Louisville came into 2006 riding two Heisman Trophy hopefuls and a wave of national title possibility. In a split second, two became one, and a cloud of doubt was cast over the Louisville season.

Running back Michael Bush ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of the Cardinals’ 59-28 season-opening win over Kentucky on Sunday. On Louisville’s second play of the third quarter, Bush took quarterback Brian Brohm’s pitch to the left and was met by UK’s Wesley Woodyard.

Bush’s season was over.

The Heisman hopeful broke his leg in two places and will miss the remainder of the season.

Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino said he looked at the trainer’s face and knew within 10 seconds something was wrong.

‘I think there was no question that there was a major problem,’ Petrino said. ‘We feel very bad for Michael. I think it’s something you just don’t understand how a guy can work so hard, put so much into it, go out play so well in the first half, and then have something like that happen.’

Bush underwent surgery on his injured leg Monday morning.

Petrino said the players rallied together after the injury and ran the ball well in the second half, when six players combined for 168 yards on the ground. He also said he has not yet decided how to fill Bush’s void, whether with one particular player or a running back-by-committee.

The main replacements for Bush against Kentucky were senior Kolby Smith, sophomore George Stripling and freshman Anthony Allen. Petrino also mentioned junior Sergio Spencer.

‘What you don’t have [without Bush] is the total package with the power, the quickness and the ability to go all the way,’ Petrino said. ‘But Kolby (Smith) is a very, very good running back. He’s made a tremendous amount of plays around here in four years.

‘George (Stripling) is a guy that is 195 pounds. He’s very fast, has great vision and has really good acceleration. He might not have the power that Michael has, but there’s not a lot of people that do.’

Petrino went on to say that Stripling isn’t just an outside speed runner. He stressed Stripling’s ability to run between the tackles and break away for ‘the home run.’ Stripling averaged 10 yards per carry Sunday, running for a long of 38 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cardinals are no strangers to injury, having lost Brohm to an anterior cruciate ligament injury for the season after being sacked in the third quarter by Syracuse’s James Wyche. Petrino told reporters Bush is expected to make a full recovery, and that the team’s goals will not change without their star.

‘We just buckle up our chinstraps and move on,’ Petrino said. ‘That’s what we’ve always done.’

How much Bush’s injury will be felt across the Big East has yet to be determined, but coaches believe Louisville can cope.

‘They’ve got a lot of talent down there,’ Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said. ‘I don’t think it will affect their team that much.’

Like Wannstedt, Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez said he hadn’t given thought to the affect of Bush’s absence on his team’s championship odds. Rodriguez said he didn’t plan on considering it either.

‘Our thoughts are strictly with Michael,’ Rodriguez said. ‘I hope he gets a fast, speedy and full recovery.’

Injury Bug Bites Again

Injuries also hit South Florida hard in week one against McNeese State. USF’s returning starter at quarterback, Pat Julmiste, came up limping after an 18-yard scramble early in the second quarter.

He was replaced by redshirt freshman Matt Grothe, who went on to throw for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-13 passing. Head coach Jim Leavitt said Monday he would use both quarterbacks for now, but was unsure of whom he would start.

Running back Moise Plancher also left Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury. Leavitt was unsure of Planter’s playing status for this weekend.

Backups Walt Smith, Keeley Dorsey and Benjamin Williams combined for 147 yards on 18 carries.

Game of the Week

Pittsburgh (1-0) at Cincinnati (1-0)

Friday, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Pittsburgh and Cincinnati kick off the 2006 Big East schedule with the first league game of the season. Wannstedt said it would have be nice to have more time before seeing a Big East opponent, mainly to work out issues with time management, coaching situations and personnel adjustments.

Around the Conference

Cincinnati played both Nick Davila and Dustin Grutza at quarterback against Eastern Kentucky. Dantonio said both quarterbacks will play, but Grutza will start against Pittsburgh in week two. …Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel threw two touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season, but RU coach Greg Schiano was impressed with the sophomore against North Carolina. Teel completed 70 percent of his passes in week one. …The Big East went 7-1 this weekend. Syracuse lost to Wake Forest.

Published on September 4, 2006 at 12:00 pm