There is of course a certain satisfaction in beating Bobby Petrino, the Tar Heel OC who jilted the University of Louisville twice, the second of which was a felonious grift.
Besting Bill Belichick, if not the resumé enhancer it was once upon a time, can be fashioned into a boastful story for the grandkids while spritzing an extras squirt of whipped cream on the the pie at Thanksgiving.
So it came to pass that the Cardinals Santo & Johnny-ed their way 16-14 past North Carolina on a chilly Chapel Hill
night, for their fifth straight ACC victory.
But any already doubtful hint of meaningful post season aspirations met their demise earlier in the day.
Somewhere between Wake Forest’s fourth and fifth or between Wake’s fifth and sixth or between the Demon Deacons sixth and seventh touchdown before intermission in Dallas.
Miami’s somnambulant stroll over Duke was an extra dollop of sealing wax, unnecessary as it was.
So, notwithstanding any prevarication about the coulda woulda shoulda of three Ls by three points that time stamp Louisville’s season, reality is the campaign will end under the very best of circumstances on a Tuesday evening munching Pop Tarts by Disney World.
Or in Fenway or another similar clime.
What is that old somewhat distasteful saying?
Something like “You can put lipstick on a pig.”
This was a seriously less than exciting football game, signifying very little other than an opportunity for diehards to root for their faves.
Carolina scored on its first drive of the game.
They didn’t score again until less than four minutes were left.
It was almost enough.
Louisville held on after the two minute warning, when the defense thwarted NC’s Pat White wannabe rookie QB Travis Burgess on a 4 & Pick.
A lone U of L TD in the 2d Q and three FGs by Carson Hilbert tabulated into the slim win.
* * * * *
Looking for something, anything of interest, to fashion this report, I noted a somewhat anomalous stat during a short stoppage with 8:55 left.
Louisville had 143 yards passing on 28 attempts, and 143 yards rushing on 27 carries.
That balance was even more pronounced at 2:00.
154 on land, 154 in the air.
Cards 60 offensive snaps were divided down the middle, thirty on turf, thirty aerial.
* * * * *
Louisville’s Defense showed up.
Six sacks, eight TFLs. A forced fumble, a pick.
Not sure why Jabari Mack purposely fell to the turf on that late game sealing interception?
Another 7 on the scoreboard would have made the final tally appear more fulsome.
* * * * *
That Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty on the UNC’s last extra point, and the final gun we’re-tougher–than-you-are push and shove “brawl” were embarrassing.*
*It made the Top Headlines list at espn.com.
More than that, the incidents are further testament to the annoying, sometimes fatal lack of discipline Jeff Brohm’s team has displayed all campaign.
Pitt and UK are left as this season grinds to its less than satisfying conclusion.*
Yes, beating Kentucky would be a great way to end it the regular slate, but still wouldn’t be a full salvage job.
— c d kaplan
