Brohm will be back

With the NFL's January 15 deadline for early entrants looming just hours away, Louisville junior quarterback Brian Brohm's "stay or go" decision has been the No. 1 topic among sports fans this week. Monday morning Brohm called a press conference to announce his decision.

This season, Brohm led the Cardinals to a 12-1 record and a win over ACC Champion Wake Forest in the 2007 FedEx Orange Bowl. Leading his hometown school to its first-ever BCS bowl, Brohm has already become one of the all-time great Cardinal quarterbacks.

Brohm had been intensely debating whether or not to turn professional this season since winning the Orange Bowl MVP on Jan. 2 with 311 yards passing. The Brohm family researched previous early entry candidates and their impact in the NFL as well as quarterbacks who stayed in college an extra season.

"I definitely knew the history of who had come out and who stayed," Brohm said. "I definitely think it helps to get an extra year to prepare for the NFL. I get to go back and have fun in college and try to take another shot at this national title."

Earlier this week his teammate, running back Michael Bush announced his decision to forego a potential redshirt senior year for a chance at this spring's draft. While being introduced to the crowd at Freedom Hall Saturday, Brohm had the crowd holding their breath for a possible tip as to which way the star would choose.

"To me it seemed like they were waiting for me to make an announcement," Brohm said. "I wasn't ready to do that yet. I thought that was a better time to celebrate the Orange Bowl victory and get our new coach out there and introduce him to the crowd. The fans got their decision today so hopefully they are happy."

With Brohm returning, Louisville appears to be one of the preseason favorites for the Big East title next season. The Cardinals return star wide receivers Harry Douglas and Mario Urrutia as well as running backs Anthony Allen, Brock Bolen and George Stripling.

THE BROHM FILE:

2005: Tore his ACL versus Syracuse and sat out for the remainder of the season... named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year... earned first team All-BIG EAST honors... his 2,883 yards passing was the sixth-best total in school history... tossed 19 touchdown passes were the eighth-best mark in a season... completed 68.8 percent of his passes, which ranks second all-time in school history... ranked second in the country in passing efficiency... leads the BIG EAST Conference in passing efficiency and total offense... completed 22-of-30 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns in win over Rutgers... completed 21-of-31 passes for 247 yards in a win over Pittsburgh... has four 300-yard games after throwing for 303 yards in a 46-22 win over Cincinnati... completed 21-of-26 throws and two touchdowns... recorded his third 300-yard performance with 304 yards and four touchdowns against North Carolina... threw for 282 yards in the 61-10 win over Florida Atlantic... set new career-highs with 29 completions for 389 yards in the loss to South Florida... named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for his performance against Oregon State... completed 18-of-22 passes for a career-high 368 yards and five touchdowns... 81.8 completion percentage was tied for the second-best in school history... made first collegiate start against Kentucky... completed 19-of-27 passes for 179 yards... rushed for two scores.

2004: Named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year... earned the Commissioner's Medal for having over a 3.75 GPA... selected the team's Offensive Newcomer of the Year... also selected to the C-USA All-Freshmen Team... threw for 819 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games... owns a 153.51 efficiency rating... has completed 66-of-98 passes... completed 8-of-8 passes versus Tulane for 59 yards... recorded first two-touchdown game against Cincinnati... one of only eight true freshmen quarterbacks in the country to see significant time... completed 4-of-5 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown versus Houston, including a career-long 74-yarder to Joshua Tinch... threw his second career touchdown pass against TCU... rushed five times for 34 yards, including a 26-yard run... entered the game in the fourth quarter against Miami, completing 7-of-12 passes for 51 yards... threw for a career-best 186 yards and tossed his first collegiate touchdown against East Carolina... completed 8-of-10 passes for 72 yards against Army... scored first collegiate touchdown on a one-yard run... made his collegiate debut with 1:10 remaining in the first quarter against Kentucky... drove the Cardinals 13 plays and 69 yards for their first touchdown against Kentucky... completed 6-of-7 passes for 39 yards in the game.

Trinity High School: Threw for 10,579 yards and 119 touchdowns at Trinity High School... voted one of the 2003 National Top 150 Adidas Playmakers ...named USA Today Offensive Player of the Year... named the Gatorade Player of the Year... appeared in 44 games... recipient of the National Quarterback Club's award for the National High School Quarterback of the Year... named to the Parade Magazine High School All-American teams... ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 2 prospect by ESPN's Tom Lemming.... led the Shamrocks to three state titles ... awarded the Roy Kidd Award and was a three-time state finals Most Valuable Player ... guided team to a 15-0 record in the state playoffs ... started for the East squad in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl ... finished second in state history in career passing yards and career touchdowns ... also set a state record for career completion percentage ... threw for 3,720 yards and 33 touchdowns during senior season, completing 298-of-463 passes ... passed for 3,777 yards and 47 touchdowns as a junior ... named the finals of the 2002 atate championship game after completing 19-of-25 passes for 552 yards and seven touchdowns... completed 226-of-335 passes and tossed just one interception ... threw for 3,082 yards and 39 scores during his sophomore season, completing 174-of-273 passes and just five interceptions ... selected 2003 Kentucky Mr. Football... starter on Trinity High School basketball team that went to the State Tournament for the first time ever and was named player of the game in their first round win... also MVP of high school baseball team that advanced to the semi-finals of the state tournament... drafted by Colorado Rockies in the baseball draft.