Kentucky Or Not, Season Opener Big For Louisville
August 22, 2001 | Football
Aug. 22, 2001
By CHRIS DUNCAN
Associated Press Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Louisville won't open with Kentucky for the first time in seven seasons. Instead, the Cardinals chose to open the college football season hoping for a shot at national attention.
The Cardinals, defending Conference USA champions, play host to New Mexico State on Thursday night in the John Thompson Foundation Challenge Classic.
The game won't be televised nationally, but Louisville coach John L. Smith said it still provides a chance for a program desperate for national exposure.
"Any time we can be the only show, it's a great deal for us," Smith said. "The more exposure we can get for the program, the more it's going to pay off in the future."
All the Cardinals have to do is win. Smith said that will depend on whether his team's run defense can measure up to last year's record-setting standard.
New Mexico State was the sixth-best rushing team in the nation in 2000 and has ranked in the top 20 in total offense the past three seasons under coach Tony Samuel, a former Nebraska player and assistant. The Aggies run the Cornhuskers' power-I option.
The Cardinals were fourth against the run last season, allowing fewer than 80 yards a game. The 879 rushing yards allowed was a single-season school record.
But defensive tackles Derrick Kennedy and Donovan Arp have graduated, and their replacements - Scott Lopez and Bobby Leffew - have a combined two career tackles.
The Aggies' starting offensive line averages 306 pounds and Smith is nervous about how his inexperienced tackles - both listed at 280 - will respond.
"Those guys are going to be forced to take on some double-teams and to not get pushed off the line," Smith said. "It's going to put more stress on us to do this, than, say line up and rush the passer."
Chris Barnes, New Mexico State's top rusher in '00, is gone, but second-leading rusher Kenton Keith returns. The senior ran for 876 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per carry. Quarterback K.C. Enzminger is also back.
"Running the ball is what they're best at, and it's good that we're going out and getting a test like this right away," Leffew said.
Lopez and Leffew won't have all the run-stopping responsibility. Smith said Koby Clark, JUCO transfer Keeshan Lowe, Chad Pinkston and Brad Devine will also see time in the middle of the line.
Smith may be worried about stopping the Aggies, but quarterback Dave Ragone isn't worried about scoring on them. The Cardinals averaged 35 points per game last season, and eight offensive starters return.
New Mexico State gave up 32.5 points and 417 yards per game last season. Only one starter returns to the Aggies' secondary, and Ragone, who threw 27 touchdown passes in 2000, can't wait to test it.
"They're pretty inexperienced on defense, and on offense, we're definitely way ahead of where we were last year at this time," Ragone said.
