I was quick to dismiss this talk that Steve Kragthorpe was even considering leaving the head football coaching position at U of L. Just a rumor, I thought, as is inevitable at this time of year.

Sure, it’s been a tough year for Kragthorpe, and it turns out the coach may not be so keen at taking the heat. WHAS-TV’s Kyle Draper is reporting tonight (8:53 p.m.) that the school’s SID, Rocco Gasparro, says the coach is 50-50 to leave the hotseat for a vacant head coaching position at SMU. Sources say that job is Kragthorpe’s with a phone call.

Since the story is bound to dominate local headlines for the next few days, let’s trace its origins — which seem to be ESPN columnist and former C-J sports guy Pat Forde. In his column about national coaching changes, Forde writes that relentless criticism has soured Kragthorpe’s view on remaining in the Cardinal hotseat.

In Draper’s report, Gasparro claims that Kragthorpe is “concerned” about what all the scrutiny of the program is doing to his family. Who knew that “thin-skinned” would be an apt adjective to describe the man hand-picked by A.D. Tom Jurich to continue the Cards’ rise to the top of college football.

SMU just fired its coach after the football team lost its ninth straight game. High expectations won’t be an issue there, and neither would there be a national spotlight. Break-even will be as celebrated in Dallas as it is derided in Louisville.

Expect an announcement during the upcoming holiday, or sooner, about Kragthorpe’s future, and don’t be surprised if these rumors are true. And don’t expect any tears from the school’s faithful.