Today’s column is dedicated to my favorite U of L football player ever. Kenny Porco, who recently passed away. Kenny was a pal. He was a student teacher when I was at Highland Jr. High. He was later AD at the JCC, and Director of Downtown Athletic club.
He was a really good guy. He loved the Cardinals.
On the gridiron he was most notably MVP of Louisville’s W over Drake in the ’58 Sun Bowl, when he was thrust into full time action due to an injury to star RB Lenny Lyles.
Last ran into Porco several
years back when he was buying a new TV at Best Buy. A classic moment of generational divide. The thirtysomething waiting on him had that Cardinal running back logo tattooed on his forearm.
So, after warm greetings with Kenny, I asked the guy, “You’re a Cardinal football fan, right?”
“Oh yeah, love U of L football.”
“Dude, you know who you are talking to? This guy is football royalty. Ken Porco. Most Valuable Player in Cards’ first bowl win. Drake. In the Sun Bowl.”
Sales fella had no clue. Question mark eyes.
Kenny Porco. Long may you run, my friend.
* * * * *
On to last weekend on the gridiron.
Starting with Friday Night Lights. Because my JM Atherton Rebels skunked their second foe to start the season. This time, a prophylactic beatdown of the Trojans of Southern. 44-0. Wideout Jason Briscoe, with an 83 yard punt return, was WDRB’s Player of the Week. The Rebels, a legit 5A title threat, have now outscored their two opponents, 102-0.
My weekend prediction-wise was darned good.
First peripherally the question is which of these two had the worst one? Chapel Bill or Arch Madness?
For me it’s clearly Belichick. His Tar Heels were whomped up one side of the helmet and the other by a solid but hardly extraordinary TCU Horned Frog contingent. It was bemusing. Ever taciturn, the UNC mentor looked seriously befuddled on the sideline, like he was humming “I gotta get out of this place, if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
As for young Manning, he gets a pass here. The hype was over the top, not of his doing, and truly not fair to the kid. Imagine how bad it would have been if not for Lee Corso Day. Plus new Buckeye DC Matt Patricia taught a master class in disguised coverages and defensive sets.
As one national wag wrote, “Belichick’s debut made Arch Manning look like the Mona Lisa.”
As for me and my predictions, well, if not for my not so admirable propensity to wish ill on those I don’t like, I may have had a perfecto. But no, because of my enmity toward Brian Kelly, I picked Clemson. And Toledo, because, well, they were playing UK.
Two wrong.
But Nebraska beat the Fighting Satterfields, Convicts beat Catholics, and I had both Chapel Bill and Arch falling to The World Famous Ohio State University. U of L took care of biz.
5-2 for the weekend, 8-4 on the season.
This week’s winners:
Iowa @ Iowa State. The Cyclones displayed no jet lag last weekend when dismantling South Dakota, the week after besting K State in Dublin. Matt Campbell’s got ’em workin’. The Hawkeyes, perhaps looking ahead to this rivalry battle were workmanlike in their W over Albany. They scored 34 points, All by their offense. Which not so long ago would have been a whole season’s output. These rivals have played 72 times. Iowa has won 7 of last 9, six straight in Ames. Not this time. State.
Kansas @ Missouri. Border War. If the question is what school got the best former App State coach, the answer would lie in Columbia. After getting his footing at Mizzou, Eliah Drinkwitz has gone 11-2 and 10-3 last two campaigns. In the SEC no less. Meanwhile Lance Leipold has been up and down in Lawrence. There are reasons why the Jayhawks were down last year after a breakout 9-4 slate the year before. Neither squad has been really tested so far this season. Got a hunch. Rock Chalk.
Michigan @ Oklahoma. OK, is Michigan’s coach still suspended? Will he be on the sideline in Norman? Who can keep up with the Wolverines’s penalties? Brent Venables will be on the Sooner sideline, with a fella behind him to pull him off the field as is BV’s wont to do. It’s put up or shut up time for him, if he doesn’t want to join Kalen DeBoer on the yeah-he’s-got-a-huge-buyout-but-send-him-anyway list. Sooner’s boom.
Oklahoma State @ Oregon. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can hear ya now. Why in the world is Seedy picking this one? To pad his W/L record? Not exactly actually. I use this arena as a soap box, and I simply had to call out Cowboy coach Mike Gundy’s duplicity. At his pregame presser, he took several jabs at Oregon and how much moolah they have to use thanks to Phil Knight. This from a guy who had a pad of T Boone Pickens’ pre-signed checks to spend . . . before it was legal. Mullet that, guy. Ducks hugely.
Ole Miss @ Kentucky. This one’s in that late afternoon time slot on ABC. A sign of a weekend of pigskin not quite as hefty as last. My guess is ebullient Joe Tessitore will be on the call. With his easily invoked excitement, it may actually give UK’s offense some energy. Or so hopes the BBN. Cats upset the Johnny Rebs in the Grove last season. Two years in a row? I. Don’t. Think. So.
James Madison @ Louisville. Here’s a prediction about the Dukes having nothing to do with Friday night’s game. At some point in the future, James Madison will be a member of the ACC. Remember where you heard it first. As for this battle. Cards will be tested, but prevail. Closer than you’re thinking.
— c d kaplan
