By Andre Boudreaux
The University of Louisville football team came off its best season since 2006 after the Cards finished with a record of 11-1 and defeated Wake Forest University 24-13 in the FedEx Orange Bowl.
The Cardinal’s victory over the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2010 St. Petersburg Beef O’Brady’s Bowl by a score of 31-28 was an indication of things to come. The victory was also a measuring stick of the talent at U of L. Three players from that team, Bilal Powell, Johnny Patrick, and Cameron Graham, have since been invited to the NFL Combine to further showcase their talents. The combine is being held from February 23 to March 1, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
These three players were also among the most important Cardinal athletes in the last season. Powell led the team with 1,405 rushing yards and was an All-Big East honoree. Graham was second on the team with 40 receptions for 470 yards and tied for the team lead with five touchdown catches. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, Patrick led the Cards with five interceptions.
Each will be competing for places in the NFL to join the ranks of former Cardinals such as quarterback Brian Brohm, running back Michael Bush, defensive back William Gay, defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, and offensive guard Eric Wood. If these NFL hopefuls can make the jump from playing on Saturday to Sunday, they will have more in common with Brohm, Okoye, and Wood than just playing in the NFL; they will have won a bowl game for the University of Louisville.
Gay has set the bar very high for Cardinals in the NFL. He has played in two of the last three Super Bowls, helping the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.
Back on campus, however, Powell, Patrick, and Graham – while wanting to emulate the former Cards’ success – are hoping to leave their mark on the Cardinal football team. Bringing the Cards to and winning their first bowl game since 2006 is one way to do that.
Another is by leaving the program better than they found it. They each played their part in helping the Cards land a top 25 recruiting class. ESPN.com has the Cards incoming class ranked 21st, ahead of Southeastern Conference powers such as the University of South Carolina and the University of Mississippi. South Carolina played in the SEC Championship game last season.
While the hard work is just beginning for Powell, Graham, and Patrick, they have left their impression on the program for future teams. The trio’s work in becoming NFL athletes is just beginning, but on the way they helped bring the University of Louisville back to national recognition. Most importantly, they have the Cardinals back playing in and winning bowl games.
