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Louisville bowl report
The University of Louisville is going to the "Wild Wild West," and the
theme song to the recent flick can be heard all over town on the radio, at
Freedom Hall during basketball games, emanating from Papa John's Cardinal
Stadium.
Second-year coach John L. Smith is ecstatic about facing Boise State in the Dec. 30 Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho. During a men's basketball game a few weeks ago, he entertained the crowd during a TV timeout with a rousing speech and cheer of C-A-R-D-S. He looked natural in a cowboy hat and matching boots. He should. He's going home. Smith is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and former coach of the Idaho Vandals. While at Idaho he manhandled Boise State five of six times. In nine seasons as head coach at Idaho and Utah State, Smith went 7-2 against the Broncos. Average score: 35-20. Smith said he anticipates the Humanitarian Bowl, played on the blue field at the 30,000-seat Bronco Stadium, will be a high-scoring affair. Boise State (9-3 overall, 5-1 in the Big West Conference) averaged 41.3 points in its final seven games of the season, with junior quarterback Bart Hendricks completing 57.8 percent of his passes. He threw for 2,746 yards and ran for 357 yards while scoring eight touchdowns. Running back Davy Malathong leads four Broncos rushers with more than 300 yards on the ground. He gained a team-high 577 yards and scored six touchdowns as Boise State averaged nearly 160 rushing yards per game. Defensively, the Broncos forced 29 turnovers in 12 games, including 14 interceptions. Defensive back Dempsy Dees leads the Broncos and finished the season ranked in the top 20 nationally with six interceptions and 17 passes broken up. Louisville's offense was the story of the season, capitalizing on the strong arm of Chris Redman to average 466.9 yards total offense, seventh-best in the country. Although Frank Moreau did an above-average job running the football (128.9 yards per game), it was the passing game, which ranked second nationally, that garnered all the pub. The defense, which finished the season 89th nationally allowing 392.1 yards per game, was much improved over a year ago but will have to contend with five Boise State receivers who caught 20 or more passes this season, including Jeb Pulzier who made a team-high 39 receptions. A win in the Wild, Wild West would be Louisville's first bowl victory since beating Michigan State in the 1993 Liberty Bowl. The Personnel FileOFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Senior quarterback Chris Redman. The Louisville native ended his illustrious career by completing 317 of 489 yards for 3,647 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was the Conference USA Player of the Year. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Senior defensive tackle Mike Gantous. He anchored a young line -- and overall youthful defense -- making 33 tackles, including eight for loss. He was a first-team all-C-USA selection. COACH: John L. Smith is 14-9 in two seasons. Although his name was mentioned for several coaching vacancies -- Michigan State, Louisiana State, N.C. State -- it looks like the cowboy will remain in the 'ville. NoteworthySHEFFIELD GONE: Senior wide receiver Charles Sheffield was dismissed from the team during bowl preparations. John L. Smith refused to divulge the details of his dismissal. Sheffield was fifth on the team with 24 receptions and fourth with 418 receiving yards. FAVORED SON: Redman won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given annually in Louisville. 7 TIMES 2: The Cards won seven games for the second consecutive season, just the second time in school history that that has happened. The other time was in 1977 and '78, when Vince Gibson coached U of L to records of 7-4-1 and 7-4, respectively. A Glance AheadSTARTERS TO REPLACE: Nine.
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