Huge Crowd Welcomes the Cardinals to the Start of Practice
August 07, 2013 | Football
Aug. 7, 2013
View the Opening Practice Recap Video on CardsTV
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- In front of a record crowd and unbridled enthusiasm, the University of Louisville football team officially kicked off the 2013 season with the first practice at the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex.
Approximately 1,600 fans stood on the sidelines for over two hours to watch the Cardinals take the field for the first time this fall.
"It was amazing," junior quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said. "That's the reason we are as good as we are, because of the fans. They travel on the road and they support us here. It was great to see all the fans come out and show their appreciation."
A total of 105 players went through an intense and heated workout as the Cardinals practiced in mandatory shorts and helmets Tuesday evening.
"It was a good day today," head coach Charlie Strong said after Tuesday's practice. "It was good to get back out there and get in the flow. We just have to pick it up with our sharpness on offense and defense. Teddy made some good throws and DeVante (Parker) made some good catches."
With seven starters returning, the offense displayed a multitude of weapons and versatility that will make this unit tough to stop.
Bridgewater, the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year last season, looked like he had full control of the offense entering his second full season as a starter. He looked comfortable and confident in the first practice and was helped by having great talent surround him.
"It felt really good," Bridgewater said. "The summer was a long process. It was good to get back out on the field. I've looking forward to this since we took the pads off in the spring. It's a great feeling to be back out here today."
Junior running back Michael Dyer made his first appearance with the Cardinals and joined a talented backfield with Dominique Brown, Senorise Perry, Brandon Radcliff and Corvin Lamb.
Strong said, when asked about Dyer, "Well, it was hard to tell because we have five running backs right now. They are getting so many touches. It was the first day of him getting back out there. He hasn't been out there in over a year."
Senior linebacker Preston Brown, the leader of the defense and the team's leading tackler, liked the first full day of practice and was pleased with what he saw from a defense that returns 12 starters.
"It was a really fast tempo first practice," Brown said after the two-hour workout. "You could guys really feeling it at the beginning of practice, but we started to get used to the tempo again."
The Cardinals will see what day two brings when the Cardinals hit the field again at 5:15 p.m.
