By Josh Moss
josh@louisville.com
The plan for the University of Louisville’s 2007 football season was that new coach Steve Kragthorpe would lead his team to an undefeated season and a shot at the national championship. That plan, well, it vaporized when the Cardinals lost to Kentucky in mid-September…and then lost to Syracuse and Utah at home. Though a perfect season has been out of reach for months now, there are still some good reasons to watch U of L (5-6) take on Rutgers (7-4), on Nov. 29, at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
1. Last season, U of L suffered one loss. It was to Rutgers. By three — count ‘em — three points. A single field goal spoiled the Cardinals’ perfect season, and that’s why — even before the 2007 campaign commenced — fans and players had already circled the rematch against the Scarlet Knights. Remember, revenge tastes good even if a BCS bowl game isn’t on the line. Plus, if U of L loses, it will be the first time the Cards have finished worse than .500 since 1997, when the team posted a 1-10 record.
2. It’s hard to blame senior quarterback Brian Brohm, the Big East conference’s all-time passing leader, for his team’s 2007 troubles. This season he’s already tossed for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns, brining his career totals to 10,538 yards and 70 touchdowns. In school history, he’s second to Chris Redman in career passing yards, and Brohm can still capture some personal records during the Rutgers game. He needs to pass for 256 yards to pass Redman for most yards in a season, and one more touchdown throw would make Brohm first in career touchdown passes. Plus, at this point, he’s trying to impress NFL scouts, so expect an explosive display every time he touches the football.
3. It’s simple: Ending the regular season with another home loss will make Kragthorpe’s seat that much hotter next year. Cheer accordingly.
4. Harry Douglas set a single-season school record last year with 1,265 receiving yards. This year he leads the Big East in receptions and receiving yards per game and has 1,113 receiving yards on the season, meaning Douglas needs 153 yards to break his own record. The last time the receiver went for more than 152 yards was week four against Syracuse, when he caught 12 balls for 205 yards. Last season against Rutgers Douglas caught three passes for 97 yards. Expect the senior to have a big day because it will be his last in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
5. If the Cardinals’ offense fails, at least they’ll be playing against Rutgers running back Ray Rice, who leads the Big East in all-purpose yards this season. Dude can straight up run the football. Last year he posted 131 yards on the Cards. His 1,612 rushing yards on the season leads the Big East, so it goes without saying that U of L’s defense will have its hands full.
