OTD Oct. 27, 2024. ESPN Louisville at Cumberland Run. Bob Valvano behind the mic for Sunday afternoon fun in the Corbin, Kentucky sun. Harness track opened in 2023. Trotters & Pacers race over 5/8th mile oval through November 10 this year.

OTD Oct. 27, 1979. "Must be getting ready to die." Joe Bollero after Safe (w/Earlie Fires), wins $120,850 Spinster at Keeneland. "They say you get lucky when you're close to dying." Bollero, who rode first-ever winner at Arlington, goes 12 more years, passing (age 80) in '91.

OTD Oct. 27, 1942. NFL in Louisville. Lenny Sachs, basketball/football player/coach passes at age 45. In 1961, posthumously enshrined as coach in Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his work at Loyola. Louisville Colonels coach in 1926 for team's final season in NFL.

OTD Oct. 27, 1951. Enter Johnny U. Trailing St. Bonaventure 19-0 at Forness Stadium in Olean NY, Cards coach Frank Camp puts in freshman QB Johnny Unitas. At time, Cards not members of NCAA so freshman could play. Unitas throws 3 TD passes. Bonnie's game-winning field, win 22-21.

OTD Oct. 27, 1973. Keg of Nail(biter). At Fairgrounds Stadium, early safety put Cards in 2-0 hole v. Cincy. U of L P/K Wilbur Summers w/game-winning FG. Cards win 10-8, keep Keg of Nails. Summers w/Louisville record-long field goal at 52 yds ‘til Brock Travelstead breaks in 2023.

OTD Oct. 27, 1990. Almost Fiesta Time. Before 35,122 at (old) Cardinal Stadium, Louisville scores 41-7 win over Western Kentucky & second year Hilltoppers head coach Jack Harbaugh (coaches WKU for 14 seasons). Best known though today as father of NFL's John & Jim Harbaugh.

OTD Oct. 27, 2001. Keg of Nails. Before 31,004 at Nippert Stadium, Cards w/28-13 win over Cincy, keep Keg of Nails. U of L en route to 11-2 mark, back-to-back C-USA titles in John L's fourth season plus Liberty Bowl triumph over #19 BYU. Anthony Floyd 16th INT ties Sam Madison.

OTD Oct. 27, 2018. Goodbye Red Brick Road. In what proves to be Bobby Petrino final home game, 49,603 watch Wake Forest outrun Cards 56-35. Former Petrino recruit Matt Colburn rushes for 243 yards. Over 8+ seasons in two stints as Cards coach, Petrino records 40-10 home record.

OTD Oct. 26, 1960. You're Gonna Make It After All. American League approves Washington Senators move to become Minnesota Twins & announces expansion franchises for Los Angeles (Angels) & new Washington DC team for '61 (now Texas Rangers). First MLB expansion of 20th century.

OTD Oct. 26, 1957. Lenny Lyles. At Fairgrounds Stadium, rushes for 188 yards on 15 carries w/3 TDs in U of L 40-0 win over Central Michigan. Cards now 6-0, en route to first bowl game (& win) at Sun Bowl. Lyles, who breaks color barrier at U of L, leads country in scoring in '57.

OTD Oct. 26, 1985. No Go Home. Two years prior, Howard Schnellenberger wins national title at Miami. Now in first season w/Louisville, returns to play at #15 Miami before 31,761 at Orange Bowl. Cards drop to 1-7 after 45-7 loss. Jimmy Johnson's second 'Canes squad finishes at #8.

OTD Oct. 26, 2002. Eighteen Straight. Louisville QB Dave Ragone w/school-record 18-straight completions as Cards top East Carolina 44-20 before 32,428 in the 'Ville. Wide receiver Damien Dorsey w/3 TD receptions. Penultimate home win for John L. Smith in his fifth & final season.

OTD Oct. 26, 2012. Home. After 4 yrs in Cincinnati, Keg of Nails returns to rightful home as John Wallace 30 yd FG in OT gives #16 Cards 34-31 win at Cardinal Stadium. Teddy Bridgewater 416 yds in air, 120 to DeVante Parker (2 TDs) for 8-0 Cards. Terrell Floyd INT in OT keys win.

OTD Oct. 26, 2013. Teddy Bridgewater. Rebounds from season's only loss, going 25-29 w/344 yards, 3 TDs in 34-3 romp over South Florida at Raymond James. Teddy now w/23 TD passes, 2 picks. Charles Gaines w/70 yd INT TD. Charlie Strong begins 6-game win streak to end time w/Cards.

OTD Oct. 26, 2019. Lamar Walked Thru That Door. Former U of L great in the house, Cards w/28-21 win over Virginia before 48,689. Tutu Atwell 77 yd shovel pass TD keys win. Javian Hawkins 28 carries for 136 yds, 2 TDs. Cards now 5-3 en route to 8-5 season & Music City Bowl title.

OTD Oct. 25, 1975. Wajima. With Forego out, son of Bold Ruler headlines four-horse field in America's two mile championship race (Jockey Club Gold Cup). Record $600,000 yearling in '73 loses by neck to Group Plan. Retires following race. Syndicated for record $7.2 million.

OTD Oct. 25, 1975. Susan's Girl. Six-year-old Susan's Girl wins Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, her 29th (& final) win. '72 Kentucky Oaks winner only 20th century filly/mare to earn three year-end titles. First American filly/mare to win $1,000,000 racing.

OTD Oct. 25, 1980. "On day so cold & windy at Keeneland, coffee surely outsold beer..." KY Oaks winner Bold 'n Determined & Eddie Delahoussaye win $172,650 Spinster. Future Hall of Famer beat '80 KY Derby winner Genuine Risk by nose at Belmont month prior, wins 16 of 20 starts.

OTD Oct. 25, 1980. Bob Weber. Cards new coach loses first three in '80, wins next three, then Cris Collinsworth-led Florida beats Cards 13-0 before 62,687 at Florida Field. Gators had been winless previous season. In five years w/Louisville, Weber goes 20-35 w/no winning season.

OTD Oct. 25, 2003. Bobby Year One. Before 33,420 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville NC, Cards beat East Carolina 36-20. Stefan LeFors 35 yd TD to JR Russell keys win. Eric Shelton rushes for 118 yds. Nate Smith 3 FGs. Cards go 9-4 in Petrino first year as college head coach.