LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Bobby Petrino never panicked or politicked - publicly anyway - about Louisville's chances of getting it into the Bowl Championship Series.
While other coaches beat the drum for their team's BCS worthiness, Petrino simply went to work, praising the controversial system and reminding his players to never stop believing.
``I just don't believe in squeaking I guess,'' Petrino said. ``Some people say that the squeaky chain gets the oil. But that's something that I don't want to have to do. Hopefully I'll never do it.''
Petrino's patience was rewarded - thanks to an assist from Big East rival West Virginia - with a conference championship and an Orange Bowl date against No. 15 Wake Forest.
Not bad for a team that lost Heisman Trophy candidate running back Michael Bush in the first game of the season, star quarterback Brian Brohm for the better parts of three games and whose dreams of BCS glory seemed dashed after a nightmarish second-half collapse against Rutgers in early November.
``It was just like, where do we go from here? One of our goals was shattered, that was to play for a national championship,'' said running back Kolby Smith. ``But we still had other goals that we wanted to accomplish like winning the Big East.''
ncaafootball.com
Resilient Cardinals relieved with Orange Bowl berth
Resilient Cardinals relieved with Orange Bowl berth
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