Cardinals to Honor Former QB Stefan LeFors on Saturday
Stefan LeFors led the nation in completion percentage in 2004.
Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Former University of Louisville quarterback Stefan LeFors will become the 23rd football player to have his jersey honored, when the Cardinals face Syracuse in their final home game of the year at 3:30 p.m.
Playing under head coach Bobby Petrino, LeFors starred in his No. 17 jersey for the Cardinals from 2001-2004. He ranks seventh all-time in school history in both career passing yards (5,853) and career touchdown passes (38).
The two-time all-Conference USA first-team honoree and left-handed thrower helped Louisville capture the 2004 Conference USA championship with an 11-1 record and a win over No. 10 Boise State in the Liberty Bowl.
In winning the league title, the Cardinals were a perfect 8-0, scoring more than 40 points in each of the conference games, including 70 in a win over Cincinnati and 65 in a road win over Houston.
Leading the nation’s top-ranked offense at 539.0 yards per game, LeFors put together one of the finest overall seasons in school history. He threw for 2,596 yards and 20 touchdowns, while leading the nation in with a 73.5 percent completion rate and a 181.7 passing efficiency rating.
The Baton Rouge, La., native set the school record for completion percentage. He completed better than 80 percent of his passes four different times, including a career-best 85.7 – 12 of 14 – in a win over East Carolina.
In the Liberty Bowl win, LeFors was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after going 18 for 26 for 193 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 76 yards and a score in a match-up of two top-10 teams.
Taking over as the starter in 2003, Lefors guided the Cardinals to a 9-4 record and a berth in the GMAC Bowl. A starter in all 13 games, LeFors threw for 3,145 yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding another 405 yards and three scores on the ground.
That season, LeFors directed the fifth-best offense in the nation, averaging 488.9 yards per game and scoring 34.6 points a contest.
LeFors recorded two 400-yard passing games, throwing for 406 yards in a win over Army and a career-best 469 yards in a 31-28 loss on the road to nationally ranked TCU.
Following his collegiate career, LeFors was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round (121st overall pick) of the 2005 NFL Draft. After serving one season in a backup role for the Panthers, LeFors was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL
