Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Cards Close Out Home Schedule Versus NC State
November 17, 2022 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville closes out the 2022 home schedule with a visit from NC State on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
Prior to the game, head coach Scott Satterfield will say farewell to 19 seniors who have combined to play in 583 games during the course of their careers.
"For us this week, it's Senior Day, the last opportunity for these seniors to play in Cardinal Stadium," Satterfield said. "We want to send them out on a high note, something they'll remember forever. Obviously, we're guaranteed a winning season if we get this win - seven wins, that's big. And we've got an opportunity to go out and win our last ACC game this year, so there's a lot riding on the game. We want to finish the season strong, in particular against this team, NC State. I haven't faced NC State here (at home) since I've been here. COVID kind of threw us off there, so this is the first time we've had them up here. We're excited about this opportunity and we're ready to go play. Guys are eager, they're hungry to continue to go out there and practice. We'll have a great practice this afternoon, so we're looking forward to it."
Satterfield has played a major role in the development of this senior class who have played in a pair of bowl games and helped the compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Players like Malik Cunningham, Yasir Abdullah and Caleb Chandler have each played more than 50 games and have been the core to this senior class.
"It's a good group. It's kind of odd because I feel like there's three different classes probably within this class," Satterfield said. "With COVID, you've got the guys that've been here, like Malik (Cunningham), that's been here forever. Caleb Chandler and those guys have been here for a long, long time, Yasir (Abdullah) too. Really, I got a special place in my heart for those guys because they've been through so much in the period of time that they've been here, as much as any class has probably ever been through anything. They've been through coaching changes, they've been through the COVID situation for two years, getting another year (of eligibility), just a lot of stuff that's crazy, that has never happened really. What they've meant to us, just as people too, we've been around them a long time now and we're certainly going to miss those guys. You spend so much time with them here, not only during the season but in the offseason, and so we're really going to miss those guys."
"Then the other guys too, that haven't been here as long, but they've meant a lot to our program. The fight that they've shown for the time that they've been here, a lot of adversity they've been through, and to be able to come through that and fight through it and get on the other side of that, that's what I'm most proud of with this group. That's why we want to finish strong also. That's why we want to win these last two games and come out with a really nice season with one of the more difficult schedules that we've had in Louisville football. For these guys to be able to be a part of that is something that they'll remember forever. We're certainly going to miss them, but again, I want them to ultimately have great memories when they leave Louisville, and part of that is to go out here and win these games because that's what they'll remember."Â
The Cardinals are facing another tough test from the No. 24 Wolfpack, who are coming off a 21-20 loss to Boston College last weekend. The Wolfpack bring one of the nation's top defensive units in the country. NC State owns one of the top linebacking units in the country with Payton Wilson, Drake Thomas and Isaiah Moore.
"Another really good football team and an excellent defense," Satterfield said. "They've kind of been led by their defense this year. Ton of experience back. Probably the best linebacker combination in the country with their three linebackers (Drake Thomas, Payton Wilson, and Isaiah Moore). Extremely productive linebackers and they do everything from interceptions to sacks to tackles for loss. They're running all over the field. Very impressed by their linebackers."
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"Offensively, they lost their quarterback (Devin Leary) and they've played a couple of other guys, but I think the one they settled on, MJ Morris, has come in and played well and he gives them a chance. He's young, he's a freshman, still learning how to play the game, but certainly gives them a chance. He can run and throw."
The Cardinals and Wolfpack are meeting for the 12th time with the Cards holding a 7-4 series advantage. NC State has won the last two meetings in the series and are playing at Cardinal Stadium for the first time since 2018.
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Prior to the game, head coach Scott Satterfield will say farewell to 19 seniors who have combined to play in 583 games during the course of their careers.
"For us this week, it's Senior Day, the last opportunity for these seniors to play in Cardinal Stadium," Satterfield said. "We want to send them out on a high note, something they'll remember forever. Obviously, we're guaranteed a winning season if we get this win - seven wins, that's big. And we've got an opportunity to go out and win our last ACC game this year, so there's a lot riding on the game. We want to finish the season strong, in particular against this team, NC State. I haven't faced NC State here (at home) since I've been here. COVID kind of threw us off there, so this is the first time we've had them up here. We're excited about this opportunity and we're ready to go play. Guys are eager, they're hungry to continue to go out there and practice. We'll have a great practice this afternoon, so we're looking forward to it."
Satterfield has played a major role in the development of this senior class who have played in a pair of bowl games and helped the compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Players like Malik Cunningham, Yasir Abdullah and Caleb Chandler have each played more than 50 games and have been the core to this senior class.
"It's a good group. It's kind of odd because I feel like there's three different classes probably within this class," Satterfield said. "With COVID, you've got the guys that've been here, like Malik (Cunningham), that's been here forever. Caleb Chandler and those guys have been here for a long, long time, Yasir (Abdullah) too. Really, I got a special place in my heart for those guys because they've been through so much in the period of time that they've been here, as much as any class has probably ever been through anything. They've been through coaching changes, they've been through the COVID situation for two years, getting another year (of eligibility), just a lot of stuff that's crazy, that has never happened really. What they've meant to us, just as people too, we've been around them a long time now and we're certainly going to miss those guys. You spend so much time with them here, not only during the season but in the offseason, and so we're really going to miss those guys."
"Then the other guys too, that haven't been here as long, but they've meant a lot to our program. The fight that they've shown for the time that they've been here, a lot of adversity they've been through, and to be able to come through that and fight through it and get on the other side of that, that's what I'm most proud of with this group. That's why we want to finish strong also. That's why we want to win these last two games and come out with a really nice season with one of the more difficult schedules that we've had in Louisville football. For these guys to be able to be a part of that is something that they'll remember forever. We're certainly going to miss them, but again, I want them to ultimately have great memories when they leave Louisville, and part of that is to go out here and win these games because that's what they'll remember."Â
The Cardinals are facing another tough test from the No. 24 Wolfpack, who are coming off a 21-20 loss to Boston College last weekend. The Wolfpack bring one of the nation's top defensive units in the country. NC State owns one of the top linebacking units in the country with Payton Wilson, Drake Thomas and Isaiah Moore.
"Another really good football team and an excellent defense," Satterfield said. "They've kind of been led by their defense this year. Ton of experience back. Probably the best linebacker combination in the country with their three linebackers (Drake Thomas, Payton Wilson, and Isaiah Moore). Extremely productive linebackers and they do everything from interceptions to sacks to tackles for loss. They're running all over the field. Very impressed by their linebackers."
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"Offensively, they lost their quarterback (Devin Leary) and they've played a couple of other guys, but I think the one they settled on, MJ Morris, has come in and played well and he gives them a chance. He's young, he's a freshman, still learning how to play the game, but certainly gives them a chance. He can run and throw."
The Cardinals and Wolfpack are meeting for the 12th time with the Cards holding a 7-4 series advantage. NC State has won the last two meetings in the series and are playing at Cardinal Stadium for the first time since 2018.
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