Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe made an appeal to his fans to come out and support the team in its final two home games, even if they want him fired.
The Cardinals (3-6, 0-4 Big East) drew a little more than 21,000 -- a Papa John's Cardinal Stadium record low -- for their last home game against Arkansas State. With Syracuse, another team that's winless in the Big East, coming to town Saturday the turnout might not improve much.
But Kragthorpe said his players, especially the seniors, deserve to play their final home games before a decent crowd.
"If people don't like me, that's fine," said Kragthorpe, who has failed to make a bowl in his first two seasons at Louisville. "I understand that and they're certainly entitled to their opinion. But I think they need to come support these players."
Kragthorpe is hopeful that star running back Victor Anderson will return this week. The sophomore did not play the previous two weeks and has been limited most of the past month with a knee problem. Kragthorpe said Anderson practiced Sunday night and was running around without any problems.
Louisville also hopes to have Adam Froman available at quarterback, though Kragthorpe is less certain about Justin Burke. Walk-on Will Stein has started the past two games, and Kragthorpe again isn't naming a starter this week until he sees how things go in practice.
The Cardinals have lost two straight years to Syracuse and Louisville is the only Big East team the Orange have beaten since 2006. Kragthorpe was asked if the Orange were his nemesis.
"They're all nemeses," said Kragthorpe, whose own team hasn't won a league game in more than a year.