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A season for the books

With the Cardinals finishing off their regular season on Saturday and now preparing for the ????? Bowl in a little less than a month, we at the Cardinal decided to look back and highlight perhaps the greatest season in Cardinal football history. With the Derby City Duo did not finishing the race and the dream of going undefeated unexpectedly dying on a cold Thursday night in New Jersey, head coach Bobby Petrino’s team still had one hell of a season.

Sept. 3, 2006: Cards take down Cats but injury overshadows Governor’s Cup victory The football season kicked off just the way Petrino, the players and all the fans expected, with an onslaught on scoring on a porous Kentucky defense. Five scores and almost 25 minutes later Louisville led 31-0 and the team’s quest for a shot at a national championship was underway. But one simple handoff put a shroud of doubt over the rest of the year and Louisville realized it had lost its hometown hero at running back. Despite rolling over Kentucky for the win, it was a dark day in the ‘Ville.

Sept. 19, 2006: Another fallen soldierAfter a convincing win against Temple, the Cardinal program undertook their first major step to vaulting themselves into the national spotlight with their game against The U. Dominating and clearly showing the Hurricanes, Lee Corso and much of the country who was the better team throughout the entire game, the Cards’ team endured another hardship, this time losing their leader on offense Brian Brohm to a thumb injury. While the prognosis was that Brohm would return before the much anticipated match up with West Virginia, questions began swirling if this team could rebound from yet another devastating injury.

Oct. 14, 2006: Brohm’s returnWith Hunter Cantwell looking sharp in the absence of boy wonder leading the team to three straight wins, Brohm takes back his spot under center to lead Louisville to a shaky win against conference foe Syracuse. While the win pushed the team to 7-0, a shaky effort the previous week against Cincinnati and the offense looking more like the NFL’s Cardinals in the late 90s with Jake the Snake at the helm, many wondered if Brohm and company would be up to taking on the Mountaineers.

Nov. 2, 2006: BlackoutNo. 3 versus No. 5. Brohm versus Slaton and White. Petrino versus Rodriguez. Without a doubt Louisville’s biggest football game ever, pitting two of the nation’s top teams with heavy national championship implications on the line. However, it was not the high flying passing attack of the Cards or West Virginia’s dynamic duo on the ground that dictated the game. Instead, a little guy named Trent Guy’s punt return for a touchdown and an opportunistic Mike Cassity defense that capitalized on several West Virginia turnovers proved to be the difference for the Cardinals.

Nov. 7, 2006: Kissing a title shot goodbyeJust one week after the Cards played their biggest game in school history, they traveled to Rutgers to take on a team in the exact same situation as Louisville seven days before. As if seeing an 18 point first half lead evaporate wasn’t enough, Rutgers’ kicker Jeremy Ito’s would-be game-winning field goal that missed was called back for an offside penalty. And we all know what happened on his second try.

Today: While the loss to Rutgers clearly pulled the heart out of this university, the players and the fans, Louisville did what they have done all year when facing adversity. They kept on winning. All year this team was faced with obstacles and they stepped it up each time. It is very apparent that the team’s mantra of “Finish,” which has been beaten into their heads since the end of last year has paid off. Ending the regular season on a three-game winning streak after the devastating loss to the Scarlet Knights is a perfect example. While the quest for a shot at a national title is gone, this team showed more grit and toughness than many give them credit for. And now they have their reward with a BCS game against ??????.