The Bubble Burst

[Swamp Daddy]

After an amazing start to the season Louisville showed weakness in week 10 losing to formerly hapless Syracuse 45-17 to end it's perfect season hopes . I hardly knew what to post and was finishing up early (amazing for me) the Christmas shopping season anyway. But, here I am to eat crow or whatever the penalty is for too much enthusiasm.

I thought with a bye week that in week 12 they would crush nobody Uconn. The poor performance on the field continued with even poorer performance from the coaches who did nothing to stem the tide. Though Coach Strong's strength and expertise in the defensive side of the ball, the team in my opinion was not as good defensively as last year's team; and, got worse slowly but surely as the season progressed. Especially against the run. The game against UConn proved once and for all that they were not a good team against a good running team. Miracle worker QB Teddy Bridgewater on a last minute drive tied the game at 10-10 in regulation with a broken left wrist. 1st overtime ended at 13-13, 2nd overtime at 20-20, and in overtime 3, UL went first and had a pass intercepted in the endzone, then UConn. only had to kick a field goal which they did winning 23-20.

A quick turnaround has Louisville and Rutgers playing tonight (Thursday) for all the BE marbles. With Rutgers leaving for the Big10 and Louisville leaving for the ACC who knows what will happen. On paper, Louisville looks the better of the two; but, UL has looked like a paper tiger the last two games so I have a lot of nerves about this game.

Swamp Daddy

[Spence]

No need to apologize for over enthusiasm. That is what fans do and why everyone of us devote the time to college football that we do. 11-1 is a great season.

[Swamp Daddy]

After a bad 3 weeks, and two losses & a bye, UL bounced back against Rutgers at their place. Rutgers first play was a 68 yard TC pass. Ul kicks a field goal, now 7-3. Rutgers has another miracle 50+ yard pass and the half ends 14-3 for the Scarlett Knights. UL has not been good at coming back late in the season.

In the 2nd half UL has a 90 yard drive for a TD, now 14-10 Rutgers in the lead. On the next kickoff UL hits the return man and recovers a fumble and quickly scores making it 17-14 UL in the 3rd quarter. Rutgers gets a field goal in the 4th quarter with about 8 minutes left to tie it 17-17. UL drives down, misses a field goal. They hold Rutgers, drive down again and get a 39 yarder to lead 20-17 with 5 minutes to go. They hold Rutgers, then promptly throw an interception to give it back to Rutgers again. Rutgers returns the favor with deflected pass by their man and UL intercepts it with less than 2 minutes to go and runs one play and takes enough knees to run the time out.

So, we backed into the BE championship. Where we go may be determined by what Kent State does in their last game. Perhaps being taken into the ACC yesterday provided a little extra incentive.

Bridgewater played with a broken left wrist and a poor ankle and still managed to come up with big plays when needed. He is one tough guy and I'd hate to meet hime the wrong way. Backup Will Stein played QB for more than 1/2 the game and controlled things well. Our run defense sucks though. Pass defense was good. I'm also thinking our OC needs to rethink running on first down and losing yardage the whole game never changing his strategy. Don't know if he needs to go or not; but, I would not miss him. Maybe we need Bobby P. back as OC.

Swamp Daddy

[Eric]

I think Louisville is a good team. I know they had their struggles there at the end, but a 10 win season isn't anything to hang your head in shame for, even if the Big East isn't that good. They can give their bowl opponent a push I think. With the layoff and the "ugh, we have to play the Big East champion" mindset, they could give Florida or Florida State a run for their money. Bridgewater is that kind of special player in my opinion.