[shortsleeve47]

Brian Brohm became the Big East's all-time passing yardage leader early in the second quarter.

So I watched the U of L-South Florida game again on tape.

I know, I'm a glutton for punishment.

Not much new jumped out at me except for this: Brian Brohm had a great game.

That might sound weird, given that the Cards lost 55-17 and Brohm finished 18-of-37 for 213 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. But stats don't always tell the story, and sometimes I'm guilty of relying on them way too much, especially on a tight deadline game story like Saturday, when the game started at 8:05 and didn't end until nearly 11:45.

Watching the tape, it's clear that Brohm was on the money but had little help. I counted nine --- yes, nine --- passes that hit receivers in the hands but were not caught. A couple of them might have been tough catches, but the general rule is, if the ball hits a receiver in the hands, he should catch it.

This includes Brohm's first interception, though to be fair to Mario Urrutia, the ball appeared to be tipped at the line, creating an odd spin as it went through Mario's hands on the slant route. Some others were completely inexcusable. Brohm made one throw near the end of the first half where he was under heavy pressure, he threw off his back foot and he found Scott Long in stride on a perfectly placed ball. Simply a big-time, NFL caliber throw. And Long couldn't catch it.

Eight of the dropped passes came in the first half.

You've got to feel for Brohm, who could have been a first-round pick last year. He has had no help whatsoever from his running game, yet he's battled his heart out every week no matter how bad things get. However you feel about this team, Brohm deserves support on Senior Day (as does Harry Douglas). He has to be as frustrated as anyone, but he hasn't complained once publicly.
posted by Brian Bennett
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Mailbag time

Letters, we get letters ...


Name: David
Question: Does anyone else think Krag should be fired after this awful performance?

Name: Dave from Bardstown
Question: How long will Steve Kragthorpe continue to punish the football fans? He makes some poor decisions.

Lot of dissatisfaction with Coach K after that South Florida loss, and not just from guys named Dave. My inbox was full of emails like these. It's understandable after a team lays a complete egg like that --- worst loss in 20 years. The 5-6 record is pretty much inexcusable as well. But Kragthorpe is not, and should not, be fired after one season. And he won't be, that's for sure. Eric Crawford summed things up very well in his column today. Criticize the coaching all you want; that's your right as a fan. But a coach isn't going to get fired after one year unless there are NCAA violations, criminal activity or other extraordinary circumstances.

Name: Dave
Question: Any truth about Krag going to SMU?

It's all just rumor and speculation right now, Dave (what's up with all the Daves?). But I can tell you this: it's a rumor that won't die. I've been hearing it from all kinds of different angles. Remember that Kragthorpe has a $2 million buyout clause in his U of L contract if he leaves before 2012. We're definitely keeping tabs on this one just in case.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

brohm is still a first round pick...probably still first QB overall...

[azrael492]

a fantasy question:

I have the first 2 picks in my keeper league. McFadden will be #1.Stewart from Oregon was going to be my #2, but Brohm has been creeping up. Should I take him?