Throwback Thursday: The Domino Effect of Louisville’s 2013 Sugar Bowl Win
Louisville Football pulled off the biggest upset in BCS history in 2013. But where would they be if they didn’t spring the upset?
The importance of one game sometimes cannot be understated. This could not be more true than in the case of Louisville’s victory in the 2013 sugar bowl.
The Cardinals came into the game as 14.5 point underdogs after being banged up towards the end of the season, and dropping inexplicable games back-to-back to Syracuse and Connecticut. The season was filled with promise initially, but that promise ultimately fizzled when the Cards lost in blowout fashion to Syracuse.
But, things took an unexpected turn for the better when Louisville won a de facto BCS play-in game, in a winner-take-all battle at Rutgers on the back of a one armed, one legged Teddy Bridgewater.
That game propelled Louisville into a BCS game against the No. 3 Florida Gators. The Gators were coming into the game on the heels of a near- national title game appearance. They defeated 4 top-25 teams- 3 of which were in the top 10- and only suffered one loss to the eventual SEC East Champion, Georgia.
The Cards, however, wanted nothing to do with the underdog talk. Although Kirk Herbstreit, and most other media members never gave Louisville a chance, the Cards came right out and punched the Gators in the mouth. Terrell Floyd scored on a pick-6 on the first play of the game. Bridgewater led the offense down the field on their first possession for another score, and Louisville relied on sound defense, and methodical offensive possessions to pretty much eviscerate the Gators.
A trick play to end the half for the Gators, and a kick off return touchdown, were the only true highlights for the Gators who, despite laying some nasty hits throughout the game, looked like an over-matched and out-prepared team in a 33-23 loss.
This win makes one ponder where Louisville football would be, had the outcome been different. Charlie Strong always viewed Louisville as a stepping stone job from the beginning, but the Sugar Bowl win propelled him into the national spotlight, and made him the No.1 choice for almost every big time opening. He was always looking for the next move, flirting with other teams (most notably Tennessee), before ultimately bolting for the head coaching job at Texas.
This made room for the return of Bobby Petrino to the program. Petrino immediately got the Cards off to a hot start in 2014, leading them to signature victories over Miami and Notre Dame in their inaugural ACC season. Petrino, in turn, was able to recruit Lamar Jackson to play for Louisville. Jackson was a raw talent from the beginning, and brought the program to levels it had never been to before, competing for an ACC Championship, and soaring to the top 5 of the national rankings.
Louisville now sits comfortably as a top 3-4 ACC team year in and year out. As much as it is hard to remember the feeling, Louisville was in the same spot in a much lesser Big East conference, as the biggest BCS underdog ever.
A lot can change in 5 years. Louisville goes from getting destroyed by a bad Syracuse team, and barely sneaking into a BCS bowl game, to national contender. They were a two- time host of College Gameday in as many years, will play in three ABC 8 pm primetime games in a row, and have two more scheduled in 2020 and 2021. They play their opener against defending national champions Alabama, and open their home slate in a newly expanded stadium.
The Cards went from mediocrity a decade ago, to middle of the pack 5 years ago, to possible yearly national contenders today.
It is hard to place everything that is happening to Louisville football on one game. But, it’s difficult to imagine where the Cards would be now without that 2013 Sugar Bowl win.
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