Even Tommy would know this one was not an Instant Classic.
Tommy, you know, the Pinball Wizard.
Tommy, surely a fan of the English Premier League football, rather than Atlantic Coast Conference football.
Even Tommy, deaf dumb and blind as he was, would understand that Louisville’s 38-24 outlasting of Boston College was college football at its most . . . whatever.
(Words fail me.)
As out of the 13th dimension as that where-did-it-come-from lede was, it is no more absurd than Saturday night’s slapstick on Floyd Street.
You will not see this one on the Instant Classic Channel with an AI Chris Schenkel glorifying the highlights.
This was the ToonTown Bowl. Soon to be played on Funny Flickers with Pinky Lee or Soupy Sales hosting. Music by Spike Lee.
* * * * *
Yes, Isaac Brown was magnifico.
Five for 151 in the first half alone.
Fourteen for 205 overall.
73 yards through the left passageway on U of L’s very first down from scrimmage.
A 62 yard house call with a minute left before intermission.
Though it was of little matter final result considered, he fumbled for a turnover for the third game in a row.
That’s just how abjectly weird this whole affair was.
* * * * *
As has generally been the case with this 2025 edition of the Louisville Cardinals, the guys in the all black unis — Was this Permian vs. Odessa on Friday Night Lights? — got off to a moribund start. (Yes, even with that IB dazzler.)
Down 0-3. Then 7-10. Before going to the locker room break with a Nigel Tufnel 21-10 advantage.
Which diminished after play resumed. That Brown fumble and resulting BC score. Then came about again. Then diminished to a one score advantage. Then doubled. Then halved.
Then with a smidge under two minutes left, and no telling what cockamamie fate might befall the Cardinals on the cooling night, the other Brown RB — Keyjuan — said enough already let’s get outta here.
67 yards to pay dirt for game sealer.
Trust me, the game was not close to being as exciting as my dour explanation might make you believe.
* * * * *
During one extended Keystone Kops sequence in the 3d into the 4th there were five turnovers in not many more possessions.
We’ll match your interception with our interception.
Sack fumble.
Three and outs.
A BC foray to stay in it late that was as smooth as a warm knife through butter that had been sitting on the counter since breakfast.
* * * * *
Do not be confused by Louisville’s on-their-face impressive stats.
504 total yards.
317 yards rushing.
A couple more defensive picks. A recovered Eagle fumble. Six TFLs.
Boston College is a BAD football team. 1-7. Their sole W in the opener over Fordham, where Vince Lombardi played long ago, but not this season.
Last time out, BC lost by two scores to UConn.
And still it was nip and tuck.
Yes, it’s that time of the season when the toil takes its toll. Spring practice, day after day over the summer in the weight room, August’s what-we-used-to-call two-a-days and the pressure of the actual games.
Still, this one should have been a breeze.
It was a slog.
Sound track by the Shmenge Brothers with help from the Festrunk Brothers Kazoo Ensemble.
— c d kaplan
