During his time as the University of Louisville football team’s quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was a fan favorite and became an adopted son of the River City.
The city will get another chance to show Bridgewater some love. The current Minnesota Vikings signal-caller will serve as the Grand Marshal of this year’s Republic Bank Pegasus Parade. The 60th annual parade will march down Broadway on Thursday, April 30.
“This year’s theme is ‘Best of Louisville’ and we know fans will agree that Teddy is just that,” Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO said in a press release. “We are excited to have him back to participate in one of the biggest events in the city each year.”
A native of Miami, Fla., Bridgewater quarterbacked the Cardinals from 2011-13, leading them to a trio of bowl games - including the Sugar Bowl. In his three-year career at UofL, Bridgewater completed 68.4 percent of his passes (781 for 1142) for 9,817 yards for 72 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He was at his best in the biggest games. In Louisville’s 33-23 upset of fourth-ranked Florida on Jan. 2, 2013 in the aforementioned Sugar Bowl, Bridgewater completed 20 of 32 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Then in his last game in a UofL uniform he threw for 447 yards and three touchdowns, while running for another TD, in the Cards’ 36-9 shellacking of Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
After foregoing his senior season (although he did earn his degree in Sports Administration), Bridgewater was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Vikings. He thrived in his first season in Minnesota, completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,919 yards and 14 touchdowns on his way to earning Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors.
The Pegasus Parade - the Derby Festival’s oldest founding event - is one of nearly 70 events produced by the KDF in the spring. The annual spectacle, which will feature approximately 100 units, goes west on Broadway from Campbell to Ninth Street. Tickets for the parade are on sale at www.kdf.org or by calling the Derby Festival Hotline at 502-584-FEST. Tickets are $10 for bleacher seats, $12 for chair seats and $30 for review stand seats.
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings Facebook Page
