Photo by: Jeff Reinking | Louisville Athletics
Satterfield, Cardinals Open Spring Practice
February 25, 2020 | Football
The Cardinals return 17 starters from a year ago.
When the University of Louisville football team took the field to open spring practice, there was a different vibe resonating throughout the Trager Indoor Practice Facility.
Last season when head coach Scott Satterfield took the field for the first time expectations were low coming off a 2-10 season in 2018, and morale was at an all-time low.
Fast forward a year later, and the Cardinals enjoyed a tremendous amount of success both on and off the field. Louisville is coming off an 8-5 overall season and a win over Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl. The Cardinals posted the best turnaround by a Power 5 school with a six-win improvement.
There was plenty of excitement and emotion as the Cardinals took the field on Monday for the first of 15 spring practices.
"It was a night-and-day difference from a year ago," Satterfield said. "The guys know what to expect now, and having been here a year with our program, they were eager to get back on the field. They were fresh and were excited to be back on the field this afternoon."
The team also returns 17 starters – nine on offense and eight on defense. The returning experience gives the Cardinals an opportunity to get a leg up on the upcoming 2020 season.
"It was fun to be out there. We have some new coaches out there and quite a few new players out there. The older guys are the ones who have stood out to me because of their leadership and how they hold everyone accountable. They made practice run pretty smooth today."
While there is a big veteran presence on the team, the Cardinals welcomed 15 mid-year enrollees to spring practice. The Cardinals added 27 players during the early signing period, and more than half of them are already on campus.
"We have a lot of newcomers out there," Satterfield said. "No one stood out in a bad way. Sometimes a newcomer will come out there and not fit in, but everyone fit into what we are doing. Braden Smith caught everyone's eye. He's very quick. He's working inside for us, but he's someone that can play both positions."
The Cardinals return to the field for practice No. 2 on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
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Last season when head coach Scott Satterfield took the field for the first time expectations were low coming off a 2-10 season in 2018, and morale was at an all-time low.
Fast forward a year later, and the Cardinals enjoyed a tremendous amount of success both on and off the field. Louisville is coming off an 8-5 overall season and a win over Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl. The Cardinals posted the best turnaround by a Power 5 school with a six-win improvement.
There was plenty of excitement and emotion as the Cardinals took the field on Monday for the first of 15 spring practices.
"It was a night-and-day difference from a year ago," Satterfield said. "The guys know what to expect now, and having been here a year with our program, they were eager to get back on the field. They were fresh and were excited to be back on the field this afternoon."
The team also returns 17 starters – nine on offense and eight on defense. The returning experience gives the Cardinals an opportunity to get a leg up on the upcoming 2020 season.
"It was fun to be out there. We have some new coaches out there and quite a few new players out there. The older guys are the ones who have stood out to me because of their leadership and how they hold everyone accountable. They made practice run pretty smooth today."
While there is a big veteran presence on the team, the Cardinals welcomed 15 mid-year enrollees to spring practice. The Cardinals added 27 players during the early signing period, and more than half of them are already on campus.
"We have a lot of newcomers out there," Satterfield said. "No one stood out in a bad way. Sometimes a newcomer will come out there and not fit in, but everyone fit into what we are doing. Braden Smith caught everyone's eye. He's very quick. He's working inside for us, but he's someone that can play both positions."
The Cardinals return to the field for practice No. 2 on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
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