|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Oct 24, 2008 20:20:03 GMT 3
   Louisville 2008 Media Guide info: uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/070708aab.htmlSenior Nick Borgelt will likely back up Wood at center and can play guard if needed. Sophomore Greg Tomcyzk will compete at the left tackle position. Freshman Mario Benavides enrolled in the spring and has an opportunity to be a special player.  MARIO BENAVIDES OFFENSIVE LINE 6-4 • 285 LOS FRESNOS, TEXAS (LOS FRESNOS) Played for Scott Ford at Los Fresnos High School... enrolled at UofL in January and participated in spring practice... rated the No. 33 offensive tackle and a three-star prospect by Scout.com... voted All-Metro co-Most Valuable Player as a senior... selected first team All-State, All-District and All-Metro as a junior... rated the No. 2 prospect in South Texas by Scout.com... three-time 32-5A All-District performer, received All-Valley twice, Associated Press All-State in 2006... was a big reason why Los Fresnos won back-to-back 32-5A District championships in 2006-07 and pancaked an astounding 200 defenders (45 in ‘05, 74 in ‘06, 81 in ‘07) in his three seasons for the Falcons... rated the No. 40 offensive guard prospect by Rivals.com... chose Louisville over Ole Miss, Texas Tech,Arizona, Baylor, UTEP, Houston and Iowa State. For you Falcon fans. A quick shot of Benavides at practice yesterday (#60 at the 3:03 mark). First day practice notes from Louisville: The TE play was somewhat up and down, however I do like that we have 3-4 players that have good size to play TE. Actually Johnny Burns who played TE during the spring is by far the smallest of the TE's at 6'3". Nate Nord looks like a Gary Barnridge clone. Zach Meagher was running well. Cameron Graham looks like he will be a good blocking TE at 6'4" 245, but needs to work more on his receiving. Rock Keys is another who passes the look test at 6'5" 240, but I didn't see enough of him in the team offensive drills. Freshman Stephon Ball was working with the WR's today. I am sure they will move him around to several positions before settling into just one position. Ball is pretty lean at 6'4" 215 lbs. for TE. |
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Oct 24, 2008 20:21:26 GMT 3
|
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Mar 13, 2009 20:53:13 GMT 3
Interview with Louisville Head Coach: How do you see the offensive line shaping up with the loss of Eric Wood and George Bussey?SK: I feel good about it. I think now we have some players who have the opportunity to step up into a vacated area. George, and especially Eric, were guys we'll really miss. Eric was not just a good football player, he's a solid person and a great leader. So certainly we will not only miss his ability to play center, we'll miss his leadership on the offensive line, the offense and the football team. So we've got to find a guy to step up in that position, and I think Mario Benavides is a guy who's benefited from being here for a year with Eric. Even though he was a true freshman last year, he came in in January, and I think Eric was a great mentor for him. I think he's got a chance to be a good player for us. He's got to grow up very quickly, because we lost not only Eric but Nick Borgelt, who was our backup center. And then with George, we lose a guy who played left tackle for us, played a little left guard, could play right tackle, was a very versatile player. ![]() i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/teamfalcon/Mario Benavides/Mario09spring.jpg[/IMG]  |
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Apr 15, 2009 22:17:45 GMT 3
collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=920391Louisville enters 2009 with plenty of pressure Tom Dienhart Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer Louisville went into the 2008 season with high expectations. The Cardinals were supposed to bounce back from a disappointing 2007 season and have a say in the Big East race. Instead, Louisville finished tied for last in the Big East and its coach enters the 2009 season firmly on the hot seat. Plus, the Cards are looking for a new quarterback this spring. Here's a look Louisville as it prepares to open spring drills. Louisville AT-A-GLANCE Victor Anderson returns as part of a talented running back tandem with Bilal Powell. THE BASICS Coach: Steve Kragthorpe Last season: 5-7, 1-6 Big East Spring dates: March 8-April 17 RETURNING STARTERS Offense (5): T Jeff Adams, WR Doug Beaumont, WR Josh Chichester, G Abdul Kuyateh, G Mark Wetterer. Defense (4): FS Daniel Covington, LB Jon Dempsey, CB Johnny Patrick, E L.D. Scott. Special teams (2): P Cory Goettsche, K Ryan Payne. Positions of strength The Cardinals look strong at wide receiver and running back. Wide receiver Scott Long is back after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The tailback duo of Victor Anderson and Bilal Powell is formidable. Help is needed Three starters on the defensive line are gone. The replacements? For the most part, it'll be junior college transfers. In addition, star center Eric Wood is gone, there is no experience at quarterback and the secondary needs to be rebuilt after getting shredded to the tune of 26 touchdowns (against just eight interceptions) last season. Keep an eye on
C Mario Benavides: Benavides, a sophomore, is a strong, athletic blocker who has the ability to move and trap. But he will be trying to replace Wood, one of best offensive linemen ever at Louisville.LB Dexter Heyman: Heyman, a sophomore, is quick and athletic and able to cover lots of ground from sideline to sideline. He needs to be a playmaker after seeing the field sparingly last season. DT L.T. Walker: He is part of a defensive front that is being overhauled. It is vital that Walker – who started four games last season – becomes a run-stuffer and anchor for a defense that desperately needs a spark. His time is now It is hard to pick just one guy. There is no doubt end L.D. Scott, a senior, needs to pick up the pace as a pass-rushing end. Wide receiver Josh Chichester, a junior who is 6 feet 8, needs to be more of a playmaker - especially in the red zone. Guard Abdul Kuyateh, another senior, needs to be a building block along the line. The buzz Job No. 1 is finding a starting quarterback. Depth across the board is shaky, so getting through spring drills relatively healthy will be key. This is a program that is breaking in six new assistants, and it's also a team that needs an injection of confidence after closing last season with five consecutive losses when just one more win was needed for bowl eligibility. There is lots of negativity surrounding a program that not long ago was one of the nation's hottest properties; as such, Steve Kragthorpe plans to serve as his own offensive coordinator this
|
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Apr 15, 2009 22:36:42 GMT 3
www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041409aaa.htmlCards' to practice final time on Wednesday before Spring Game April 14, 2009 Louisville, Ky. - - The University of Louisville football program concluded its 13th practice of the spring with a spirited two-minute drill at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on Monday. Here are some notes from practice. *Justin Burke took the first reps with the first offense during the two-minute drill. Drove the team to the opponent 35-yard line before stalling on downs. Tyler Wolfe took the reps with the second unit and fumbled the football on a sack. * Adam Froman took the reps with the first unit on the second drive and ignited a scoring drive that was capped by a short touchdown run by Victor Anderson.Zack Stoudt was impressive on his drive with the second unit, leading them into the endzone, completing a strike to Doug Beaumont. * Team asked for one more drive after practice was over with the first units. Burke took that rep and William Savoy made an impressive spin move to sack Burke to end practice. First offense: Greg Tomcyzk, Mark Wetterer, Mario Benavides, Abdul Kuyateh, Jeff Adams, Burke/Froman (rotated), Victor Anderson, Josh Chichester, Doug Beaumont, Trent Guy, Joe Tronzo First defense: William Savoy, L.T. Walker, Tyler Jessen, Greg Scruggs,Brandon Heath, Jon Dempsey, Antwon Canady, Daniel Covington, Chaz Thompson, Karldell Dunning and Jacques Caldwell. * Johnny Patrick injured his ankle. Coach Kragthorpe had a competition with the wideouts and secondary with a one-on-one drill. Offense got a point for a catch while the defense received a point for a stop. The secondary won 14-6 after the offense started with a 5-3 lead. Caldwell continues to make strides at corner and made a couple of breakups in this drill. * Rock Keys, who was a tight end up until last Tuesday, worked out again at defensive tackle.
|
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Apr 20, 2009 17:23:28 GMT 3
myespn.go.com/blogs/bigeast/0-4-180/Benavides-trying-to-fill-Wood-s-shoes-at-Louisville.htmlApril 17, 2009 10:46 AM Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett Of all the rebuilding tasks facing Louisville between now and September, the toughest order might be to replace Eric Wood. "Dang near impossible," head coach Steve Kragthorpe says. Wood was a four-year starter and one of the best centers in the country who should be selected in the first couple of rounds of next week's NFL draft. More than that, he served as the best team leader in recent school history, on and off the field. Now, Kragthorpe is entrusting Wood's center position to a redshirt freshman: Mario Benavides. "It speaks a lot that they had enough confidence in me to give me the opportunity to fill Eric's shoes," Benavides said. "Because, let's face it, Eric was pretty d**n good." Benavides realized the size of the challenge soon after he committed to the Cardinals in 2007 out of Los Fresnos, Texas. He decided to get an early start by enrolling at Louisville in January. He immediately went to work as Wood's understudy during spring practice and his redshirt year. "Being able to watch a player of that magnitude is not something you can get just anywhere," he said. "There's a four- or five-year difference in age, but he took me under his wing and taught me everything he knows. I just count my blessings every day that I learned from someone like him." Benavides had a lot to learn. He played tackle in high school and had never so much as snapped the ball. He had to adjust to making calls at the line of scrimmage for the other offensive linemen and taking charge of the unit. This spring in particular, that has meant becoming a leader in Wood's mold, even though he's younger than most of his teammates and has never played in a college football game. "It used to be one of those things where I thought, 'I'm only a freshman. Should I speak up?'" Benavides said. "But when it comes down to it, guys respect someone they feel they can trust and who works hard. Speaking up -- not necessarily getting after guys, but motivating them, talking in the huddle and being a good leader -- anybody can do that as long as your teammates trust you." Kragthorpe has been pleasantly surprised by how his young lineman has asserted himself this spring. "He's really further ahead than I had anticipated at this point in time," Kragthorpe said. "He's done a good job taking control of that group and being a leader at a young age. But he's got to. He's a center." The Louisville O-line is one of many works in progress for this team, which also lost All-Big East performer George Bussey. The good news is that the other four current starters besides Benavides all saw significant time last year, though they are unproven as a group. One of Wood's other best traits was his nasty streak on the field. That's a quality the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Benavides thinks he can easily replicate. "I was an angry kid, and that's why I played football," he said. "Otherwise, I would have gotten in trouble. Off the field, I'm a completely respectable guy, but on the field I want to kill people." Benavides sounds the part already. Give him some time to grow into all the other ways that Wood excelled. "We're not asking him to replace Eric," Kragthorpe said. "We're just asking him to be a key cog in those five guys up front."
|
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Jun 21, 2009 23:50:20 GMT 3
|
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Sept 10, 2009 22:31:08 GMT 3
|
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Sept 23, 2009 5:27:51 GMT 3
Louisville 27 Kentucky 31 Mario makes his second full start. The Cardinals are 1-1    |
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Oct 3, 2009 19:49:10 GMT 3
Mario vs Pitt October 2 2009   |
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Sept 13, 2010 21:55:07 GMT 3
|
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Jan 12, 2011 18:55:51 GMT 3
Louisville beats Southern Miss for Bowl Title, 31-28 Celebrating after TD!  Pulling for big block........just like in HS.  |
|
|
|
Post by TEAM FALCON on Dec 8, 2011 22:14:09 GMT 3
 Los Fresnos Alum playing in College Football Bowl game, again! With Justin Springer playing in the 2008 BCS Orange Bowl as a Kansas Jayhawk, the tradition has continued with Mario Benaivdes playing in his 2nd bowl game in a row. Los Fresnos Alum, Mario Benavides (LF 08) and the Louisville Cardinals will face NC State in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 27. The Cardinals tied West Virginia and Cincinnati for a share of the Big East title with 5-2 league records, but West Virginia broke the three-way tie with a higher BCS ranking. The Cardinals defeated the Mountaineers earlier in the year in Morgantown, 38-35, but dropped a 25-16 decision at Cincinnati. “We are thrilled to accept an invitation to the Belk Bowl,” coach Charlie Strong said in a statement. “Charlotte is a great city, and I’m so excited to take this team to another great bowl game. I’m so proud of our football team and coaching staff to be 2-4 earlier this season and end the year by winning five of the last six games and become Big East champions. We have fought through a lot of adversity this year and to end the year with a high-quality bowl game versus a tough opponent like NC State is a great way to end the year.” The Cardinals finished the regular season 7-5 overall. However, Louisville heads into postseason play as one of the hottest teams in the country, ending the season 5-1. Louisville and the Wolfpack will be meeting for the fourth time in series history, with Louisville holding a 3-0 advantage. Louisville defeated the NC State, 27-10, in the last meeting, 2007, at Carter Finley Stadium. Louisville is making its 16th postseason trip and second straight under Strong, who is 13-11 in his first two seasons at the helm of the program. Louisville defeated Southern Miss, 31-28, in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl a year ago. Mario is completing his Jr year, and his 2nd year as the starting center for the Louisville Cardinals. Mario is projected to be a 3 or 4th round draft pick in the 2013 draft. |
|
Morocco/USA
New Member
My dog lucky passed away.
Posts: 35
|
Post by Morocco/USA on Jan 1, 2013 7:01:07 GMT 3
|
|
Morocco/USA
New Member
My dog lucky passed away.
Posts: 35
|
Post by Morocco/USA on Mar 24, 2013 3:07:42 GMT 3
|
|
Morocco/USA
New Member
My dog lucky passed away.
Posts: 35
|
Post by Morocco/USA on Apr 28, 2013 22:33:51 GMT 3
|
|
