Jeff Brohm addresses viral clip from XFL career: 'Back when life was really fun'

Jeff Brohm couldn’t go the entire ACC Media Days without a question about the viral clip of his XFL days two decades ago.

Brohm was brash during that interview, if you remember. He said, along the lines of being ready, “do I have a pulse, let’s play football.”

It’s all about the competition spirit for Brohm, who could have an ACC and College Football Playoff contender in Louisville this season. 

“Well, years ago it got on the Internet there,” Brohm said. “Believe it or not, you just can’t take it off. It’s always going to be there. Back when life was really fun, I enjoyed playing the game…

“In the end it’s about do you really love to play the game? I think our players do. I think they know I love competing. While I can’t play anymore, I love coaching and trying to help our team win.”

Brohm wants the intensity with the Cardinals, wants to compete for titles, but you have to have fun along the way too. Keep it light as he put it.

“But you also want to make the game fun for ’em,” Brohm said. That was a day (the time in the XFL) when the game was fun. You could talk a little bit more than you probably should. You had a little fun with it.

“Our players have fun, too. All our guys, they have different personalities, makeups, but we want them to play with that personality. In order to play at a high level in football, you have to be competitive on the game field. If that means you got to talk a little bit more so than others, that’s fine. If that means you’re quiet and competitive that way, that’s fine, too.”

When you put football into perspective, it should be fun. That’s the way Brohm sees it each day.

“It is a physical, tough, demanding sport that you got to allow your players to take on the persona that they need in order to play at a high level,” Brohm said.

Brohm went 10-4 in his first season as Lousivlle’s head coach, his alma mater. The team made it to the ACC Championship Game, falling short to Florida State but played in the Holiday Bowl.

Brohm had success with Purdue as well, leading the Boilermakers to the Big Ten title game in 2022 and finished his time in West Lafayette with a 36-34 record and went 30-10 at Western Kentucky at his first stop.