TicketsBearcat Spotlight: Doug Monaghan
10/4/2004
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by Jaime Aronson, Sports Communications Student
Senior safety Doug Monaghan joyfully recalls the most memorable moment of his football career at UC as being the September 2, 2002 UC vs. TCU game at Nippert Stadium. Quarterback Gino Guidugli led Cincinnati back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime in front of a national TV audience. Guidugli took it upon himself to put UC ahead for good in the extra session, keeping the ball on a QB draw and going over the right side for a 14-yard touchdown. On the second play of TCU?s ensuing possession, Monaghan intercepted a pass intended for Sean Stilley to win the game. The final score was UC 36, TCU 29.
Monaghan has created and contributed to several more memorable moments and plays in his football career. This Cincinnati native began his football career at the tender age of 10 after his basketball coach suggested that he should give football a try. His first football experience was with the K-C Rebels where he began playing as an offensive linemen, then changed to an outside linebacker. He continued to play basketball and football, as well as baseball, throughout his childhood.
Once Monaghan entered high school at Colerain, he knew that football was in his blood. Yet, he still impressively managed to play all three sports, lettering twice in both football and basketball and once in baseball, as well as staying on the honor roll every quarter.
Throughout his high school football career he accumulated several significant achievements, such as being named Associated Press first team all-state, first team all-league, all-city and all-district. He also played in the Ohio North-South All-Star game. He was able to receive all of these awards because of his outstanding and consistent performances. He caught 32 passes for 750 yards, made 125 tackles with 9 interceptions, and scored a school record 14 touchdowns in a season while guiding the team to a 13-1 record and the semifinals of the state playoffs.
Monaghan received offers from many different schools due to his excellent football statistics and outstanding grades from high school. In fact he visited Michigan State, where the secondary coach told him he was too slow to play for the Spartans. That coach was new UC head coach Mark Dantonio.
Monaghan chose to continue his football career at UC because he wanted to stay close to his family and friends as well as receive playing time during his freshman year. As a newcomer to the Bearcat family, Monaghan?s skills did nothing short of impress college critics.
He was chosen by The Sporting News as a second team Freshman All-American after leading the team with 101 tackles. During his first season at the collegiate level, Monaghan started 11 of 12 games. The freshman accumulated five double-figure tackle games, including a career high 16 at Houston. This total was the most by a UC player during the 2001 season. Monaghan played an impressive 699 out of 767 defensive downs during the regular season and capped the year off by making a team-high 14 tackles against Toledo in the Motor City Bowl. All in all, Monaghan had an extremely successful first season, which only foreshadowed the great achievements yet to come.
Monaghan?s sophomore season saw six pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one tackle for loss and one interception. He had three double- figure tackle games, including a season high 11 stops during the UC vs. Miami game.
An unfortunate injury occurred during the game against UAB where he had eight tackles in just 16 plays. While returning a fumble in the second quarter, he fell and sprained his ankle.
?I knew right as I hit the ground that my ankle was in bad shape,? said Monaghan. Due to this injury, he was unable to play for about three weeks, missing the last two games of the season.
A strong Monaghan came back to his third season with a bright smile and a healed ankle ready to play. During the season he started all 12 games at strong safety. Proving that his injury did not set him back, he ranked fifth on the team with 70 tackles, had a pair of interceptions, was honored as a preseason All-C-USA choice and earned his third letter.
During the UC vs. Miami game he made a season-high 10 tackles and blocked a field goal which was returned by Daven Holly 78 yards for a touchdown. He truly possesses an excellent understanding of the game, and is an excellent leader of both the secondary and the entire defense.
?It is hard to believe that I am already a senior here at UC, the time has gone by so fast,? Monaghan commented.
So far this season he has performed like the hometown hero he is. Entering the East Carolina game he was second in the nation in interceptions with three in three games and is tied for the team lead in tackles.
This season is also exciting due to UC?s new coaching staff. Dantonio has compiled nearly a quarter of a century of coaching experience, during which he has played integral roles in building winning programs. He is an Ohio native who has spent half of his coaching career in the state.
When asked what it is like to work under the new coaches during his senior year, a smile came across Monaghan?s face, ?the new coaching staff is great, not only are they great coaches, but also very approachable, great guys.?
And Dantonio is happy he has Monaghan on his team now. ?It?s crazy how things come around,? he said. ?Doug Monaghan is the kind of guy that makes coaching fun.?
With the recent win over rival Miami, Monaghan and his fellow teammates have high hopes for the rest of the season.
Dantonio shared in the excitement of the win, ?it was a great day for the University of Cincinnati. We got the (Victory) Bell back. I am especially happy for our seniors. It?s a fitting way for them to go out their final year. We?ve made a big deal about it because it is a big deal. It?s great for college football.?
This was the first time in four years that The Bearcats beat the RedHawks. A personal goal of Monaghan?s, as well as the team, is to win the conference championship. With the season off to a promising start, this goal is very possible.
This native Bearcat keeps his 6?3, 211 lb. frame running like a well- oiled machine by staying fit and eating healthy. For breakfast he enjoys eating a bowl of Cinnamon Life cereal and chasing it down with a nice cool glass of cranberry juice. Lunch time is filled with some salad and chicken and for dinner spaghetti.
The regular demanding football workouts keep him strong and in shape. He enjoys being in shape so much that he plans to use his health promotions degree to become a personal trainer so he can help others meet their fitness goals.
In the spare time that Monaghan rarely comes across due to his hectic football and school schedules, he enjoys watching television, being with friends, and relaxing. After graduation he is thinking about moving to Houston, Texas, to become a personal trainer. However his dream is to be drafted into the NFL. He claims that he would be ecstatic to be drafted onto any team, however if he could pick it would be the Cincinnati Bengals, of course.
Playing for the University of Cincinnati has greatly influenced not only Monaghan?s physical abilities, but also his character development. Being part of the Bearcat family has taught him teamwork, loyalty and responsibility.
A recent trip to Loveland Elementary school has really shown him what a positive influence he has on younger fans. ?My teammates and I had a great time signing autographs and just hanging out with the kids,? he said.
When asked if he really knew that he was a role model to young kids who know him from watching UC football, Monaghan humbly smiled and said, ?It?s a very cool thing.?
As the end of Monaghan?s college football career starts to be in sight, he hopes that he will be remembered as a solid player and a positive influence.