Editing Johnny Unitas (section)

==College career==
In his younger years, Unitas dreamed about being part of the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football]] team, but when he tried out for the team, coach [[Frank Leahy]] said that he was just too skinny and he would "get murdered" if he was put on the field. Other sources say Leahy was not present at Unitas's workout for Notre Dame, and assistant coach [[Bernie Crimmins]] passed on Unitas, because he thought the team's fans could not accept a 135 pound quarterback. A later scholarship offer at the [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|University of Pittsburgh]] was withdrawn.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> In 1952, Crimmins became [[Indiana Hoosiers football|Indiana University]]'s head coach and attempted to recruit Unitas away from a collapsing Louisville program, but Unitas was loyal and stayed at Louisville.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Callahan |first=Tom |title=Johnny U, The Life & Times of John Unitas |publisher=Crown |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-4000-8139-4 |pages=34–35}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

Instead, Unitas attended the [[University of Louisville]], under coach [[Frank Camp]], after being recruited by young assistant coach Frank Gitschier. Gitschier would later teach Unitas the basics of quarterback play, <ref name=":1" /> give the introduction speech at Unitas's Hall of Fame induction in 1979, and in 2002 give a eulogy at Unitas's funeral.<ref name=":18">{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=Jon |date=September 18, 2002 |title=We won't see another Johnny Unitas |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/09/18/we-wont-see-another-johnny-unitas/ |work=Baltimore Sun}}</ref> In his four-year career as a [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville Cardinal]], Unitas completed 245 passes for 3,139 yards and 27 touchdowns. Reportedly, the {{height|ft=6|in=1}} Unitas weighed {{convert|145|lb|kg}} on his first day of practice. His first start was in the fifth game of the 1951 season against [[St. Bonaventure Brown Indians football|St. Bonaventure]] (quarterbacked by future NFL player and coach [[Ted Marchibroda]]),<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Sahadi |first=Lou |title=Johnny Unitas America's Quarterback |publisher=Triumph Books |year=2004 |isbn=1-57243-610-7 |pages=36–37}}</ref> where Unitas completed 11 consecutive passes and three touchdowns to give the Cardinals a 21–19 lead. Louisville ended up losing the game 22–21 on a disputed field goal,<ref>{{cite news|first1=Mike|last1=Abdo|first2=Bob|last2=Davies|title=Unitas 'Started' Career at St. Bona|newspaper=[[Olean Times Herald]]|date=November 7, 1959}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> but found a new starting quarterback. Unitas also played safety on defense. Unitas completed 12 of 19 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns in a 35–28 victory over [[Houston Cougars football|Houston]] (a 19-point favorite), including a 92-yard touchdown pass.<ref name=":1" /> The team finished the season 5–4 overall and 4–1 with Unitas starting.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> He completed 46 of 99 passes for 602 yards and nine touchdowns (44).

In 1952, the team's motto was, "Unitas We Stand, Divided We Fall".<ref name=":4" /> However, the university had decided to de-emphasize sports. The new president at Louisville, Dr. Philip Grant Davidson, reduced the amount of athletic aid and tightened academic standards for athletes. As a result, 15 players scholarships were terminated.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> Unitas maintained his by taking on a new elective: square dancing.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}In 1952, coach Frank Camp switched the team to [[two-way football]]. Unitas not only played [[Safety (American football position)|safety]] or linebacker on defense and quarterback on offense, but also returned kicks and punts on special teams. The Cardinals won their first game against [[Wayne State Warriors football|Wayne State]], and then [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] in the second game. Unitas completed 16 of 21 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns. In the next game against Florida State, Louisville won 41-14. While under the Seminole rush, Unitas, a right-hander, threw a left-handed pass between his legs for 15 yards, as reported by future Florida State quarterback [[Lee Corso]] who had seen film of the play and marveled at Unitas' quickness.<ref name=":9" /> The rest of the season was a struggle for the Cardinals, who finished 3–5. Unitas completed 106 of 198 passes for 1,540 yards and 12 touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guide.provations.com/louisvillefootball/2011mg#pg173 |title=Louisville Football 2011 Media Guide |publisher=Guide.provations.com |date=July 1, 2011 |access-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113180553/http://www.guide.provations.com/louisvillefootball/2011mg#pg173 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The team won their first game in 1953, against [[Murray State Racers football|Murray State]], and lost the rest for a record of 1–7. One of the most memorable games of the season came in a 59–6 loss against [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]], which was played in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]]. Unitas completed 9 out of 19 passes for 73 yards, rushed 9 times for 52 yards, returned six kickoffs for 85 yards, fielded one punt for three yards, and had 86 percent of the team's tackles. The only touchdown the team scored was in the fourth quarter when Unitas made a fake pitch to the running back and ran the ball 23 yards for a touchdown. His also kicked off and punted that day. When one of his teammates was injured in the third quarter, Unitas lifted him up and carried the injured man off the field.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Callahan |first=Tom |title=Johnny U, The Life & Times of John Unitas |publisher=Crown |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-4000-8139-4 |pages=38–41}}</ref> 

Unitas himself was hurt later in the fourth quarter while trying to run the ball, and was helped off the field. As described by Bob Wilson of the ''[[Knoxville News Sentinel|Knoxville News-Sentinel]]'', "'Battered and bruised, Unitas was helped off the field later in the final period as the [Tennessee] spectators saluted his gifted and courageous play with an ovation that resounded across Loudon Lake." When he got to the locker room he was so tired that his jersey and shoulder pads had to be cut off because he could not lift his arms.<ref name=":0" /> Louisville ended the season with a 20–13 loss to [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky]]. Unitas completed 49 of 95 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns.

Unitas was elected captain for the 1954 season, but due to an early injury did not see much playing time. His first start was the third game of the season, against Florida State. Of the 34-man team, 21 were freshmen. The 1954 Cardinals went 3–6, with their last win at home against [[Morehead State Eagles football|Morehead State]]. Unitas was slowed by so many injuries his senior year his 527 passing yards ended second to Jim Houser's 560.

During his time at Louisville, Unitas was 247 for 502 passing, for 2,912 yards and 27 touchdowns.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2020 |title=Reflecting on Johnny Unitas' Louisville career |url=https://www.si.com/college/louisville/football/reflecting-on-unitas-career |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=Louisville Cardinals On SI}}</ref>