TicketsBearcats Hope to Extend Army's Skid
Black Knights bring nation's longest losing streak into Saturday's game.
Contact: Tom Hathaway
10/4/2004
George Murray had a career high 94 receiving yards on Saturday. |
Cincinnati vs. Army
Date: Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Site: Michie Stadium (40,000, Astro Play), West Point, N.Y.
TV: None live in Cincinnati. Highlights on the Mark Dantonio Show on WXIX-TV 19.
Radio: WLW-AM 700 (Dan Hoard, Jim Kelly and Scott Springer). Also available on-line via UCBearcats.com
Records: Cincinnati 2-3, 1-1 C-USA; Army 0-4, 0-3 C-USA
Series: Cincinnati leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 25, 2003 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati 33, Army 29
Tickets: Available at Army via www:Go ArmySports.com.
Tickets for all UC home games are on sale at the Athletic Ticket Office (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily) and are available on-line via www.UCBearcats.com, or by phone: 513-556-CATS.
UC Hopes to Extend Army?s Losing Skid
The University of Cincinnati will try to climb back into the thick of the Conference USA football race when visiting Army on Saturday for a 1 p.m. EDT clash.
The Bearcats, 2-3 overall and 1-1 in C-USA play, will be out to rebound from last week?s 30-27 loss to UAB. UC fell to a 17-point deficit in the first half of that contest, then rallied in the second half to pull within three points of the lead three different times.
Army is winless in four outings and is 0-3 in C-USA games. The Black Knights take the nation?s longest active losing streak?19 games?into Saturday?s showdown.
The Black Knights almost put an end to that losing streak last week. Army jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and held a 17-14 edge after three quarters of play. TCU spoiled the upset bid by scoring the go-ahead TD with 41 seconds remaining in the game.
Cincinnati has shown marked improvement defensively over the last two games. After giving up an average of 422.7 yards per game over their first three outings, the Bearcats have limited their last two foes to an average of 213 yards of total offense.
All-American candidate Trent Cole continues to play a major role in Cincinnati?s defense. The senior end has recorded eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks over the last two games to climb to fourth and seventh place, respectively, on the UC career lists.
Bearcat quarterback Gino Guidugli had his best performance of the season in last Saturday?s game. The senior completed 29 of 52 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns, the 12th 300-yard performance of his career. Guidugli will try to top the 10,000-yard mark in both career passing yards and total offense during Saturday?s game. Ironically, Guidugli made his college debut at Army in the third game of the 2001 season, coming off the bench to pass for 311 yards and three TDs.
While Richard Hall continues to lead the UC rushing attack?the senior is 38th nationally in rushing averaging 92.2 yards per game?the Bearcats have been led in rushing by freshmen the past two games. Butler Benton edged Hall for rushing honors two weeks ago vs. East Carolina with 127 yards in 25 carries. Brad Glatthaar led UC with 45 yards vs. UAB on Saturday.
UC vs. Army
Saturday?s game will be the sixth meeting between Cincinnati and Army. The teams first met in 1963, with Army winning, 22-0. The teams began playing regularly when they became members of Conference USA. Cincinnati holds a 3-2 lead in the series and has won the last three meetings, but only by a combined margin of 13 points.
About the Black Knights
? Bobby Ross took over as head coach this season, bringing with him 15 seasons of experience in the college ranks and another nine as an NFL mentor. Ross led Georgia Tech to a co-national championship in 1990.
? Last year, Army was ranked last of the Division I-A schools in rushing offense, averaging 63.5 yards per game. This season, Army is averaging 158.0 yards per game on the ground and is ranked 58th.
? Army enters Saturday?s contest with a 19-game losing streak, the longest in the nation. The Black Knights will also be out to snap a string of 15 straight home losses.
? Linebacker Greg Washington leads C-USA in tackles, averaging 13.0 tackles per game.
? Receiver Aaron Alexander has a streak of 22 games in which he has made at least one reception.
Last Meeting
Richard Hall came off the bench in the fourth quarter to lead a go-ahead touchdown drive in Cincinnati?s 33-29 victory at Nippert Stadium last season. Hall, sidelined in the first half by an ankle injury, rushed 18 times for 64 yards in the fourth quarter and scored the game-winning TD on a 6-yard run with 8:54 to play.
Last Time at West Point
Gino Guidugli launched his career as a Bearcat by rallying UC to a 24-21 win on Sept. 8, 2001. Guidugli, who made his first collegiate appearance when starter Adam Hoover was injured in the second quarter, passed for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, each enabling Cincinnati to overcome a deficit. His second TD pass gave UC a 17-14 lead with 4:48 to play. Army scored on Omari Thompson?s 39-yard run to regain the lead with 1:16 remaining. Guidugli drove UC 70 yards in 11 plays, tossing a 12-yard pass to Tye Keith for the game-winner with seven seconds left. Guidugli completed 31-of-41 passes for 311 yards and three TDs.
Connections
? University of Cincinnati defensive line coach Ted Gill served on the Army staff in 1983, tutoring the defensive line and linebackers.
? UC strength and conditioning coach Tim Swanger served in the same capacity at Army for six years (1992-98) and was assistant strength coach for two years before that.
? Army linebackers coach Steve Tovar was a member of the Ohio State staff last season that included UC head coach Mark Dantonio, serving as quality control coach. Tovar spent five seasons (1993-97) with the Cincinnati Bengals.
On This Date
Cincinnati is 6-4 in games played on Oct. 9. In 1976, Cincinnati visited Arizona State and returned with a 14-0 shutout win. The Bearcats defeated Long Beach State in 1982 in a game played at Riverfront Stadium. Two and a half months later, Long Beach head coach Dave Currey became head coach at UC.
1999 at Houston L, 23-20
1993 at Vanderbilt L, 17-7
1982 Long Beach State W, 34-14
1976 at Arizona State W, 14-0
1971 Xavier W, 30-7
1965 Xavier L, 14-3
1954 Marquette W, 30-13
1948 Ohio W, 18-13
1937 at Dayton L, 35-0
1920 Ohio W, 6-0
Gino Shoots for 10K Mark
Gino Guidugli will bid to top the 10,000-yard mark in both career passing and total offense yardage when Cincinnati visits Army on Saturday. The senior quarterback enters the game with 9,850 passing yards and 9,880 yards of total offense. Ironically, Guidugli will be attempting to top those historical marks at the place where he launched his career three seasons ago. A first-year freshman, he saw his first-ever varsity action when he replaced injured starter Adam Hoover in the second quarter. He passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns in that game, including the game-winner in the final seconds.
Jackson With the Hot Hands
True freshman Earnest Jackson is Cincinnati?s hottest receiver of late. Over the last two games, Jackson has caught 11 passes for 137 yards. He had seven catches for 89 yards in last Saturday?s UAB contest. Jackson reported to UC as a quarterback candidate after earning all-area honors at the position in high school. He made the switch to receiver during preseason practice.
D Gets Down to Business
Cincinnati?s defense has shown marked improvement since the start of the season. After giving up an average of 422.7 yards in UC?s first three games, the D has become stingy, limiting foes to an average of 213.0 yards over the past two contests.
? UC?s pass defense, which had been struck for 10 plays of 20 or more yards in the first three games, has given up just two plays of 20-plus yards in the last two outings.
? The Bearcats? improvement may be linked to their more aggressive play. UC has made 25 tackles for loss over the last two games after managing 30 in the first three contests.
Cole and Frazier In The Record Book
Bearcat defensive ends Trent Cole and Andre Frazier are marching through the Cincinnati record book.
? Cole has leaped into fourth place in career tackles for loss with 41.5 and is seventh in sacks with 14.5.
? Frazier is No. 8 in tackles for loss with 35.5 and is No. 4 in sacks with 17.5. The UC career records are 27.0 for sacks and 56.0 for tackles for loss, both set by Antwan Peek, currently a member of the Houston Texans, to whom Frazier served as an understudy his first two years as a Bearcat.
Milestone March
Several other Bearcats have a chance to leave their marks on the defensive records lists:
? Doug Monaghan has moved into a tie for ninth place in career interceptions with eight. Monaghan, with 182 solo tackles, is in eighth place on that career list and is closing in on earning a spot on the career total tackles list.
? Daven Holly, with seven career interceptions, needs one more pick to move into a tie for ninth place. Last season, Holly tied the UC single season record for interceptions with six.
? Tyjuan Hagler, with 30 tackles for loss, can reach ninth place with two more TFLs.
Starting Streak
Gino Guidugli will be making his 42nd consecutive start when Cincinnati visits Army on Saturday. The senior will be returning to the site of where it all started. Guidugli took over the starting quarterback assignment in the second game of his freshman season, the Bearcats? game at Army, and has not missed a start since. A couple of other members of the senior class also have impressive starting stats.
? Kyle Takavitz has started the last 31 games, 14 at right tackle in 2002 and 17 at guard in 2003 and this season.
? Strong safety Doug Monaghan has started 39 of the 41 games in which he has played during his four-year career (he?s missed five games due to injury). Monaghan has a streak of 17 straight starts.
? Left offensive tackle Steve Eastlake has a string of 18 consecutive starts.
Double Rushing Trouble
Though Richard Hall is among the national rushing leaders, the senior is no longer a one-man force in the Cincinnati ground attack. Freshman Butler Benton emerged in the Sept. 25 win over East Carolina, gaining 127 yards in 25 carries and scoring a TD to lead the UC ground assault. Another freshman, Brad Glatthaar, from Cincinnati?s Elder High, was the Bearcats? leading rusher in last Saturday?s UAB game. Glatthaar gained 45 yards on six carries.
Monaghan Making Catches
Doug Monaghan, owner of a couple of receiving records at his high school (Colerain), has revived his pass-catching skills as a member of the Cincinnati secondary during his collegiate career. The senior strong safety intercepted two passes in the Sept. 18 Syracuse game. His first interception snuffed out an SU scoring drive, which had reached the UC 16, in the first quarter. His second pick, which he returned 29 yards, set up the Bearcats? lone touchdown.
Monaghan is ranked 15th in the nation and second in C-USA in interceptions. His two picks upped his career total to eight and moved him into a tie for ninth place on the UC career INT list.
Block That Kick
The Bearcats continue to add to their reputation for blocking kicks. Already this season, UC has a pair of rejections. Mike Wright blocked a PAT try in the Sept. 11 Miami game, which was scooped up and returned for a defensive two-point PAT by Daven Holly. Adam Roberts blocked a field goal in the Sept. 18 contest vs. Syracuse. Cincinnati blocked five opponent field goals in 2003 and returned two of those for touchdowns. Andre Frazier rejected two field goals. Other blocked kicks were recorded by Doug Monaghan, Daven Holly and Zach Norton, the latter a departed senior.
Hall of a Day
Richard Hall, who is ranked No. 38 nationally in rushing this week (92.2 yards per game), must take the Cincinnati-Miami football rivalry to heart. Hall, who rushed for a career-high 161 yards in the 2003 showdown vs. the RedHawks, topped that this season by gaining 238 yards, the sixth-highest single game rushing total in UC history, in UC?s 45-26 win on Sept. 11. Hall, who scored three touchdowns in the ?oldest rivalry West of the Alleghenies,? put Cincinnati on the scoreboard first with a 70-yard TD run. He later broke free for a 79-yard jaunt, the longest rush in six seasons and tied for the sixth-longest run in UC history, to set up the Bearcats? final TD. For his efforts, Hall was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13.
Thomas Makes Big Plays
Hannibal Thomas is ranked 45th nationally in receiving yards per game, averaging 71.6 yards per outing. Thomas enjoyed a career performance in the Sept. 11 win over Miami. The senior caught five passes for a personal best 175 yards. Thomas scored on a 69-yard pass play from Gino Guidugli, and was involved in receptions of 53, 26 and 24 yards. Last week against UAB, Thomas recorded touchdown receptions of 19 and 6 yards.
Bearcats in the Pros
Eight former University of Cincinnati football players were on the rosters of NFL teams after final cuts for the 2004 season were made. The eight are: Antonio Chatman, wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers; Troy Evans, linebacker with the Houston Texans; Jason Fabini, offensive tackle with the New York Jets; Artrell Hawkins, defensive back with the Carolina Panthers; Mario Monds, defensive tackle with the New York Giants; Zach Norton, defensive back with the Baltimore Ravens; Antwan Peek, linebacker with the Houston Texans; and Robert Tate, cornerback with the Arizona Cardinals.
Tough Schedule
UC has the third-toughest non-conference schedule this fall of all NCAA Division I-A teams, in terms of the 2003 won-loss percentage of its non-league foes. The Bearcats three non-conference opponents, Ohio State (11-2 in 2003), Miami Ohio (13-1) and Syracuse (6-6) combined for a 30-9 ledger and a .760 winning percentage last season. Oregon State's non-league slate is the winningest at .829 (34-7) with Iowa State second at .789 (30-8).
The Graduates
Eight members of the 2004 University of Cincinnati football team have already completed their undergraduate degrees. The eight grads are linebackers Jamar Enzor (bachelor's in criminal justice), Tyjuan Hagler (criminal justice) and Jason Russell (criminal justice), defensive end Andre Frazier (finance), offensive linemen Jeremy Schlicher (architecture), Adam Shorter (history) and Kyle Takavitz (operations management) and cornerback Tedric Harwell (criminal justice). All are working on second degrees this fall. In addition, offensive lineman Clint Stickdorn has just one class to complete this fall for his degree in marketing. Only four other schools have more graduates playing for them this fall.
Time Change
Cincinnati?s Nov. 20 home game vs. USF has been changed to a 3:30 p.m. start, to accommodate a regional telecast by the Sunshine Network.
Up Next
Cincinnati has a bye week from game action on Oct. 16. The Bearcats return to action on Oct. 23, hosting Memphis in the first of two straight home games. Kickoff is 7 p.m. The game is Parents Weekend and Youth Night with youth 12 and under receiving free tickets when accompanied by an adult purchasing a regular price ticket.