Aside from the injuries - none of which are apparently too serious - and the shoddy special teams play, I think this was about all any of us could have hoped for.

The defense proved it can get up for any opponent, Hunter Cantwell proved he can still put the ball where it needs to be when he has time, Doug Beaumont proved he's a budding star, and the train whistle proved it still works.

Tennessee Tech, Shmennessee Shmech (still how I handle 96% of debates). I would have been pleased with a 51-point performance against Doss after last week.

The team did exactly what it had to do, and now it's got a week and-a-half to prepare for a big test against a quality opponent.

We're going to bypass the bullet point review this week and instead hand out some awards.

It's go time:

Offensive MVP: Doug Beaumont

This is sort of like Crash's surprising triumph over Brokeback Mountain given Vic Anderson's big day, but to me it was Beaumont whose star again shone the brightest on offense. The deep catch in traffic, the ridiculous cut after the seven-yard stop catch; this guy isn't standing out because he's the most talented member of an extremely depleted receiving corps, he's standing out because he's that good. We're really going to wish he had that year of eligibility back once the 2010 season screeches to a halt.

Defensive MVP: Adrian Grady

L.D. Scott had a big game with three tackles for loss, Earl Heyman had the team's only sack and James Bryant intercepted a pass and then jumped over a dude, but on a day when practically the entire unit played well, you have to give the nod to the big man who galloped 19 yards into the endzone. A much deserved moment in the sun.

Biggest personal reaction (positive): Cantwell's TD pass to Troy Pascley

I really wanted to see a designed deep pass executed to perfection, and this certainly fit the bill. Cantwell had all day to throw and placed the ball perfectly in the hands of Pascley for both his first career reception and first career touchdown. On a day where edge-of-my-seatness (expression) was admittedly low, this was a moment that still managed to draw a pretty notable reaction.

Biggest personal reaction (negative): Cantwell getting hit hard for the second straight play with less than two minutes to go in the third quarter.

This is something that I'm actually still upset about. Four of our five starting linemen are injured, there's less than 17 minutes to go in the game, we're up by 41 points, and Cantwell's still in. This could have been disastrous, and it would have been an unforgivable error in judgment. I realize he had a bad game against Kentucky and that he's still extremely inexperienced as a starter, but by this point he had undoubtedly already absorbed everything there was to gain from the game.

Scary trend that wouldn't have been funny at all had we not been playing Tennessee Tech: Not being able to kick the ball within the limits of the playing field.

The entire special teams performance was pretty egregious for the second week in a row, but Chris Philpott booting the ball out-of-bounds on his first three kickoffs was definitely the show-stealer. Yeah you had to laugh when the third one sailed a mile left, and yeah the Bronx cheer from the crowd after the fourth kick stayed in bounds was funny, but these are the types of under-the-radar things that decide outcomes, and even with the defense playing as well as it is, you can't afford to hand the ball to talented offenses (hi Josh Freeman) 10 yards away from midfield.

Play of the game: Grady fumble return

Has to be.

Un-play of the game: Pete Nochta drop on third down.

Despite his first touchdown, it was a second less-than-stellar performance from Nochta. I don't want to run this one into the ground, but if we're going to go with two tight ends so often, I'd at least like to see what Cam Graham or Rock Keys could bring to the table at a point in the game where the outcome is still in jeopardy.

Announcer quotes of the game: We have a tie.

First, everyone's favorite snazzy-dressing Bob Valvano sidekick Ari Wolfe, who hit us with: "We've seen so few ties since the rule change."

You mean the rule change outlawing ties? Yep, the institution of endless overtime definitely put a dent into the number of deadlocks.

He'll share the honor with newcomer Doug James, who felt the need to tell us all: "I've held a lot of balls."

You could almost hear each of them wondering what line would take them the furthest away from the conversation during the ensuing silence.

Most annoying player on the other team: Henry Sailes

I was already getting a little tired of Henry's strutting...and then he went ahead and jumped around and thumped his chest after a three-yard run on 3rd and 7. The punt team ran onto the field, and I wondered what the hell just happened.

Biggest hang your head moment: When Eric Wood didn't run on the field the series after getting banged up.

Apparently it's just a sprained knee, and it won't keep him out of the Kansas State game, but no one knew that at the time. If you're ranking guys we can't afford to lose, No. 77 is at the top of my list.

Overall performance grade (1-100): 84

I realize this isn't an award, but I didn't think that "biggest hang your head moment" was the right way to go out.

An explanation of why the final award isn't actually in award probably isn't much better, but whatever.

Go Cards.

I don't think it's even an issue this week.

We need some baby.

Go Cards.

TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES (1-0) at LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (0-1)

Game Time: 3:30 p.m.

Location: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium: Louisville, Ky.

Television: WHAS-11

Favorite: No Line

All-Time Series: Tied 1-1

Last Meeting: Louisville won 29-13 on Sept. 16, 1961

Excitement Level: 1.3

It took just one week for "Anxiety Meter" to give way to "Excitement Level," and it's not getting much of a workout in its first day on the job.

Game Attire: Black Zack Stoudt jersey

Why the hell not?

Predicted Star of the Game: Bobby Buchanan

How about a pick six for the vet?

Notable and Quotable:

--Louisville is 28-17-1 all-time against the OVC.

--The Cards are 0-3 all-time when playing on Sept. 6.

--"We've got to be able to run the football better, no question about that. It's very simple. We've got to put ourselves in down and distance situations where we can dictate the tempo and flow of the game and also be able to open up our playbook a little bit. You get a little constricted when you can't do that." --Steve Kragthorpe

--"Obviously there is going to be a lot of fingers pointed from outside the team in terms of who did this and who could have done this better, and we understand that. I myself, probably deserve that, but we have to just to stay together as a team and be stronger. We have to go out and get ready for Tennessee Tech." --Hunter Cantwell

--"There were a lot of different reasons (why) I left Louisville. It just was not a good fit for me in a lot of ways." --Lee Sweeney

--"I really want Lee to understand that it's Tennessee Tech playing Louisville and not Lee Sweeney playing Louisville. I just want him to enjoy the moment and go back to the place where he got started and not put pressure on himself. This should be something special for him." --Watson Brown

The world's highest paid blogger is back at, and hits us with an update on the condition of the team.

Here are some highlights:

Seniors

T-Will- Always in great shape. Showing great leadership. He should have a special senior season.

Andre McGee- He has worked on his body and is now down to 6% body fat. Lighting quick and also showing a special desire to lead.

Juniors

Jerry Smith- Ready and poised for a strong season. Needs to drop 6-8 pounds. That will be easy after our first week of practice. Starting to show signs of leadership qualities.

Edgar Sosa- The sophomore jinx is over. Poised for a special season. He has matured into a team first player. Like everything I see.

Sophomores

Preston Knowles-No jinx with this young man. Tough and hard working. Fun to coach

Freshman

Samardo Samuels- Love him. Enough said!

Jared Swopshire-  Skilled offensive player. Must get stronger and put on about 15 pounds. Hard worker with a tremendous attitude to learn.

Terrence Jennings- Terrific athlete. Must learn to relax and slow down offensively. We will spend a lot of time on his footwork and low post game. Has the potential to develop into an outstanding player but it will take time.

Samardo Samuels being able to elicit an exclamation point from Rick Pitino elicits extremely awkward happy dancing from me.

With all due respect to everything the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles bring to the table, I'd say it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the main thing this weekend's game will produce is the least satisfying Louisville football win in recent memory.

Still, I think there are a number of things that this team can show Saturday to make us all feel better about the succeeding ten games.

Here are nine I'd like to see.

1. Running backs hitting the line of scrimmage at full speed

I realize that it doesn't take the same level of courage to barrel into Tennessee Tech's front four as it does Kentucky's, but seeing Powell, Anderson and Bolen break a couple of big runs after exploding through small creases would be a solid confidence boost for all involved.

2. No drop off in defensive intensity

The most disappointing thing about last year's defense, to me at least, wasn't the blown tackles or coverages, it was the apparent lack of effort. This is why watching what the Cardinal D was able to do last Sunday and the intensity with which they did it was so refreshing. If Ron English is able to get his troops to come out with the same level of energy that they brought against Kentucky, it will speak volumes about just how much he's been able to accomplish in such a short period of time.

3. A designed deep pass play going for 35 yards or more

Breaking a short crossing route would also be a welcome sight, but I'd really like to see Cantwell hit one of his receivers in stride on a play designed to pick up big yardage. Louisville's had a lot of success through the air against 3-4 defenses in recent years, and even with the offense's enormous struggles last week, the passing game should look significantly improved against this inexperienced and outclassed FCS secondary. If it doesn't, then things might be even worse than they presently appear.

4. Come out at least plus two in the turnover battle

Our secondary looked pretty stellar against an offense they knew wasn't going to take many chances, but I'd love to see them make some plays in a game where they know going in that the opposing quarterback is going to let it fly a little bit. Obviously, fumbles and interceptions played a large role in last week's margin of defeat, so seeing the offense not give it away for four quarters would also be a nice step forward.

5. Make a field goal

Putting that first one through the uprights is always a major weight off the shoulders of a first-year starting kicker.

6. Commit less penalties than the opponent

Even in last year's season-opening 73-10 stomping of Murray State, when all seemed right with the world, the team's propensity for picking up unnecessary penalties existed as a downer.

7. Clean up the kick/punt return/coverage game

Our special teams play as a whole last weekend bore an eerie resemblance to what you see out of 7th and 8th grade CSAA squads. It's a pretty high level of execution for 13 and 14-year-old kids, not so much for members of a BCS conference team.

8. Better play out of the tight ends

We heard line after line during the summer of 2007 about how much Steve Kragthorpe loves to utilize tight ends, well now that he's lost a pair of the best to ever come through the program, he'd better find a decisive answer to the question of which guy on the current roster can best help his struggling offense. It didn't look like Pete Nochta during the UK game, but both he and Johnnie Burns get another golden opportunity to make their cases on Saturday.

9. A win

You guys were pretty big favorites to roll over a seemingly inferior opponent at home the week after last year's disappointing loss to Kentucky...don't know if you remember, but, uh, did not go too well. Let's go ahead and make sure history doesn't come even remotely close to repeating itself.

Plan your winter accordingly:

Nov. 1 - vs. Georgetown (exhibition)
Nov. 8 - AT Northern Kentucky (exhibition)
Nov. 22 - vs. Morehead State (Billy Minardi Classic)
Nov. 23 - vs. South Alabama/Florida A&M (Billy Minardi Classic)
Nov. 30 - vs. Western Kentucky (Nashville)

Dec. 6 - vs. Indiana State (Marques Maybin Classic)
Dec. 7 - vs. Ohio (Marques Maybin Classic)
Dec. 8 - vs. Lamar (Marques Maybin Classic)
Dec. 13 - vs. Austin Peay
Dec. 18 - vs. Mississippi (SEC/Big East Invitational in Cincinnati)
Dec. 20 - vs. Minnesota (2008 Stadium Shootout in Phoenix)
Dec. 27 - vs. UAB
Dec. 31 - vs. UNLV

Jan. 4 - vs. Kentucky
Jan. 7 - AT South Florida
Jan. 10 - AT Villanova
Jan. 12 - vs. Notre Dame
Jan. 17 - vs. Pittsburgh
Jan. 21 - AT Rutgers
Jan. 25 - AT Syracuse
Jan. 28 - vs. South Florida
Jan. 31 - vs. West Virginia

Feb. 2 - vs. Connecticut
Feb. 8 - AT St. John's
Feb. 12 - AT Notre Dame
Feb. 15 - vs. Depaul
Feb. 18 - vs. Providence
Feb. 21 - AT Cincinnati
Feb. 23 - AT Georgetown

March 1 - vs. Marquette
March 4 - vs. Seton Hall
March 7 - AT West Virginia
March 10-14 - Big East Tournament

Notes:

--The schedule includes 12 games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, and 20 games against teams that made national postseason tournaments in 2007-2008. 

--Freedom Hall will be the site for the first annual Marques Maybin Classic, an event named for U of L's No. 12 all-time scorer who was paralyzed from the waist down in a motorcycle accident on Aug. 5, 2003. He is currently enrolled at U of L to complete his degree requirements. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be earmarked for the Marques Maybin Medical Fund.

--One day of rest and a flight from Cincinnati to Phoenix makes that Minnesota game look awfully dangerous.

--It looks like there's a pair of particularly rough league stretches to watch out for. The first is the Villanova/Pittsburgh/Notre Dame trio in early-to-mid January, and the second is the Georgetown/Marquette/Seton Hall/Wst Virginia sequence to end the season.

--UNLV at 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve should be a nice party complement. Prepare for me to not hear a word you're saying, disinterested females.

--You can't show me this during the first week of September and not expect me to be frustrated.

Probably my favorite Mystery Science Theater 3000 short.