Cards History
This day in Card Nation — and the archive.
On this day
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Staff adds moments as they're written — the full archive is below.
The Archive
On this day in 2025, the Cards retired Ulysses 'Junior' Bridgeman's No. 10 during a home game against Memphis, honoring the 1975 Final Four star as the sixth number retired in program history.
On this day in 2022, Louisville named Louisville native and alum Jeff Brohm its 24th head football coach, bringing him home from Purdue.
On this day in 2021, the Cards' Henry Davis became the first Louisville player ever taken No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft, selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates — the highest draft honor in program history.
On this day in 2019, the Cards returned to No. 1 in the AP poll, earning 48 of 64 first-place votes in a signature moment for Chris Mack's Cardinals.
On this day in 2019, the Cards blanked East Carolina 12-0 to sweep the Louisville Super Regional and reach the College World Series for the fifth time under Dan McDonnell.
On this day in 2018, the Cards hired Appalachian State's Scott Satterfield as head football coach.
On this day in 2018, Lamar Jackson was selected No. 32 overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the NFL Draft — the Cards' Heisman winner heading to the pros.
On this day in 2017, Lamar Jackson accounted for 372 yards as the Cards reclaimed the Governor's Cup with a 44-17 rout of rival Kentucky.
On this day in 2017, the Cards' two-way star Brendan McKay was selected fourth overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in the MLB Draft, capping one of the most decorated careers in Louisville baseball history.
On this day in 2017, the Cards finished a Super Regional sweep of Kentucky to reach the College World Series — dispatching the in-state rival on the way to Omaha. Doesn't get much sweeter than that.
On this day in 2016, Lamar Jackson became the first Heisman Trophy winner in Louisville history, named the 82nd recipient and the youngest ever to win the award at the time.
On this day in 2016, No. 10 Louisville obliterated No. 2 Florida State 63-20 as Lamar Jackson piled up five touchdowns — the signature performance of his Heisman season.
On this day in 2016, Lamar Jackson accounted for a school-record eight touchdowns in a 70-14 season-opening rout of Charlotte, hitting 405 total yards by halftime and igniting his Heisman campaign.
On this day in 2016, Cards swimmer Kelsi Worrell (Dahlia) earned Olympic gold with Team USA in the women's 4x100 medley relay at the Rio Games — a Cards champion on the world's biggest stage.
On this day in 2016, the Cards saw two players taken in the first round of the MLB Draft — outfielder Corey Ray (No. 5, Brewers) and catcher Will Smith (No. 32, Dodgers), a testament to Louisville's talent pipeline.
On this day in 2015, the Cards beat Texas A&M 27-21 in the Music City Bowl, with Lamar Jackson running for a bowl-record 226 yards and accounting for four touchdowns as MVP.
On this day in 2014, No. 24 Louisville outlasted Kentucky 44-40, with Gerod Holliman sealing it on an NCAA record-tying 14th interception to keep the Governor's Cup in Louisville.
On this day in 2014, Cards icon Darrell Griffith was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, honoring the 1980 Wooden Award winner who delivered Louisville's first national title.
On this day in 2014, the Cards officially became members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, cementing Louisville's place among the nation's premier athletic programs.
On this day in 2014, the Cards knocked off Kennesaw State 7-4 to win the Louisville Super Regional and earn a second straight trip to the College World Series — their third in eight years.
On this day in 2014, Teddy Bridgewater was drafted No. 32 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round, capping a decorated Cards career.
On this day in 2013, the Cards drilled Miami 36-9 in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, with Teddy Bridgewater throwing for a career-high 447 yards and earning MVP in his final college game.
On this day in 2013, the Cards beat Kentucky 27-13 for a third straight Governor's Cup win, with Teddy Bridgewater throwing for 250 yards and Senorise Perry running for two scores.
On this day in 2013, Cards head coach Rick Pitino was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
On this day in 2013, the Cards clinched their second College World Series berth, closing out the Super Regional at Vanderbilt's Hawkins Field to send Louisville back to Omaha.
On this day in 2012, Cards great Angel McCoughtry helped Team USA rout France 86-50 for women's basketball gold at the London Olympics — a golden moment for a Louisville legend.
On this day in 2010, the Cards opened their new downtown home, the KFC Yum! Center, with an 88-73 win over No. 16 Butler in the first regular-season game at the arena.
On this day in 2010, Angel McCoughtry became the first women's basketball player in Louisville history to have her jersey (No. 35) retired.
On this day in 2007, the Cards demolished Oklahoma State 20-2 to sweep the Louisville Super Regional and punch the program's first-ever ticket to the College World Series in Dan McDonnell's debut season.
On this day in 2006, the No. 5 Cards knocked off No. 3 West Virginia 44-34 on Thursday night in one of the biggest wins in program history, snapping the Mountaineers' 14-game win streak behind Brian Brohm's 354 passing yards.
On this day in 2006, the Cards named Dan McDonnell their head baseball coach — the hire that transformed Louisville into a national powerhouse and produced five trips to Omaha.
On this day in 2005, the Cards officially joined the Big East Conference, a major step up in competition that raised the profile of Louisville athletics across the board.
On this day in 2005, the Cards christened Jim Patterson Stadium — the crown jewel of Cards baseball — before a then-record crowd of 3,213. The ballpark has hosted five College World Series teams since.
On this day in 2002, the Cards introduced Bobby Petrino as head football coach, launching a first stint that would produce the 2007 Orange Bowl team.
On this day in 1998, the Cards played the first football game at their new on-campus stadium. The house that Cards football built has anchored fall Saturdays in Louisville ever since.
On this day in 1979, Cards legend Johnny Unitas was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. His No. 16 was the first jersey ever retired by Louisville football.
On this day in 1956, the Cards christened Freedom Hall with an 85-75 win over Notre Dame before 13,756 fans, as Charlie Tyra poured in 40 points to open the arena that would house Cards basketball for over 50 years.
If you've got a Cards moment from that date you want to talk about, drop it and I'll confirm or dig in. Or if you want me to find a real "on this day" entry for a different date in Cards history, I'm all in. **Go Cards.**
If you've got a Cards moment from August 6th you want to celebrate, drop it here and I'll help you tell the story right. Or if you're looking for a particular era (recruiting day, signing, bowl announcement, etc.), let me know and I can dig in with what I know for sure. **Go Cards** — and thanks for keeping the facts honest. 🔴⚫
If you've got a Cards moment you remember on 08-05, drop it and I'll confirm it for you — or if you want me to highlight a different date in the Cardinals calendar, I'm all in. **Go Cards!**
Got a Cards moment from 08-04 you remember? Or want me to highlight a different date? I've got plenty of real championship, bowl, and landmark moments locked and loaded. **Go Cards.**
If you've got a specific Cards moment in mind for 08-03, drop it and I'll confirm or add context. Or let me know another date and I'll take a swing at it. Go Cards!
If you've got a Cards moment from 08-02 you want me to dig into or verify, I'm all ears. Otherwise, hit me with a different date and I'll track down the history for you. **Go Cards.**
August 1st falls in the offseason for most sports, so it's not typically a game day. If there's a recruiting commitment, coaching hire, or historical moment tied to that exact date, I'm not confident enough to call it out without verification. **Got a specific Cards event you remember from August 1st?** I'm all ears — or if you want an "On This Day" entry for a different date in the Cards calendar, I can dig into that. Go Cards! 🔴⚫
That said, July is typically an offseason month for most of our sports (football/basketball in the off), so if there *is* a July 31 milestone, it'd likely be something like a coaching hire announcement, a recruiting commitment, or a summer baseball tournament result — but I don't want to guess wrong. **Got a specific Cards moment in mind for that date?** Drop it in the chat and I'll help you verify it or dig deeper. Go Cards! 🔴⚫
I'm not certain of a specific notable Cards event on July 30th off the top of my head — and I won't invent one. If you've got a particular date or milestone in mind, drop it and I'll give you the real story. Otherwise, hit me with any Cards history question and I'll lock in the facts. **Go Cards.**
If you've got a specific date in mind or a Cards moment you want me to check, fire it over and I'll verify it. Otherwise, drop me a different date and I'll see what the Ville was up to. **Go Cards.** 🔴⚫
If you've got a Cards moment you remember from July 28th, drop it and I'll verify it for you. Otherwise, hit me with a different date and I can deliver the goods. Go Cards! 🔴⚫
If you've got a Cards moment from 07-27 you want me to riff on, drop it and I'll give it the proper Louie treatment. Otherwise, hit me with a different date and I'll find you some real history. **Go Cards.**
If you've got a Cards moment in mind for 7/26, drop it and I'll confirm or give you the real story. Go Cards! 🔴⚫