Music to listen to: One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket
Last Season: Coming into last season, the Cardinals had a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, one of the top-20 coaches in college football with Charlie Strong and a favorable schedule on paper to make an undefeated run.
Than Louisville ran into Central Florida on a Friday night and lost at home, giving up a late touchdown to the Knights. Heisman Trophy hopes, gone. Undefeated mark and national title aspirations, gone. The Cardinals recovered to win the rest of their games and finish with a 12-1 mark.
The offseason brought about the expected departure of Bridgewater to the NFL but the Cardinals also lost their head coach to the University of Texas.
Polarizing figure Bobby Petrino returns to Louisville after “interesting” tenures with the Atlanta Falcons, University of Arkansas and Western Kentucky. Why do I have the word interesting in quotations in my previous sentence? Between leaving in the middle of your first season at one spot and leaving notes in the lockers of the players without addressing them directly (Atlanta), getting fired at your next gig because of indiscretions with a fellow employee (Arkansas) and staying at your next job only one year (Western Kentucky), I would qualify each of those as “interesting.”
Also, the Cardinals have a new conference home, joining the ACC.
Offense: Petrino may have questionable character issues but the man is a brilliant offensive mind that has led prolific attacks in every stop. His next quarterback project will be sophomore Will Gardner completed eight passes last year, two of which went for touchdowns so there’s at least that.
Last year’s leading receiver DeVante Parker returns for his senior season after catching 55 passes for 885 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. The Cardinals’ leading rusher also returns in Dominique Brown who ran for 825 yards and eight touchdowns last year.
Former Auburn standout running back Michael Dyer is also ready to contribute. He has All-ACC talent but off-the-field issues have prevented the full potential to be reached. Dyer is in his final year of eligibility so an impressive senior season is imperative for his professional football aspirations. Its the professional sports equivalent of having a player on the last year of his contract before free agency. Most players have the best year of their career in these cases. The Cardinals hope for the same from Dyer.
Senior center Jake Smith leads a veteran offensive line that returns four starters.
Defense: The focused attention on Bridgewater caused most people to ignore a Cardinals’ defense which was one of the best units in the entire country the past few years.
Last year, Louisville led the nation in total defense, rushing defense and allowed only 12.2 points per contest which was second in FBS football.
Former Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham takes over the same position for the Cardinals and will have to rebuild the entire defense which returns only four starters. The good news is that at least one of them is on each level of defense.
Senior defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin had 9.5 sacks last season will be an All-ACC candidate along with junior linebacker James Burgess who notched 72 tackles in 2013.
Senior Terell Floyd and junior Charles Gaines return as starting cornerbacks.
Schedule:
| 9/1 |
Miami |
|
9/6 |
Murray State |
|
9/13 |
at Virginia |
|
9/20 |
at FIU |
|
9/27 |
Wake Forest |
|
10/3 |
at Syracuse |
|
10/11 |
at Clemson |
|
10/18 |
North Carolina State |
|
10/30 |
Florida State |
|
11/8 |
at Boston College |
|
11/22 |
at Notre Dame |
|
11/29 |
Kentucky |
The Cardinals get an immediate test and introduction into the ACC with the season-opener at home against Miami. If they can win that contest, a 6-0 mark is possible heading into Clemson. The schedule gets tougher at that state with hosting Florida State and traveling to Notre Dame. With a few breaks, a double-digit win isn’t out of the question.
First memory:
I started following college football extensively in the mid to late 1990’s and have fond memories of guys like Elvis Dumervil and Chris Redman.
My favorite all-time Louisville player was running back Michael Bush who played for the Cardinals from 2003-2006. He was one of the most physical running backs I’ve ever seen, with a style similar to Earl Campbell but also had speed and excellent footwork like a Jerome Bettis. He had an outstanding junior year rushing for 1,143 yards and 23 touchdowns. Bush came back for his senior year and broke his leg in the first game against Kentucky. He’s missed football for two years due to that injury and has had an inconsistent NFL career. Its a shame because I believe he would have been the next great NFL back without the injury.
Favorite alum:
Decent list but how can you go against Johnny Unitas, rguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Honorable mention: Bob Edwards, Tom Jackson, David Akers, Joe Jacoby, Wes Unseld and Angel McCoughtry.
Crush:
While I have much love for Jennifer Carpenter and Charley Chase, who are both from Louisville, I’m going to take Diane Sawyer who actually graduated from the school.
Fun fact, up until about 10 years ago, I thought Sawyer was British.
Overall outlook: This has the looks of an eight-win team. Normally, incorporating a new quarterback, head coach, defensive coordinator all while moving into a tougher conference would spell major struggles in a program and a potential losing season. However, I have faith in Petrino’s coaching skills and while double-digit wins aren’t going to happen, a winning season and solid bowl appearance will be Louisville’s reality.
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