Different kind of crowd at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Football crowd, not a social event.
Something about Friday nights brings out the best in University of Louisville football fans, some 48,435 of them showing up to support their team, despite a 2-4 won-lost record.
Into this game. Most getting into the stadium, in their seats early. Knowing when to make noise. Crunch Zone definitely back. Fans on their feet all around the stadium, even the “corporate side,” on third down defensive plays. Pleading with the defense, the defense responding time after time. Fan sticking around until the very end.
The players finally seeing U of L football fans at their best, feeding off of them. Rising to the occasion time after time.
Hanging on, determined to finish for a change. Tempted to say turning a corner, but we know what happened last time that was declared. But there was something different about this one.
Dexter Heyman intercepting that final Rutgers pass, sealing a 16-14 win.
This football team bonding with the hometown crowd at last, having a reason to appreciate them, to be appreciated. Motivating the players, the fans, growing together.
There is a familiar buzz following the game, the spontaneous C-A-R-D-S cheers over and over again under the Denny Crum overpass. Happy talk, happy walk to the cars in the Green Lot. Heck, even the traffic guys have their act together clearing the lot fairly quickly. Winning cures a lot of ills.
Here’s that Dexter Heyman interception in case you missed it:
And the fans in the tunnel: