News Nuggets, 10.01.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Punishing regimen hardens Louisville's defense

LOUISVILLE — Louisville's defense starts every practice from the sideline. At the sound of a whistle, the unit races onto the field, forms a huddle and shouts ``Red Swarm!'' before the players fan out to their positions.

A play is run and if first-year defensive coordinator Mike Cassity doesn't like what he sees, he orders punishing sprints before his players restart the drill.

During one August practice, Cassity estimated the Cardinals ran about a half-mile worth of 100-yard dashes. ``They got the message pretty quickly,'' said Cassity, a journeyman defensive coach at his 12th college stop.

So far, his methods are working well. The No. 22 Cardinals (3-0, 1-0 Conference USA) have shut out two of their first three opponents and rank third in the nation in scoring defense (7 points per game) heading into Saturday's game against East Carolina (0-3, 0-1).

Louisville coach Bobby Petrino is pleasantly surprised, considering the Cardinals gave up an average of 40 points and 416 yards in the last five games in 2003.

``I probably didn't think they would play this well when we started,'' Petrino said.

Petrino and middle linebacker Robert McCune, the team's leading tackler, said experience is a major factor in the improvement. Seven starters returned from last year's squad and six are now seniors.

``It's slowed down a lot for a lot of guys on defense,'' McCune said. ``Guys are comfortable playing the game out there.''

Petrino also traces the turnaround to a phone call with Cassity shortly after the Cardinals' 49-28 loss to Miami (Ohio) in the GMAC Bowl. The two knew each other through Louisville assistants Mike Summers and Greg Nord, who fish with Cassity in western Kentucky every July.

When they spoke, Cassity had just been fired after three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Illinois. That didn't faze Petrino.

``In the middle of the conversation, I was thinking, 'How do we get this guy here to help us out?''' Petrino said.

Louisville defensive coordinator Mike Gillhamer was eventually hired by the Carolina Panthers, opening the position for Cassity.

By the time spring practices began, Cassity realized his task was more psychological than physical. ``It was a group that lacked confidence,'' Cassity said. ``There was a lot of attention given to how poorly they had played last year.''

He stressed the positives as he went to work. ``When we saw one good play, we'd show it to them over and over and say, 'Here it is. This is what we're looking for,''' he said. ``And then that became two plays and then four plays. And then it just started to roll.''

Senior safety J.T. Haskins said Cassity excels at 1-on-1 instruction. ``He has a way of telling you what to do, when to do it and how to do it,'' said Haskins, who has one of Louisville's six sacks. ``On game days, all you have to do is execute.''

The Cardinals' defense dominated in an opening 28-0 win over Kentucky, holding the Wildcats to 66 rushing yards. Army sprang some big plays in a 52-21 loss to Louisville on Sept. 11, but those came mostly against reserves.

Still, Petrino wasn't entirely convinced of his defense's strength until last Saturday's 34-0 win at North Carolina. The Tar Heels had averaged 478 yards in their first three games, but the Cardinals held them to 222.

``Our defense did an outstanding job of playing team defense and sprinting to the ball,'' Petrino said. ``We took them out of what they wanted to do as far as the run game and got pressure on the quarterback once they had to throw the ball. And then we came up with plays.''

The big test for Louisville's improved defense comes on Oct. 14, when the Cardinals play at Miami in a game that could propel them to big things.

The defense is getting help from one of the nation's most efficient offenses. The Cardinals average nearly 36 minutes of possession per game and have committed only two turnovers. And facing an offense that averages 489 yards per game in practice every day is another reason the defense is playing so well.

``We're very fortunate. That's a luxury a lot of teams don't have,'' Cassity said. ``Defending this offense is a real challenge.''

Gamecocks' "Pops" goes late night

COLUMBIA — Sounds like David Letterman is as big a Pops'' fan as most everyone else.

The media blitz of 39-year-old South Carolina football freshman, Tim Frisby, hit Broadway on Thursday as the Gamecocks wide receiver appeared on the "Late Show with David Letterman."

The show was broadcast Thursday night.

"It was a great experience," Frisby said. "This is unreal what's happening."

Frisby, recently retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years, was invited to Letterman's show at the Ed Sullivan Theatre after he made his college football debut with the Gamecocks last week.

Frisby was in the for the final four plays as South Carolina held off Troy 17-7 this past Saturday night. He had been cleared to play by the NCAA a week ago.

Flashbulbs popped as Frisby, wearing a garnet sweater, arrived at the Manhattan theater, he said. But they weren't for South Carolina's newest football celebrity — he walked into the studio alongside John Travolta, another guest on the late night program.

"That kind of took the edge off a little," Frisby said. "Because I knew the papparazzi weren't there for me."

After Travolta's segment, Letterman said, "At the age of 39, our next guest not only went back to college at the University of South Carolina, he also signed up for the football team, please welcome Tim Frisby, ladies and gentlemen."

Frisby then shared his story with one of TV's most famous late night hosts — how Frisby was one of 60 walk-ons to try for the team, how he worked out with the Gamecocks throughout the year, and how he was among 12 selected to remain.

"It's 'Pops,' everybody," Letterman said of Frisby's team nickname.

Frisby told Letterman when South Carolina coach Lou Holtz first realized the receiver's age, the coach called down to the trainer, "Do you know we have a 39-year-old who made the team?"

"Yeah," Frisby said, recalling the trainer's reply, "he's sitting right in front of me. He looks like he's about 22."

Letterman asked about Holtz. "This is a no-nonsense guy," Letterman said. "This is a guy who will, I have actually seen him eat a player."

"He don't eat players any more," Frisby countered.

Frisby showed a little late-night punch of his own. When Letterman asked about NCAA eligibility questions, Frisby answered it was difficult verifying his high school records since they were on "stone tablets." The host and audience broke up laughing.

Letterman wanted to know what Frisby was doing on the field with players nearly half his age. "Aren't you worried about really just getting thumped?" he asked.

Frisby remembered how safety Jermaine Harris "knocked my helmet sideways" during an early practice. "I got up and said, 'Hey, I can do this,"' Frisby said.

Letterman wondered if Frisby would keep playing. "At least two of the years I'd like to play," Frisby said. "I'm enjoying myself."

"Pleasure meeting you," Letterman closed, ending Frisby's time in the TV spotlight — for now.

The Letterman appearance was the latest national attention for the military man turned college football player. He was profiled in The New York Times and has been beset with movie and book offers for his tale.

"You watch the Letterman show growing up," said Frisby, who graduated from an Allentown, PA, high school in 1983, then went into the Army. "To be on it is unbelievable."

Frisby hit New York early Thursday morning. He visited Times Square and took pictures with some Gamecock fans who recognized him.

Frisby, granted an NCAA waiver to appear on the late-night show, won't go to Alabama with the team. He said he'll watch Saturday's game with the rest of the players not on the traveling squad.

"It was good to represent the university," he said. "Now it'll be good to get back to the team."

Ross's challenge at Army proves to be a daunting one

WEST POINT — Army coach Bobby Ross knew it wouldn't be easy.

His Black Knights (0-3) are in the midst of an 18-game losing streak, longest in the nation. Last week they fell to Connecticut 40-3. Saturday's matchup at home against Texas Christian doesn't look any easier.

Army has struggled in almost every phase of the game, especially on defense, where it's ranked last among 117 Division I schools, giving up an average of 42.3 points and 574 yards a game. TCU's 26th-ranked offense generates 42.8 points and 432 yards a game.

Lured out of retirement to take over an Army team that went 0-13 last year, Ross hasn't done any better than the coach he replaced, Todd Berry.

"I said from day one to our squad that we don't have much margin for error," the former NFL coach said. "We haven't been as good as any of the teams we've played thus far. It doesn't mean we can't win. We have to find a way to win."

Ross is considering replacing starting quarterback Reggie Nevels. Army has rushed for an average of 168 yards a game, but its QBs have completed just 35 of 80 passes for an average of 145 yards a game.

"The running is not the biggest problem," Ross said. "It's the throwing right now and the catching and the protection. We better (work) to be good in the protection this week because TCU is a pressure team."

Army hasn't won at home since beating Tulane 42-35 on Oct. 27, 2001.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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