Blue and Gold Illustrated

Nov. 24, 2014 Issue

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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GAME PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE Petrino landed at Louisville again af‑ ter a one‑year stint with Western Ken‑ tucky. Despite Petrino's track record as an offensive coach, the Cardinals have relied on defense in their transition to the ACC this season. "It's strange in that most people thought going from Charlie Strong to Bobby Petrino that Louisville would become a more offensive‑oriented team than the defensive‑oriented team they were for a few years, but that really hasn't been the case," said Rick Bozich, WDRB columnist and longtime Louis- ville Courier-Journal reporter. "The de‑ fense other than the one game against Florida State has really been the calling card for this team, and the offense for a variety of reasons — primarily injuries — has not been the kind of offense that Petrino had the last time he was here or that people expected this year." The injuries began during the pre‑ season when projected first‑round wide receiver DeVante Parker suffered a broken bone in his foot that caused him to miss half the season. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Will Gardner will miss the Notre Dame game and the remainder of Louisville's season — the second time injuries have sidelined him in 2014 — due to a knee injury. In his place is freshman Reggie Bonnafon, who has already started three games and represents a more mobile option than Gardner. "First of all, [Bonnafon] is really inex‑ perienced," Bozich said. "Reggie Bon‑ nafon really only played one year of quarterback in high school for Trinity, which is probably the best program in the state of Kentucky. Until his senior year, he was a wide receiver. "He was ineffective against Clem‑ son, but played better against Boston College. … His passing is just okay. They're not expecting him to win the game throwing the ball, but what's dif‑ ferent I guess is when he really got a chance the first time … DeVante Parker Facts & Figures NOTRE DAME VS. LOUISVILLE Game Info Date: Nov. 22, 2014. Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795). Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Television: NBC. Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the first meeting between Notre Dame and Louisville. Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (44‑18, fifth season); Louisville — Bobby Petrino (90‑33, 10th season). Noting Louisville: Notre Dame will mark the 63rd opponent that Petrino has coached against during his career and seventh new opponent in 2014 … Wins over the Irish and Kentucky to end the season would clinch Petrino's fifth nine‑win season with the Cardinals … Louisville has re‑ corded six 100‑yard rushing games this season … With a 214‑yard receiving performance against Florida State, senior wide receiver DeVante Parker became the third player in school history to reach the 200‑yard receiving mark in a game … Louisville has forced a turnover in 13 straight games dating back to 2013, with opponents com‑ mitting a turnover 48 times in the last 22 games overall … Petrino is 48‑12 in his five seasons as coach of Louisville, with a school‑best winning percentage of .800.

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