The best Louisville game of the decade tournament: 3 v. 14
by CardsFan922 on Nov 19, 2009 2:20 PM EST
Email
PrintThe match-ups only get tougher from here on out, Best Louisville Games. You better bring it.
3. LOUISVILLE NOTCHES FIRST BCS BOWL VICTORY OVER WAKE FOREST IN PETRINO'S LAST GAME
I don't think it is hyperbole to say that this was the biggest victory in UofL football history (with all due respect to the WVU/Black Out game) that was also the least exciting. Whether it was Fox's terrible coverage, the lack of crowd energy translating to TV, the limited possessions (remember, this was the only season of the new clock rules that allowed teams like Wake to waste a bunch of time), Wake Forest's stingy defense, or the lack of signature moments like a Mario stiff-arm, this game just sorta happened.
But in looking back, there were actually some really great plays, especially on the pivotal drive. A scoreless third quarter by the Cards, plus 10 unanswered points by Wake put us down 13-10 early in the 4th Quarter. An 8-play, 81-yard drive, highlighted by a swing pass that Kolby Smith willed into a 25 yard gain (I seem to remember making some guys miss in the backfield) led to an Anthony Allen 1-yard TD run.
The defense held Wake to a 3-and-out and then Jimmy Riley made the play of his career to complete a first down on third and long - remember, he caught the ball a few yards short of the marker with guys on him but somehow was able to get a huge first down. Bolen added the nail for a 24-13 lead, and the Cards won the Orange Bowl!
The big questions afterward were who would be back: Brohm? Mario? Malik Jackson? Harry? Less than a week later....I can't even type it.
At any rate, this is a #3 seed because a BCS bowl win is always a big deal, even if it is not the championship game. And because I'm sure I wasn't the only cards fan who said to himself, I don't want to spend the money to go down to the Orange Bowl, I'll wait until the Sugar Bowl next year. And even if Wake is not an ACC power, that was a good team with a smart coach and a stingy defense, and we still beat the spread and were not really challenged in the 4th quarter.
A formidable opponent for any game. Who will 2007 Orange Bowl match up against? The role of "scrappy mid-major champion starting 4 seniors and a junior" to the Orange Bowl's Kansas is...
14. LOUISVILLE DEFEATS KENTUCKY 81-63 IN THE 'MARVIN STONE GAME', DECEMBER 28, 2002
Four hours on youtube (okay maybe just 10 minutes) did not produce any video of this game, but this was a classic. Marvin Stone had been released from UK the year before and wound up at Louisville, taking the 2002-2003 team to another level. Gaines, freshmen Garcia and Dean, a Larry O'Bannon who was a year away from making a jump, Otis and Myles, Erik Brown - all have a special place in Cards fans hearts, and Stone getting a second chance, especially against his former team, a team that gave up on him, made the already-bitter rivalry that more interesting.
The Cards got down by double digits in the first half before storming back for a 2nd half beatdown that the loud, intense crowd really helped push to another level during the decisive run.
Stone was the leading scorer, notching 16 points and 7 boards and Myles had a double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds).
Enjoy this video of 2002-2003 highlights:
This was also Pitino's second game against UK, and the players had his back.
Pitino avenged a 20-point loss to the Wildcats in his much-ballyhooed return to Rupp Arena last December. He was making his first appearance in his former home arena, and fans screamed insults at him from the start in Kentucky's 82-62 victory.
The rude reception stuck with the Cardinals. "We really wanted to get this win for Coach, the way they treated him last year,'' Myles said.
Overall, it was a great afternoon and a memorable win for Marvin Stone and Coach Pitino and a worthy inclusion in the top 16 UofL games of the decade.
What say you?
13 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Sorry, no Cinderella this year
The UK win was great, but that Orange Bowl victory has grown in the hearts of fans (ironically because of the nadir we seem to have plummeted into since). Reading your recap I am reminded about how boring that game looked on TV… but it’s still a big win in my memory because it was the pinnacle of Louisville football and the last “warm & fuzzy” memory I have of the program.
by CardinalEmpire.com on Nov 19, 2009 2:52 PM EST reply actions
Deciding to go at the last second
Was the best decision I’ve made in the past five years.
by Mike Rutherford on Nov 19, 2009 3:23 PM EST reply actions
I'm surprised it's this big a blowout
I remember the Orange Bowl more for the scene after the game, with the players on the podium and the “one more year” chants for Brohm. Wake Forest was a boring team. I think that’s the year they won the ACC 9-6 in the most boring, pointless conference championship game of all time.
Orange Bowl
The wins over uk basketball are great, but they aren’t legendary. Uk shouldn’t be taken that seriously.
The Orange Bowl was a monumental win for our football team and at least at the time put UofL in a position to become an elite level program. Of course Krag has thrown all that into a microwave and nuked it all to hell.
But, be that as it may, a BCS Championship lives forever it and shouldn’t be discredited in any way just because Petrino went back on his word and bolted as soon as the big money offer came in and so on. It was a huge accomplishment and gets my vote, no question.
________________________________________________
~LK
www.myspace.com/lordkayoss
www.youtube.com/lordkayossrippro
www.welcometomynightmare.tk
I was at Dolphin Stadium in the 7th row, close enough to count the gray hairs on Taylor Hicks
I had 100% confidence we were going to win that game. This was the game that finally propelled an up-and-coming UofL team into the upper echelon of football powerhouses (Read that link if you feel like reminiscing about old times). Too bad we’ve come crashing down into the laughing stock of college football.
DocCardsFan
The 'Ville, KY
2nd row...in front of Rebecca Jackson
I’m obviously a better fan.
Oh and the Orange Bowl post-Anthem flyby was the best I’ve ever experienced. Being in the AF, I’ve seen a lot of jets but that was the only time I’ve ever high fived grown men after seeing planes zoom overhead.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Nov 19, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions
Fly by
was unbelievable. I was up by the scoreboard and those planes scared the cr*p out of us.
Seen 'em at Raiders games, Rose Bowls and everything inbetween
but that fly-by in Miami was by far the best. Seemed a lot closer to the stadium than any other fly by—a couple others who had tix at the top said the same thing, that it scared the crap out of them.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Nov 20, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions
My son was born two weeks before the Orange Bowl, so I couldn't go.
I can’t even look at that boy any more.
Play Pool Like a Pro
Hi,
For the outside spectator, it seems as if professional pool players are performing difficult moves and trick shots at ease. However, the top pool players are practicing techniques that help them increase their control over the cue ball and, eventually maximize their winnings.
I can recommend you a good Pool Site to play online and help you recording Top Score in this game. If you play Pool for fun, here’s your opportunity to ‘spice-up’ the game and use your skill to try and win some money!
Thanks
-—————————————
play pool
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
