Louisville football: 21st century All-Cardinal defensive team

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 30: Keith Kelsey #55 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates with Chucky Williams #22 after breaking up a pass against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half of the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 30: Keith Kelsey #55 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates with Chucky Williams #22 after breaking up a pass against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half of the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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I’ve got a fever…and the only cure is more pigskin. Gather ’round fellow sickos as we name the best Louisville defensive/special teams lineup in the greatest Louisville football era in school history.

It has been an uphill battle to even breach the national conversation of great teams and players for the Louisville football program. However, the ’90s are long gone (thank heavens) and the ’90s are revered now as the stepping stone years in the program’s gridiron folklore.

The 2000s have been kind to us. Prior to the new millennium, the Cardinals only won three bowl games and two conference championships. They have had seven bowl wins and seven conference titles since then.

As we all know, great teams are comprised of great players, just like we saw with Ethan Sprowles’ All-21st Century Offensive team. This holds true for many of the teams and players in the 21st Century, as the university produced a boatload of collegiate accolades and NFL talent in this era.

Journey with us as we field our fantasy football lineup for the Louisville All-century defense/special teams in the pages to follow. As a reminder, as I tend to do with my articles, this is an opinionated piece and I encourage any conversation that sparks debate, accord, middle-of-the-road or on-the-fence reader’s point of view, or just some good old-fashioned football nut insight.

Now, you kids play nice.