Good Teams Overcome Bad Calls

The great John L. Smith once repeated the oft-quoted phrase "Good teams overcome bad calls." He was correct.

That's why the University of Louisville football team is right not to blame horrendous officiating for its loss to the University of Connecticut Friday night. The Cardinals lost because its offense, for the first time in a long time, misfired.

Kudos to new Coach Steve Kragthorpe for taking the high road. Even though Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese admits officials blew a fair catch call that proved the deciding factor in the game's outcome, Kragthorpe avoided the easy way out. If only everyone performed with such integrity.

Now, accustomed to losing (neither the NCAA Cardinals nor the NFL Cincinnati Bengals are doing much winning this year), I'd rather lose games playing with honor and pride than win a matchup using a cheap, bush-league stunt like that employed by Connecticut's Larry Taylor to squeak out a cowardly victory.