TicketsSept. 5, 2006
About the Eastern Kentucky game:
We got our season off to a good start. Anytime you win 31-0, it's a good thing. We did not commit a turnover and we were 5-for-5 on scoring points in the Red Zone. We played a lot of players at the same time.
Defensively, anytime you shut somebody out it's a very positive thing. I remember during the national championship season at Ohio State, we never shut anyone out. That was a very good defensive football team. We were 70 percent on third down. We did not allow them to run the ball and we made the game one-dimensional. We forced them to throw the ball and we picked off three passes. Those types of things are going to help. Five times they went three plays and out of the series.
Our special teams were solid. That's indicative of the experience on our football team. We have more veteran players running down on special teams and we did a good job. We played a couple of freshmen and they were a little wide-eyed, just like our guys were last year.
Looking Ahead to the Pittsburgh Game:
This is an exciting time for us. I tell our team, `This is why you come to the University of Cincinnati. To play in the BIG EAST Conference, in a nationally televised football game, in a game where Pitt's 1-0 and we're 1-0. Those are the reasons we are here.' We'll see what we've got come Friday night.
Pitt beat Virginia last week. They are playing good, aggressive football. They get off blocks very well. They have good football players.
We are starting a series where we will play Pitt, Ohio State and Virginia Tech. I tell our guys that we want to have a football team good enough to play with anyone in the country. Unless you believe it and say it, it's not going to happen.
The most physical team on the field will win on Friday night. That's the type of game they are going to play. I think our players will enjoy that type of game. I think that's the type of team we have.
We have more skill than we had when we came here. We lost good players (due to graduation) in 2004, but we need to continue to build and take advantage of the opportunities that are there.
Hoping for a Big Crowd:
Hopefully, there will be a big turnout of fans. I want fans to come out. I have never in three years asked people to come support the Bearcats. I am asking now.
We try to do our work the right way, but we need to be supported. We need to make this a great atmosphere. We need to get our students that are in the area here on Friday night. We need to get the campus community here as well.
This is a BIG EAST game. We are 1-0. We are playing a BIG EAST opponent that can affect the rest of our season. Our goal is to go to a bowl game. This is the first step to make it to our goal.
Last year we were a young football team. I have always tried to take care of business at home. I have always said, `When we win, they will come'. I have always tried to do that. I think our players deserve a great atmosphere.
I know it's high school football night. I believe there is a UC faction who will watch this game. They can come out to see this game.