Deion Branch on winning Fenway Bowl as Louisville interim coach: 'It means everything'

Louisville ended its season with a 24-7 win over Cincinnati in the Fenway Bowl. Interim head coach Deion Branch received the Gatorade bath in his debut as coach on the sideline as the Cardinals retained the Keg of Nails Trophy in their rivalry with the Bearcats.

“It means everything,” Branch said on ESPN postgame. “The things that transpired over the last two weeks, coach Satterfield taking a new job, players feeling different emotions, maybe entering the transfer portal. I’m super happy, super excited for the players but also all of my assistant coaches who hung around and stuck it out with these guys with myself and allowed me to help steer this in the right direction.”

It was certainly a different affair for Louisville and Cincinnati, as both teams saw coaching changes and player opt outs prior to the game.

“I mean, we knew going into the game it was the Battle of the assistant coaches,” Branch said. “It was a battle of the backups. I told the guys to take this on and to win this game is gonna be on you guys … And I know that I feel like deep down inside these guys work very hard each and every day. And they came out and showed it today.”

Brock Domann got the start at quarterback for Louisville, finishing 13-of-21 passing for 132 yards, one touchdown and one interception. But it was the ground game that stood out for the Cardinals.

Maurice Turner ran it 31 times for 160 yards while Jawhar Jordan carried the rock nine times for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Louisville will look quite different in 2023, but new head coach Jeff Brohm, who left Purdue to take over his alma mater, was already impressed with Branch.

“Deion Branch is a tremendous person who’s achieved a great deal,” Brohm said during the broadcast of the game. “Not only at the University of Louisville, but also the NFL. So he demands and he’s earned a lot of respect that I think the players understand that he’s there for them. He wants to help them achieve their goals. He’s done a great job in this bowl game and getting this team ready to play. 

“When your players know that you love him  and care about them they’re normally going to do great things for you. So I just think he’s a great addition to this staff. He’s done a tremendous job since he’s been here and I think he’ll continue to do great things.”