TicketsThanks to all the loyal readers for allowing me to have a life and take the weekend for my good friend's wedding in Asheville, NC. By the way, if you ever have an opportunity to go to Asheville, do it. Oh, and take your guitar. Yellow Springs thinks Asheville is a town full of hippies and hipsters. Don't forget your skinny jeans.
But truly incredible views and plenty of great places to go. For those of you who take regular trips to Gatlinburg, this might be a fun change of pace to avoid all the commercial junk that has overwhelmed that area. Unless, you really want three different options to bungee jump as part of your vacation.
Enough talking points from the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, let's eat...
--- What if I told you before the season the Bearcats would finish non-conference play 4-1 with a defense ranked in the Top 45 and be second in the country in turnover margin.
After yelling "Blasphemer!" at me for five minutes, you'd probably be pretty excited.
The ugly nature of the defeat in Tennessee dampens what was a solid non-con season for UC. Question the level of competition all you want, the Cats handily put away the teams they were supposed to. They have overachieved the expectations on the final score of every win.
And take a look around the Big East, not too many teams can say that. In fact, pretty much none can.
They lead the Big East in scoring margin (28.4), points scored (45.0), are second by a fraction of a point in points allowed (16.6). All that comes with the starters resting four quarters due to blowouts.
Yes, UC's opponents have struggled. The four teams they beat have a combined record of 5-13 this year. In fact, those schools are a combined 0-5 against other BCS schools.
--- Some folks are of the mind that this is West Virginia's conference to lose. And nobody else is on their level right now. At least, ESPN's Andrea Adelson would be. Others like Athlon Sports still have UC buried in the middle of the pack. Apparently, one big win for Pitt washes out the five weeks of disappointment they've put on tape, as well.
WVU owns the same credentials as UC --- four wins, one against an average ACC opponent and a loss to an SEC school. Granted, Tennessee is no LSU, but the Cats also didn't play at home.
Also, the Mountaineers struggled for a half against hapless Norfolk State. Their victory at Maryland was nearly a season-changing debacle as the Terps charged back late.
This is not an attempt to bash WVU, not in the least, but to make a statement that they are heads and tails above UC at this point dismisses the numbers and the eye test. Because they were cast as the preseason favorite they have been grandfathered in despite almost half a season of real, tangible game tape to judge every team by.
In the end, this means little. WVU will come to Paul Brown Stadium and it will be decided on the field -- not to mention myriad other games between now and then -- but let's not go calling the Mountaineers the class of the Big East at this point.
--- I talked before the season about a need for UC's defense to own a calling card, an identity. That meant being dominate on the defensive line. That's where they owned the talent to be a group that strikes fear into an offense. That is happening right now. UC's front overwhelmed the RedHawks all game and never was it more obvious than in the goal line stand.
Bill Koch wrote about the defense's development and Dan Hoard spoke goal line stand in his piece.
By the way, with those two negative rushing yard performances by the defense, they now rank 7th in the country against the run.
--- In case you missed it UC-Louisville will kick off at noon on Oct. 15 at PBS. A night game would have been desired, but with the Bengals playing 1 p.m. the next day, that makes for a pretty crazy turnaround and schedule for all those who would have to clean and prep the stadium.
The same situation occurs when West Virginia comes to town, but if ESPN gets involved in that game, it could move to the evening.
--- The Columbus Dispatch gives some run to Isaiah Pead. More good stuff from No. 23.
--- Doc wrote about the rivalry between UC-Miami not working. Yes, UC currently owns the longest winning streak in the history of the rivalry. But when its been going on for well over 100 years, that thing isn't going anywhere.
--- Cool behind-the-scenes video of the game from CoachButchJones.com.
fate continues to hang in the distance. Mizzou curators are meeting at noon today to discuss their future. The latest domino could come out of that. Either way, stay tuned to that situation, its a big swinger that could lead to more Big East poaching.
It's quite a little quandary the school has found itself in, as this Kansas City Star story exposes.
--- Of course, the Big East has been given the rights to be the poachers, as well. Joe Schad and Robert Smith discuss here. Navy, Air Force and Temple were among those most talked about.
--- Trent Cole suffered a calf strain, it could have been worse.
--- Hey, remember basketball? Hoop, 94 feet, played indoors? Well, practices are right around the corner and the Wooden Top 50 Watch List came out yesterday. Yancy Gates was not on it. I'm a little surprised, but its not a complete shocker considering the inconsistency of his early season play last year. Personally, I think everyone will be wondering where he was on the list once his senior season is over, but I'm obviously a little subjective on that.
Ballin is a Habit says people need to shut up about the Wooden List snubs.
The only effect this would have at all would be the first opportunity for Mick Cronin to play the no-respect card. That thing sure worked wonders all of last season and it's hard to argue with results. That will be a bigger challenge considering most rankings have UC opening in the Top 20 if not higher. Still, awards and lists like this come out all the time with UC absent. Disrespect can be found or manufactured just about anywhere.
--- Some randomness....
--- There's nothing worse than sitting around the house, flipping through the channels when a bear barges into the house. I hate that. They always have the worst timing.
--- Top five guys who screwed things up for everyone. It's true, one guy puts poison into pixy stix on Halloween and kids everywhere have to wait to shove 13 mini-3 Musketeers down their throats.
--- This is the only logical explanation to why they don't just start in the water for triathlons. It seems like a dangerous beginning to a pretty long day.
--- My alma mater, Ohio U., used to have a joke of a football program (whose laughing now, the Fightin Solich's are 4-1!), but that meant people showed up with five minutes to go before half and left right after half. That's right, because the band is pretty darn entertaining.
They have really stepped their game up. They went Party Rock Anthem this weekend, apparently. Somewhere, Arsenio Hall is smiling. And I assume pumping his fist.
But truly incredible views and plenty of great places to go. For those of you who take regular trips to Gatlinburg, this might be a fun change of pace to avoid all the commercial junk that has overwhelmed that area. Unless, you really want three different options to bungee jump as part of your vacation.
Enough talking points from the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, let's eat...
--- What if I told you before the season the Bearcats would finish non-conference play 4-1 with a defense ranked in the Top 45 and be second in the country in turnover margin.
After yelling "Blasphemer!" at me for five minutes, you'd probably be pretty excited.
The ugly nature of the defeat in Tennessee dampens what was a solid non-con season for UC. Question the level of competition all you want, the Cats handily put away the teams they were supposed to. They have overachieved the expectations on the final score of every win.
And take a look around the Big East, not too many teams can say that. In fact, pretty much none can.
They lead the Big East in scoring margin (28.4), points scored (45.0), are second by a fraction of a point in points allowed (16.6). All that comes with the starters resting four quarters due to blowouts.
Yes, UC's opponents have struggled. The four teams they beat have a combined record of 5-13 this year. In fact, those schools are a combined 0-5 against other BCS schools.
--- Some folks are of the mind that this is West Virginia's conference to lose. And nobody else is on their level right now. At least, ESPN's Andrea Adelson would be. Others like Athlon Sports still have UC buried in the middle of the pack. Apparently, one big win for Pitt washes out the five weeks of disappointment they've put on tape, as well.
WVU owns the same credentials as UC --- four wins, one against an average ACC opponent and a loss to an SEC school. Granted, Tennessee is no LSU, but the Cats also didn't play at home.
Also, the Mountaineers struggled for a half against hapless Norfolk State. Their victory at Maryland was nearly a season-changing debacle as the Terps charged back late.
This is not an attempt to bash WVU, not in the least, but to make a statement that they are heads and tails above UC at this point dismisses the numbers and the eye test. Because they were cast as the preseason favorite they have been grandfathered in despite almost half a season of real, tangible game tape to judge every team by.
In the end, this means little. WVU will come to Paul Brown Stadium and it will be decided on the field -- not to mention myriad other games between now and then -- but let's not go calling the Mountaineers the class of the Big East at this point.
--- I talked before the season about a need for UC's defense to own a calling card, an identity. That meant being dominate on the defensive line. That's where they owned the talent to be a group that strikes fear into an offense. That is happening right now. UC's front overwhelmed the RedHawks all game and never was it more obvious than in the goal line stand.
Bill Koch wrote about the defense's development and Dan Hoard spoke goal line stand in his piece.
By the way, with those two negative rushing yard performances by the defense, they now rank 7th in the country against the run.
--- In case you missed it UC-Louisville will kick off at noon on Oct. 15 at PBS. A night game would have been desired, but with the Bengals playing 1 p.m. the next day, that makes for a pretty crazy turnaround and schedule for all those who would have to clean and prep the stadium.
The same situation occurs when West Virginia comes to town, but if ESPN gets involved in that game, it could move to the evening.
--- The Columbus Dispatch gives some run to Isaiah Pead. More good stuff from No. 23.
--- Doc wrote about the rivalry between UC-Miami not working. Yes, UC currently owns the longest winning streak in the history of the rivalry. But when its been going on for well over 100 years, that thing isn't going anywhere.
--- Cool behind-the-scenes video of the game from CoachButchJones.com.
fate continues to hang in the distance. Mizzou curators are meeting at noon today to discuss their future. The latest domino could come out of that. Either way, stay tuned to that situation, its a big swinger that could lead to more Big East poaching.
It's quite a little quandary the school has found itself in, as this Kansas City Star story exposes.
--- Of course, the Big East has been given the rights to be the poachers, as well. Joe Schad and Robert Smith discuss here. Navy, Air Force and Temple were among those most talked about.
--- Trent Cole suffered a calf strain, it could have been worse.
--- Hey, remember basketball? Hoop, 94 feet, played indoors? Well, practices are right around the corner and the Wooden Top 50 Watch List came out yesterday. Yancy Gates was not on it. I'm a little surprised, but its not a complete shocker considering the inconsistency of his early season play last year. Personally, I think everyone will be wondering where he was on the list once his senior season is over, but I'm obviously a little subjective on that.
Ballin is a Habit says people need to shut up about the Wooden List snubs.
The only effect this would have at all would be the first opportunity for Mick Cronin to play the no-respect card. That thing sure worked wonders all of last season and it's hard to argue with results. That will be a bigger challenge considering most rankings have UC opening in the Top 20 if not higher. Still, awards and lists like this come out all the time with UC absent. Disrespect can be found or manufactured just about anywhere.
--- Some randomness....
--- There's nothing worse than sitting around the house, flipping through the channels when a bear barges into the house. I hate that. They always have the worst timing.
--- Top five guys who screwed things up for everyone. It's true, one guy puts poison into pixy stix on Halloween and kids everywhere have to wait to shove 13 mini-3 Musketeers down their throats.
--- This is the only logical explanation to why they don't just start in the water for triathlons. It seems like a dangerous beginning to a pretty long day.
--- My alma mater, Ohio U., used to have a joke of a football program (whose laughing now, the Fightin Solich's are 4-1!), but that meant people showed up with five minutes to go before half and left right after half. That's right, because the band is pretty darn entertaining.
They have really stepped their game up. They went Party Rock Anthem this weekend, apparently. Somewhere, Arsenio Hall is smiling. And I assume pumping his fist.