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Last season, the Cardinals overcame injuries to star QB Brian Brohm and RB Michael Bush to win the Big East and defeat ACC Champion Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. Not that there weren’t bumps along the way. Many watched their slugfest with West Virginia, but the Cards proceeded to fall victim to a trap game in New Jersey, losing their undefeated record and a chance at a National Championship. More bad news was to come, as Head Coach Bobby Petrino announced his departure to coach the Atlanta Vicks.

Cheerleader Rebecca Mann is on the Brohm-wagon.

Team: University of Louisville Cardinals

Location: Louisville, Kentucky

Stadium: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium - Capacity 42,000

Coach: Steve Kragthorpe

2006 Record/Finish: #6 - 12-1, 1st in the Big East; Last game: 24-13 win: Wake Forest @ Orange Bowl

2007 H2DN Prediction: 11-1, First in Big East

Top returner: QB Brian Brohm

Biggest loss: DT Amobi Okoye

ESPN Incessant Talking Point: There’s a couple, and most don’t have to do with amateur porn. With Kentucky football not sucking for the first time since Guy Morris fled to Baylor after being unable to clean up Hal Mumme’s mess, their annual showdown might actually be competitive. QB Brian Brohm returns as a possible Heisman contender and #1 overall pick in the draft. Will Steve Kragthorpe be able to live up to the lofty expectations that Bobby Petrino set? Will Jeff Brohm not berate his little brother after he makes an innocuous mistake?

Key offseason event: Bobby Petrino leaving has to take the cake. Steve Kragthorpe had some success in Conference-USA with Tulsa. Petrino had a Napoleon complex, constantly berating Brohm, backup Hunter Cantwell, and any unfortunate passers-by that made the mistake of trying of approaching the budding disciple of Tom Coughlin. Before leaving, Petrino was kind enough to recruit Matt “son of Phil” Simms, a rather brutish type known for rolling blunts when he’s not throwing tantrums on the sidelines of a High School football state championship, flipping the bird to opposing fans. Simms is a regular Calvin Johnson, however, when compared to Louisville’s other high-profile addition, one Willie Williams, formerly of Miami. You may have heard of him!

Additional notes: In addition to Kentucky, Louisville plays a fairly tough schedule this year. Middle Tennessee State is expected to contend for the Sun Belt title. Utah will get a chance to voice its displeasure of the fact that Louisville is in a conference with an automatic BCS bid and they aren’t. The Cardinals also play the N.C. State Wolfpack in Raleigh. Rutgers and Pittsburgh come to Louisville, but the team will have its hands full with away games in Morgantown, Tampa, and Cincinnati. The schedule sets up nicely with the final Thursday night showdown vs. Rutgers potentially for a BCS berth and maybe even a spot in the National Championship game. I don’t think Rutgers will be stomping the bird at midfield before this rematch.

Louisville’s high-powered offense should not miss a beat in 2007. In addition to Brohm, starting receivers Harry Douglas and Mario “Jump Ball” Urrutia return. RB Anthony Allen will try to replace Michael Bush’s production, while TE Gary Barnidge rounds out a veteran unit. Eric Wood and George Bussey anchor a tremendous offensive line.

Deantwan “Peanut” Whitehead and Earl Heyman are the standouts on a top-performing defensive unit that will try to replace to contributions of departed Amobi Okoye. Malik Jackson returns as a major pass-rushing threat at linebacker. Top JUCO corner Woody Turenne hopes to solidify a questionable secondary. Chip-shot artist Art Carmody returns and will be in the mix for the Lou Groza award.

Fun Fact: Louisville’s baseball team was a cinderella this year, advancing all the way to the College World Series in Omaha. Of all the school’s sports teams, it is basketball under Rick Pitino that has so far fared the worst since the move to the Big East, having missed the NCAA tournament during their first season in the conference.