Apparently the happy times are already running out for new University of Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe. 

According to the Louisville Courier-Journal’s Rick Bozich, WAVE-3 TV’s Bob Domine asked if Cardinal players are taking advantage of  Kragthorpe’s player-oriented approach (compared to former coach Bobby Petrino’s harsh methods). Kragthorpe’s didn’t like the question at all. His response? The coach asked Domine if he had been in any meetings or practices with the team. 

Of course, Kragthorpe was using the reasoning of “You media folk don’t understand me or my team because you’re not part of it”, but it was a silly response: The media is barred from Cardinals practices and meetings. And, as Bozich noted, the question Domine asked is one many Cardinals fans have asked this season; unfortunately, Bob and the fans didn’t get much of an answer.

If you’re curious, someone has already registered http://www.firestevekragthorpe.com.

In his defense, Kragthorpe has been friendly with the media so far this season, probably he knows what writers go through because, well, his brother Kurt is one (a columnist with The Salt Lake City Tribune).

He hasn’t written anything about his brother this year, probably more because, by my count, Utah is five states to the left of Kentucky.

Steve Kragthorpe’s Cardinals are one of the nation’s biggest disappointments: After four games what was considered a national title contender is just 2-2 with a defense ranked 88th in the country. The comments came in a press conference three days after Louisville’s embarrassing 38-35 home loss to Syracuse, a defeat ending the Cardinals 3-year home win streak. It also came to an Orange squad that was 0-3 and seemingly lifeless … until it met the Louisville secondary that would allow over 400 yards passing to the immortal Andrew Robinson.

A week ago, Kragthorpe said about his team’s loss to Kentucky “It falls on me. I’m the ship’s captain, it’s up to me to make sure the ship is going in the right direction”.

Kragthorpe has a 5-year contract with Louisville, and there’s no chance he’ll be canned (no matter how many websites are made). But the pressure is already on: The toughest part of Louisville’s season is about to begin (At North Carolina State this weekend, then home to Utah before finishing with four road games out of six that includes trips to top-25 teams Cincinnati, South Florida and West Virginia).

And did we mention Louisville is expanding its stadium by 20,000 seats in a couple years?

Welcome to the bluegrass, coach K. The ride could get bumpier.