Himmelsbach: UofL/FSU is what you've wanted

A year ago at this time the Louisville football team was 7-1, and there was a sense that the season was already lost. Little could calm the collective angst of Cardinals fans. On the path through the mostly cushy schedule, the lone pothole—Central Florida—had halted hope and progress.

This year, the Louisville football team is 6-2. The Cardinals are not ranked and they have just one win against a team with a winning record, and yet the buzz and anticipation in this city are palpable. This is what it feels like when you're in a power conference. This is what it feels like when you have a schedule that offers numerous chances for redemption. This is what it feels like when Florida State comes to town.

On Thursday night, the No. 2-ranked Seminoles, the defending national champions, will invade Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, led by their polarizing and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Jameis Winston. It's all a bit different than getting fake-excited about American Athletic Conference games against Houston and Memphis, don't you think?

"There's definitely that buzz that I've only seen for Louisville football games maybe two or three times in my life," said Card Chronicle publisher Mike Rutherford, the de facto voice of the Louisville fan. "It's like you wake up every morning and that's all you can think about. FM radio stations that play pop music are talking about it. It's just kind of been a constant conversation."

Yes, the Cardinals have been on big stages before. The Sugar Bowl win over Florida two years ago was historic and important. But in the end, it was an exhibition. It was one chance for UofL to prove itself against a national power, and then Florida lowered its head and returned to the SEC, where big games occur every weekend.

But this Florida State game is different because of the permanence attached to it. This is not a bowl game. This is not a brief made-for-TV series. This is a taste of the future, a taste of what autumns will be like in this city for years to come.

"They're coming to your house to play a conference game," Rutherford said. "And I think that's the biggest thing, is that UL has always dreamed of playing these games that aren't one-shot deals. It's a big deal for what it is, and it's also a preview."

I've often wondered whether it would be preferable to go 12-0 in a weak conference or 9-3 in a strong one. Everyone likes wins, and everyone likes seeing their team at the top of the standings. But everyone also likes fun Saturdays. And Rutherford pointed out that last season's UofL games, quite frankly, weren't much fun.

The pot of gold at the end of every season comes in the form of a strong bowl game against a strong opponent. But bowl games are fleeting. College football is the rare sport in which huge regular-season games can stand alone as huge events.

It's possible, even likely, that the excitement surrounding this Florida State game will dwarf the excitement surrounding whatever bowl game UofL lands in. That regular season/postseason comparison doesn't hold up in college basketball.

So everyone should soak up the Florida State game. Enjoy it as an event on its own, not a means to an end. And for UofL fans, the comforting reality is that even if there is a misstep, there are still opportunities for redemption. There are still big Saturdays to look forward to.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach