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".

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.

Gridiron Gurus

Posted by Under Argo on 24. June 2009 16:09

Last weeks debut show went well; Thank you for listening if you listened.  If you missed it, you have another chance to catch us tonight from 6 to 8 on Bearcastradio.com.  This week we're going to hit you with our preview of the 2009/2010 season for the AFC.  We'll pick our division winners and the wildcard teams.  Will the Bengals be in the playoffs this year?  You're going to have to tune in to find out.  Since it's a new show, things are still hektic with scheduling and trying to get interviews set up but I promise we'll have some good ones soon.  Number 1 Fan and Darren Hollywood will be joining us on Gridiron Gurus soon too  so make sure you tune in.

UC is staying the course

Posted by Number 1 fan on 22. June 2009 13:43

UC has decided to stay the course with its two major sports programs.  UC basketball and football has extended both of the head coaches.  Athletic director Mike Thomas said this about the Cronin signing:

"Under Coach Cronin's leadership the past three years the men's basketball program has improved on the court and in the classroom," said Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. "I look forward to the continued development of the program to once again attain national prominence and compete for BIG EAST championships on an annual basis."

Announced today is the 1 year extension for Brian Kelly.  This extension also raises the pay for the assistant coaches under Brian Kelly.  This is a really important extension as Brian Kelly is often considered for some higher profile coaching vacancies as they open up. Brian Kelly is the coach that brought home the Big East title last season and took the team to the BCS Orange Bowl.

Bearcat Baseball Team to Head to Florida for Big East Tournament

Posted by Under Argo on 18. May 2009 10:41

This past Friday, the UC Bearcat baseball team won two of three games in a series against the Seton Hall Pirates.  The winner of the series gets a spot in the Big East Tournament in Clearwater, Florida.  UC won the first game on Thursday night in dramatic fashon.  The teams were tied going in to the bottom of the ninth and the first batter, Kevin Johnson, grounded out.  The next batter was the short stop Chris Peters who reached first base on an error.  Then Jimmy Jaquot reached first base after he was hit by a pitch and advanced Peters, who represented the winning run into scoring position.  Then Seton Hall pitcher Matt Singer advanced both runners with a balk.  The winning run was now on third base.  Seton Hall took a big risk and intentionally walked Zach Collaros to load the bases and hope for a double play to force the game into extra innings.  It didn't pay off though as T.J. Jones hit a high fly ball to center field allowing Chris Peters to tag up on third and then score the winning run.

On Friday night, the Bearcats lost the first game of the double-header and then won the second game 8 to 6.  The Bearcats first game in the Big East Tournament will be tomorrow afternoon against Louisville.  The team is led by their 3rd baseman, Mike Spina who set the single season homerun record this year breaking his own record from last year.

Winner winner chicken dinner

Posted by Number 1 fan on 30. April 2009 17:15

Sports Illustrated did a preseason poll ranking of the top 25 college football teams heading into the season.  At no surprise is the perennial top 10 the Ohio State Buckeyes at number 9.

After a stellar season last year and a trip to a BCS bowl game the UC Bearcats are in the top 25 at number 21.  I think it is deserved but also maybe a bit lofty.  The Bearcats did lose some talent last year and has a lot to make up for.  (6 UC players drafted this year)

Check out the rankings

Bearcat Pride Day

Posted by Number 1 fan on 23. April 2009 13:54

This Saturday if you are not getting into anything awesome maybe you should enjoy the weather with the Bearcats.  April 25th is Bearcat pride day and as such there is a bunch of stuff going on down on campus.  Events like a football clinic, baseball game, athletic apparel sale, and a soccer game.

This event is free and open to all.

Below is the agenda (taken from goBearcats)

1. A free youth football clinic for players up to eighth grade will take place on the Nippert turf at 3 p.m. Registration begins at 2:30 p.m. Following the clinic, selected student-athletes from the football team will be on hand to sign autographs.
2. The baseball team takes on Villanova at 4 p.m. at Marge Schott Stadium. Admission is free and hot dogs, and popcorn will be available at the concession stands for $1.
3. The Bearcats Family Zone on Sheakley Lawn will be open from 5-6:30 p.m. The Family Zone will feature many of the activities normally seen on a regular football game day such as inflatable games, cornhole, and a new feature, a caricature artist. Student-athletes from various UC athletics teams will be signing autographs inside the area.
4. The men's soccer team will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at 7:30 p.m. at Gettler Stadium. Admission is also free with hot dogs, and popcorn available at the concession stand for $1.

   
There is also an opportunity to renew or purchase season tickets to the Bearcats.  I think they are doing some kind of price guarantee for the next two seasons.