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Almost eight months will pass before Louisville opens its 2018 football season against the Alabama program that won the national championship last week, but for now, the Cardinals arenāt shy away from the challenge Sept. 1 in Orlando, Florida.
āWe put our pads on like they put their pads on," Louisville cornerback Rodjay Burns said. "Theyāre not scary because they won the national championship. Weāre gonna play ball.ā
The Crimson Tide stunned Georgia in overtime last Monday to win their fifth national title in nine years, and Nick Sabanās program will almost certainly enter next season as one of the nation's top teams.
Barring attrition, Alabama has two potent quarterbacks, at least one former five-star running back and another elite defense returning.
āItās a great challenge for us,ā Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. āGreat opener for us. It gives us a lot to work for in the offseason, a lot to work for all summer long.ā
Petrino said he saw pretty much all of the national title game Monday and noticed the speed of both defenses.
Burns, an Ohio State transfer who will be eligible for that opener after sitting out the 2017 season, said heās "going to take the attitude as, 'OK, they're another team.'"
āWe put our pads on like they put their pads on. Theyāre not scary because they won the national championship.ā
Rodjay Burns, on Alamama
Louisville has made a habit of scheduling difficult openers, though none in recent memory have been as daunting as this one. The Cards played Purdue in another neutral-site matchup last September and opened against a highly rated Auburn team in 2015 in Atlanta.
Before 2014, Louisville often played Kentucky in its first game or one of its first few, and Petrino recalled how that motivated his team during his first tenure at the school from 2003-06.
The Alabama showdown, then, could provide an extra dose of that motivation.
āTo me, itās an opportunity to show the world where we stand going against the best,ā quarterback Jawon Pass said. āSo we look forward to it.ā
Alabama may be a daunting season opener, but the Cards are 'gonna play ball'
āWe put our pads on like they put their pads on," Louisville cornerback Rodjay Burns said. "Theyāre not scary because they won the national championship. Weāre gonna play ball.ā
The Crimson Tide stunned Georgia in overtime last Monday to win their fifth national title in nine years, and Nick Sabanās program will almost certainly enter next season as one of the nation's top teams.
Barring attrition, Alabama has two potent quarterbacks, at least one former five-star running back and another elite defense returning.
āItās a great challenge for us,ā Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. āGreat opener for us. It gives us a lot to work for in the offseason, a lot to work for all summer long.ā
Petrino said he saw pretty much all of the national title game Monday and noticed the speed of both defenses.
Burns, an Ohio State transfer who will be eligible for that opener after sitting out the 2017 season, said heās "going to take the attitude as, 'OK, they're another team.'"
āWe put our pads on like they put their pads on. Theyāre not scary because they won the national championship.ā
Rodjay Burns, on Alamama
Louisville has made a habit of scheduling difficult openers, though none in recent memory have been as daunting as this one. The Cards played Purdue in another neutral-site matchup last September and opened against a highly rated Auburn team in 2015 in Atlanta.
Before 2014, Louisville often played Kentucky in its first game or one of its first few, and Petrino recalled how that motivated his team during his first tenure at the school from 2003-06.
The Alabama showdown, then, could provide an extra dose of that motivation.
āTo me, itās an opportunity to show the world where we stand going against the best,ā quarterback Jawon Pass said. āSo we look forward to it.ā
Alabama may be a daunting season opener, but the Cards are 'gonna play ball'
