Jan. 3, 2007, the University of Louisville Cardinals football team had just won the Orange Bowl. 

The program was booming. 

They currently had the second-longest home winning streak, and they were 41-9 under Bobby Petrino.  Not to mention his high-powered offense was putting up unbelievable numbers. They were getting top recruits and had their games broadcast on ESPN nearly every week.  The program was on the verge of national dominance.