Steve Kragthorpe Crashing It the Wrong Way at Louisville

Key stat of the week: It took Steve Kragthorpe 20 games to lose nine. Former coach Bobby Petrino's final record at Louisville was 41-9.

But Kragthorpe has done so much more than simply lose. He's ripped apart the fan base like today's election has separated the country. Louisville football fans now go by Kragthorpe supporters or Kragthorpe haters, and there's little room in between.

Like Howard Schnellenberger did in the early '90s, Petrino had begun to build a hardcore group of fans. Red seemed to dominate blue in Louisville through the 2006 football season, but, just two years later, it's all gone.

There are no more lines for tickets on game day. Visitor section seats are going for under their $15 face value, and the season-ticket waiting list is dwindling. How does that expansion project look now?

Athletic director Tom Jurich loves Kragthorpe and says both sides are in it for the long haul. But what if one side doesn't hold up his end of the deal? Essentially, neither side is correct right now.

Jurich has done nothing to put pressure on Kragthorpe. In fact, he's done the opposite. When Kragthorpe came out to the media that problems existed within the program and he was "building it the right way," Jurich stood behind his coach and threw Petrino under the bus.

Consider that, outside of one paintball gun incident under Petrino, nobody broke the law. Seventeen of 19 seniors graduated following Petrino's final season. Discipline wasn't a problem because the former coach didn't allow it to be.

Some Cardinal fans legitimize keeping Kragthorpe for what Rich Brooks did with Kentucky. The old man really did build the Wildcats' program the right way after returning from probation, and this season Kentucky was a touchdown away from beating Alabama and making a run at the SEC title.

A key difference exists between what Brooks did and what Kragthorpe is failing to do. Brooks had to entice players to attend Kentucky, but the talent is already at Louisville.

Hunter Cantwell isn't the same quarterback seen as a backup for Petrino. Instead of being known for his cannon of an arm, he is now the leader with no field vision. Staring down his target for an eternity, Cantwell has thrown 10 interceptions in eight games—two to end the hopes of wins against UConn and Syracuse.

The image of the Louisville Cardinals football program has changed dramatically since Kragthorpe was hired.

So instead of seeing photos of Mario Urrutia stiff-arming a Miami defender all the way to the end zone, Brian Brohm holding firm in the pocket to deliver a touchdown strike against West Virginia, or Michael Bush thundering over a defenseless defense, Cardinal fans will continue to stare at the emotionless, passionless face of Steve Kragthorpe on the Louisville sideline, wondering how he'll explain his latest folly.

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