2018 Louisville Cardinals football team explained

Mode:Football
Year:2018
Team:Louisville Cardinals
Conference:Atlantic Coast Conference
Division:Atlantic Division
Short Conf:ACC
Record:2–10
Conf Record:0–8
Head Coach:Bobby Petrino
Hc Year:9th
Hc Games:first 10 games
Head Coach2:Lorenzo Ward
Hc Games2:interim; remainder of season
Cooff Coach1:Lonnie Galloway
Cooc1 Year:3rd
Cooff Coach2:Mike Summers
Cooc2 Year:2nd
Def Coach:Brian VanGorder
Dc Year:1st
Off Scheme:Multiple
Def Scheme:4-3
Stadium:Cardinal Stadium
Uniform:File:Louisville cardinals football unif.png

The 2018 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They played their home games at Cardinal Stadium (previously Papa John's Cardinal Stadium) in Louisville, Kentucky. They were led by head coach Bobby Petrino until he was fired on November 11 after starting the season 2–8.[1] Lorenzo Ward was the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. They finished the season 2–10, 0–8 in ACC play to finish in last place in the Atlantic Division.

On December 4, Louisville hired Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield for the head coaching job.[2]

Offseason

Coaching changes

On January 13, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Ryan Beard as new safeties coach.[3] On January 29, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Brian VanGorder as new defensive coordinator, replacing former DC Peter Sirmon.[4] On February 2, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Grady Brown as defensive assistant and recruiting coordinator.[5]

On November 11 Louisville fired Bobby Petrino.

Departures

Notable departures from the 2017 squad included:

2019 NFL Draft

See also: 2019 NFL draft. Cardinals who were picked in the 2019 NFL Draft:

RoundPick PlayerPosition Team

Recruits

The Cardinals signed a total of 23 recruits.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Fred Biletnikoff Award[6] Dez FitzpatrickWR So.
Jaylen SmithWRSr.
John Mackey Award[7] Kemari AverettTESo.
Micky CrumTE Sr.
Lou Groza Award[8] Blanton CrequeK Jr.
Wuerffel Trophy[9] Jonathan GreenardDL Jr.

ACC media poll

The ACC media poll was released on July 24, 2018.

Media poll (Atlantic)
1 Clemson 1,031 (145)
2 Florida State 789 (1)
3 NC State 712 (2)
4 Boston College 545
5 Louisville 422
6 Wake Forest 413
7 Syracuse 232

Schedule

The Cardinals' 2018 schedule consisted of 7 home games and 5 away games, including the first game of the season being played in Orlando, Florida at Camping World Stadium, a neutral-site venue.[10] The Cardinals first non-conference game was an away game, against Alabama of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), before hosting the remaining three non-conference games; against FCS opponent Indiana State from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), Western Kentucky of Conference USA (C-USA) and against arch-rival Kentucky of the SEC.

Game summaries

vs Alabama

See also: 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Camping World Kickoff.

Indiana State

See also: 2018 Indiana State Sycamores football team.

Western Kentucky

See also: 2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team.

At Virginia

See also: 2018 Virginia Cavaliers football team.

Florida State

See also: 2018 Florida State Seminoles football team.

Georgia Tech

See also: 2018 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team.

At Boston College

See also: 2018 Boston College Eagles football team.

Wake Forest

See also: 2018 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team.

At Clemson

See also: 2018 Clemson Tigers football team.

At Syracuse

See also: 2018 Syracuse Orange football team.

NC State

See also: 2018 NC State Wolfpack football team.

Kentucky

See also: 2018 Kentucky Wildcats football team and Governor's Cup (Kentucky).

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Louisville dismisses Petrino amid 2–8 season. 11 November 2018.
  2. Web site: Scott Satterfield era at Louisville brings a needed infusion of belief . The Courier-Journal . en.
  3. Web site: Football Names Ryan Beard to Coach Safeties. University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. February 5, 2018.
  4. Web site: VanGorder Selected to Lead the Louisville Defense. University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. February 5, 2018.
  5. Web site: Grady Brown Named Defensive Assistant, Recruiting Coordinator. University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. February 5, 2018.
  6. Web site: 2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. July 19, 2018. July 19, 2018.
  7. Web site: 2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released. July 20, 2018. July 20, 2018.
  8. Web site: Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List. July 25, 2018. July 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20090817150753/http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Current_Watch_List.html. August 17, 2009. dead. mdy-all.
  9. Web site: Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List. July 26, 2018. July 26, 2018. July 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180726215108/https://www.wuerffeltrophy.org/news1/wuerffel-trophy-unveils-2018-watch-list. dead.
  10. Web site: 2018 Schedule. GoCards.com. February 5, 2018.