Petrino Brings His Explosive Offense Back to The Ville

When Bobby Petrino was named the 19th head football coach at the University of Louisville last winter, he promised that his teams "will play an exciting brand of football and put some lights up on that scoreboard."

A slight whimper could be heard from the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium scoreboard. For that scoreboard remembers Petrino well. He was U of L’s offensive coordinator in 1998, the season in which the new football stadium was christened by one of the most prolific scoring offenses in the history of Cardinal football.

That year, Petrino’s high-octane offense—with the great Chris Redman at quarterback—rewrote the U of L record book, establishing school records in scoring (444 points), scoring average (40.4 points per game), touchdowns (62), passing yards (4,498), passing touchdowns (33) and total yards (6,156).

Oh yes. The scoreboard remembers Bobby Petrino.

Victorious U of L football players give Cardinal fans a closer look of the Governor's Cup after knocking off arch-rival UK at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington. Photos by Dave Klotz

The Cards reached 60 or more points on three different occasions—defeating Cincinnati 62–19, Western Kentucky 63–44 and East Carolina 63–45—as Petrino’s men carried the team to the biggest turnaround in Division 1-A. (In 1997, the Cards were 1–10. In 1998, they were 7–5.)

“I would not be where I am today without Coach Petrino,” says Chris Redman of his former mentor. Today, Redman plays for the Baltimore Ravens. “He’s had a huge impact on my career and is a major reason why I’m playing in the NFL. He is one of the best coaching minds I’ve worked with.”

Petrino’s success in 1998 didn’t go unnoticed nationally, and the NFL came calling. He would spend the next three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the first two as quarterbacks coach, the third as offensive coordinator. During his tenure, he tutored All-Pro quarterback Mark Brunnell to three of his best passing seasons.

“I was always impressed with Petrino’s professionalism, thought he was very knowledgeable of the game and thought he had excellent leadership qualities,” remembers Houston Texans head coach Dom Capers, who was defensive coordinator for the Jaguars during Petrino’s tenure.

After three seasons in the NFL Petrino returned to the college ranks, taking over as offensive coordinator at Auburn University in 2002. With Petrino leading the offense, the Tigers improved to No. 31 nationally in scoring average (31.25 points per game) and No. 38 in total offense (396.67 yards per game). This was a marked improvement from being No. 86 in scoring offense and No. 73 in total offense the season before Petrino’s arrival. More importantly, the Tigers went 9–4 and defeated Penn State in the Capitol One Bowl.

When U of L football coach John L. Smith decided to head north to Big 10 pastures at Michigan State after last season, athletic director Tom Jurich placed a call to Auburn.

“When Bobby left us four years ago I sat him down and told him that he would make a great head coach some day,” said Jurich when he introduced 42-year-old Petrino as the Cards new head coach last year. “I didn’t know it would happen so fast and that it would happen here.”

Smith enthusiastically endorses his former offensive coordinator.

“I am so pleased, excited and comfortable knowing that he will be the coach at Louisville,” he says. “I love him. He’s been part of our family and part of the Louisville family. I know he’ll do a terrific job.”

If the Cardinals’ opening victory this season over archrival University of Kentucky is any indication, John L. knows what he’s talking about. The Cards flawlessly executed Petrino’s game plan to defeat the Wildcats 40–24 at Lexington.

Not a bad way to start the Petrino Era of Cardinal football.