The situation seemed dire again for the University of Louisville football team early in the second quarter, with Florida State up 14-0 and driving the ball down the field with ease. Looking like another bad week ahead for Coach Jeff Brohm’s troops. Some UofL fans already eyeing the exits, the bad-mouthing and grumbling making an early appearance at L&N Cardinal Stadium.
A team with post-season aspirations, even playoff hopes, falling far short of expectations, having lost three of its first five games. Not what anybody wanted, not what anyone expected. The doomsayers out in force.
But wait. Just wait a minute ye of little faith.
Could there some reason for optimism at the 9:35 mark when the UofL defense manages to stop FSU at the two-yard line. Wait, what? Something positive? Was the UofL defense presenting some resistance? A reason for hope?
Then comes the thunder, the lightning bolt of energy, the unexpected reemergence of running back Isaac Brown. The reinvigoration of UofL football against all odds.
The Louisville offensive line suddenly creates an opening for Brown, big enough to drive a golf cart through. He will never be touched, dashing 97 yards for a touchdown. The crowd of 48.992 setting new audible levels, this was what the fans were pleading, signs of life from Louisville football.
That’s exactly what it turned out to be. But much more. Louisville completely dominating the game, scoring 35 straight points on the shell-shocked FSU Seminoles in a 44-20 thrashing.
The UofL defense, with a resurgence of boisterism from the Crunch Zone, would hold the Seminols to a three-and- out and a punting situation. Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz with a couple of pass completions and quarterback keepers down to the FSU 3-yard where running back Marquise Davis would tie the game at 14-14.
Kienholz would score the next two touchdowns himself on runs of three yards and one yard and the Cardinals were on their way to a rout. The UofL quarterback would finish with 11 of 15 passing for 140 yards and 40 yards rushing.
Brown adding another touchdown in the fourth on a 68-yard carry. He would wind up with 235 yards for the game.
Amazing how one win or loss, for that matter, can change perspectives in sports. Looking good for another week at least.
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Coach Jeff Brohm providing some insight into a challenging week of introspection and preparation:
“I thought we had a great week of practice. Did we adjust things up? Yes, we did. I think when things aren’t going the way you want, you’ve got to tweak some things, that’s my responsibility to do whatever I can to help us improve. Definitely this week, the goal was to get with the defense and help them, assist them as much as I can, help them put a plan together that we understand and we know, that is simple, but yet has enough ability to get aggressive and to strike and allow our guys to play, but also not give up big plays. So, I spent a whole lot of time doing that.
“Our defensive coaches did a great job with it, put it on paper. We had Coach (Mark) Ivey, Coach (Steve) Ellis and Coach (Mike) Cassity upstairs working together to do the best job they could and I thought they did a great job. On offense, I wasn’t as involved, Brian [Brohm] and the offensive staff took it and ran with it. I thought they did a great job, worked really hard, of course I was in there some and assisted as much as I can, I’ll always do that, but it was theirs and they took it and ran with it and I’m really proud of them. Things didn’t look good early on, so they just kept staying together, had a great attitude, so you’ve got to give them a lot of credit. So great job coaching by our offensive and defensive staff and a great job by our players today, I’m really proud of them.”
