Saturday when the Cardinals host the North Carolina Tar heels the fans are encouraged to wear white at the annual White-Out game. This will be the ninth time that Louisville has had a White-Out game. The White-Out event was started back in 2007 when Coach Pitino said “It’s a fun way for everyone to get involved and enhance the game atmosphere. It’s tough to find people today who can come up with an all-white outfit. I know our fans will get creative and see what they can do. Of course, everyone will want to make sure they stay in fashion and keep it winter white.” Since that game fans have looked forward to the annual event. The White-Out really does make for an electric atmosphere and when it was in Freedom Hall and now at the KFC Yum Center the all-white clad crowd makes the venue look awesome and intimidating.
You never know what’s going to happen during the White-Out and over the years there has been extra drama involved in these games. In 2008 the ESPN College Game day crew was in town to watch the Cardinals host visiting No.6 Georgetown. Louisville fans showed their support by whiting-out the crowd at Freedom Hall. That’s when Coach Pitino broke out his all-white suit for the first time. Coach Pitino got a lot of attention from that white suit especially when he had to change at halftime of that game due to sweating so bad you could see his blue trousers underneath. Coach Pitino learned his lesson after that game to really wear all white.
In the 2009 White-Out game Louisville wore white throwback uniforms honoring the late-1960s teams of Wes Unseld, but it was Andre McGee who stole the show. With the 5 foot 10 guard’s senior season dwindling down to a precious few games, the usually grounded McGee opted to take flight. After stripping the ball from Marquette’s Jerel McNeal He slammed home a rare two-handed dunk. It was the defining moment in No. 6 Louisville’s gritty 62-58 victory over No. 8 Marquette and the Freedom Hall crowd roared as Andre hung swinging from the rim.
It’s not over till it’s over… In the 2011 White-Out game Kyle Kuric had two big baskets in overtime against #4 Pitt that helped seal the victory for the Cardinals. But one of those baskets nearly led to one of the most costly premature celebrations in college basketball history. The clock didn’t stop after the big Kyle Kuric dunk that appeared to seal the victory, which put the Cardinals up 62-57, and the horn sounded. Excited by the Cardinals big victory a male cheerleader raced onto the floor grabbed the ball and tossed it into the air. Officials called Louisville for a delay of game technical foul and put .5 seconds back on the clock. Pitt hit their two free throws and had a last second heave to try and tie it up again. Fortunately for that cheerleader his mistake didn’t cost the Cardinals the victory.
White has been successful for the Cardinals who are 5-3 during these promotions. The five wins include victories over UCONN in 2007 68-54, #6 Georgetown in 2008 59-51, #8 Marquette in 2009 62-58, # 4 Pitt in 2011 62-59, and #25 Marquette in 2013 70-51. In the White-Out games the Cardinals are averaging 65.3 points, 39% shooting from the field, and 31.7% shooting from the three. The Cardinals are 1-1 in White-Out games when Coach Pitino doesn’t wear the white suit. He opted not to wear his all white suit last season and our Cardinals lost the game against Memphis.
The White-Out game has been a lot of fun over the years and they have provided the extra motivation needed to will the Cardinals to some very big wins. Let’s hope that on Saturday this year’s group will feed off of the White-Out environment and get a much needed big win against North Carolina. And I hope that we see the white suit as well.