– Cardinals beat the Tarheels but learn “it ain’t over till it’s over”
The 19th ranked Cards came out of the gates faster than the thoroughbreds across the street a Churchill Downs today against North Carolina. They would score on their first six possessions to take a 36-7 lead into the break. The Cardinals had 19 first downs and 360 total yards in the opening half. But after the half time show was over the Tarheels QB Bryn Renner put on a show of his own throwing for 363 yards and a school-record five touchdowns outscoring the Cardinals 27-3.
All I could think about while I was watching this game unfold was how many times I heard Coach Strong say that this team was not capable of handling and maintaining success yet. Today his young team learned that you have to keep playing until the final horn blows. And they did just that. Even though North Carolina mounted a great comeback in the second half our Cards did hold on to win the game 39-34. And it was a great learning experience in the process. Sometimes a coaches greatest challenge comes when his team is winning. They often find it hard to have those teaching moments among success. But after this game Coach Strong won’t have any trouble at all.
Coach Strong would say after the game: “It’s not that they lost intensity, it’s all about your focus and going out there and finishing the game,” “At the end of the day we still won the football game.”
Teddy QB after the game: “This week, we learned we have to finish.”
With the win over North Carolina on Saturday, the Cardinals are 3-0 for the first time since the 2006 and take a 4-3 lead in the series with North Carolina.
QB Bryn Renner tied the UNC single-game record with five touchdowns, and Teddy Bridgewater went 23-of-28 for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Both of these QB’s had outstanding days for their teams.
Today was the fourth largest crowd to ever watch a game at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The place was rocking and it was another great day to be a Louisville Cardinal fan. Not only did our Cards find out what they were made of they also found out “it ain’t over till it’s over.” Very proud of our team for finding a way to grind it out. I’ve said all along that these guys are going to be special and so far they haven’t disappointed.