2007 Louisville Cardinals football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2007
Team=Louisville Cardinals


Conference=Big East Conference
Division=
ShortConference=Big East
Record=6-6
ConfRecord=3-4
CoachRank=
APRank=
HeadCoach=Steve Kragthorpe
OffCoach=Charlie Stubbs
DefCoach=Mike Cassity
OScheme=Multiple
DScheme=4-3
Stadium=Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
Champion=
Bowl=
BowlResult=The 2007 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the 2007 college football season. The team, led by Steve Kragthorpe in his first year at the school, played their home games in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and were in their third year in the Big East Conference.

Pre-season

The Cardinals finished the 2006 season with a 12-1 record, including a win in the Orange Bowl. After the win they were ranked 5^th in the nation. Returning fourteen starters from their 2006 team [cite web|url=http://www.madduxsports.com/louisville-cardinals-football-preview.html|title=2007 Louisville Cardinals Football Preview|accessdate=2007-08-14] , including quarterback Brian Brohm [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2731688|title=Louisville quarterback Brohm to return for senior season|accessdate=2007-01-16] the team was picked, by the Big East media, to finish second in the conference, [cite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071707aaa.html|title=Cards Picked to Finish Second in BIG EAST in 2007|accessdate=2007-08-14] and were ranked between five and 13 in various preseason polls. [cite web|url=http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/10763/no-13-loaded-cardinals-welcome-kragthorpe|title=No. 13: Loaded Cardinals welcome Kragthorpe|publisher= [http://www.athlonsports.com athlonsports] |accessdate=2007-05-16] [cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/stewart_mandel/04/24/spring.power.rankings/index.html|title=SI.com - Writers - Stewart Mandel: Spring Power Rankings|publisher= [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com SI.com] |accessdate-2007-04-24] [cite web|url=http://proxy.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2738142|title=Schlabach: Revised early look at the top 25 for 2007|publisher= [http:espn.go.com ESPN.com] |accessdate=2007-01-23] [cite web|url=http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=627579|title=Rivals.com College Football - Rivals.com 2007 Preseason Top 25|publisher= [http://collegefootball.rivals.com Rivals.com] |accessdate=2007-01-09] [cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10089235|title=Spring Top 25: Dear Mr. Dellins -- your Bruins are here|publisher= [http://www.sportsline.com Sportsline.com] |accessdate=2007-03-26]

Coaching changes

Almost a week after their victory in the Orange Bowl, head coach, Bobby Petrino, was offered and took the head coaching position with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. [cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/falcons/2007-01-07-petrino-falcons_x.htm|title=Falcons lure Louisville's Petrino to NFL with five-year deal|accessdate=2007-08-08] Two days later, Steve Kragthorpe, former head coach for the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, was hired for the position. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2725322&campaign=rsssrch&source=atlanta+falcons|title=Louisville,Tulsa's Kragthorpe have agreement|accessdate=2007-08-08] Though five assistant coaches were retained, five new assistants were hired in the off-season, three of which came with Kragthorpe from his staff at Tulsa.cite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011307aaa.html|title=Kragthorpe Announces Cardinal Coaching Staff|accessdate=2007-08-14]

Roster changes

Although returning 14 starters from 2006, the team lost four players to the 2007 NFL Draft. From the offense, running back Michael Bush was taken in the fourth round by Oakland and running back Kolby Smith was taken in the fifth round by Kansas City. From the defense, tackle Amobi Okoye was taken tenth by Houston while cornerback, William Gay was taken in the fifth round by Pittsburgh. [cite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042907aab.html|title=Four Cardinals Selected in the NFL Draft|accessdate=2007-08-08]

Recruiting

The Cardinals signed 15 recruits for the new class, including three junior-college transfers. Included in the top-50 class were one five-star recruit on defense, three four-star recruits on offense and another four-star recruit on defense. Also entering in with the class was 2006 recruit Josh Chichester, who wasn't able to enroll with his recruiting class.

College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Victor Anderson
position = RB
hometown = Louisville, KY
highschool = St. Xavier HS
feet = 5
inches = 9
weight = 176
40 = 4.44
commitdate = 1/28/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 74College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Doug Beaumont
position = WR
hometown = Louisville, KY
highschool = Male HS
feet = 5
inches = 9
weight = 176
40 = 4.45
commitdate = 9/17/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 78College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Michael Fennerty
position = TE
hometown = Olympia, WA
highschool = Olympia HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 210
40 = 4.86
commitdate = 2/24/2007
scout stars = 2
rivals stars = 2
espn grade = 40College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Patrick Grant
position = DE
hometown = Lauderdale Lakes, FL
highschool = Boyd H. Anderson HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 218
40 = 4.6
commitdate = 2/7/2007
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 74College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Zach Kiernan
position = OT
hometown = Newport, KY
highschool = Newport Central Catholic HS
feet = 6
inches = 6
weight = 242
40 = NA
commitdate = 10/10/2006
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 40College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Dale Martin
position = RB
hometown = Bolingbrook, IL
highschool = Bolingbrook HS
feet = 5
inches = 11
weight = 195
40 = 4.5
commitdate = 1/6/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 77College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Josh Miller
position = WR
hometown = Palatka, FL
highschool = Palatka HS
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 182
40 = 4.5
commitdate = 1/25/2007
scout stars = 2
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 40College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = C.J. Peake
position = S
hometown = Trotwood, OH
highschool = Trotwood-Madison HS
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 212
40 = 4.55
commitdate = 1/26/2007
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 76College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Bilal Powell
position = S
hometown = Lakeland, FL
highschool = Lake Gibson Senior HS
feet = 6
inches = 0
weight = 200
40 = 4.5
commitdate = 1/24/2007
scout stars = 2
rivals stars = 2
espn grade = 40College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Matt Simms
position = QB
hometown = Ramsey, NJ
highschool = Don Bosco Prep School
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 200
40 = 4.8
commitdate = 1/29/2007
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 70College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Chaz Thompson
position = CB
hometown = Weed, CA
highschool = College of the Siskiyous
feet = 6
inches = 1
weight = 195
40 = 4.35
commitdate = 1/21/2007
scout stars = 2
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = NACollege Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Greg Tomczyk
position = OT
hometown = Princeton, NJ
highschool = The Hun School
feet = 6
inches = 6
weight = 290
40 = 4.88
commitdate = 1/17/2007
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 60College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Woodny Turenne
position = DB
hometown = Visalia, CA
highschool = College of the Sequoias
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 190
40 = 4.34
commitdate = 1/25/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 5
espn grade = NACollege Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Mark Wetterer
position = OG
hometown = Cincinnati, OH
highschool = Anderson HS
feet = 6
inches = 5
weight = 292
40 = 5.3
commitdate = 12/2/2006
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 74College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Willie Williams
position = LB
hometown = Culver City, CA
highschool = West Los Angeles
feet = 6
inches = 3
weight = 232
40 = NA
commitdate = 1/25/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = NACollege Athlete Recruit End
40 = yes
year = 2007
rivals ref title = Louisville Commit List 2007
scout ref title = Scout.com Football Recruiting: Louisville
espn ref title = 2007 Player Commitments - Louisville
rivals school = 38
scout s = 17
espn schoolid = 97
scout overall = #47
rivals overall = #41
accessdate = 2007-08-14
collapse = yes

Pre-season honors

Three Cardinal players were honored as part of pre-season watchlists for national awards.

*Brian Brohm - Manning Award and Maxwell Award [cite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/080907aaa.html|title=Brohm Named to Manning Watch List|accessdate=2007-08-15]
*Adrian Grady - Bronko Nagurski Trophycite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061407aaa.html|title=Wood and Grady Named to Preseason Watch Lists|accessdate=2007-08-15]
*Eric Wood - Outland Trophy

In addition to the honors, Brohm was also named to the Playboy pre-season All-America team. [cite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041307aaa.html|title=Brohm Named to Preseason All-American Team|accessdate=2007-08-15]

eason

Roster

Coaching staff

The 2007 Cardinal team was coached by Steve Kragthorpe and his staff. Much of the coaching staff from 2006 remained, but Kragthorpe brought in other to fill out the staff, including, initially, three from his previous position. [cite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011807aaa.html|title=Alford Named as Kragthorpe Completes Coaching Staff|accessdate=2007-08-14] Keith Patterson was originally brought in from Tulsa as defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach, however returned to Tulsa before the season began for personal reasons. [cite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/030107aaa.html|title=Patterson Leaves Louisville; Returns to Tulsa|accessdate=2007-08-14] . Patterson was quickly replaced by Mike Mallory. [cite web|url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/030207aaa.html|title=Mallory Hired to Coach the Secondary|accessdate=2007-08-14]

chedule

CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = August 30
nonconf = yes
time = 7:30 p.m.
rank = 11
opprank =
opponent = Murray State
site_stadium = Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
site_cityst = Louisville, KY
tv = ESPNU
score = 73-10CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = September 6
nonconf = yes
time = 7:00 p.m.
rank = 8
opprank =
opponent = Middle Tennessee
site_stadium = Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
site_cityst = Louisville, KY
tv = ESPN2
score = 58-42CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = September 15
nonconf = yes
time = 7:30 p.m.
rank = 9
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = Kentucky
site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
site_cityst = Lexington, KY
tv = ESPN Classic
score = 34-40CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = September 22
time = 12:00 p.m.
rank = 19
opprank =
opponent = Syracuse
site_stadium = Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
site_cityst = Louisville, KY
tv = ESPN Plus
score = 38-35CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = September 29
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = 3:30 p.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = NC State
site_stadium = Carter-Finley Stadium
site_cityst = Raleigh, North Carolina
tv = ESPNU
score = 29-10CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = October 5
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
time = 8:00 p.m.
rank =
opprank =
opponent = Utah
site_stadium = Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
site_cityst = Louisville, KY
tv = ESPN
score = 44-35CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = October 13
time = 7:00 p.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank = 17
opponent = Cincinnati
site_stadium = Nippert Stadium
site_cityst = Cincinnati, OH
tv = ESPNU
score = 28-24CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = October 19
time = 8:00 p.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = Connecticut
site_stadium = Rentschler Field
site_cityst = East Hartford, CT
tv = ESPN
score = 21-17CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = October 27
homecoming = yes
time = 12:00 p.m.
rank =
opprank =
opponent = Pittsburgh
site_stadium = Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
site_cityst = Louisville, KY
tv = ESPN Plus
score = 24-17CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = November 8
time = 7:30 p.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank = 6
opponent = West Virginia
site_stadium = Milan Puskar Stadium
site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
tv = ESPN
score = 38-31CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = November 17
time = 8:00 p.m.
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = South Florida
site_stadium = Raymond James Stadium
site_cityst = Tampa, FL
tv = ESPNU
score = 55-17CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = November 29
homecoming =
time = 7:30 p.m.
rank =
opprank =
opponent = Rutgers
site_stadium = Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
site_cityst = Louisville, KY
tv = ESPN
score = 41-38

References

External links

* [http://uoflsports.cstv.com/ Official Athletics Site]
* [http://louisville.edu/ Official University of Louisville site]
* [http://www.bigeast.org/ Big East Conference Site]