Photo: USAToday.com
It’s time once again, for the bi-weekly Legends of Louisville! The question you may be asking is, who’s next? (Now for all my fellow wrestling fans out there just imagine that being said in a Goldberg voice haha) Well, the picture above may have spoiled who indeed is next, and that man is the legend known by many names, but we simply know him as Touchdown Teddy!
It’s quite amazing to think that Bridgewater originally didn’t plan on coming to Louisville, as he had already committed to the University of Miami (FL), but as fate would have it, the dismissal of Miami coach Randy Shannon proved to be the turning point, as soon after Bridgewater (along with high school teammate Eli Rogers, another beloved former Cardinal) visited the University, with both of their commitments coming just about a week later.
During his Freshman year, he began as a backup but became the starter for the 4th game of the season against Marshall, and from there, the legacy of Touchdown Teddy began. Named a freshman All-American by multiple publications and the Big East Rookie of the Year, we all expected that his Sophomore year would be spectacular, and boy were we right! Whether it be the famous game against Rutgers, where he came off the bench injured and led the team not only to a win, but also to the Big East Championship and a birth in a BCS Bowl, or the fact that he led Louisville to one of the biggest upsets (according to the media, we Cards fan believed in this team!) in Sugar Bowl history, beating the 3rd ranked Florida Gators and earning himself MVP honors by tossing for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns, this was the year the Bridgewater cemented himself in Louisville football lore.
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And then in his Junior (and final) season Bridgewater went OFF, throwing for 3,970 yards with 31 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions. Although the Cards didn’t make it to a BCS bowl that year due to the lone loss against Central Florida, Bridgewater’s last game in the Cardinals uniform was memorable, playing against the team he originally committed to, the Miami Hurricanes, in the Russell Athletic Bowl, throwing for 447 yards and 3 touchdowns while being named the MVP. You really couldn’t ask for a more fitting send off for such a true legend in the history of football at the University of Louisville.
Although we didn’t get the chance to experience Touchdown Teddy for the full 4 years, what he did for our program in his three short years here was nothing short of incredible. Taking a program that was on a little bit of a decline and turning it almost into a national powerhouse, making Louisville a “cool” program to go play for again. In a way, I don’t want to imagine what this program would be without ole Teddy having come through here. The great thing is, us Louisville fans we can enjoy Bridgewater for years to come on Sundays during the NFL season, as he was picked by the Vikings with the 32nd pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. They call him Teddy Bridgewater in the NFL, but to us he will always be Touchdown Teddy, a Legend of Louisville! As always, Go Cards!
