Orange Slices: Sharing the Bowl Experience

"This Is Amazing"

Dolphin Stadium. Section 102. Row 8. Seat 15. Less than 30 yards away "The Hair" (Jimmy) and "The Stache" (Dave Wannstedt) were doing pre-game commentary for Fox TV on a stage in the back of the Louisville end zone. I was finally there. It was less than an hour until kickoff--the University of Louisville football Cardinals in the Orange Bowl! It was finally happening.

I sat next to Brian Daniels, president of the Atlanta Alumni Club. He had made the trip down with his father, Dan. "I'm so glad I'm here," Brian said. "This is amazing."

Right as Ce Ce Wynan nailed the final note of the National Anthem, three F-16s roared over the stadium, electrifying the crowd before the coin toss, which featured sports legends Muhammad Ali, (wearing a Michael Bush jersey) and Arnold Palmer, a Wake Forest graduate. Wake Forest won the toss and elected to take the ball. UofL always wants the ball first, so it's usually a no-lose opening toss for the Cardinals because most teams elect to defer to the second half. But UofL opponents have found that its best to keep our offense off the field, so they've been taking the ball. That's what Rutgers did earlier in the season. Bad flashbacks to the second half that game haunted me during much of the Orange Bowl last night.

I don't need to tell you how the game went. We won with a perfect two-touchdown, fourth quarter rally. Most of the first-half was a defensive struggle. Wake kept the Cards offense out of its rhythm. UofL's defense, led by Amobi Okoye, constantly disrupted the Demon Deacon offense by exploding into the backfield. The Cards were able to take a 10-3 lead into halftime thanks to flee flicker from Brian Brohm to Patrick Carter to Anthony Allen.

I've always thought the most crucial time of a game--in basketball or football--is the first five minutes of the second half. UofL got the ball first. If they were able to mount a strong touchdown drive, they would be up 17-3, the possible beginnings of a comfortable second-half route. But Wake Forest prevailed early in the quarter, tying the game at 10 at the 11:34 mark and then taking the lead 13-10 on the second play of the fourth quarter.

That's when the Cardinal offense started clicking, Brohm leading two long touchdown drives with key passes to Harry Douglas, who was dynamite all game. The drives were capped by TD runs by Allen and Brock Bolin. Brohm finished the game 24-34 for 311 yards--the third-highest passing yard total in Orange Bowl history. Douglas finished with 10 receptions for 165 yards.

Brohm was named Orange Bowl MVP, and from the awards stage he was asked if would come back to UofL for his senior year. He implied that coming back was very appealing to him because the Cards have so many good players returning. Can you imagine if both Brian Brohm and Michael Bush come back? I don't want to think about that right now. Let's enjoy this. We can think about that tomorrow.

Hitching A Ride With Bubba

President James Ramsey needed to get to the stadium to do some media--interviews with some of the Louisville TV stations down in Florida for the game. Because I was with John Drees, the university's head PR official, I got to hitch a ride with the president's convoy to the stadium. Before I knew it, I was in the back seat of a police SUV driven by UofL officer Robert "Bubba" Bringhurst with officer John Tarter in the passenger seat. These guys clearly have an Abbott and Costello-type relationship. They're so funny. When Bubba accidentally locked Tarter out, Tarter said, "Bubba, I really wish you would stop pressing buttons!"

UofL Alumni Association Tailgate

I was so happy when game day finally came around. South Florida is beautiful. All the parties and events leading up to the day were perfectly conceived, well attended and great fun. But I was ready for football! I was ready to see this Cardinal team take the next step by winning a BCS bowl game. 

When we arrived at the Liberty Mutual UofL Alumni Association Tailgate, we were greeted by a former Student Government Association president chugging a beer on the top of an SUV. It was more than four hours 'til game time and some folks had hit the ground running. The alumni tailgate was located in the parking lot of Calder Race Course, about a mile from Dolphin Stadium. Rain had found its way to South Florida, and the event got pretty soggy thanks to a steady shower. All I could think about was, "Wet field helps Wake. Wet field helps Wake."

The tailgate party was fun. Let's face it, even before UofL's ascent to the top tier of college football, UofL fans were professional tailgaters. Back in the day, some would often show up at the parking lot at the old Cardinal Stadium, tailgate and then leave without going into the game. The Alumni Association's Orange Bowl tailgate offered some great food--Bar-B-Que chicken, hamburgers, pasta, pizza and more. But President James Ramsey's wife, Jane, couldn't eat.

"I'm so nervous," said the passionate Cardinal football fan. "But I guess I don't have any control over the game, so there's no sense being nervous ... But I am."

When Dr. Ramsey addressed the tailgaters, he first dismissed the rainy weather by saying "It doesn't rain on Cardinal Country. Let's go down to Dolphin Stadium and turn into Papa John's South! We've got the best fans in the world."

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher also said hello to the crowd: "This is not just  a great day for Louisville, but a great day for the commonwealth," the governor said. He also asked for a moment of silence for former President Gerald Ford. Dr. Ramsey also asked Cardinal fans to remember UofL basketball great Charlie Tyra, who passed away a few days ago, and UofL professor Jeff Jack, who was killed tragically in a car accident on New Year's Eve.

Just before 6 p.m., Cards fans started heading over to the stadium.

24-13

Let me be the first to tell the people of Louisville that your University of Louisville football Cardinals are the 2007 Orange Bowl champions after defeating Wake Forest 24-13. I'm sure no one back home knows about this yet. Glad I could help. It didn't go down like a lot of us thought, but the Cards prevailed by outscoring the Demon Deacons 14-3 in the Fourth Quarter to pull out a hugely gratifying win on a big national stage. Man, that was fun! We've got great pictures. I've got all kinds of fun stories. But now I have to go to bed. What a wonderful win. Congratulations Cardinal fans! Enjoy this. Cheers!

Pre-Game Ramblings

I forgot to mention in my "Hello Clevelander!" dispatch a super nice comment about the UofL Marching Band by a Wake Forest fan. As the band played in the middle of Ocean Drive yesterday afternoon, a man wearing a black and gold Demon Deacon hat approached photographer Tom Fougerousse and a couple of Cardinal fans and said, "If your football team is as good as your band, we're in a lot of trouble."

These Wake Forest fans are too nice. How can we be expected to build the requisite amount of fear and loathing toward a team with such nice fans. As we constantly grope for big-time football respect, we're playing a team who wasn't even invited to a bowl game the last time they won the ACC. Of course, that was more than 30 years ago. College football has changed.

Anyway, it was a mighty nice quote about the band.

So we finally get to talk about this matter of a football game. One of the draw backs to running around Miami these past four days has been losing touch with all the build up to the actual game. Don't get me wrong. We've been getting revved up for the Orange Bowl. That's what this intense tour of pre-game parties, pep rallies, horse racing, golfing and every other way to celebrate has been about--building excitement for UofL's first BCS appearance and providing a fun and memorable experience for fans. But I've been missing all the pre-game analysis and sports punditry. I know we're big favorites.  I saw Lee Corso on ESPN last night say Wake Forest has zero chance. That makes me nervous. Corso, the former UofL coach, can be entertaining, but I've noticed he's often way off the mark with his predictions. And I'm still a little miffed about how harshly he dogged the Cards when they ascended to third in the nation and seemed poised to crash the National Championship game. The week between our euphoric win over WVU and our heartbreaking second-half collapse at Rutgers was kind of rough. We had never been so high in the poles yet so low in the minds of the national media. We really scared them to death. "Who wants to see Louisville in the National Championship?" one sports analyst sniffed in the days after the WVU win. It didn't happen this year, but as a former UofL coach once said, "We're on a collision coarse ..."

But why are we talking about this now? We've got urgent business ... pressing matters to attend to. How are we going to win this game tonight?

At one of the early Orange Bowl events, I ran into four grade schoolers who had traveled down from Louisville for the game with their parents. They all go to Our Lady of Lourdes. I asked them for predictions on the game, expecting something like: "I think Louisville is going to win 100-0." But when I asked the question, these kids suddenly became pensive. Josh Porter seemed to be playing the game out in his head, thinking to himself: "If Wake Forest's vaunted pass defense can hold Brian Brohm and his receivers in check, that could keep the Demon Deacons in the game until the fourth quarter. At that point anything can happen. But I really don't think the Cards defense is going to allow Wake to score enough." He finally predicted 38-24 Cards. His friend Jake Thieman looked for the Cards to blow out Wake 42-14. Michael Miller predicted a 35-10 UofL victory. And Brian Elpers said the Cardinals would prevail 44-23.

These guys knew their stuff. I found out why when I met Miller's mother, Dawn. Her husband--Michael's father--is former Cardinal football player from Howard Schnellenberger's early years David Miller.

I guess it's time for my prediction. I've seen just about every play of this season. I love this team. But this Wake Forest team reminds me of another big Cinderella team we played this year. A team in New Jersey. But I think the Cards will be ready. I look for it to be tight early, but the Cards will pull away in the second half. Final score: 44-17.

Now,  I'm off to the Alumni Association's tailgate. This should be a fun afternoon of tailgating leading up to the game at 8 p.m. Look for me on TV. I should be easy to find. I'll be wearing red.

Hello Clevelander!

It's not a trip to Miami without visiting South Beach, the epitome of a trendy neighborhood, a bright, colorful splash of Art Deco garishness at the bottom of the Florida peninsula. It seemed a strange place for a sports bar, but the Clevelander Sports Bar is no ordinary sports bar.

On the afternoon of the first day of our new year 2007, the UofL Alumni Association identified three official gathering spots in the Greater Miami area for Cards fans who want to engage in the most cherished of New Year's Day activities--watching college bowl games. UofL fans in town for the Orange Bowl had the option of meeting up at The Park at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino; the Ugly Tuna in Fort Lauderdale or the Clevelander in South Beach.

We took the opportunity to see South Beach. (See Tom's photos.)

Shortly after we arrived in the area, the UofL Marching Band rumbled down Ocean Drive and stopped in front of the Clevelander, which was already filled with Cardinal fans. While large groups of people wearing brightly colored clothes really isn't all that unusual in South Beach, you couldn't miss the band as they thundered through a set of music that included the UofL fight song and "My Old Kentucky Home" and plenty of opportunities for fans to "C-A-R-D-S ... CARDS!"

The outdoor area of the Clevelander is colored in neon green, purple and pink and features a pool that wraps throughout a maze of tables and bars. But what are those stages for? I asked myself. When I found out, I fought back an urge to call my wife and apologize. The Clevelander has go-go dancers. (No darlin', they were not strippers.) Like I said, no ordinary sports bar.

The party at South Beach was big fun in sun. But for all the wonderfully weird sights and sounds, Cards fans were keeping their eyes on the TVs. I was impressed at how loudly they were cheering for West Virginia as the Mountaineers came back and defeated Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl. I dug the Big East solidarity. Tomorrow the Cards try to make the conference 4-0 this bowl season when they take on Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. I think I can speak for Cardinal fans in Florida, Louisville and parts there of and beyond, we're ready for the football. We're ready for the Orange Bowl.

Dead Solid Perfect

Apparently the pros over at Bonaventure Country Club were not counting on a big turnout for the UofL/Wake Forest Golf Challenge, figuring the 8 a.m. start time might be a little too early for a New Year's morning. Too many folks would be more interested in shaking off hangovers than hitting the links, they figured.

They figured wrong.

According to John Tarter, a University of Louisville police officer who drove several golfers to the event, Bonaventure's estimated 40 players turned out being more than 130. Never underestimate the raw determination of the average golf fanatic on winter holiday in Florida. An opportunity to play a January round with temperatures in the late 70s is just too much to pass up.

The UofL and Wake Forest alumni associations teamed up for the hugely successful morning of golf, which had a scramble format and was open to players of all hooks, slices and duffs ... But I imagine several of those guys were hitting that little white ball pretty well, even after a late night.

Beach Running

Sometime before 8 on this New Year's morning--while most Miami revelers were still in bed or realizing that it might be a good idea to head there--I rolled out of my bed, into some running shoes and out the door for a morning run on the beach. It was still more than 36 hours until kick-off and I needed to sweat out some New Year's Eve toxins, breathe in some salt air and reflect on the Orange Bowl experience thus far. Our new motel is less than a quarter mile from the The Westin, the Orange Bowl headquarters of Wake Forest, and as I slugged by in the deep sand I thought it might be funny to take a brisk walk through the Westin lobby wearing my gray UofL tee shirt. Maybe later.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the UofL Alumni Association has been hosting one amazing event after another here in Florida. Yesterday's "UofL Day at the Races" at Calder Race Course featured two races sponsored by the university. Race 4 was "President Ramsey Day At The Races Classic." Race 5 was "The University of Louisville Alumni Association Classic."

The fact that the Alumni Association race came just after Dr. Ramsey's saved me from a little excitement in a race track elevator. President Ramsey and his wife, Jane, along with UofL Board of Trustees Chairman Chester Porter, the Alumni Association's Jonathan Israel and a group of students--Darrell Messer (president of UofL's Student Government Association), Andy Goss, Zack Brooks, Teresa Pierce and Savannah Wall (all student assistants in the President's Office)--went down to the winner's circle to present the trophy for Race 4. I visited with them as we descended five floors in the elevator and made our way to the Winner's Circle. But I didn't go back up with them because I needed to hang around for the 5th Race.

Lucky move.

Apparently, the elevator got stuck on the return trip and they were cooped up for about five minutes in the small elevator. I would not have liked that! I don't like tight spaces, and I probably would have had some kind of claustrophobic meltdown right there in front of the president, his wife and those nice students. Andy Goss snapped a photo from the elevator using his cell phone. He showed me it last night at the New Year's Eve bash. I hope to post it soon.

Last night, the Alumni Association gave Cardinal fans a fun way to ring in the new year with a great New Year's Eve Party at the Bluepoint Ocean Grill overlooking Paradise Lake at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The event, which sold out in advance, was highlighted by a Midnight champagne toast and a laser light show out on the lake. I had never seen a show like it. A smoky wall of mist shot from the middle of the lake creating a kind of misty backdrop for showing different images--from music performances to a wild light show.

Next door at the Renegade Barbecue Company, President James Ramsey hosted a similar bash. It was dueling New Year's parties on the lake. John Drees, associate vice president of communications and marketing (aka "my boss"), was pressed into photography duty for both events. University photog Tom Fougerousse got food poisoning or some kind of horrible stomach bug and spent New Year's Eve back at the hotel room licking his wounds and rallying his immune system. John stepped up beautifully--taking nearly 100 photos at both parties. Be sure to check some of them out.

By the way, Tom saw me off on my morning beach run. His color is back and he seems ready to press on for the rest of this Orange Bowl madness. Today, we're off to watch some New Year's Day football with Cardinal fans at some designated gathering spots. We're definitely checking out the Clevelander on Miami Beach. There's going to be a UofL pep rally there at 2 p.m. We'll rest when we get back to Louisville, I reckon. For now, it's forward on. I hear there's a football game at the end of this road.

Here Comes 2007

It's less than two hours before we bring 2007 and I am furiously trying to finish one more post before heading off into the madness of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (or as my boss John Drees has dubbed it: "Fourth Street Live on Steroids") to cover the UofL Alumni Association New Year's Eve Party. The private--and thankfully casual affair--is being held at the Bluepoint Ocean Grill. The Alumni Association has really been offering some cool events this weekend. Next door at Renegade Barbecue, President James Ramsey is hosting a more formal affair. The resort is filling up for New Year's Eve. The Cardinal fans are out in full force. Should be an excellent way to ring in the 2007. Happy New Year everybody. Cheers!

Old Friends

This afternoon was "UofL Day at the Races" at Calder Race Course, located less than a mile from the Orange Bowl site, Dolphin Stadium. Calder's parking lot will be the site of the Alumni Association's big tailgate party before the game on Tuesday night.

The racing event today was sponsored by the Alumni Association and the South Florida Alumni Club. I spent most of my time chatting with long-time UofL fans Al and Chris Corbin, close friends for a long time and two of the most gracious people I know. I imagine several Cardinal fans are having the pleasure of running into old friends down here in Florida. And I guess we're all making plenty of new friends as well.

More on the Calder event later. I jotted down all my notes on a racing form, which I promptly left back at the hotel room. Professional journalism at its best. I definitely want to talk in more detail about the event because I got to spend some time with President James Ramsey, his wife Jane Ramsey, Chester Porter and group of students. Renowned horse trainer Nick Zito even paid a visit to the Cardinal fans at the track.

My favorite moment was when Mrs. Ramsey very graciously asked a horse, who was being trotted to the starting line, to please "come in 1st, 2nd or 3rd." Unfortunately, she didn't win her across-the-board bet. But I appreciated how she encouraged the horse.