It hasn’t even been a year since I was standing in a cold and rainy Nippert Stadium watching Teddy Bridgewater play his last regular season game as a Cardinal. On that December night Teddy reminded all of us and the ESPN television audience just how special he was. On that night he was part QB and part escape artist scrambling and breaking tackles. It was Mr. Clutch, who would throw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to give Louisville a chance to win in overtime. One of those touchdown drives very similar to his game winning drive last night in Minnesota.
http://youtu.be/vjvbtMi-mMg
Just several months removed from that heroic performance and his stellar play in the Russell Athletic Bowl the naysayers came gunning for Teddy Bridgewater. After a less than impressive Pro Day the mud slinging really started. His hands were too small, could he be a pocket passer, and my favorite of all: “His calves are small”.
Those folks have to feel pretty silly today. Minnesota fans are feeling the same way we all did back on September 17th in 2011 when Teddy made his college debut leading our Cards to a long awaited victory over Kentucky. He breathed new life back into our program that evening in Lexington and had us yelling Teddy… Teddy… for the first time.
I don’t know if he will get the starting nod this season in Minnesota or not, but I do know that Teddy is ready to physically, mentally, and emotionally challenge the big boys. And he’s ready to make big plays and to show those fans in Minnesota what we’ve know for years. Teddy Bridgewater is a winner.
Watching that game last night took me back to that evening in Lexington, the night in New Jersey, the night in New Orleans and that night a few months ago in Cincinnati. I had seen that heroic drive in the final minutes, those clutch touchdown passes many times, and had been a part of that crowd who was yelling Teddy… Teddy… Teddy…. for the first time.
Teddy’s first NFL game winning drive: