I started this countdown thing to make the last nine days go by faster and to educate readers on some things about current and former Cardinal greats that they might not have known about. Well, I gotta say that the going by faster thing isn’t really working with me as it still seems like the day will never get here but at least I’ve been told by a few that they appreciated the info I’m putting out so I’ll call it a success. Enough about me, on with the countdown and the “Fantastic Fives”.
Photo – Shane Stovall
Teddy Bridgewater trots off the field after throwing a touchdown last season vs. North Carolina
Was there ever really any doubt who I’d pick for my football representative when I got to this day? Teddy Bridgewater has arguably done more for the Louisville football program than any other player in history. I don’t mean to diminish the feats from some of the greats before him but Teddy put a dying brand back on the shelves of the major store that is collegiate football. Yes I know that Charlie Strong brought in an amazing staff to help the flailing program but if it weren’t for Teddy, it’s very likely that the Cards wouldn’t have as many wins as they’ve had over the last three seasons. Bridgewater is mentioned as the number one draft pick in almost every mock draft for good reason. He is the type of quarterback that a team is lucky to get once every 25 years and his skills and abilities have single-handedly won several games ie. Rutgers last year, Cincinnati this year and probably at Kentucky in 2011 just to name a few.
Looking at his numbers, you can see that he is one of if not the best quarterback ever at UofL but his numbers in the record books don’t show the grittiness, guts, competetive spirit and will to win that he displays every game. If Bridgewater were to enter this years draft (and I think we all believe he should and will) he will leave the Cardinals holding the third and fifth best seasons in passing yards all-time. That’s probably not going to happen though because right now he has 3,523 yards (5th best in a season) but you have to imagine he will throw for at least 125 yards in the showdown with the Canes which in turn will push him into the fourth best season passing Chris Redman‘s 3,647 yards in 1999.
His 9,370 career yards currently has him third all-time behind Redman (12,541) and Brian Brohm (10,775). He threw for 2,129 in his freshman season and that ranks him number one all-time. His 36 completions in a single game versus Syracuse in 2012 ties him for sixth best all-time and his season total of 287 completions last year rank him fourth all-time. His current total of 268 completions are good enough for fifth. Teddy currently has 746 career completions (third best all-time), 34 behind Brohm’s 780.
The Miami native has thrown for five touchdowns in a single game on two different occasions (Temple 2012 and Ohio 2013) which ties him with Brohm, Redman and Dave Ragone. Redman also holds the record with six versus ECU in 1998. Teddy’s 28 touchdown tosses this year are good enough for third all-time (Brohm-30, Redman-29 twice). His current 69 career touchdowns place him fourth, two behind third place Brohm. So, if Teddy can torch his former committed school for three touchdowns he will then hold the single season record and move himself into third all-time.
Bridgewater’s accuracy is may be the best facet in his repertoire. He has shown time and time again that he can “thread the needle” and most importantly put the ball where only his man can get it, eliminating interceptions. Want proof? For starters Teddy holds five of the top six best single game completion percentages in UofL history with 90.5% (UK ’12’), 86.2% (USF ’13’), 84% (USF ’12’), and 82.1% (UNC ’12’ & Ohio ’13’). Secondly, Mr. Bridgewater is tops in career completion percentage with 68.5% beating out Stefan Lefors‘ 66%.
While these stats are impressive to analysts, fans and some coaches, they really don’t mean much to Teddy Bridgewater. He’s always been a team first type of guy and doesn’t really adore the limelight and or praise from media. Case in point, before the season kicked off Teddy told Strong that he did not want a Heisman campaign for him and he was more focused on winning games and possibly playing for a national championship. I sat in every post game press conference this season and every time he was made available he would always defer to either his offensive line for making blocks or his receivers for making the tough catches or the fans for inspiring him rather than gloat about his video game like numbers.
Teddy and my wife, Laura Stovall after the FIU game
Teddy is the epitome of what you want in a player if you’re a coach, in a friend if you’re a buddy, in an interview if you’re media and as I know his mother Rose would attest, in a son if you’re a parent. THANK YOU TEDDY for all of your amazing and hard work you have put into my beloved university.
My fantastic five for basketball holds a very dear place in my heart as well and is one of the nicest and talented Cardinals I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and watch play. Taquan Dean became known as one of the best three-point shooters in UofL history but he was much more than that.
Dean co-starred with his good friend Francisco Garcia at Louisville from 2002 to 2006 after lighting up the nets at his Neptune High School in Neptune Township, New Jersey. Dean was a terrific marksman and confident shooter so much so that he holds the record in almost every major three-point shooting category at UofL. He leads in attemps in a season (275 in 2005-2006), attempts in a game (17 vs. West Virginia in 2005 – made 7), made three-pointers in a single game (9 vs. VMI in 2003 – 12 attempts), made in a season (122 in 2004-2005) and made in a career (359). For comparison and just so you can fully understand how many Dean made, the ultra talented DeJuan Wheat is second all-time with 323 made while Reece Gaines is third with a mere (said tongue in cheek) 225! When Dean finally quit scoring for the Cardinals he had 1,649 points placing him 12th all-time!
Photo – leebasket.com
Taquan Dean ranks 12th all-time in career points at UofL with 1,649
Dean shot well each year from behind the arc and was no “flash-in-the-pan” one great season kind of player. His four year career three-point percentage of .401% ties him with Kenny Payne for third trailing only Dwayne Morton’ .461% and Brian Kiser’s .430%. Dean was more than a shooter though and actually led the team in the 2005-2006 season with 3.5 assist per game. Dean was a capable defender that finished with 114 career steals and was Mr.Clutch at the free throw stripe. Taquan hit 92-107 (.860%) free throws in his senior campaign and finished his career with a .829% (214-258) from the charity stripe. Because Dean was such a good shooter and scorer, his ability to rebound gets overlooked at times. He averaged 5.6 rebounds per game in his senior season and 4.2 for his career.
Dean hit some huge shots in big time situations as well as wide open shots you’d expect him to. Many of his three-pointers came off of assist from his best friend Garcia and many of them were huge momentum changers at critical times. With the game on the line you knew that if number 5 got the ball then you had a good chance of winning. Taquan went undrafted in the 2006 draft mainly due to spending a lot of time injured and on the bench but did sign with Angelico Biella of the Italian league. Dean has also played professionally in Russia and Spain and currently plays for S.S. Felice Scandone in Italy.
Taquan was one of and will always be one of my favorite Cards and even to this day I can still hear that sweet sound of…”Threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee by Deeeeeeean!” if I sit quietly and think about it.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for a look at the Fabulous Fours featuring Lancaster Gordon and…???
