LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Charlie Strong is staying at Louisville. The football coach says Thursday he's turned down an offer from Tennessee and will stay with the Cardinals.

Strong's decision followed several days of media speculation about his future.

Though coaching Tennessee would have helped Strong realize a dream of coaching in the Southeastern Conference, he decided to stay at the school that gave him his first head coaching job. Strong is 24-14 in three seasons at Louisville.

The No. 22 Cardinals (10-2) won a share of the Big East Conference championship and a BCS berth in the Sugar Bowl, where they'll face Florida.

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