Louisville's class conflict

[E.T.]

Louisville's class conflict

02/23/2004

Matt Hayes

Sporting News

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A hotshot 17- or 18-year-old saunters in front of a television camera,

and grown men wait breathlessly for him to announce where he'll play

college football. Moments later, some program's future never looked so

bright.

Last year, Michael Bush came to Louisville with his All-American

credentials, rocket arm and NFL frame. This year, Brian Brohm, the poster

child for perfect quarterbacks, enters the mix. And there stands Stefan

LeFors, Louisville's undersized incumbent starting quarterback, looking

more every day like the student manager dodging towels.

"I've had to prove people wrong all my life," LeFors says.

Why should this time be any different? Because there's $13.5 million

riding on coach Bobby Petrino's decision, that's why.

Petrino says Brohm will have every opportunity to win the job in the

summer. Bush, whom Petrino has tried to convince to move to tailback,

likely will get a shot at unseating LeFors in spring practice. The issue

is this: Louisville -- which returns 17 starters in its last season as a

non-BCS team -- could be the first non-BCS team to earn an at-large bid

to the Sugar, Rose, Orange or Fiesta Bowl and the eight-figure payout

that comes with it.

Does Petrino sacrifice the stability, efficiency and success of LeFors

for the potential of Brohm? Does he sacrifice team chemistry and all

that goes with it -- karma, confidence, character -- because he has a

freshman who can make all the throws? This, ladies and gentlemen, is the

13.5 Million Dollar Question.

LeFors won't scare you with his arm, speed or scrambling ability, but

he's one of those rare college players whose best comes out when the

lights and silk jerseys are on. He won the job in two-a-days last year and

then, late in the fourth quarter of the season opener against rival

Kentucky, won over his teammates. With Louisville facing fourth and 4 and

trying to run out the clock, LeFors scrambled for a first down -- after

his primary receiver failed to stay with his route -- and got drilled.

"After that," he says, "I earned their respect and confidence."

Yet for some reason, Petrino has yet to give his senior quarterback --

an all-Conference USA selection last season -- the job unconditionally.

He says competition is good for players, that it makes them hungrier

and more focused. That's fine if you've got two experienced quarterbacks

competing. When one is a senior and one is an incoming freshman, that's

a huge gamble with so much at stake.

So there sits LeFors, the best offensive player on the team last year,

the guy who made Petrino's first season at Louisville significantly

easier with his throwing and running and who made a whole lot of something

out of nothing in a nine-win season. Now he has to prove himself all

over again. "They keep bringing them in," LeFors says. "One by one, I'll

beat them."

Bush came to Louisville as the savior of the program, an in-state

recruit Petrino had to have to save a class that was hurt by the loss of

coach John L. Smith to Michigan State. Bush was promised a chance to play

as a freshman, his signing trumpeting a new beginning for Louisville.

He couldn't get on the field at quarterback because Petrino couldn't

afford to take LeFors off it. So Bush played tailback part time.

Fast forward a year, and Brohm is with the Cardinals after turning down

Tennessee -- and its wide-open starting job. Not a big surprise,

really. His father (Oscar) and brother (Jeff) both played quarterback for

Louisville. Petrino talks confidently about his second recruiting class

and freely admits he promised Brohm a chance to play this fall. Except

there's one teeny-weeny problem: Louisville already has a quarterback.

"I don't think it will cause a problem at all," Petrino says.

Not if LeFors has anything to say about it.

Staff writer Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News.

Email him at mhayes@sportingnews.com and include your name and location.

[smazza]

i am against bringing top QB's year after year

stick with one guy

at usf we haven't had that luxury

go julmiste go