U of L coach Jeff Brohm displayed an interesting trait over others as his solid but underwhelming career matured as he roamed the sidelines in Northwest Indiana.

His normally undermanned Purdue Boilermakers pulled off an out-of-the-blue surprise against a ranked team when it was unexpected. Several times.

In his final season at Purdue, he did it twice and took the underdogs to the conference title game. Minnesota was ranked in the top 25 and landed at the Boilermakers. As is Illinois.

In season 21, this Brohm trait was even more pronounced. Purdue defeated Michigan State 40-29 when Sparty was ranked No. 5 in the country. More impressive was the 24-7 win over Iowa in Iowa City, when the Hawkeyes were ranked No. 2 nationally.

So maybe it shouldn't have been so surprising when the Louisville Cardinals got 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 on the rise.

But: “Yes, although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. . .”

You should not fear any evil or anything like that.

And Brohm and the Cardinals and Ron English and his defensive units and Brock Travelstead and bumbling QB Tyler Shough and the guy who was supposed to be Mr. 502Circle, Isaac Brown and a scruffy, duct-taped but up to the task OL who isn't has managed.

That is, fear evil.

The Cardinals are on Ofer Clemson longer.

James Quick's curse has been defeated.

Louisville 33, Clemson 21.

It was only a late Orange Garbage score that brought them this close.

There are far too many wonderful moments to mention.

Too many key statistics enumerating the depth of defeat.

If my readers have favorites that I don't mention, put them in the comments section. (As if you all needed my permission. Ha.)

* * * * *

My favorite plays of the game:

I guess you have to start with the win, Isaac Brown's 45-yard streak to win on 1st down with 5:50 left, just 10 seconds after the Losers thought they were back in it.

At that moment, all the juice was squeezed out of the orange. The crowd thinned.

But how can you not love Shough's 3D down scramblin somersault score that put U of L ahead for good, 10-7, with 5:42 remaining in the 2D?

This drive was kept alive by a strong inside screen of 31 yards to Duke Watson.

Louisville was ready to win and didn't relinquish the lead.

Honestly, I liked a play call almost as much that didn't work on U of L's next possession. After a few chunk rushes, I Brown for 12 yards, I Brown for 23 yards, Brohm called a play and faked out to Brown. The pass went wide but was quickly released and was the perfect decision at the time.

(I mean, let's criticize the guy for the play calls we don't like. Let's give him credit when it's due, even if it doesn't work.)

* * * * *

The above-average calling duo of Bob Wichusen and Louis Riddick kept talking about how the Card D team had simplified the game plan, even calling alignments the old-fashioned way with signals from the sideline.

Whatever it was, kudos to the object of Cardinal fans' ire, Ron English and company.

Nine pass breakups. Nine. I repeat, nine.

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

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

Top of the helmet to Brock Travelstead. Missed his first FG. He then hit his final four from 21, 42, 40 and 49 meters away. Everyone was key.

* * * * *

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

But the winners were more efficient.

6.2 yards per play vs. 4.5. Better numbers for Louisville in both passing and rushing.

Plus, Clemson's was late when the game was practically over.

The win was so solid.

Oh, so sweet.

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

– CD Kaplan