TicketsOct. 18, 2005
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The University of Cincinnati will play host to the University of Louisville on Saturday at 12 noon EDT in Nippert Stadium in a BIG EAST Conference football grudge match. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
The game will be the 45th meeting of the regional rivals, who will battle for one of college football's most unusual trophies, the Keg of Nails. Cincinnati owns a 26-17-1 lead in the series, but Louisville has walked away with the Keg in six of the last seven games.
Cincinnati is 3-3 overall and 1-1 in BIG EAST play following last Saturday's 28-17 win over Connecticut. Bradley Glatthaar rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns on the Huskies' defense, which was ranked No. 1 in both fewest yards and fewest points allowed, while the Bearcats stole the defensive show by recording six sacks.
This week, the Bearcats face a foe that emphasizes offense. Louisville is No. 9 in total offense and No. 3 in scoring offense, having scored 60 or more points three times this season. The Cardinals boast running back Michael Bush, who leads the nation in scoring and is 10th in rushing, and quarterback Brian Brohm, who is sixth in passing efficiency.
Louisville, 4-2, enters the game in search of its first BIG EAST victory. The Cardinals were defeated at No. 20 West Virginia, 46-44, in triple overtime last Saturday. Earlier UofL suffered a 45-14 loss at USF.
Cincinnati will hope that the friendly confines of Nippert Stadium continue to be an ally. The Bearcats are 3-0 at home this season and have a six-game home win streak, dating back to last year.
A couple of Bearcats will try to extend personal streaks. Running back Bradley Glatthaar has scored a touchdown in each of UC's six games this season, and dating back to last year, has a TD in 10 of the last 12 games. Offensive tackle Steve Eastlake will be out to add to his string of 30 straight starts.
Cincinnati's defense boasts a national leader. Freshman cornerback Mike Mickens shares the NCAA lead with Syracuse's Anthony Smith in passes broken up (1.83 per game). Mickens had three PBUs and an interception in Saturday's win over Connecticut.
UC vs. Louisville
Saturday's game will be the 45th meeting between Cincinnati and Louisville. The Bearcats own a 26-17-1 lead in the series, which began in 1929, chiefly through winning the first 12 contests between the two schools. Louisville ended the streak in 1970 with a 28-14 victory. The Cardinals have won six of the last seven contests.
Battle for the Keg of Nails
The winner of Saturday's game gets the Keg of Nails, one of the more unique rivalry trophies with a somewhat vague origin. The trophy is a replica of a keg used to ship nails. The exchange is believed to have been initiated by fraternity chapters on the UC and UofL campuses, signifying that the winning players in the game were "tough as nails."
The present keg is actually a replacement for the original award, which was misplaced by Louisville, ironically lost during some construction of office facilities. It is adorned with the logos of both schools and the scores of the series games.
About Louisville
The Cardinals are ranked No. 9 nationally in total offense, averaging 492.0 yards per game, and are No. 3 in scoring offense, averaging 47.0 points per outing. They have topped the 60-point mark in three of their six games.
Quarterback Brian Brohm is ranked No. 6 nationally in passing efficiency and No. 17 in total offense. Brohm has completed 68 percent of his passes for 1,799 yards and 12 touchdowns and has averaged 294 yards per game in total offense.
Running back Michael Bush is the nation's scoring leader with 16 touchdowns, averaging 16.0 points per game.
Defensive end Elvis Dumervil leads the nation in sacks (2.58), tackles for loss (2.83) and forced fumbles (1.17).
Last Meeting,br> Kolby Smith scored three touchdowns and Louisville rolled up 491 yards in total offense to beat Cincinnati, 70-7, on Nov. 27, 2004 in Louisville. The Cardinals scored on the first offensive play of the game with Eric Shelton breaking loose for an 80-yard TD. Montrell Jones made a pair of TD receptions and also scored on a 72-yard punt return. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Bearcats, who were without starting quarterback Gino Guidugli.
Last Time in Cincinnati
Stefan LeFors threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to J.R. Russell with 1:10 remaining to rally Louisville to a 43-40 win over Cincinnati on Nov. 27, 2003 at Nippert Stadium. The seesaw contest saw the lead change hands three times in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati, which began the second half trailing by two TDs, scored 17 points to take a 31-28 lead early in the fourth quarter. Louisville regained the advantage 15 seconds later but the Bearcats regained the lead, 40-35, with 2:20 remaining.
UC-Louisville Ties
Mike Cassity, Louisville's defensive coordinator, held the same position at Cincinnati for the 1994 season...UofL freshman offensive lineman Eric Wood was a teammate of UC's Bradley Glatthaar, Digger Bujnoch, Tony Carvitti and Craig Carey at Elder High in Cincinnati.
Honorary Captain
John Tushar, who played on the 1980, 1981 and 1982 UC teams, will be the honorary captain for this week's game. Tushar was a regular on the offensive line for 1981 and 1982 seasons, seeing most of his action at guard, though he was also used at tackle. Head coach Mark Dantonio began recognizing former UC players and coaches by naming them honorary game captains last season. The honorary captains participate with the elected captains in the pregame meal with the team as well as the pregame as coin toss.
On This Date
Cincinnati is 6-5-2 in games played on Oct. 22. In 1983, UC lost a 17-7 struggle to the eventual national champion Miami Hurricanes, who were coached by Howard Schnellenberger. This is also the anniversary of UC's 115-0 romp over Kentucky Wesleyan, UC's most points scored and largest margin of victory. Ike Stewart scored eight touchdowns in the game to set a UC mark for TDs and points in a game and Alonzo Weiss kicked a record 12 PATs.
1994 at Memphis - L, 26-3
1988 at Miami (Fla.) - L, 57-3
1983 Miami (Fla.). - L, 17-7
1977 Tulsa - W, 28-0
1966 Kansas State - W, 28-14
1960 Tulsa - L, 34-3
1955 at Tulsa - T, 21-21
1949 Western Reserve - W, 21-13
1938 Western Reserve - L, 33-0
1932 Denison - W, 6-0
1927 Marietta - T, 6-6
1921 Kentucky Wesleyan - W, 115-0
1904 Kentucky - W, 11-0
Captains
Three seniors and a junior have taken on the leadership role as team captains. The four, who were elected by their teammates, are offensive tackle Steve Eastlake (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson), defensive end Adam Roberts (Brooklyn, N.Y./Milford (Conn.) Academy), wide receiver Derick Ross (Marion, Ohio/Harding), all seniors, and junior tight end Brent Celek (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle).
Bearcats Shooting for Seventh Home Win
Cincinnati will be out to extend its home winning streak to seven games when the Bearcats host Louisville on Saturday. UC has won all three home games this season and the last three home games of last year. UAB was the last team to defeat UC in Nippert Stadium, on Oct. 22, 2004.
O-Line Highlights Weekly Honors
All five starting offensive linemen were named Bearcat Offensive Players of the Week for their performance in Saturday's 28-17 win over Connecticut. Left tackle Steve Eastlake, left guard Ryan Brown, center Matt Webster, right guard Trevor Canfield and right tackle Digger Bujnoch were honored after helping UC roll up 223 yards rushing and 348 yards in total offense on UConn's defense, which entered the game ranked No. 1 in fewest yards allowed.
Senior defensive end Adam Roberts earned Bearcat Defensive Player of the Week honors for his five-tackle, two-sack performance. Lamonte Nelms, a redshirt freshman, was named Special Teams Player of the Week.
Bearcats Earn BIG EAST Honors
Bradley Glatthaar is the latest Bearcat to earn BIG EAST Conference honors. The sophomore running back was named to the BIG EAST weekly honor roll this week after rushing for a career-high 123 yards and two touchdowns in UC's 28-17 win over Connecticut last weekend (Oct. 15).
Dustin Grutza was named BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week after passing for two touchdowns and running for a third in the Bearcats' 28-26 victory over Eastern Michigan in the season opener. The redshirt freshman from Maysville, Ky., completed 17 of 26 passes for 176 yards and ran for 49 yards, including a 21-yard TD.
UC junior safety Dominic Ross was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for his performance in the Bearcats' 7-3 win over Western Carolina on Sept. 17. Ross entered the game in the fourth quarter and made two key interceptions to stop WCU. The first ended a drive on the UC 2-yard line with 5:46 remaining. The second, at the UC 37 with 22 seconds to play, clinched the victory.
Glatthaar Scoring Spree Continues
Bradley Glatthaar is playing a key role in the Cincinnati offense. The sophomore running back has scored a touchdown in each of the Bearcats first six games. Going back to the 2004 season, Glatthaar has scored a touchdown in 10 of the Bearcats' last 12 games.
Glatthaar turned in the second century rushing performance of his career when he gained a personal-best 123 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns in last Saturday's win over Connecticut. He scored on runs of 9 and 72 yards, the latter a career long.
Glatthaar became the first Bearcat to rush for over 100 yards this season when he recorded 107 yards in a career-high 18 rushing attempts in the Sept. 17 win over Western Carolina.
Running Wild
Cincinnati topped the 200-yard mark in rushing for the second time this season, gaining 223 yards in last Saturday's win over Connecticut. That was accomplished against the Huskies' defense, which entered the contest ranked No. 1 nationally in fewest yards allowed. In addition to Bradley Glatthaar, who rushed for a career-high 123 yards, the Bearcats got a career-high 64 yards in 11 carries from junior Greg Moore and 44 yards and a TD in eight tries by sophomore Butler Benton. The fourth member of UC's rushing quartet, junior Mike Daniels, didn't play offense for the second straight game due to an ankle injury.
Sack Attack
The Cincinnati defense recorded six sacks in last Saturday's win over Connecticut, the most since UC had six vs. East Carolina last season (Sept. 25, 2004). Senior Adam Roberts and freshman Trevor Anderson each recorded two sacks, with Thomas Claggett and Anthony Hoke contributing one each. The sack attack doubled the Bearcats' season total. Roberts leads UC with four sacks and is ranked 41st nationally with a .67 average per game.
Mickens Knocking Them Down
Freshman cornerback Mike Mickens added to his impressive total of pass breakups with three in Saturday's win over Connecticut, giving him 10 for the season. He is tied for first nationally in pass breakups with Syracuse's Anthony Smith, both averaging 1.83 per game. In addition to the PBUs, Mickens silenced Connecticut's last scoring threat with an interception, his first as a Bearcat. Mickens, who also had a tackle for loss and two tackles vs. UConn, is UC's fourth-leading tackler with 32 stops.
Other Defensive Dandies
Junior linebacker Kevin McCullough is tied for No. 24 nationally in tackles for loss with 1.50.
Freshman defensive tackle Thomas Claggett is tied for No. 35 in forced fumbles with a per-game average of .33.
Sophomore safety Haruki Nakamura is tied for No. 55 in pass breakups with a 1.00 average.
Roberts Rolls
Senior defensive end Adam Roberts played a large role in Cincinnati's defensive dominance in the 28-17 win over Connecticut. Roberts recorded five tackles, all solo, and had a pair of sacks and a pass breakup. Roberts leads UC in sacks with four and is second in tackles for loss with six.
Good Efforts from Goodman
Freshman wide receiver Dominick Goodman is emerging as a threat. Though he has played in only three games, Goodman has quickly climbed into second place at UC in all-purpose yards. He has amassed 279 yards, 210 via kickoff returns.
Goodman was one of the bright spots for the Cincinnati offense in the Sept. 28 loss at Miami (Ohio), piling up 141 all-purpose yards, gaining 64 yards on five pass receptions and returning four kickoffs for 77 yards. Goodman snagged a 24-yard pass from Dustin Grutza in the second quarter, UC's longest pass play of the night. He then hooked up with Nick Davila four times for 50 yards on the Bearcats' final scoring drive, and scored when he made a leaping catch of a deflected pass on a four-yard TD.
Tight Ends are Top Targets
The Bearcat tight ends have been the big play performers in the Cincinnati passing attack to date. Junior starter Brent Celek is second on the team in receptions with 17 and has UC's most receiving yardage with 206. Celek caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Grutza in the Oct. 8 game vs. Pittsburgh, the longest reception of Celek's career. Freshman backup Connor Barwin is fourth in receiving yardage with 113 on five catches.
Celek Upping Numbers and Credentials
Brent Celek has picked up where he left off last season, which could mean conference and national accolades for Cincinnati's junior tight end. Celek heads into Saturday's game second on the team in receptions with 17. His 209 yards receiving is tops among the Bearcats. Last season, Celek recorded 22 receptions for 254 yards and eight touchdowns, the latter figure representing a UC record for TDs by a TE. With the exception of the scoring plays, Celek is well on his way to exceeding those totals.
Eastlake Builds on Streak
Steve Eastlake, one of the few veterans on the Bearcat offense, will try to extend a personal streak in Saturday's contest vs. Louisville. The 6-6, 305-pound senior will be making his 31st consecutive start at left tackle, a position at which he has been a fixture since 2003. For a point of comparison, all other offensive linemen have a combined total of 25 games of starting experience.
Freshmen Lead Bearcat Defense
Cincinnati may have the youngest defensive unit in the nation. The Bearcats are starting five first-year freshmen--tackles Terrill Byrd and Thomas Claggett, end Trevor Anderson, outside linebacker Corey Smith and cornerback Mike Mickens. Byrd, Smith and Mickens have been starters all season. Anderson joined the starting lineup three games ago and Claggett became a starter in the Oct. 8 Pittsburgh game. Additionally, Cedric Tolbert, another true frosh, started at strong safety vs. Western Carolina on Sept. 17.
Those freshmen are holding their own. Smith leads the team in tackles (42) and is fourth in tackles for loss (4.5). Mickens is fourth in tackles (32) and leads the team in passes broken up (10). Claggett leads UC in forced fumbles (2).
Ross Coming of Age
Junior Dominic Ross put together the two best performances of his college career during Cincinnati's games vs. Western Carolina and Miami. Ross, who did not start the Western Carolina game, replaced the injured Cedric Tolbert in the fourth quarter and made two interceptions, one on the 2-yard line to stop WCU's go-ahead scoring drive with 5:46 to play. His second pick, in the final minute, clinched the 7-3 victory. In UC's Sept. 28 contest at Miami (Ohio), Ross made a career-high 13 tackles, six of them solos, and had a tackle for loss. He has had 25 tackles over his last three games.
Nakamura Tops in Stops
Sophomore Haruki Nakamura posted his second double-digit tackling performance of the season in the Sept. 28 contest vs. Miami (Ohio). The Bearcat free safety matched his career high with 12 total stops to take over the team tackling lead. Nakamura has 39 tackles in his last five games, a 7.6 average.
Corey Seeks Freshman Honors
Playing on a defense stocked with freshman standouts, Corey Smith is making a bid for conference and national all-freshman honors. The 6-1, 215 outside linebacker is Cincinnati's leading tackler with 44 stops and is fourth on the squad with 4.5 tackles for loss. Smith recorded 13 total tackles, including nine solo stops, vs. Western Carolina--a season high by a Bearcat defender. He has recorded 33 tackles over his last four games.
Ervin Climbing Career Charts
Senior Chet Ervin is climbing the UC career punting records lists. Ervin is No. 5 in career punts with 209 and is No. 6 in career punting yards with 8,166. With five more punts, he will reach fourth place in attempts and he needs just 14 yards to reach fifth place in yards. Ervin is ranked sixth in attempts and eighth in punting yards among the NCAA national career leaders.
Many Happy Returns
The Bearcats enjoyed one of their most productive games in terms of kickoff returns vs. Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 28.
Marshwan Gilyard nearly broke off a return for a touchdown. The first-year freshman was dragged down after a 60-yard return, the longest since Tedric Harwell took a kick back 71 yards vs. West Virginia in 2002. Gilyard is averaging a team-high 27.8 yards on five returns.
Dominick Goodman returned four kickoffs for a total of 77 yards, which featured a 27-yard return. Goodman is averaging 19.1 yards on 11 returns this season.
In the punt return department, Mike Daniels tied a UC single game record when he returned seven punts in the Sept. 17 game vs. Western Carolina. He compiled 47 yards on those seven returns.
Haruki Nakamura, who took over the punt return duties when Daniels was sidelined by injury, is averaging 12.4 yards on five returns.
Nippert Renovations Fans have observed several changes in Nippert Stadium, all leading to enhanced decorum for Bearcat home football games.
A new 19-foot by 53-foot video board, with over twice the display area of the previous board, has been installed in the revamped scoreboard structure, which also contains a team statistics panel and 8-foot by 83-foot message center. Elements of the old video board will be installed in the Baseball Stadium and Gettler Track/Soccer Stadium, benefiting those playing venues.
New permanent seating has been constructed in the North end zone. The new seating structure also contains a full locker room for the visiting team, a first aid room and a halftime room for the Bearcats.
The FieldTurf playing surface has been replaced, with all markings and logos inlaid in the new artificial surface.
Entry and access to the stadium has been improved, with all barriers removed from the West, Northwest and South sides. The stadium now opens to Bearcat Plaza, outside of the Tangeman University Center, on the West side, adding to the atmosphere. Access via the East side is limited by the construction of the Richard E. Lindner Athletic Center.
Looking Ahead
The Bearcats return to the road for an Oct. 29 visit to Syracuse. The 12 noon contest will be televised as the BIG EAST Conference Game of the Week by ESPN Regional and aired in Cincinnati by WXIX-TV 19. UC will then have 10 days to prepare for their next home game. BIG EAST leader and No. 20 West Virginia invades for a Wednesday, Nov. 9 showdown at Nippert Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.