New UL coach “re-recruits” Brian Brohm

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, January 18, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Louisville Cardinals
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Sometimes, the hardest players to recruit are the ones you already have.

That is, if they happen to be 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, have thrown for over 6,000 yards and 41 touchdowns, and are eligible for the NFL draft as a junior.

Brian Brohm, in other words.

Yet that was the first task facing Steve Kragthorpe when he was hired away from the University of Tulsa to coach the University of Louisville Cardinals. Events happened so quickly after Bobby Petrino bolted for the Atlanta Falcons, that even Kragthorpe seemed disoriented.

Asked in his first press conference about his recruiting priorities, he said "We're going to try and find the best players that fit the University of Tulsa .... (embarrassed pause) ... I mean, the University of Louisville."

After which, Kragthorpe grinned sheepishly and said: "I haven't slept in two days."

Kragthorpe made it very clear that Brohm was his chief priority. It was manifest in his opening assertions that he remains a very pass-oriented coach, and in his decision to retain assistant coaches Jeff Brohm and Greg Brohm, who happen to be Brian's brothers. He even promoted Jeff to assistant head coach.

And on the eve of NFL declaration day, Brian Brohm came around.

"I'm very happy with the coach they (Louisville) brought in," Brohm said. "I was hearing 'One more year' everywhere I went last season. It'll be nice to have that settled."

Given his size and demonstrated accuracy, Brohm was a possible first-round pick. But with JaMarcus Russell of LSU and Colt Brennan of Hawaii coming out, along with Notre Dame's Brady Quinn, there was suddenly a glut of good quarterbacks at the top of the draft.

It didn't hurt that Brohm is a Louisville guy: not only his brothers, but his father, played for the Cardinals. Moreover, his three favorite receivers -- wideouts Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglas and TE Gary Barnidge -- will all be back, along with two of the leading running backs -- Anthony Allen and Gary Barnidge -- and a majority of the offensive line. The Cardinals were 12-1, Orange Bowl champions and ranked sixth this past season.

What may have given Brohm pause was his injury history -- he missed part of the 2005 season with knee injuries and three games in 2006 with a broken thumb. Apparently, he's willing to take the risk.

Running back Michael Bush, on the other hand, declared for the draft weeks ago. Obviously, the 250-pounder feels he's accomplished all he could on the college level and will let the February combine answer questions about his leg (broken against Kentucky in the 2006 opener).

As for Brian Brohm, perhaps the real reason he returned was his brother Jeff, the quarterbacks coach who famously got in his face during a loss to Rutgers.

Maybe Jeff threatened to beat him up if he left.
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