Saturday, October 13, 2001
Pitino era at Louisville begins
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville coach Rick Pitino, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt and black warm-up pants, thrust his right fist into the air as he followed his team onto the floor for the program's first midnight practice early Saturday morning.
Freedom Hall, the Cardinals' home floor, was unavailable, so Louisville moved its “Midnight Madness” to a temporary court at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville.
The event started with a three-minute rock-video montage of Louisville basketball highlights from past seasons. A glimpse of former coach Denny Crum drew polite applause.
Pitino was hired in late March, three weeks after Crum accepted a contract buyout that ended his 30-year tenure.
A spotlight followed each assistant coach and player to the center of the court as he was introduced. Several players hurled T-shirts into the crowd. Fans fighting for Otis George's shirt knocked over a segment of a restraining fence that circled the court.
Joseph N'Sima, whom Pitino said Thursday was off the team, was also introduced.
Finally, Pitino appeared, to a deafening roar. He walked to center court, and invited Ellis Myles and Brandon Bender out with him so he could point out how much weight they'd lost in a summer of strenuous workouts.
“Ellis has lost a whole person,” Pitino said, drawing laughter.
Pitino then ordered a 2-on-1 layup drill. He criticized Bender for losing the ball.
Later, Pitino smiled when Bender blocked a shot by Hajj Turner on the same drill.
“Good defense, Brandon,” Pitino said.
Fans started lining up 18 hours before the event began.
Jimmy Gann and his 10-year-old son, Jamie, both sporting Louisville football jerseys, started setting up their mini-encampment of folding chairs and a cache of junk food at 6 a.m. EDT.
By 1 p.m., they were heading a line of about 50 red-clad fans.
“There's new excitement in Louisville,” said Gann, who moved to Louisville from Indianapolis 10 years ago. “Coach Pitino took Kentucky from shambles to a dynasty. I hope he'll do the same thing here.”
Chad Cox and Keith Drish, co-workers at a Louisville plexiglass factory, were next in line, fighting off sleep in lawn chairs. The 30-year-old Louisville natives and lifelong Cardinals fans, lamented that the program had never held an event before in its history.
“Back in the mid-80s, back when we were 'prime time,' there's no reason why we shouldn't have been doing this,” Cox said. “It's about the excitement that goes with bringing in a new basketball season.
“Now that Pitino's here, the buzz is back, the excitement is definitely back. Come hell or high water, I was going to be here for this.”
Chase Taylor, Patrick Lindsey and Chad Waits, all sophomores at Louisville's Ballard High School, skipped school to wait in line.
“We wanted to make sure we had good seats,” Waits said. “We definitely haven't been this excited about a Louisville team for years.”
A plastic box of doughnuts and portable radio were helping the trio get through the day.
“I got maybe four hours of sleep. It was hard getting up, but I'm living on pure adrenalin now. I can't wait,” Waits said.
Aaron Smith, 26, of Louisville, took his place in line about 6:20 a.m. He wanted to see Pitino more than he wanted to see the Cardinals, who went 12-19 last season.
“I went to Kentucky's Midnight Madness when Pitino was there,” Smith said. “I saw how he handled the microphone, how he made it so much fun.
“He's going to make this season fun. It's been a very, very long time since I've been this pumped for a season.”
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Indiana football scores
Anderson 29, Amelia 0
Batavia 18, Bethel Tate 8
Beechwood 42, Holy Cross 0
Bellevue 37, Ludlow 0
Boone County 17, Dixie Heights 13
Campbell County 28, Conner 13
Cin. Hills Christian Academy 33, Landmark Christian 16
Cincinnati Country Day 37, Lockland 6
Colerain 42, Middletown 0
East Central 31, La Salle 21
Goshen 21, Norwood 14
Hamilton 17, Oak Hills 14
Harrison 40, Mason 16
Hillsboro 14, Clinton Massie 10
Kings 34, Wilmington 14
Lakota East 21, Sycamore 20
Lebanon 24, Fairborn 0
Lloyd 33, Garrard County 10
Loveland 27, Little Miami 7
Madeira 21, Indian Hill 20
McNicholas 41, Badin 12
Milford 24, Fairfield 19
Moeller 20, Col. St. Francis De Sales 10
Mount Healthy 62, Shroder 0
New Richmond 50, Clermont Northeastern 12
NewCath 63, Dayton 8
North College Hill 49, New Miami 2
Princeton 30, Lakota West 21
Reading 42, Mariemont 6
Roger Bacon 20, Purcell Marian 10
Summit County Day 74, Yellow Springs 13
Talawanda 34, Edgewood 25
Taylor 33, Deer Park 6
Washington Court House 28, Jonathan Alder 15
West Carrollton 12, Monroe 6
Western Hills 27, Woodward 8
Williamsburg 66, Western Brown 8
Winton Woods 24, Turpin 7
Wyoming 49, Finneytown 20
Pitino era at Louisville begins
