Football Set For Home Opener Against UTEP
September 16, 2003 | Football
Sept. 16, 2003
Louisville, Ky. -
After picking up a pair of road wins to start the season, the University of Louisville football team opens its 2003 home schedule on Saturday, September 20 when UTEP visits Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff.
It's the first home game for head coach Bobby Petrino, and the Cardinals' new head coach is itching to play in front of the home crowd.
"We're looking forward to our home opener," said Petrino. "We should have a good crowd and it will be a lot of fun to come home the next two weeks. I know our players are excited about playing on the new turf. We've practiced on it a few times this year, but it will be nice to finally have a game on it."
The Cards moved to 2-0 last Saturday with a 30-20 win over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Behind the running of Eric Shelton and the passing of Stefan LeFors, the Cardinals racked up 451 yards of total offense and scored on six of 10 possessions in the game.
Shelton pounded the Orangemen for 135 yards and LeFors had a career-high 266 yards and three touchdown passes. J.R. Russell also had a career-best afternoon, catching six passes for 133 yards and one touchdown reception - a 40-yarder on the Cardinals' first drive.
"I think we're finding the later we get into the game, the harder it is to tackle Eric," said Petrino. "Just his size and strength and people start not wanting to tackle him and if we can get him to the safeties and make them make tackles early they'll wear down a little bit. So that's where the big runs start to come."
Petrino also praised LeFors, who has run the offense with precision in the first two games.
"I think Stefan is doing a great job," said Petrino. "I was pleased with the way he played Saturday. He did some things at the line of scrimmage that really made me happy. He made some checks before the ball was snapped that I was happy to see. I think he's getting better every time out, and I'm excited to watch his progress."
Defensively, the Cards forced two turnovers and held Syracuse to just 20 points despite giving up 446 yards of total offense. Robert McCune spearheaded the charge with 11 tackles, while Montavious Stanley recorded a sack and recovered a fumble.
"Defensively we didn't play as well as we would have liked as far as our assignments go," Petrino said. "But it was as good an effort you could play with I think. We made up for our mistakes by playing hard and running to the ball and continuing to play hard the entire game."
Fans are encouraged to join the team at 12:45 for its first CardMarch, a new tradition started by Petrino. The team will be dropped off at the Denny Crum overpass and will procede into PJCS.
