Strong Addresses the Media 12 Days Before Opener
August 21, 2012 | Football
Aug. 21, 2012
Charlie Strong | Dominique Brown | Senorise Perry
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville football team is just 12 days away from opening the season at home against Kentucky, and head coach Charlie Strong is starting to get his team locked in to facing its cross-town rival.
The Cardinals and Wildcats will meet on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 3:30 p.m. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, with the game being televised nationally by ESPN.
"We are 12 days away from our first game," Strong said. "What is critical for our football team is to stay focused and discipline. Focus is making sure we are locked in, and not listen to the noise in the system. In order for us to go win football games, we have to do the little things the right way. It's not going to come down to talent; it's going to come down to mental and physical toughness."
Despite practice No. 20 in the books, Strong is still sorting through the personnel, and he hasn't figured out which true freshmen will get their first bite of collegiate action next week. When Strong first took the job in 2010, he relied on true freshmen to help add depth, but after three solid recruiting classes, Strong isn't sure which rookies he will have to rely on this season.
"We are still evaluating those freshmen," said Strong after practice on Tuesday. "A lot has been thrown at those freshmen, and when you come into the program where there is a lot they have to learn. We are still going to spoon feed them, and make sure if we are going to play a freshman, it's the right one."
One of the hottest contests positions this camp has been the running back spot, where three players are battling in juniors Dominique Brown, Jeremy Wright and Senorise Perry. All three are very talented and there is hardly any separation between the trio, but Strong wants to have one guy to carry most of the load.
"It won't be a committee by the time we get to the first game, it's going to be one guy who is going to be the running back," said Strong. "We still have enough practices left, but all three of them are working. Those three guys are going to get the carries. The offensive staff will make that decision."
The Cardinals will hit the practice field Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
