Day One in the Books for the Football Cardinals
August 05, 2014 | Football
Video: Wrap up of Day One
Video: Bobby Petrino on Day One
Video: Jamon Brown on Day One
The University of Louisville football team held its first day of preseason workouts Tuesday as the Cardinals went through a pair of split-squad practices at the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex.
Tuesday's workout was the first of four days that will see the Cardinals hold split-squad practices. Louisville will practice for the first time as a full team on Friday. The Cards practiced in shorts and helmets on Tuesday, and will do again on Wednesday, before adding shoulder pads on Thursday and Friday. Louisville's first full-pads practice will be on Saturday morning.
"It was a fun day," head coach Bobby Petrino said after Tuesday's afternoon practice. "We started off this morning with newcomers. I thought they did a good job. I like our recruiting class. It was fun to work with those guys. We got a lot out of it."
"We came out this afternoon, and we didn't do everything right. Our guys got tired and our guys need to practice hard when they got tired. They got a little fatigued, but they have to fight through it."
On Tuesday, the morning workout consisted mainly of rookies and a few upperclassmen mixed in the group. The afternoon group was made up of the veterans. Quarterbacks Will Gardner, Pat Thomas, Kyle Bolin and Brett Nelson. Tuesday was also the first day that Petrino and his staff were able to have on-field instruction.
After missing the spring season with shoulder surgery, senior Lorenzo Mauldin returned to the field and impressed Petrino. Finishing 19th in the country in sacks, Mauldin has the talent to be one of the most dominating pass rushers in the country, and it was on display for Petrino on Tuesday afternoon.
"It was fun to seeing him coming off the edge," Petrino said. "He is good. He can really rush the passer; he uses his hands and he is smart. He knows the sets by the tackles and tight ends. I watched him more than I usually watch the rush guys during practice. It was fun and I enjoyed watching him."
The Cardinals conducted a 23-period practice in the afternoon with the upperclassmen, and the intensity was remarkably different. Safety Gerod Holliman recorded a pair of interceptions during the course of practice.
During the team portion of practice, the first team offense consisted of: wide receivers DeVante Parker, Eli Rogers and Matt Milton; tight end Gerald Christian; running back Dominique Brown; offensive tackles Kelby Johnson and Jamon Brown; guards John Miller and Chris Acosta; center Jake Smith; quarterback Will Gardner.
Louisville opens its fifth season under Petrino on Monday, Sept. 1 when the Cardinals face Miami at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN.
