TicketsSure was nice taking in some football yesterday. For the most part, fall practices can become pretty repetitive and monotonous -- and UC's probably will at some point as well -- but the first day sure does feel like a breath of fresh air.
That and if I have to talk anymore about watch lists or rankings I will stab myself in the thigh.
Reminder: To get all the most of the news I am talking about in real time, follow me on Twitter @pauldehnerjr.
Let's get to the football...
--- Had a good conversation with CB Dominique Battle, who dropped a bit of news on me. He let me know that he was granted a redshirt for his hardship year last season and is still considered a junior.
Actually, he didn't 100-percent know until Monday.
" It was up in the air,' he said. "I hadn't heard officially. When they called all the seniors, they didn't call me. So I guess I'm not a senior."
Indeed, the compliance folks confirmed as much. That means two more years of Battle in a young defensive backfield for the Bearcats. Great news for Kerry Coombs and company. If Battle can regain the form he showed prior to tearing his ACL last year, he could be an anchor on the back end of that defense.
Battle wasn't jumping for joy over the decision, but was happy with it.
--- With some good news, there was also some bad news yesterday. The career of RB Darrin Williams is over. A collection of injuries hampered him and a hamstring ailment put him on medical hardship this year. Butch Jones says Williams will serve other roles on the team as he finishes out his studies.
Here's the official post from Bill Koch. I'd heard rumblings about Williams' injury problems, but wasn't sure it would come to this. Too bad.
He finishes his career with 31 carries for 176 yards.
As for his replacement, the highly publicized freshmen duo of Jameel Poteat and Akise Teague will step in, along with junior George Winn.
Teague comes more in the Williams mode and with very good receiving skills and ability to make guys miss in space, could be a third-down back solution.
--- UC named Zach Collaros and JK Schaffer as permanent captains. Every member of the team picked those two as captains in voting that occurred Sunday night. So, making them captains for every game was a no-brainer. The leadership from those two is so strong it will provide a great base for both units.
--- 3D TV, it's not just for the Smurfs anymore. In fact, UC's game against NC State will be televised in 3D on ESPN. I apologize in advance if I happen to end up on camera at any point. I feel like my bald head is much better suited for 2D, or even 1D if possible. Really, the fewer Ds the better.
--- If you are hungry for UC football info, you need to be heading over to Preseason Practice Central on the site every day. Tommy G and the rest of the staff are collecting video, quotes, stories and plenty of other good stuff every day and posting it up for you.
Here's the link. Bookmark it. Go there.
In fact, Tommy G talks with Butch Jones after Day 1 for some perspective.
--- Koch wrote this piece on Isaiah Pead, whose taken on the role of mentor along with Bell Cow. Jones said he sees Pead as a 20+ carry back. If his body can handle the pounding, he has the potential to demolish UC rushing records.
I also spoke with Pead for a bit and he was his standard funny, loquacious self.
When I asked him about the rumors flying around that Teague had beat him in some of the offseason agility drills, he made sure to set the record straight.
--- UC came out for practice this morning with its first of two practices on the day. This is the first of three straight days of split squad practices at Nippert.
--- Dayton's Jerel Worthy, a Michigan State linebacker, got a tattoo of a Spratan killing a Wolverine with a sword on his left bicep. Now, that would be a special edition of Ink of the Week right there.
By the way, IOTW fans, fret not. The tattoo series will return this year once we get all the early storylines and news out of the way.
--- On to some randomness....
--- If you are going to be naked, you might as well run on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles.
--- I know you were just thinking, why can't I get more Jaleel White in my life? Well, here you go.
--- Big fan of The League, even though it is about the lowest of brows you can find on FX (and that's saying something). That said, Seth Rogen is going to guest star on the show. I think this could be a strong combination.
--- Speaking of Low Brow, Jersey Shore was the most watched show in cable for 12-49-year-olds last week. Go ahead and let that one soak in.
By the way, great episode.
--- Haven't broken out Arcade Fire in a while, so why not today. Look for more on the blog later today and we'll see you at Breakfast tomorrow.
That and if I have to talk anymore about watch lists or rankings I will stab myself in the thigh.
Reminder: To get all the most of the news I am talking about in real time, follow me on Twitter @pauldehnerjr.
Let's get to the football...
--- Had a good conversation with CB Dominique Battle, who dropped a bit of news on me. He let me know that he was granted a redshirt for his hardship year last season and is still considered a junior.
Actually, he didn't 100-percent know until Monday.
" It was up in the air,' he said. "I hadn't heard officially. When they called all the seniors, they didn't call me. So I guess I'm not a senior."
Indeed, the compliance folks confirmed as much. That means two more years of Battle in a young defensive backfield for the Bearcats. Great news for Kerry Coombs and company. If Battle can regain the form he showed prior to tearing his ACL last year, he could be an anchor on the back end of that defense.
Battle wasn't jumping for joy over the decision, but was happy with it.
"That wasn't the plan when I first came here," he said, "but I will take an extra year."
As for his health, he said he feels great and is at about 95 percent. On a Zach Collaros throw down the right sideline, Battle rose up above the receiver to knock a ball down. It was a darn athletic move for a guy coming off an ACL. He sure looked good from my end.--- With some good news, there was also some bad news yesterday. The career of RB Darrin Williams is over. A collection of injuries hampered him and a hamstring ailment put him on medical hardship this year. Butch Jones says Williams will serve other roles on the team as he finishes out his studies.
Here's the official post from Bill Koch. I'd heard rumblings about Williams' injury problems, but wasn't sure it would come to this. Too bad.
He finishes his career with 31 carries for 176 yards.
As for his replacement, the highly publicized freshmen duo of Jameel Poteat and Akise Teague will step in, along with junior George Winn.
Teague comes more in the Williams mode and with very good receiving skills and ability to make guys miss in space, could be a third-down back solution.
--- UC named Zach Collaros and JK Schaffer as permanent captains. Every member of the team picked those two as captains in voting that occurred Sunday night. So, making them captains for every game was a no-brainer. The leadership from those two is so strong it will provide a great base for both units.
--- 3D TV, it's not just for the Smurfs anymore. In fact, UC's game against NC State will be televised in 3D on ESPN. I apologize in advance if I happen to end up on camera at any point. I feel like my bald head is much better suited for 2D, or even 1D if possible. Really, the fewer Ds the better.
--- If you are hungry for UC football info, you need to be heading over to Preseason Practice Central on the site every day. Tommy G and the rest of the staff are collecting video, quotes, stories and plenty of other good stuff every day and posting it up for you.
Here's the link. Bookmark it. Go there.
In fact, Tommy G talks with Butch Jones after Day 1 for some perspective.
--- Koch wrote this piece on Isaiah Pead, whose taken on the role of mentor along with Bell Cow. Jones said he sees Pead as a 20+ carry back. If his body can handle the pounding, he has the potential to demolish UC rushing records.
I also spoke with Pead for a bit and he was his standard funny, loquacious self.
When I asked him about the rumors flying around that Teague had beat him in some of the offseason agility drills, he made sure to set the record straight.
"My shoestring might have been untied or something," Pead said, laughing. "I told (Teague), you will not win another one."
By all accounts, the freshman hasn't.
"I live by the saying if you be the best person you can be then you are the best," Pead said. "That's my big thing. One, be the best player I can be. Two, making these young guys to be the best so they can come in when you are winded and don't get beat.The worst thing you want is for a sub to come in and the offense goes to trash. Make sure I take care of myself, but take care of the young guys and the team."
--- UC came out for practice this morning with its first of two practices on the day. This is the first of three straight days of split squad practices at Nippert.
--- Dayton's Jerel Worthy, a Michigan State linebacker, got a tattoo of a Spratan killing a Wolverine with a sword on his left bicep. Now, that would be a special edition of Ink of the Week right there.
By the way, IOTW fans, fret not. The tattoo series will return this year once we get all the early storylines and news out of the way.
--- On to some randomness....
--- If you are going to be naked, you might as well run on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles.
--- I know you were just thinking, why can't I get more Jaleel White in my life? Well, here you go.
--- Big fan of The League, even though it is about the lowest of brows you can find on FX (and that's saying something). That said, Seth Rogen is going to guest star on the show. I think this could be a strong combination.
--- Speaking of Low Brow, Jersey Shore was the most watched show in cable for 12-49-year-olds last week. Go ahead and let that one soak in.
By the way, great episode.
--- Haven't broken out Arcade Fire in a while, so why not today. Look for more on the blog later today and we'll see you at Breakfast tomorrow.