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After Louisville player Lukayus McNeil criticized his fans on Twitter, Bobby Petrino said: "It's up to us to bring the crowd here."
Matt Stone, Louisville Mail Journal

The number of participants announced was 49,603. The actual crowd was significantly smaller and a bit slow to arrive.

"It's sad that you call yourself fans!" Louisville Attack Lukayus McNeil tweeted at 9:54 am on Saturday morning. "No one came to [Card] March! I do not want to hear anything about that !!

Criticizing customers who pay for not coming in time to watch a team of 2 to 5 people commute to work is a bad image that worsens when the same team is being waxed by Wake Forest. However, although McNeil apologized for the Louisville loss 56-35, the problem he identified is a legitimate concern and does not go away.

See also: Shawnkel Knight-Goff, the star of Doss, wins the win against Louisville

Anger gives way to apathy with American football, manifested in the form of thousands of empty seats in a newly enlarged stadium. The Cardinals still have not won against the Power 5 competition, have collected more than 50 points in three different matches for the first time since 1932 and must now prepare for an alleged massacre next Saturday, the second-highest Clemson.

This is a young team whose disastrous defense has shown no improvement, whose third defensive coordinator in three years adapts to new wrinkles as he was out of Botox and whose the remaining four games seem to be more of an obligation than an opportunity.

The little bit of suspense left for the Louisville football season revolves around whether the university administration can afford to dismiss head coach Bobby Petrino and, conversely, whether she can afford to keep it.

More: Council member says Louisville is not in a position to buy back Bobby Petrino

Petrino's $ 14 million contract repurchase does not include commitments to assistant coaches or the costs of hiring replacements, but clearly precludes the University from making an entirely merit-based decision. Yet, the interest of fans for the current team diminishes and the difficulties inherent in selling several identical sites in the same place in a situation that evokes the Greek myth of Scylla and Charybdis or, more recently, Clash:

"If I go there, there will be problems.
And if I stay, it will be double.

The financial statements presented at Thursday's meeting of the University of Louisville Athletes' Association show net cash of $ 25 million at the end of September, compared to $ 15.4 million in liabilities. That leaves about $ 9.6 million in uncommitted funds, not counting the endowments that were depleted earlier this year by the agreement between the University of Toronto and former Sports Director Tom Jurich and the buy-out of basketball coach Chris Mack by Xavier University.

The payment of these two bills reduced the Hickman Camp Fund from $ 16.8 million to $ 8 million by June 30, when the athlete reserve fund was $ 1.6 million.

Creative funding may allow the University to make personnel decisions that may be prohibitively expensive or imprudent for a CPA, and Petrino's redemption is not due immediately, but must be done in quarterly installments. However, given the reckless spending of the previous administration of the University of Melbourne, it may be difficult to reconcile an eight-figure buyout with the desire to be fiscally responsible.

More: The daughter of Bobby Petrino discusses the record of the difficult season of Louisville

Behind the scenes, several current and former members of the board of directors continue to believe in Petrino and scenarios involving less expense. However, as progress becomes more difficult to perceive and as ordinary teams as Georgia Tech and Wake Forest trample on a defense that shows no ability to adapt, long-time Loyalists are increasingly resigned to the reversal of the status quo.

You can not blame the fans for losing interest. You have to give them a reason to worry.

"We must bring them here; It's our job, "said Petrino. "We need to assemble the product so that we come to the field and people come to support us because they like what they see on the ground."

This does not happen now. Not even close.

Seth Dawkins of Louisville is hit by two Wake Forest defenders in the second half and can not hang on to a pass. Deacon Demons defeated Cards 56-35, giving Louisville a 2-6 record, its worst season since 1997, 1-10. October 27, 2018.

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The empy seats are evident Saturday as Louisville played against Wake Forest. Deacon demons defeated Cards 56-35, giving Louisville a 2-6 record, its worst season since 1997, 1-10. October 27, 2018.

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Louisville Bobby Petrino and his son Nick Petrino on the sidelines of the match against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Chatarius Atwell, of Louisville, passes the ball into the middle of the field. October 27, 2018

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Cake Carney, of Wake Forest, made his mark after registering a touchdown against Amonte Caban of Louisville in the third quarter, placing the Deacons at 49-28 at the beginning of the second half. October 27, 2018.
Bobby Petrino had no answers as Wake Forest beat the Cards 56-35, giving Louisville a starting record of 2-6, his worst season since 1997 (1-10). October 27, 2018.

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The empy seats are evident Saturday as Louisville played against Wake Forest. Deacon demons defeated Cards 56-35, giving Louisville a 2-6 record, its worst season since 1997, 1-10. October 27, 2018.

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Seth Dawkins of Louisville scores against Essang Bassey of Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Fans cheer on Louisville while they fight Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Louisville fans responded when Wake Forest scored an extra point on Saturday as the Demon Deacons beat the Cards 56-35 and their worst season since 1997 (1-10). October 27, 2018.

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Seth Dawkins of Louisville celebrates touchdown in the first half, but the Demon Deacons led 35-21 at halftime. October 27, 2018.
Ladybug dancers entertain the crowd. October 27, 2018

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Bobby Petrino had no answers as Wake Forest beat the Cards 56-35, giving Louisville a starting record of 2-6, his worst season since 1997 (1-10). October 27, 2018.

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Trey Smith of Louisville celebrates his touchdown after running 52 yards for the opening quarter first against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018.
Fans cheer on Louisville while they fight Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Jaylen Smith of Louisville jumps over Nasir Greer of Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Trey Smith, of Louisville, scored the first two touchdown cards, including this one meter run. But Wake Forest would respond to all affected in Louisville. October 27, 2018.

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Louisville Bobby Petrino leaves the field after the defeat of the Cards against Wake Forest 56-35. October 27, 2018

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Dee Smith of Louisville can not stop Jack Freudenthal of Wake Forest from scoring in the first quarter. October 27, 2018.
Fans cheer on Louisville while they fight Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Louisville Bobby Petrino coaches since the match against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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C.J. Avery, of Louisville, defends against Scotty Washington from Wake Forest as he tries to reach the pass in the first half as the Demon Deacons led 35-21 at halftime. October 27, 2018.

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Seth Dawkins of Louisville celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Dee Smith of Louisville can not stop Jack Freudenthal of Wake Forest from scoring in the first quarter. October 27, 2018.
Fans cheer on Louisville while they fight Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Dee Smith of Louisville can not stop Jack Freudenthal of Wake Forest from scoring in the first quarter. October 27, 2018.
Fans cheer on Louisville while they fight Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Trey Smith of Louisville celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Fans cheer on Louisville while they fight Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Trey Smith, of Louisville, scored the first two touchdown cards, including this one meter run. But Wake Forest would respond to all affected in Louisville. October 27, 2018.

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Wake Forest fans had something to celebrate near half-time, as the Demon Deacons led 35-21 at the half. October 27, 2018.

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Trey Smith of Louisville, left, is congratulated by teammate Maurice Burkley after the running back scored the first two touchdowns of the Cards, including this one-meter run. But Wake Forest would respond to all affected in Louisville. October 27, 2018.

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Trey Smith of Louisville receives encouragement from G.G. Robinsom (# 94) on this touchdown race against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Trey Smith of Louisville totals 52 yards for the first-quarter touchdown in the first quarter against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018.

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Ladybug dancers entertain the crowd. October 27, 2018

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Trey Smith of Louisville celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Amote Caban (No. 53) of Louisville and the rest of the defense celebrated after a sack. October 27, 2018

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The Louisville Jawon Pass keeps the ball for a first try. October 27, 2018

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Trey Smith of Louisville is looking for an opening against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Trey Smith of Louisville celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Louisville players head to Cardinal Stadium for a handful of fans Saturday morning before the game against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018.

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Louisville players head to Cardinal Stadium for a handful of fans Saturday morning before the game against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018.

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Louisville coach Bobby Petrino heads for Cardinal Stadium Saturday morning before the match against Wake Forest. The cards occupy 123rd place in the country in number of bags allowed per game and are winless at the moment in the ACC. October 27, 2018.

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Louisville coach Bobby Petrino salutes the fans Saturday morning before the match against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018.
Former basketball coach Denny Crum walks with fans Saturday morning before the match against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018.

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Cornelius Sturghill of Louisville smiles as he greets the fans as he heads for Cardinal Stadium Saturday morning before the match against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018.

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The Louisville Juwan Pass heads to Cardinal Stadium for a few fans on Saturday morning before the match against Wake Forest. Louisville has shifted to four in seven games this season, including his last game at Boston College on Oct. 13. October 27, 2018.

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Dez Fitzpatrick of Louisville heads for Cardinal Stadium as part of a low-traffic card on Saturday before the Wake Forest match.

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Until now, without a win in the ACC, the Louisville players are heading to Cardinal Stadium Saturday morning before the match against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018.

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The Louisville Hassen Hall has escaped from the backfield for a few meters. October 27, 2018

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Trey Smith of Louisville receives instructions from the bench in the touchdown against Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Twirler Steffany Lien, lead actor of the Louisville brass band, plays before the game. October 27, 2018

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The London Iakopo of Louisville visits his friend Bennett after every game. October 27, 2018

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Bennett McPherson sees his boyfriend London Iakopo, a security for Louisville football, coming to see him after the match. Victory or defeat Iakopo comes to see his friend Bennett. October 27, 2018

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The London Iakopo of Louisville visits his friend Bennett McPherson after every game. Bennett's mother says that he sleeps with the pair of gloves that he gave her the first time they met. October 27, 2018

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The London Iakopo of Louisville visits his friend Bennett McPherson after every game. Bennett's mother says that he sleeps with the pair of gloves that London gave him the first time they met. Bennett had a new glove to accompany his collection after the game Wake Forest. October 27, 2018

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Tim Sullivan: 502-582-4650, [email protected]; Twitter: @ TimSullivan714. Support local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/tims.