I recently published an interview with University of Louisville Co-Defensive Coordinator Coach Mark Hagen who led the Indiana Hoosiers in tackling during 3 of his 4 seasons of playing in Bloomington. Mark was on the last IU team to win a bowl game in 1991. Having written that, and wishing Coach Hagen nothing but the best, I decided it was time to cross the river and take in a University of Louisville game and root him on! On Friday night the Cards hosted the James Madison University Dukes. In the early going, there was not much to root about.
After one quarter JMU led 7-0. When that quarter ended it felt like I was watching two teams fighting over a turnip. The first quarter ended with JMU running 15 offensive plays for 39 yards and Louisville running 17 plays for 27 yards. These offenses could not get out of their own ways. That and, with a nod to Coach Hagen, the U of L defense was stout.
I have to admit, I felt both a little old and little nostalgic as I watched QB Miller Moss #7, a good one in my opinion. I had not been in the U of L press box in 35 years. On that occasion, #7 was a guy named Browning Nagel. He led that 1990 team to a win over Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl. Louisville finished 10-1-1 that year and was one of Coach Howard Schnellenberger’s finest achievements.
The nostalgia really kicked in when a young man came to me at the end of the first quarter and handed me a paper copy of the first quarter game stats. I look at the young man, smiled, and said, “Thank you, good sir.” He didn’t know what to make of that.
I knew. I alluded earlier to this being the first time in 35 years that I was in the U of L press box. That season I was there for the Memphis State game and the last home game against Boston College. That was a 17-10 victory willed by linebacker Mark Sander in one of the greatest defensive efforts I have ever witnessed. That night, I WAS THE YOUNG GUY, age 22, handing out the stat sheets to media members. The last one I handed out, as they were in commercial, was to Gerard Phelan. He was doing color commentary for NESN (New England Sports Network) for Boston College. I shook his hand and proceeded to hang out with him on that antique catwalk of a place to call a game in that old baseball stadium Louisville once played football in. Looking at a small monitor at the instant replays was all too perfect. When they went to commercial again, Phelan and I talked about the catch he made. You know the one. Boston College vs. Miami in 1984. THE PASS. Doug Flutie’s miracle heave to Gerard Phelan won Doug Flutie the Heisman Trophy. Have we had a moment that dramatic since? The Auburn people would say yes (Kick 6). Gerard Phelan could not have been kinder to me. Like Minnie Pearl, I was just proud to be there.
Ultimately, the Cardinals got it together. After being down 7-6 at the half, after being down 14-6 in the third quarter, the switch flipped. When the switch flips for Louisville, we are usually talking about big plays. A Miller Moss 64-yard pass in the third quarter started the Card roll. A 2-point convert tied the game at 14.
Early in the 4th quarter, JMU fumbled in their own end zone. Cardinal defender A.J. Green had no qualms about landing on the ball for 6 points. The PAT was no good. Cards 20-Dukes 14. Then, late in the 4th quarter, Cards running back Isaac Brown lived up to his billing and took off down the left sideline for 78 yards and 6 more for the Cards. A 2-point conversion made the score 28-14. That was the final. The Cards are going to be fine.
On Saturday, the Kennesaw State Owls flew up from nearby Atlanta to Bloomington, Indiana to take on the #23 ranked Indiana Hoosiers. I hope the Owls were compensated well. Wasn’t this the week Indiana was going to play the Louisville Cardinals before IU bought their way out of that match-up? I think so. And that was a shame. I get Indiana’s logic. Schedule low and get some wins and some more practice before the Big Ten games get here. I agree with the sentiments of Buck Suhr, Indiana color-commentary partner to play by play man Don Fischer. Buck intimated, and I agree with him, that Indiana, even after an 11-2 season, can’t expect sellout crowds when they are bringing in Pea Ridge and Squash Holler (my terms and not Buck’s) for practice games before the likes of Illinois get here on September 20th. That game is sold out. This is the choice Indiana has made, after great deliberation (the IU way) I am sure. So be it. If the CFP is not at the end of the rainbow, the Hoosiers might be able to win a bowl game for the first time since 1991. They win, thanks to Big Ten broadcasting money, either way.
Saturday’s game was a good one for the Indiana Hoosiers. 56-9 was the final score. The Kennesaw State Owls were ready to warm up the bus by the end of the third quarter.
I know Indiana took some guff after last week’s 27-14 win over Old Dominion. After that game, the AP #20 ranked Indiana Hoosiers fell to #23. This week’s 56-9 win gave Indiana a one spot bump to #22. They are not going to get much love out there. We know that.
Look, I have no doubt Indiana has plenty of game plan, especially on defense, that they are saving for Illinois. We’ll see it.
Going into game three against Indiana State on Friday night, the Hoosiers have dominated every aspect of the first two games they have played. The Indiana offense is averaging 549 yards. The Hoosiers have 58 first downs to their opponents 20. Take away 2 long runs by the Old Dominion QB in game one, and the Hoosiers would lead in rushing yards 625 to 154. In fact, the Hoosiers have run for more that 300 yards in consecutive games this year for the first time since 2014. And the Hoosiers are running the ball by committee. This is not Anthony Thompson or Vaugh Dunbar running the ball 35 times. Kaelon Black, Roman Hemby, and Lee Beebe, Jr. are leading a Hoosier rushing attack that is stout behind an improving and better every day offensive line.
On Saturday, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt caught three of quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s four touchdown passed. Mendoza looks more comfortable with every quarter he has played this season. He has also been plagued with a case of the drops by some of his receivers. That did not happen last year. That will be corrected. And if I may, look out for E.J. Williams, Jr. at the wideout position. He is going to impress you in the time of crunch.
In the end, and in the Big Ten play, I have a feeling the Indiana defense will be the phase of the game that really shines and comes through. Front D-line with Mikail Kamara leading that charge, Aiden Fisher at linebacker playing defensive QB, and a defensive backfield led by D’Angelo Ponds and Amare Ferrell, this IU defense is going to be a squad to be reckoned with during conference play. Yes, I am a homer. But I have been looking closely in on IU Football for more than 50 years. That also makes me a realist.
What was really special this weekend was finally catching up with the best College Football play by play man in all the land. His name is Tim Brando. More than that, Tim Brando is, with a nod to Archie Manning, a good guy.
For many years Tim Brando and I have been “pen pals” of sort. We finally met Saturday. He was calling the Indiana – Kennesaw State game in Bloomington for Fox Sports. TB is a Shreveport guy. Pat Conroy often spoke of the power of geography. I think that truth is in play here. My grandparents lived in Shreveport for decades. Tim’s dad and my dad went to the same high school, albeit 17 years apart, in Shreveport called St. John’s. The school is now on its second name change since and goes by Loyola Prep.
My Granny always enjoyed tuning into a game that Tim Brando was calling. She could have tuned into any one of five games on at the same time. She’d would always gravitate to “that good Shreveport boy” if he was calling the game.
Tim’s dad, Hub Brando, was a Shreveport media legend. On Saturday, Tim told me that when he runs into folks of a certain vintage, they aren’t so much interested in what he is up to. They want to talk about Hub. I get it. My dad coached football for a long time. I can’t walk through Brownstown, Indiana too long before I get asked, “How’s your dad?” Last year I was the guest of a friend at the IHSAA Class 2A Boys Basketball Championship in Indianapolis. When I made a quick exit, before the final celebratory postgame, I was met on an empty concourse by a guy I have known for a long time. I said, “How about those BCHS Braves! They did it!” He looked at me and said, “Yes they did. Tell me, how is your dad doing?” I get it TB. I get it.
Granny would be proud to know that I think Tim Brando is the best college announcer in the business. Tim’s style is just pure and real. He doesn’t take himself so seriously that he gets in the way. He knows that sometimes less is more. Keith Jackson was like that. Solid and easy to listen to. That is a gift these days. As I was driving to the U of L game, I was talking to an old friend and told him that Brando was going to call the game in Bloomington the next day. With no provocation, and no hint of my positive thoughts about Tim and his work, my friend said, “I really like him. I think he might be the best of any to listen to.” Old friends that think alike. What a treasure.
I’m glad TB enjoys coming to Bloomington. What a beautiful day it was to call or watch a game. I am thankful that Tim has, on occasion, reposted some of my work. That is a great compliment. I appreciate it.
I have to admit. I didn’t make my weekly picks for this past Saturday’s games. Things were a bit hectic. I will try to do better. Indiana plays host to Indiana State this Friday night. Looks like 3-0 when the Illini come to town and things get serious.