Cardinals Crack Top 25 Poll

Head coach Charlie Strong notified the team after Saturday’s practice that they were ranked 25th in the Associated Press Poll, making Louisville the only team from the BIG EAST to receive a national rank.

The Cardinals cracked the poll for the first time since being ranked 18th on Sept. 17, 2007. The Cardinals fell out the following week after a 38-35 home loss to Syracuse.

It also marks the first time the Cardinals were ranked in the preseason since they opened the 2007 season ranked 10th in the AP and 11th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

“If you look at it, it’s the respect around the country we are trying to gather,” said head coach Charlie Strong. “We still have to go out perform no matter where they place us. I try to make our players understand that two years ago we were picked last in this conference and last year you were picked seventh, and look where you ended up. Now, you are picked where you are picked, but now you have to go perform.  It’s a step in the right direction (for our program). You look at how hard our players have performed and to get to this situation. The nine seniors we have are stable and really want to get this program back to where it needs to be.”