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Chat Reel: Dave Ragone

Louisville QB looks forward to game against UK

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with Dave Ragone. Welcome and thanks for joining us.
Dave Ragone: Thanks for having me. This is something different for me. Something cool to do and I appreciate the offer.

From Marcus: How do you feel about the Cards' chances this year? Does it bother you not to receive the respect like some other Top 25 teams?
Dave Ragone: I think overall, as a team, we have a lot of guys back. We have experience at the critical positions and I feel very confident. In the top 25... you kind of have to build tradition as far as winning games and to gain respect.

From RickRoo in Clarksville, Ind.: What do you feel (if any) is the hardest pass route to consistently throw? For example, I thought last year that you did not put enough air under the ball on deep throws and too often on hitches you threw the ball too low where the receiver(s) could not make a play after the catch.
Dave Ragone: This summer I worked a lot on putting touch on deep throws. The streak route is probably the hardest pass to throw as a quarterback.

From dipper: I heard your nickname was Magnum. Is it because you have a strong arm or is it for something else?
Dave Ragone: It's because of my arm strength. That's my best weapon. Teammates gave me that nickname.

From cardhound in Brecksville, Ohio: Looking at your schedule, you have one Tuesday night game and at least two Thursday night games. How, if at all, does that impact your routine in preparing for games and, knowing your affinity for the game of golf, do "non-Saturday" games represent opportunity for weekend golf during the season?!
Dave Ragone: With Tuesday and Thursday games it definitely messes up the routine you try to set up. It presents an adversity for my teammates and I. As far as golf, I get to play more golf in the week... so it kind of works out that way.

From Frank Kaim in Cleveland, Ohio: Do you think playing for a high school powerhouse like St. Ignatius has prepared you physically and mentally for college football?
Dave Ragone: Definitely, as far as how to handle everything outside of football. It helps me with the people I meet and how I conduct myself when I meet them.

From FootballFan: What to you think the team's chances are in beating archrival Kentucky at Lexington this year?
Dave Ragone: They have a new coach and system and they're very talented but we're very experienced. It will be a difficult task for us.

From Marcus: Dave, what happened to Arnold Jackson, NCAA's all-time leading receiver, who didn't get much ink after breaking Jerry Rice's reception record?
Dave Ragone: He's with the Arizona Cardinals. I think he's second string. He wasn't drafted but I think he has a good chance of making the team.

From Rocky Coy in Louisville: Dave, I passed you in the doorway of Tony Roma's a couple of weeks ago in Louisville, I told my wife you were the Cardinal QB. She couldn't believe it, saying you're too big to play QB. You do look like an NFL linebacker. Have you kept your speed with the added muscle?
Dave Ragone: Actually I've gotten faster and quicker. With our strength coaches, they've done a good job at putting on muscle while maintaining flexibility and it's gotten the whole team faster... including myself.

From CardMark-Louisville: How does it make you feel when other QB's with less experience are more highly touted for the Heisman?
Dave Ragone: It's mostly about hype. Some players do deserve the recognition they get and it depends on the school they're at sometimes. So you can't put too much emphasis on that, I try to just concentrate on the game.

From Marty3: Hello Dave, What are the most "challenging" aspects of being a quarterback in college football today?
Dave Ragone: The defenses and learning the offensive system. Louisville is kind of complicated with what the coaches ask of us. Every game we see a different defense. It's like another job going out there and preparing yourself.

From cards41 Louisville, Ky.: Do you think you will get to play in a BSC bowl before you leave Louisville?
Dave Ragone: Of course that's a goal of ours. The best time to do it would be now because of our experience. Our schedule doesn't help us but our aspiration is to go undefeated and have a very successful season.

From Magilla: This summer's heat and humidity were extremely high. What advantages or disadvantages did the Cardinals gain or lose from participating in summer camp when the weather was so hot? Was there any lack of enthusiasm or hustle? How did you and the team approach this season as compared to last?
Dave Ragone: I think as far as the heat, the coaches took a bit of precaution and we got a lot of water breaks. I think what helps us a lot is that most of the team was there in the summer conditioning and we didn't have to do much of that at practice.

From moha in London: What do you do for fun?
Dave Ragone: Mainly during the offseason I play a lot of golf to take my mind off of football. My girlfriend plays basketball at Louisville and I watch her and try to help her make it through her season. I just try to take my mind off football.

From Rivercitycards: If you have a great season this year, what are the chances of you jumping early for the draft? (Hopefully none!)
Dave Ragone: I plan to graduate and if that opportunity was to arise it would have a perfect situation but it's not even a thought right now.

From Who: What other colleges did you consider coming out of high school, and why did you pick U of L?
Dave Ragone: It was Purdue, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Bowling Green and Kent State. I played one year of high school football so a lot of the other teams would tell me that if one of the other QB's dropped out I would get that job. Coach Smith came to my house and I thought it would be a great opportunity for me because of their passing game.

From Marty3: Hello Dave, What will be the toughest games on your non-conference and conference schedules this upcoming season?
Dave Ragone: Kentucky, Illinois and Colorado State will probably pose the biggest challenge. In conference, Southern Miss and East Carolina.

From ps45: Are you disappointed that the Cards are not the favorite to win the C-USA after last year's success?
Dave Ragone: I really don't pay attention to all of that. It doesn't matter where you start the season, it's where you end it. We understand that we have to earn respect and we're going to use that for inspiration.

From snappy: I heard that you played on a softball team this summer with teammate Chip Mattingly. How did that go?
Dave Ragone: It was a good experience. It took my mind off football. We went out there and had some fun relaxing.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Dave Ragone. Thanks for joining us and good luck this season!
Dave Ragone: I appreciate it.

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