Back Home in Alabama, Cunningham Continues to Work Toward the 2020 Season.

Louisville, Ky – Micale Cunningham, junior quarterback from the University of Louisville, has had to learn to adapt to different situations in his first three seasons.

In 2018, he was shuttled in and out of the lineup. Last season, he started the year with an injury that limited his availability. As he prepares to enter the season as the starter, COVID-19 has halted preparation and caused a lot uncertainty.

The reigning Music City Bowl MVP has been looking forward to his redshirt-Junior season this fall. Although the team can't work together, Cunningham has been staying in shape in his hometown of Montgomery, Ala.

"I'm working out throughout the week. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is when I'm in the weight-room," Cunningham said. "Tuesdays and Thursdays, I go out on the field and throw the ball a little bit for about an hour and a half."

Cunningham talked a lot about motivation. With college football on hold, he's not used to not being around the team and coaches as much as he likes, Cunningham says he finds motivation by, "waking up every day just trying to be better than I was the day before. It's a lot of self-motivation. I also communicate with my teammates; they motivate me as well. We motivate each other."

Cunningham also says that seeing head strength and conditioning coach Mike Sirignano working out on social media helps keep him motivated.

"If Coach Mike is doing it, then all of us can do it," Cunningham said. "Considering if we were in school, we would be working out just as hard as he is during the spring and summer.

Coming off of last season, in which he set the school record for passing efficiency with a mark of 194.45, Cunningham says that he was looking to improve his game by "being more of an leader and more on from an accuracy standpoint.

"I felt like I improved a lot through those seven to eight practices that we had," Cunningham said.

Cunningham pointed out that a number of players stood out to him in the spring.

"Braden (Smith) had a pretty good couple days of spring, and Christian (Fitzpatrick, younger brother of Dez Fitzpatrick)," Cunningham said. "From the defensive side, C.J. (Avery) and Dorian (Etheridge). (Jared) Goldwire looked very good to me, as well."

As the virus has limited daily life as we are used to living, Cunningham has tried to fight it head on.

"I feel like its me vs. The Virus," Cunningham said. "I try to stay clean, keep my hands washed. I feel like if you just stay away and social distance, you can still get your work in and still be safe."

Back Home in Alabama, Cunningham Continues to Work Toward the 2020 Season.

Players Mentioned

Malik Cunningham

Dez Fitzpatrick

University of Louisville Athletics