TicketsBearcats Battle No. 21 Southern Miss
Contact: Tom Hathaway
11/5/2004
Andre Frazier earned Defensive Player of the Week honors last week. |
Cincinnati vs. Southern Miss
Date: Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004
Time: 3:00 p.m. EST
Site: M.M. Roberts Stadium (33,000, turf)
Hattiesburg, Miss.
TV: None live. Highlights on the Mark Dantonio Show on WXIX-TV.
Radio: WLW-AM 700 (Dan Hoard, Jim Kelly and Scott Springer). Also available on-line via UCBearcats.com
Records: Cincinnati 4-4, 3-2 C-USA
Southern Miss 5-1, 4-0 C-USA
Series: Southern Miss leads, 7-6.
Last Oct. 4, 2003 in Cincinnati
Meeting: Southern Miss 22, Cincinnati 20
Tickets: Available at Southern Miss (www.SouthernMiss.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.
Bearcats Battle Golden Eagles
? The University of Cincinnati faces another key challenge in the Conference USA football race when the Bearcats visit league-leading Southern Miss, ranked No. 21 in both polls this week, on Saturday. Kickoff is 3 p.m. EST.
? The Bearcats, 4-4 overall, are in sole possession of fourth place in the C-USA standings with a 3-2 ledger. Two of UC?s three remaining games are against C-USA co-leaders Southern Miss and Louisville.
? Southern Miss has won its first four C-USA contests, its most recent a 51-10 rout of East Carolina on Oct. 23. The Golden Eagles had an open date last weekend. Southern Miss is 5-1, its lone loss a 27-3 setback at Alabama.
? Cincinnati will be going for its 500th victory in the 116-year history of its football program on Saturday.
? Southern Miss has earned a reputation as a national defensive leader over recent years and the 2004 Golden Eagles are following that pattern. USM is No. 37 in the national defense, surrendering 330.3 yards per game, and is No. 10 in pass efficiency defense.
? Cincinnati?s defense has risen to the task during the Bearcats? two-game win streak. UC held TCU, which entered last week?s game with the nation?s No. 11 scoring offense, to 10 points. The previous week, the Bearcats limited Memphis, No. 8 nationally in total offense, to just 202 yards.
? Richard Hall, who gained 143 yards in the win over TCU, is ranked No. 30 nationally in rushing, averaging 97.1 yards per game. The Bearcat senior has matched his rushing total for all of last season and needs 223 yards to become UC?s 13th 1,000-yard rusher.
? Senior defensive ends Andre Frazier and Trent Cole will try to continue their climb through the UC career records lists. Frazier is second in career sacks and fifth in tackles for loss. Cole is fourth in career TFLs and fifth in sacks.
? Bearcat quarterback Gino Guidugli, who has thrown 11 touchdown passes in his last four games, is No. 39 nationally in passing efficiency. He is third nationally among active quarterbacks in passing yardage and total offense yardage.
? Cincinnati?s offense has averaged 248.5 yards rushing over the last two games. Those yards were gained against teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in C-USA in rushing defense at the time Cincinnati played them.
UC vs. Southern Miss
Saturday?s game will be 14th meeting between Cincinnati and Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles hold a slight 7-6 edge in the series. USM is 5-1 in games played in Hattiesburg while UC holds a 5-2 lead in games in Cincinnati.
About the Golden Eagles
? Southern Miss has won four of the previous seven Conference USA football titles and has the best record, 38-11, in league play.
? The Golden Eagles are 103-31 (.769) in M.M. Roberts Stadium since 1976.
? Since 1996, Southern Miss has played 18 games against teams ranked in the Top 25 at the time they faced the Golden Eagles.
? Southern Miss has allowed 96 rushing touchdowns since 1999. The Golden Eagles entered the season having surrendered the fewest rushing TDs during this span in all of Division I-A.
Last Meeting
Darren McCaleb?s 26-yard field goal with 1:10 to play lifted Southern Miss to a 22-20 win over the Bearcats on Oct. 4, 2003 in Cincinnati. UC?s defense set the tempo early, with Daven Holly returning an interception 20 yards to give UC a 10-0 lead midway through the first period. The Bearcats extended that margin to 20-6 in the second period. Southern Miss rebounded with a 94-yard kickoff return by John Eubanks, and McCaleb went on to kick three field goals.
Last Time in Hattiesburg
Etric Pruitt?s 44-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter broke a 14-all tie and sparked Southern Miss to a 23-14 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 19, 2002. The Golden Eagles had a 14-6 lead in the third quarter when UC?s Gino Guidugli was sidelined by a hand injury. George Murray stepped in and engineered an 80-yard scoring drive, with DeMarco McCleskey scoring on a 1-yard run and Murray tallying the tying conversion. Pruitt?s interception occurred with 11:59 to go in the game.
UC Goes for No. 500
Cincinnati will be shooting for its 500th football victory in the history of its program when the Bearcats visit Southern Miss on Saturday. UC has compiled a 499-522-51 ledger in its 116 seasons of competition. Southern Miss recently reached the 500 mark and has a 501-333-27 all-time ledger.
Bearcats in Fourth Place
After getting off to a 1-2 start in Conference USA play, Cincinnati has won its last two league games, defeating Memphis and TCU, to climb into fourth place with a 3-2 ledger. The Bearcats play both C-USA co-leaders Southern Miss and Louisville in their three remaining games.
On This Date
Cincinnati is 4-5 in games played on Nov. 6. In 1965, UC defeated Kansas State, 21-14, and in 1954 the Bearcats beat Arizona State, 34-7.
1999 Louisville L, 23-13
1976 Ohio W, 35--0
1971 North Texas W, 40-7
1965 at Kansas State W, 21-14
1954 at Arizona State W, 34-7
1937 Ohio L, 17-0
1920 at Kentucky L, 7-6
1915 at Kentucky L, 27-6
1909 Tulane L, 6-0
UC Claims C-USA Honors
Cincinnati claimed two of the three Conference USA player of the week awards following the Bearcats? 21-10 win over TCU last Saturday. Andre Frazier, who keyed the UC defense with eight tackles, four of them solo, and recorded a sack and two tackles for loss, was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week. Chet Ervin, who punted seven times for a 44.3-yard average and gave the UC defense good field position with five punts on or inside the TCU 20, earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Bearcat Defense Responds
The Cincinnati defense has responded well to the challenge of stopping nationally-ranked offensive attacks over the past two weeks.
? Last Saturday, UC held TCU, which entered the game with the nation?s No. 11 scoring offense (35.9 points per game), to 10 points and kept NCAA scoring leader Lonta Hobbs out of the end zone.
? Hobbs, No. 32 nationally in rushing (94.5 yards), was limited to 49 yards.
? Two weeks ago, the Bearcats held Memphis, No. 8 in total offense (477.7), to 202 yards, limiting the Tigers? No. 10-ranked passing attack (283.2) to 113 yards.
? UC contained Memphis? DeAngelo Williams, who was No. 7 nationally in rushing (147.3) to 57 yards. Tiger QB Danny Wimprine, No. 14 in total offense (275.0) managed just 37 yards vs. the Bearcats.
First Strike
The Bearcats have scored a touchdown on their first offensive possession in each of the last three games. All have been lengthy drives. UC staged an 11-play, 75-yard drive at Army that consumed 5:02 to score on a five-yard Gino Guidugli-to-Brent Celek pass. Against Memphis, the Bearcats went 80 yards in 11 plays in 5:28, with Richard Hall scoring on a 1-yard run. In last Saturday?s win over TCU, UC established the tempo with a season-long 14-play drive, going 80 yards in 6:47, with Bradley Glatthaar scoring from the 1.
Cole No. 3 in TFLs
After leading the nation in tackles for loss for two weeks, Trent Cole is ranked third for this week. Washington?s Manase Hopoi is first, averaging 2.5 TFLs per outing with Marshall?s Jonathan Goddard second at 2.44.
Gino on a Roll
Gino Guidugli is playing some of the best football of his four-year career. Guidugli has passed for 987 yards and 11 touchdowns over his last four games. During that span, he has completed .593 percent of his throws and has had but two interceptions, giving him an efficiency rating of 144.6. He has climbed to No. 39 in the national passing efficiency ratings.
Gino Third Among Active Players
Gino Guidugli, the first Bearcat to top the 10,000-yard marks in career passing and total offense yardage, is third nationally, among active players, in passing yards and second in total offense yards. Guidugli has 10,537 career passing yards trails Timmy Chang of Hawaii (15,018) and David Greene of Georgia (10,766). Guidugli?s 10,731 yards in total offense is bettered only by Chang (14,586).
Sack Race
Andre Frazier and Trent Cole competing for positions in the Cincinnati career rankings for sacks and tackles for loss. Frazier is second in career sacks with 19.5, trailing only former teammate Antwan Peek, now with the Houston Texans, who recorded 27 sacks between 1998-02. Frazier is fifth in tackles for lss with 38.5. Cole is fourth in tackles for loss with 43 and fifth in sacks with 16.5. They each recorded a sack in last Saturday?s win over TCU.
Milestone March
Several other Bearcats have a chance to leave their marks on the defensive records lists:
? Daven Holly moved into a six-way tie for fourth place in career interceptions. He recorded the ninth INT of his career in last Saturday?s win over TCU. Last season, Holly tied the UC single season record with eight interceptions.
? Doug Monaghan is tied for 10th place in career interceptions with six.
? Monaghan, with 192 solo tackles, is in sixth place on that career list and is tied for No. 10 on the career total tackles list with 317 total stops.
? Tyjuan Hagler, with 31.5 tackles for loss, can reach ninth place with a half a TFL.
Guidugli Tops Passing Marks
Every time Gino Guidugli throws a pass, he sets a new Cincinnati career record, and also closes in on a Conference USA record. The senior quarterback has broken all of the UC career passing and total offense records. Last week, he moved into third place in career completions with 794, and needs four more completions to reach second place, held by Tulane?s Patrick Ramsey. Guidugli needs one more TD pass to climb into fourth place in C-USA.
Starting Streak
Gino Guidugli will be making his 45th consecutive start when Cincinnati visits Southern Miss on Saturday. No other player has made more consecutive starts at UC. A couple of other members of the senior class also have impressive starting stats.
? Kyle Takavitz has started the last 34 games, 14 at right tackle in 2002 and 20 at guard in 2003 and this season.
? Strong safety Doug Monaghan has started 42 of the 44 games in which he has played during his four-year career (he?s missed five games due to injury). Monaghan has a streak of 20 straight starts.
? Left offensive tackle Steve Eastlake has a string of 20 consecutive starts.
Leftovers from Last Saturday
? Richard Hall recorded his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season and the sixth of his career with his 143-yard effort on 29 carries.
? UC?s 255 yards rushing was the most allowed by TCU this season.
? In holding TCU to 10 points, the Bearcats limited the Horned Frogs to their fewest points since Dec. 28, 2001, a 28-9 loss to Texas A&M.
? Gino Guidugli broke free for a career-long 39-yard scamper, the longest run of his career.
? The victory upped UC?s record in Homecoming games to 45-21-3.
Celek Sets Mark
Brent Celek has set a UC mark for touchdown receptions by a tight end. The sophomore from Cincinnati caught his fifth TD pass of the season, eclipsing the previous high of four set by Darryl Goosby in 1982 and tied by Joe Koynock in 1990.
Hall Pursuing 1000
Richard Hall has rushed for 777 yards in Cincinnati?s first eight games, matching his season total for all of last season. The senior, who is ranked No. 30 in the national rushing statistics (97.1 yards per game) needs 223 yards over UC?s final three games to become the 12th Bearcat to reach the 1,000-yard mark.
Frosh Making Impact on Receiver Corps
Freshmen have been making their impression on the Cincinnati receiver corps.
? True freshman Earnest Jackson, who reported to UC as a quarterback candidate, is the team?s third-leading receiver with 17 receptions for 238 yards. He posted career bests of seven receptions for 89 yards vs. UAB on Oct. 2.
? Doug Jones, a redshirt frosh, has made 10 catches for 114 yards and a pair of TDs over his last four games.
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. Freshmen Butler Benton and Bradley Glatthaar have emerged as threats. Benton is the team?s second-leading rusher (288 yards), which included a 127-yard performance vs. East Carolina on Sept. 25. Glatthaar is third (157) with three games of 40-or-more yards. He had a career-high 47 vs. Memphis on Oct. 23.
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. Monaghan is ranked 32nd in the nation and third in C-USA in interceptions.
Block That Kick
The Bearcats continue to add to their reputation for blocking kicks. UC has made three rejections this season. 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. Trent Cole blocked a PAT vs. Army. Cincinnati blocked five opponent field goals in 2003 and returned two of those for touchdowns.
Hall of a Day
Richard Hall 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 continues to make the big plays in the Cincinnati passing game. The senior, who leads the team in receiving (31 receptions, 533 yards), is ranked 42nd nationally in receiving yards per game (72.5). Thomas enjoyed a career performance in the Sept. 11 win over Miami. The senior caught five passes for a personal best 175 yards, and was on the receiving end of a 69-yard pass play, UC?s longest of the season. Dating back to last season, Thomas has nine TD catches in his last 12 games.
Captains
The Cincinnati squad elected four seniors to serve as captains for 2004. They are Andre Frazier, Daven Holly, Kyle Takavitz, and Gino Guidugli. Frazier and Takavitz served as team captains in 2003.
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 Miami Dolphins; Zach Norton, defensive back with the Baltimore Ravens; Antwan Peek, linebacker with the Houston Texans; and Robert Tate, cornerback with the Arizona Cardinals.
Awards Lists
The University of Cincinnati is well-represented on the watch lists for several of the national player of the year awards.
Lombardi Award Trent Cole
Kyle Takavitz
Nagurski Award Trent Cole
Butkus Award Jamar Enzor
Davey O?Brien Award Gino Guidugli
Johnny Unitas Award Gino Guidugli
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.
Up Next
Cincinnati has its second open date of the season on Nov. 13. The Bearcats return to action on Nov. 20, hosting USF. The game time has been changed to 3:30 p.m. EST.