Parent of Louisville bluechip recruit tells fans 'don't storm the field,' fine money needed for NIL deals

The Louisville Cardinals earned a statement win Saturday, beating No. 10 Wake Forest 48-21.

But there was one small reason to tamp down the celebration.

Steve Clarkson, well-established quarterback coach and father of four-star quarterback pledge Pierce Clarkson, wanted fans not to storm the field and incur a conference fine.

That money, he joked, should be earmarked for another purpose:

Unfortunately for that NIL budget, the fans did, in fact, storm the field. 

The joke certainly drew laughs from those who saw it on social media.

But Louisville's recruiting effort of late has been no laughing matter. 

The Cardinals have secured the nation's No. 18 recruiting class, led by El Campo (Texas) five-star running back Rueben Owens and four highly-coveted St. John Bosco (California) prospects - Clarkson, a four-star quarterback, four-star wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., four-star cornerback Aaron Williams and three-star athlete Jahlil McClain. 

Whatever Louisville is doing, it's working.