certainly is hard to judge the impact now, but this will affect Louisville’s performance on the field. Sure, it won’t happen tomorrow or even this year. But it will stick in the minds of recruits for years to come. The Big East has quickly lost its identity as a premier college athletics conference. That won’t make Louisville the most attractive home for out-of-state athletes.

No, all is not lost, but Card Nation has to realize that this is a step down.  It is a demotion.

For now, Cardinal fans will have to do more watching, waiting, and hoping. They have to hope that Louisville athletics can devise some kind of strategy to turn this mess around, and keep the momentum of this great athletic program going.