#1 Redhawks Pull Off Weekend Sweep

Posted by CincyRedhawk on 13. October 2009 10:36

The #1 ranked Miami Redhawk hockey team pulled off a weekend sweep in the season opening series against St. Cloud State.  In their first action since the heartbreaking loss in the National Championship game last year the Hawks were able to pull out an OT win Friday night and a shutour win Saturday.  Friday nights game had several flashbacks to the game in D.C.  Miami came out of the gate flat and fell behind 1-0.  A strong second period put them up 2-1, but they came out for the third period looking like a team that was satisfied with just holding the lead and not wanting to tack on more goals.  Miami was the more physical team all night and had a lot of momentum, but couldn't get any good shots or scoring chances.  And then it happened...1:59 left in regulation and they'd lost the lead.  The flashbacks were front and center now.  Every puck fluttering through the air could end the game.  Thankfully the outcome of this game was a W on the schedule for the Redhawks.  Miami's Carter Camper was able to push the puck past the St. Cloud State keeper 1:52 into the overtime period.  The players that stood out in this contest were Andy Miele, Tommy Wingels, and Carter Camper.  Miele is an exciting player to watch.  At only 5'8" he plays like hes 6'4" 280 with the speed that causes havoc on the opposing team.

The Redhawks followed up Friday's overtime win with a shutout on Saturday.  This game stayed scoreless in a fairly uneventful first two periods.  Miami finally  got on the board 5:22 into the third period on a goal by Senior Jarrod Palmer.  This goal would prove to be the game winner as Connor Knapp recorded his third career shutout.

Miami is back in action this weekend on the road in New Hampshire.  The road to a National Championship has begun!

UC Ranked 8th in New AP Poll

Posted by Under Argo on 5. October 2009 14:12

After UC's sloppy win over the Miami Redhawks this past weekend, the Bearcats jumped from a school record #10 in the AP Poll to a new school record #8.  This isn't the most exciting part though.  For the first time in 58 years, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats are considered the best college football team in Ohio.  They rank one above #9 Ohio State. 

Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes have been viewed as an underachieving team lately largely in part to poor coaching by Jim Tressel.  In Brian Kelly's 3rd full season as Bearcats head coach, he has already dethroned the long time Buckeye coach as best coach in Ohio. 

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor was regarded as one of the most sought after college recruits in recent history.  After starting as a true freshman last year, many thought that Pryor could be in the running for the Heisman this year but that isn't the case.  Instead, Senior UC quarterback Tony Pike is 4th in Heisman voting and has stats that completely overshadow Pryors.

The Bearcats are on a bye this week in preperation for their Big East opener against USF in Tampa where they will begin to defend their Big East Championship.

Are the Bearcats really better than the Buckeyes?  Is Tony Pike really better than Terrelle Pryor?  Unfortunately these are questions that probably won't be able to be anwered this year.  UC and OSU play next year, but next year Tony Pike and top wide reciever Mardy Gilyard will be gone.  The only thing that can be said is that coaching does so much in college football.  There is no doubt in my mind that Brian Kelly is a better coach than Jim Tressel. 

As long as Kelly stays at UC and the Bearcats play "Kelly Ball" the Bearcats will be more successful than the Buckeyes if they are playing "Tressel Ball".

Free At Last!!!

Posted by Number 1 fan on 5. October 2009 11:08

It has been announced that George Grande has decided to retire from calling the games on the Reds television broadcasts. Now the Reds need to find another television play by play guy that will constantly root for the other team on any long, give the impression that every pop up has a chance and create and only use nicknames for players and teams.

I am happy because I can finally enjoy the Reds on television without all of the above annoyances.

UC Ranks Among Top in the Country When it Comes to Offense

Posted by Under Argo on 14. September 2009 22:00

So far this year, the Bearcats have outscored their opponents 117 to 18.  This is due to the 47 to 15 win over Rutgers at Rutgers in week one and the 70 to 3 beat-down over Southeast Missouri State in Nippert this past weekend.  Surprisingly, this isn't the UC record for the most one sided ass kicking.  In 1921 the Bearcats put up 115 points on Kentucky Wesleyan University and UC beat Transylvania University 124 to 0 in 1953. 

It doens't matter who you play, when you beat a team 70 to 3 it makes a statement.  When it comes to total offensive yards, UC is sandwiched between the two conferences that are considered the two best conferences in all of college football:  The SEC and the Big 12.  When it comes to total offensive yards, UC has 1,142 which ranks third in the nation behind #1 Florida and #2 Auburn.  The #4 team is Kansas. 

Cincinnati being so highly ranked offensively and in such good company screams "we deserve respect" not only for the Bearcats but for the Big East.  UC has shown the entire nation that they are no longer a team to look past.  Any team that does so could find themselves wondering what happened on Sunday morning. 

Pike is the real deal

Posted by Number 1 fan on 8. September 2009 21:36

Mike Freeman from CBS is a Tony Pike fan.  Why not, the kid had a good season last year and this year seems to be stepping it up a ton.  Mike thinks that Pike may be becoming one of the premiere college quarterbacks this year.  Here are some quotes from the article:

"Pike put on a show. No, show isn't the word. Pike took Greg Schiano's defense and did things to it that violated state decency laws."

"He's a better pure passer and more NFL ready than Tim Tebow. He's got a stronger arm than Colt McCoy.
He's got the smarts of Jevan Snead and unlike Sam Bradford has two perfectly healthy shoulders.    
Some NFL scouts believe he's one of the fastest risers in all of college football and by the end of the season might be a first-round pick. "


And in response to someone wondering what would happen if the Bearcats opened up their offense a little bit:

"Saying they opened it up is like saying Jose Canseco took a little bit of steroids. Pike didn't just open up a can on Rutgers he might've opened up a door for an entire conference.
A door to respectability."

Congrats to the Bearcats for a big conference win on the road to open the season.

Young Reds Show Late Season Spark

Posted by CincyRedhawk on 2. September 2009 17:14

Following the Reds since the All Star break hasn't been an easy thing for fans.  The Reds were right in the hunt at the break, but started off the second half plummeting far out of contention.  That has been a recurring theme in these parts the last several years.  This year there seem to be a lot of bright spots that haven't been there in years past. 

The Reds have won 9 of their last 11 games, and it's the young guys that are contributing to the surprise of many.  It looks like Homer Bailey has maybe decided to tap into all this potential we've been hearing about since he was drafted.  He struck out a career high 8 batters, and in his previous start he struck out 7.  He's won all 3 of his last starts providing a quality start each time.

Another surprise has been the power of Drew Stubbs.  A lot of people wanted to see him with the big league club when Bruce went down, but the Reds held off until they needed a center fielder.  In AAA this uear Stubbs hit 3 HR's, and with the Reds he's already hit 4 in his first 15 games.  I expected Stubbs to come up and help out defensively, but it's been his offense that's been the eye opener thus far.

Could this be a sign of things to come in the future or just a late season tease?  Keep your fingers crossed!

Rumble At The River Closing In

Posted by CincyRedhawk on 1. September 2009 13:18

It's been several years since there's been the sense of optimism coming out of Oxford that there is this year.  After suffering though three lackluster seasons going 10 - 27, the Redhawks needed a change up top.  Bringing in coach Haywood is hopefully the answer all Redhawk fans have been looking for.  In the MAC, defense can only take you so far.  In the last 4 seasons the team has transformed from an offensive powerhouse to not being able to produce any real offense.  If the Redhawks can regain some of their offensive prowess they possessed back in the days of Ben and Josh Betts, they could again be a legitimate contender in the MAC East.

This Saturday is the long awaited show down with the UK Wildcats at Paul Brown Stadium, as well as Coach Haywood's debut.  UK is a good football team in a tough conference.  The first game of the year is always tough to call in college football.  With the amount of turnover teams go through, you never really know what your team is capable of.  The last few years it didn't seem like the Redhawks had a lot of fight in them.  I'm looking forward to see how they come out and if the intensity of old is back.

For those of you going to the game, remember to "Make it Red" and help our Redhawks bring home a victory!

Smith Signs

Posted by Number 1 fan on 30. August 2009 19:59

It appears while I was away riding many many miles to help end Multiple Sclerosis, The Bengals and Andre Smith have reached a deal.

I am glad that is out of the way and he can start to get reps.  I can't wait for Hard Knocks to see how this went down.