By Charlie Springer

Jeff Brohm is a huge question mark as Coach Steve Kragthorpe continues the shuffling of the University of Louisville football coaching staff, hoping to find the combination to get things headed in the right direction.

Since no one in authority will say Brohm is returning as offensive coordinator, fans must assume Jeff is gone. That would leave only one member of the Brohm family still with the program, former wide receiver Greg Brohm serving as director of football operations.

That can’t be a very pleasant situation for Greg or any of the Brohm family members who have invested so much time and emotion in the program. The university owes much to the Brohms. If anyone is looking out for Jeff, they also need to be taking care of Greg. Not much of a stretch to suggest he may be leaving as well.

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Safety Latarrius Thomas is the latest to announce that he will be leaving the team, telling Courier-Journal reporter C. L. Brown he wanted either to follow former U of L defensive coordinator Ron English to Eastern Michigan or to reunite with Bobby Petrino at Arkansas. But he said U of L head coach Steve Kragthorpe would not grant him a release to either school.

“He gave me his reasons why I should stay,” said Thomas of his meeting with the coach. “It wasn’t a bad meeting, we’re not on bad terms. I’m pretty sure he’d like for me to stay here, I just don’t feel like it’s the right place for me anymore.”

His explanation, or lack of one, provides plenty of fodder for the detractors. LT could have helped clarify some of the issues but he leaves everyone to decide for themselves.

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Some people perform best when their backs are against the wall.

One would hope that applies to Kragthorpe and the three new assistants – Larry Slade, Brent Guy and Jay Johnson – who were announced on Wednesday. They have nothing to lose, coming as they are from programs that were losing while they were at Tennessee, Utah State and Southern Miss, respectively.

Instead of being met by the Welcome Wagon, they arrive in Possibility City to the spectacle of a growing clan of newly-and-self-appointed football experts from a school that only recently joined the BCS club who consider the cause lost before they begin.

Nothing new for these guys: They know fans aren’t friends, and you’re not going to win any popularity contests until you win football games.   Again, welcome to Louisville. Take the naysayers in stride, defy some incredible odds.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

16 thoughts on “Closing Chapter For Brohms?”
  1. Trust in TJ. That’s all the apologists ever have to offer. Now that Kragthorpe has proven to be a huge failure, TopCard has gotten his marching orders to spread the word that doom and gloom would follow if TJ left. Sorry, I don’t buy it. He’s an administrator and they are a dime a dozen. If these other Olympic sports coaches are willing to leave just because Tom’s not here, fine. Adios. To paraphrase Bo, “I want a Louisville man coaching Louisville. Not a Jurich man coaching Louisville.”

  2. No one has given Cooper credit for anything, with the exception of John L. Smith, who got a great job because of him.

    You missed the point, cbcard – it was a critical time when the stadium opened because attendance was down, we were 1-10 and the future looked terrible. The opening coincided with a coaching change and helped to put butts back in the seats. John L. got things going and we all know the rest. The situation will be very similar at the end of next season (4-8?, 3-9?) and the opening of the expanded stadium in 2010 would be the right time to create excitement with a coaching change.

  3. While it is technically correct that PJCS was built while Cooper was the coach that was only because The Pipe left. Cooper just happened to walk into it. Of course he was ridden out of it too. It is unfair for him to be given any credit.

  4. I’ve been a season ticket holder since ’88,Sonja,so I know exactly what you’re speaking of! 1-10 is no stranger. I remember going to Convienient and getting a coupon for Louisville Football and also for getting good grades in school. My buddies and I were just hoping that the program would NEVER see days like that again.That days like that were long gone and a bad memory.And we thought the Orange Bowl was just the first step assuring us that we wouldn’t see them. Now I know we’re not THAT far down again but the fear is there we could be soon. I live and die with my U of L Football,as Mr. Springer will tell you, and as of late,there’s been more dying than living! But I will ALWAYS be there supporting my team,good days and bad,win or lose! It’s easy to be a jumper on a winner’s bandwagon. It’s a FAN who stays with their team when the chips are down! Hopefully,if we all keep our fingers crossed, better days lie ahead. And soon! Go Cards!!

  5. I will not verbally bash the program or the coach. This situation will play out in time. One thing I do find interesting – Tom has made the comment (to paraphrase), PJCS was built when Cooper was the coach and the program was not doing well. Does that mean we will get a new coach just as the expansion is completed? That would be my bet and as it appears now; this would be the only way to generate excitement for the football program. We’ll see how it plays out…

  6. Yeah, Joey…do like I will next football season. Cheer for your favorite players and hope that they will perform well and stay healthy. I know it’s hard to believe, but Cardinal football has sunk lower than this before. It’s obvious that Jurich is going to let this thing play out until it either shows improvement or the fans give up on the team and sport at UofL. I don’t want to return to those days where you could get free coupons for UofL football at neighborhood foot marts, and I’m sure the university and athletic department doesn’t want to see that either. We need wins. Sooner than later.

  7. Joey — hang in there. Good news will come out of the UofL football program. It will either be the ship turning around or Kragthorpe leaving. I know where I’d put my money.

  8. The word is that Kragthorpe has one more year to prove himself. Don’t desert the football program. As for Tom, the future would be bleak without him.

  9. With Lataruis Thomas leaving to go play for coaches he thinks are better than Crapthorpe, or Jeff Brohm’s possible demotion, UofL continues to fall. Charlie I know there is nothing we can do to rid our University, and city of this Crapthorpe guy, except, not show up to games. I know a many UofL fans, and like myself they will not be attending any games next year in hopes of finacially pushing out the clown at the top of the sideshow that has become UofL football. Jurich can only stick with the guy while the numbers are adding up. I would be willing to wager anyone on here that UofL’s avg. attendance next season is right at 25k. As the season has been over for a month, bad news continues to filter out of the program. And I thought losing football games was bad enough.

    I have been a lifelong UofL fan, growing up right down the street, and sneaking in to games as a kid. Now I support the program with real money, and I unfortunatly am really disapointed with Crapthorpe. Jeff Brohm is UofL football, and honestly if Crapthorpe demotes him, I suggest to a Mr. Tom Jurich he can pack his bags along with Mr. Steve Crapthorpe because your reign is almost up.

  10. Naysayers?

    Whether it’s Louisville or Boise or Podunk

    it’s simple: You must win more games than you lose…

    And when you don’t, it’s not naysaying

    it’s HEY! saying

  11. One of these days,Idon’t know when,we will all get GOOD news coming out of the Louisville Football program. At least that’s what I’m hopeful for. Because it seems ever since the week after the Orange Bowl two years ago,we’ve received nothing but bad news after bad news, day in and day out, from our beloved U of L Football. One of these days…

  12. Me, too..Linda. The Brohms’ have done a lot more for this community than just Cardinal football over the last twenty years. Speaking commitments. Lending their time and talents to charity and community events. Being examples of concerning and caring citizens. You don’t read about Brohms’ involved in dog fighting scams, late night brawls in taverns or criticizing the Cardinal athletic department or administration. Just quiet, dedicated stewardship to the University. If a potential slap in the face comes to the first family of Cardinal Football is pending, I hope Tom Jurich has the foresight and common sense to step up and stop it. For Kragthorpe to potentially alienate Louisville legends in this manner hardly suggests a attempt to positively rebuild a program…it indicates a drowning man trying to grab any branch around him to keep from going under the swift current of frustration and hypocracy surrounding him.

    The old story about the man who is trying to drain the swamp when he’s up to his waist in alligators comes to mind here. Why mess with a already disenchanted and dubious fan base by circumsizing the first family of Cardinal football? You better reign in your supposed contractor of the future of Cardinal Football, Tom…before he digs a hole that he can’t get out of.
    A hole that many are already saying can’t be filled unless a new man is given the shovel.

  13. You know it’s sad to see the Brohm family treated this way by the university – the Brohm name was good enough for us when Jeff and Greg thrilled us in Cardinal Stadium and we needed Brian to play for U of L. I’m just heartsick over all of this mess. So sad. Go CARDS!

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