Spring Game

Blue skies, giant puffy white clouds, and gentle breezes.

A perfect day to celebrate for University of Louisville fans, 33,000 of them coming together at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium for the annual spring game.  No threat of rain, snow or other inclement weather for the first time in recent memory.

Another great day to be a UofL fan, still celebrating the UofL football team’s 33-23 win over Florida in the Sugar Bowl in January. Celebrating a national championship in basketball and a national runner-up finish for women’s basketball this past week.

They were there to see Teddy Bridgewater again, along with the return of running back Dominique Brown, the debut of running back Brandon Radcliff and they wouldn’t be disappointed. Bridgewater would complete 16-of-20 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns (he only played in the first half) while Brown and Radcliff would run for 89 and 56 yards, respectively. The electrifying DeVante Parker would haul in four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

They were there to celebrate being University of Louisville fans one more time, one last big coming together before the summer doldrums set in, switching their attention from basketball to football in a few short days.

Sean Moth, the PA announcer, was unsuccessful in getting fans to pick sides in the football scrimmage. Impossible to pick sides. Hard to conclude much from a spring game anyway, and few fans were trying, mostly content with enjoying the atmosphere and being with fellow fans.

PeytonTen-year-old Peyton French, clad in his adidas NCAA basketball championship shirt, flashes the L sign while chowing down on pizza in the bed of a pickup after the scrimmage.

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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.