2005 Cardinal Football Outlook
August 10, 2005 | Football
Aug. 10, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the Louisville football team's 2005 season-opener at Kentucky fast-approaching, UofLSports.com will be providing a daily preview of the Cards' first season in the BIG EAST Conference. Today's first installment provides an overall preview of the upcoming season.
2005 Outlook
Coming off one of the best seasons in school history, University of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino will have to replace the winningest senior class in school history, including the loss of six players who were taken in the NFL Draft.
Despite the losses to many key components, head coach Bobby Petrino is optimistic about his team's chances in 2005.
Louisville opened fall drills on August 6 in preparation for the September 4 opener at Kentucky.
The Cardinals return 15 starters and one of the top young quarterbacks in the country from last year's team that went 11-1, including a 44-40 win in the Liberty Bowl -- the Cardinals seventh straight bowl appearance. The Cardinals finished sixth in the Associated Press Poll and seventh in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll -- both rankings were the highest in school history.
Louisville set 11 school records and 10 Conference USA marks in 2004, including the school mark for points in a season, points per game and rushing yards. The Cardinals scored more than 40 points nine times and over 50 points on seven different occasions, including 70 in a win over Cincinnati and 65 against Houston.
There are some big shoes to fill, including those of Co-Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year Stefan LeFors, All-Conference wide receiver J.R. Russell, running back Eric Shelton, and the team leader in tackles linebacker Robert McCune and free safety Kerry Rhodes, who paced the team with six interceptions.
The Cardinals have holes to fill on both sides of the football, but with an experienced offensive and defensive line returning, and a year of experience for Brian Brohm at quarterback, the Cardinals are well-suited to compete for a conference title in their new league * the BIG EAST Conference.
"We lost some very talented players and great leaders," said Petrino. "Those seniors were the winningest class in school history and did a lot for the University of Louisville. However, we feel like we return a solid group of players who played a lot of snaps. We were fortunate to play a lot of players last season and I think that will payoff for us as we begin practice."
The Cardinals lost their talented signal caller in LeFors, but Brohm is more than ready to take over the reins. He will be fortunate to play behind one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country, as five players with starting experience return, and the Cardinals added a couple of talented junior-college players.
Seniors offensive tackle Travis Leffew and center Jason Spitz are the anchors up front, along with junior guard Kurt Quarterman, senior offensive tackle Jeremy Darveau and junior offensive tackle Renardo Foster, who returns after missing half the season with a knee injury.
The defense should benefit from the return of sack leader defensive end Elvis Dumervil, defensive tackles Montavious Stanely and Amobi Okoye, as well as, outside linebackers Brandon Johnson and Abe Brown.
