U of L coach Jeff Brohm showed an interesting trait that stood out above others as his solid but not particularly great career matured while roaming the sidelines at NW Indiana.

His usually undermanned Purdue Boilermakers got upset out of nowhere against a top-ranked team when it was unexpected. Several times.

In his final season at Purdue, he did it twice, taking his underdogs to the conference title game. Minnesota was in the Top 25 and fell to the Boilermakers. Just like Illinois.

In the ’21 season, that Brohm trait became even more prevalent. Purdue defeated Michigan State 40-29 when Sparty was No. 5 in the country. Even more impressive was Iowa’s 24-7 loss in Iowa City when the Hawkeyes were ranked second in the country.

So maybe it shouldn’t have been such a surprise when the meandering Louisville Cardinals earned their first-ever win Saturday night in Clemson, SC.

Still, the 11th-ranked Tigers had won 22 straight night games in Death Valley and were rolling.

But: “Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…. . .”

You don’t have to fear evil and all that.

And Brohm and the Cardinals and Ron English and his defensive units and Brock Travelstead and the wandering QB Tyler Shough and the guy who calls Mr.

Fear evil, that is.

The Cardinals have been sitting on Ofer Clemson longer.

The curse of James Quick has been overcome.

Louisville 33, Clemson 21.

Only a late orange garbage score brought them that close.

There are far too many wonderful moments to list them all.

Too many key stats that reflect the depth of the beatdown.

If my readers have any favorites that I don’t list, please post them in the comments section. (As if y’all need my permission. Ha.)

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My favorite game variants:

I think you have to start with the sealer, Isaac Brown’s 45-yard streak to pay dirt on first down with 5:50 left, just 10 seconds after the losers thought they were back in it.

At this point, all the juice was squeezed out of the orange. The crowd thinned out.

But how can you not love Shough’s 3d down-scramblin’ score to put U of L up a good 10-7 with 5:42 left in the 2d?

That drive was kept alive by a heave inside screen for 31 yards to Duke Watson.

Ready to win, Louisville didn’t relinquish the lead.

Frankly, I loved almost as much a play call that didn’t work on U of L’s next possession. After a couple of big rushes, I Brown for 12 yards, I Brown for 23 yards, Brohm called a play, where he pretended to Brown. The pass missed but was quickly released, and at the time it was the perfect call.

(I mean, we criticize the man for the plays we don’t like, let’s give credit when it’s due, even if it doesn’t work.)

* * * * *

The much better than average announcing duo of Bob Wichusen and Louis Riddick kept talking about how the Card D staff had simplified the game plan, even calling alignments the old fashioned way with signals from the sidelines.

Whatever it was, kudos to the outrage of Cardinal fans, Ron English and his cohorts.

Nine pass breakups. Nine. I repeat, nine.

Plus a few rushes, a few sacks, and a handful of TFLS.

Special Teams: Two blocked FGs. Two. I repeat, two.

Tip of the helmet to Brock Travelstead. Missed his first FG. He then hit his final four, from 21, 42, 40 and 49 meters away. They were all crucial.

* * * * *

Clemson had more total yards than the Cardinals, more passing yards, more rushing yards.

But the victors were more efficient.

6.2 yards per play versus 4.5. Better numbers for Louisville, both passing and rushing.

Plus, Clemson’s came late when the game was effectively over.

The win was oh so solid.

Oh so sweet.

Again that final score from Death Valley: Louisville 33, Clemson 21.

—cd kaplan