Kragthorpe Previews Thursday's Match-Up with Middle Tennessee
September 03, 2007 | Football
Sept. 3, 2007
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville football head coach Steve Kragthorpe, junior cornerback Travis Norton and sophomore receiver Scott Long met with members of the media on Monday to review last week's season-opening 73-10 win over Murray State and preview this week's game against Middle Tennessee. The Cards and Blue Raiders will meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
The Cards enter the game at 1-0 overall following last week's win over the Racers, while Middle Tennessee enters the week at 0-1 following a season-opening 27-14 loss at Florida Atlantic.
Cardinals Look to Extend Nation's Second-Longest Home Winning Streak
The University of Louisville will put its 19-game home winning streak on the line when the Cardinals host Middle Tennessee State on Thursday, September 6 at 7:00 on ESPN2. The winning streak is currently is the second-longest string of consecutive home wins in the country behind USC's 34-game winning streak. Louisville's 19-game winning streak dates back all the way to the 2003 season when they defeated Houston, 66-45, on November 22. The Cardinals haven't lost at home since dropping a 37-7 decision to Memphis on November 15, 2003. The Cardinals have rolled at home over the last five years, scoring 40 or more points on 15 different occasions. The Cardinals are 47-9 all-time in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and have the fourth-best record at home over the last five years.
Brohm Goes for Fifth Straight 300-Yard Game
Senior quarterback Brian Brohm has found a groove. The 6-4, 228-pounder threw his fourth consecutive 300-yard game with a 375-yard and four touchdown performance in the win over Murray State last Thursday. Dating back to last season, Brohm has thrown for 1,364 yards and 12 touchdowns in his last four contests. He has thrown four touchdown passes in three of those four games. He failed to throw a TD pass in the Orange Bowl win over Wake Forest. During that span, Brohm is also completing 72.3 percent of this throws and has just tossed one interception. Brohm has thrown just 12 interceptions in 733 throws in his career.
Cards Enter Middle Tennessee Game Ranked Eighth in National Polls
UofL moved up to No. 8 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls on Tuesday. The Cards opened the 2007 season ranked 10th in the AP Top 25 Poll and 11th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The No. 10 ranking was the highest preseason ranking in school history. The Cards closed last season ranked sixth in the AP Poll and seventh in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
GAME FACTS - No. 8 Louisville (1-0) vs. Middle Tennessee (0-1)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 6
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Site: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (42,000), Louisville, Ky.
TV: ESPN2 will televise the game nationally.
Radio: Paul Rogers and Craig Swabek will call all the action and Doug Ormay will report from the sidelines on WHAS 840 AM
Also: SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Ch. 122
Polls: Louisville is ranked 8th in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and 8th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Middle Tennessee is not ranked in this week's national polls.
Coaches: Louisville's Steve Kragthorpe (30-21 in four seasons as head coach; 1-0 at Louisville); Middle Tennessee's Rick Stockstill (7-7 in second season at MTSU).
Series Info: Louisville leads the all-time series 1-0. The Cards won the only previous meeting 44-17 last season LP Field in Nashville.
Quick Hits: Louisville extended their home winning streak to 19 games -- the second longest in the nation behind USC's 34-game streak... Senior Harry Douglas has four straight 100-yard receiving games, while senior quarterback Brian Brohm also has four straight 300-yard games... Brohm leads the nation in passing efficiency and is fourth in total passing. The Louisville defense limited Murray State to just 57 yards of total offense in the second half.
