TicketsOct. 1, 2007
STORY LINES
Ranked No. 20 in the AP and No. 24 in this week's USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Top 25 poll, Cincinnati opens BIG EAST Conference action on the road at No. 21 Rutgers. Playing its second road tilt in as many weeks, the Bearcats are looking to continue their winning ways at Rutgers Stadium where they are 0-6 all-time.
Boasting a 5-0 mark to start the season and a 6-0 record under head coach Brian Kelly, Cincinnati is carrying an eight-game win streak that began on Nov. 18, 2006 with a 30-11 win over then-No. 7 Rutgers. The winning streak is UC's longest since Sid Gillman's squad started the 1954 campaign 8-0.
The Bearcats have outscored their first five opponents by a count of 232-53. Scoring 46.4 points per game and yielding 10.6 points on average, Cincinnati leads the BIG EAST Conference in both categories. Using defense to create offense, UC leads the country in turnover margin (+2.8 per contest).
BEARCATS FACE STIFF TEST IN BIG EAST OPENER: Dating back to the 2006 season, Cincinnati has won eight consecutive games and is listed at No. 20 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 24 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll. Cincinnati is 5-0 for the first time since the start of the 1954 campaign. One week after a dominant 52-23 victory at San Diego State, the Bearcats open their BIG EAST Conference schedule at No. 21/21 Rutgers (3-1) on Saturday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
VOTERS TAKE NOTICE: Listed in the Associated Press rankings in consecutive weeks for the first time since the 1954 season, this week the AP listed Cincinnati No. 20 in the country. The last time UC was ranked No. 20 in the nation was Oct. 25, 1976. Cincinnati received 377 votes from the coaches' poll to move to No. 24. UC tallied 249 votes in the AP poll.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS: After falling 34-24 at the hands of Maryland, Rutgers (3-1) opens BIG EAST Conference play against Cincinnati at Rutgers Stadium. In his seventh year as head coach, Greg Schiano has guided the Scarlet Knights to an 11-2 record in 2006 and their second straight bowl appearance. With a record of 33-42 (.440) Schiano has resurrected the Rutgers program. Playing their fifth straight home game to start the season, the Scarlet Knights started were victorious in their first three games with wins over Buffalo (38-3), Navy (41-24) and Norfolk State (59-0).
CONTINUING THEIR WINNING WAYS: It may be a new season, but the Bearcats continue to ride the momentum created in the second half of the 2006 campaign. Dating back to the 30-11 win over then-No. 7 Rutgers on Nov. 18, 2006, the Bearcats have won eight games in-a-row. Going back to the 17-3 victory over Syracuse on Oct. 28, 2006, the Bearcats have won 10 of their last 11 contests.
STREAKING BEARCATS: With the 52-23 performance at San Diego State, Cincinnati won its eighth consecutive game. The eight-game win streak is the longest for a UC football team since the 1954 season. That year, Sid Gillman's squad started the year victorious in eight games in-a-row and finished 8-2. Over the 1953-54 seasons, Gillman directed the Bearcats to 16-straight victories.
KELLY REMAINS UNBEATEN WITH THE BEARCATS: Dating back to the 2007 International Bowl, Brian Kelly is 6-0 as head coach of the Bearcats and off to one of the fastest starts in Cincinnati history. Kelly is the first rookie mentor to start 6-0 at UC since Russ Cohen began his first season 7-0 in 1935.
AS A RANKED TEAM: At No. 20/24, Cincinnati heads to Rutgers ranked among the Top 25 for the second consecutive week. Last week's 52-23 win at San Diego State improved UC's record to 2-3-1 all-time as a ranked team.
FACING RANKED FOES: Playing as a ranked team in the Top 25 polls for the ninth time in school history, Cincinnati is familiar with facing nationally ranked foes. The Bearcats knocked off then-No. 7 Rutgers in its last matchup against a Top 25 team a year ago to improve to 5-60 against ranked opponents. Cincinnati is 2-40 when traveling to play Top 25 teams. Its last win on the road against a Top 25 team came by a count of 52-24 at No. 21 Southern Miss. on Nov. 6, 2004.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: With a reputation for defense, Cincinnati has added a potent offensive punch in 2007. The Bearcats have scored 232 points (46.4 per game) in its first five games, a number never attained before in the first five games of any season in school history. Cincinnati propensity for points is more than halfway to surpassing its highest scoring output for a season of 409 points, which was accomplished over 14 games during the 2002 campaign. That 2002 squad finished 7-7 after finishing the year in the New Orleans Bowl.
BEARCATS LOOKING FOR FIRST VICTORY IN A BIG EAST OPENER: Saturday night's trip to Rutgers Stadium marks Cincinnati's first foray into BIG EAST Conference action this season. Beginning its third season as a member of the BIG EAST, UC is 0-2 in BIG EAST openers. Both losses came at the hands of Pittsburgh with a 38-20 loss at Heinz Field in 2005 and a 23-6 setback at Nippert Stadium in 2006.
PLAYING TAKEAWAY: Through five games UC leads the nation with a giveaway/takeaway margin of +2.8 per game. The Bearcats have yielded four interceptions and two fumbles, but have created 21 turnovers (8 fumble recoveries, 13 interceptions).
TURNING DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE: Taking advantage of the opponents' miscues, the Bearcats have scored 86 points off of opponents' turnovers through the first five games of the season. Cincinnati posted 27 points off of turnovers against Southeast Missouri State and scored 24 points off of Oregon State miscues. Fourteen of the Bearcats' 47 points at Miami (OH) came after RedHawk turnovers. They scored off of both takeaways, resulting in 14 points against Marshall. Aaron Webster returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown at San Diego State.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Off to a 3-0 start at home in 2007, over the past four seasons, the Bearcats are 20-6 (.769) when playing at Nippert Stadium. They posted a 6-1 mark at home in 2006, including a 30-11 victory over then-No. 7 Rutgers, the highest ranked foe ever to fall at UC.
ON THIS DATE: Cincinnati is 4-7 all-time when playing on Oct. 6. After dropping its first four games played on Oct. 6, the Bearcats won their next two of their next three on this date. The last time Cincinnati played on this date was Oct. 6, 2001, when UC won a Conference USA matchup 46-33 over Tulane.
SWEAT IN THE WEIGHT ROOM ALREADY PAYING DIVIDENDS: Director of strength and conditioning Paul Longo has already proved himself a welcome addition to the Cincinnati athletics department. Given a mission by Brian Kelly when he came on board in January 2007, Longo has molded the Bearcats into a new team able to handle the rigors of the tempo and pace preached by the head football coach.
IT'S ACADEMIC: Cincinnati's football program was honored by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as one of 32 teams in the NCAA Bowl Subdivision to graduate 70 percent or more of their student-athletes. The survey involved the freshman class from the academic year of 2001-02 UC was one of four BIG EAST teams to be honored.SCOUTING REPORT: Noted for his ingenious offensive schemes, Brian Kelly has moved Cincinnati to a no-huddle offense that emphasizes stretching the field and finding openings to attack via the run or pass. After the 52-23 win at San Diego State, UC is listed sixth nationally in scoring (46.4 points per game) and 22nd in total offense (453.0 yards per game). The Bearcats employ three and four wide receivers and one back in a variety of formations and groupings.
THE MATCHUP: Cincinnati's offense matches up with a Rutgers that gave up 458 yards of total offense in a 34-24 loss last week against Maryland. Four games into the season, the Scarlet Knights defense is listed fourth against the pass (132.75 yards per game) and 12th in total defense (276.0 yards per game). The Scarlet Knights defense returned six starters, led by Courtney Greene who has carded 35 stops this year.
PENCHANT FOR POINTS: Cincinnati has scored 232 points in its first five games, a number never reached in the first five games of any season in school history. In 1912 the Bearcats scored 204 points in the first five games, including a 124-0 romp of Transylvania in the season opener, but no team has matched the 46.4 points per game accomplished thus far by the 2007 Bearcats.
RUNNING THE SPREAD AND SPREADING THE RUN: seeing the shotgun formation, fans expect to see the pigskin flying from all angles, but Cincinnati has shown an ability to run the football at a rate of 193.0 yards per game. UC has rushed for more than 200 yards in three of their first five contests. Cincinnati amassed 314 yards on the ground against Southeast Missouri State, 217 vs. Marshall and 263 at San Diego State.
MAUK ENJOYS CAREER DAY AT QUALCOMM STADIUM: Quickly making a name for himself is reigning BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week Ben Mauk. Mauk fired four touchdowns, all in the second quarter, and completed 17-of-23 pass attempts for 257 yards and an interception at San Diego State. Mauk connected on touchdowns of 11, 4, 80 and 11 yards in the second frame to give Cincinnati a 35-10 lead at the half. He also rushed for 36 yards on three carries and exited the game after leading the Bearcats to a score on the opening drive of the third quarter.
MAUK'S BIONIC ARM CONTINUES COMEBACK: A graduate-transfer, Ben Mauk continues to live his comeback season at Cincinnati. Twelve months after suffering a catastrophic arm injury, that required four pins in his right shoulder at Wake Forest, Mauk was the starting quarterback for Cincinnati in its first game of the 2007 season. The Kenton, OH product completed 18-of-27 in his debut for the Red and Black. One week later, he connected on 15-of-23 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns in the 34-3 victory over Oregon State. Mauk is fourth nationally with a passer rating of 183.71 and has completed 70.0 percent of his pass attempts. The season opener marked the third straight season in which Mauk handled his team's first snap from center. In both 2005 and 2006 he started the season opener for Wake Forest.
QUARTERBACKS ON THE READY: Cincinnati has utilized three quarterbacks this season. The trio all saw action in the 40-14 victory over Marshall. Dustin Grutza got the call to start and tossed a pair of touchdowns. Ben Mauk entered in the second quarter and finished 6-of-7 passing for 77 yards and a score. Tony Pike handled UC's final drive in his first action since Game 1.
GRUTZA PROVES READY TO START ONCE AGAIN: After seeing no action in the first two games, signal caller Dustin Grutza received the call to start on short notice against Marshall. Minutes before kickoff, Grutza was given the order to start for the second week in-a-row. The junior completed 14-of-20 passes for 142 yards, including two touchdowns against the Herd. The previous week, Grutza completed 25-of-35 passes for a career-high 290 yards and two touchdowns at Miami (OH).
ENJOYING THE RED ZONE: Cincinnati has been nearly perfect at scoring when penetrating the opposition's 20 yard line. UC scored on its first 12 drives inside their opponents' red zone before a missed field goal at Miami (OH) stopped the streak. Cincinnati has converted 24-of-27 red zone trips (88.9 percent) into points.
BENTON LEADING THE GROUND GAME: Butler Benton is pacing the Bearcats' running game with 300 yards on 61 attempts for a 4.9 yards per carry average.
RAMSEY RUNS WILD: Sophomore running back Jacob Ramsey provided the final blow with a 42-yard dash to pay dirt, in the 40-14 triumph over Marshall. Arguably the fastest player on the Cincinnati roster, Ramsey finished the night with 90 all-purpose yards (3 carries for 48 yards) and (2 kickoff returns for 42 yards). Third on the team with 193 rushing yards, Ramsey is averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
BARWIN PROVES TO BE A GOOD TARGET: Tight end Connor Barwin was a favorite receiving target at Miami (OH), setting career highs with six receptions for 109 yards in the 47-10 victory. He followed the performance by making three catches for 39 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown grab, against Marshall. The junior is ranked third on the team in receptions with 14 catches for 196 yards.
PLENTY OF RECEIVING TARGETS: Bearcats' quarterbacks sighted 10 different receivers in the season opener and have had four different players listed as the top receiver through five games this season.
BEARCATS NOTCH ANOTHER 100-YARD RECEIVER: Junior Dominick Goodman snagged seven passes for 101 yards at San Diego State to become Cincinnati's third receiver to reach the century mark in receiving yards this season. In the season opener, Marshwan Gilyard totaled eight catches for 134 yards against Southeast Missouri State. Connor Barwin made six receptions for 109 yards at Miami (OH). Cincinnati listed two 100-yard receiving days during the 2006 season.
RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE: The senior triumvirate of Butler Benton, Bradley Glatthaar and Greg Moore, have all eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark for their careers and are splitting the carries for the fourth and final year together. The group keyed a ground game that rushed for 263 yards at San Diego State. Sharing the load was evident at Miami (OH), where Glatthaar collected 43 yards, Benton rushed for 42 and Moore gained 41 of UC's 141 rushing yards. Benton's 12 carries for 101 yards vs. Southeast Missouri State is the Bearcats' lone 100-yard rushing game of the year.
MOORE PROVIDES MORE: The Bearcats' top rusher in 2006 with 709 yards, Greg Moore is a threat as a rusher and receiver. Highlighted by his 30-yard scamper, Moore paced Cincinnati with 70 yards on six carries in the win over Marshall. He led the team with 12 carries for 84 yards at San Diego State. Moore rushed for 41 yards, but scored on a 13-yard reception at Miami (OH). He toted the load three times for nine yards against Oregon State and made two catches for 63 yards. Moore totaled 28 yards rushing, but added 47 yards on two receptions in the season opener.
ALL HE DOES IS SCORE TOUCHDOWNS: Bradley Glatthaar is the most efficient rusher in the running back rotation, totaling five touchdowns on 33 carries this year.
TIGHT END COMPETITION: UC has three veterans vying for time at tight end. A converted wide receiver, Earnest Jackson has five catches for 54 yards. Connor Barwin has made 14 receptions for 196 yards. Doug Jones scored on a five-yard run at Miami (OH) and has two receptions for 13 yards to his credit this season.
GOODIE LEADS INEXPERIENCED GROUP OF RECEIVERS: The top receiver a year ago, Dominick Goodman serves as the leader of a talented, receiving corps. Goodman has 18 catches for 231 yards this season after finishing with 40 catches, including five for touchdown in 2006.
SCOUTING REPORT: Boasting seven returning starters on one of the BIG EAST's top defensive units, the Bearcats are allowing 10.6 points per game, to rank No. 4 in the country in scoring defense. Topping the national board with 21 takeaways, the `Cats are listed 13th in rush defense (82.4 ypg), the Bearcats are 37th in total defense (321.8 ypg) through the first five games of 2007.
THE MATCHUP: Cincinnati's defense faces a Rutgers offense that is operated by quarterback Mike Teel. The Scarlet Knights' quarterback is averaging 293.2 yards per game through the air, completing 62.4 percent of his throws (63-of-101). Teel is second in the nation in passer rating at 188.65. The tandem of Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt are his top targets and are both averaging better than 21 yards per catch. Talented running back Ray Rice has totaled 528 yards through four games and has nine touchdowns to his credit already this season. The Scarlet Knights totaled are listed 13th nationally in scoring offense (40.5 ppg) and total offense (492.0 ypg).
STINGY BEARCATS: Tops in the BIG EAST and fourth nationally in scoring defense, the Bearcats have allowed 53 points (10.6 ppg) through five games. The last time Cincinnati allowed fewer than 53 points through its first five games of the season was the 1977 campaign. In 1977, UC used a pair of shutouts and gave up 37 points on its way to a 3-1-1 start.
SACK ATTACK ON REDHAWK QUARTERBACKS: Led by Terrill Byrd's two sacks, Cincinnati carded a season-high five quarterback sacks in the triumph at Miami (OH). Cincinnati is 20th in the country with 15 sacks this season. The five quarterback sacks were the most by UC since it notched five on Oct. 29, 2005 in a 22-16 win at Syracuse.
STUFFING THE GROUND GAME: One week after holding Oregon State to 36 yards on 21 carries, Cincinnati limited Miami (OH) to 56 yards on 24 rushing attempts. The trend continued against Marshall, who collected 80 yards on 35 carries. At San Diego Stat, the Bearcats gave up 65 yards on 24 attempts. Over the last four games, UC has yielded an average of 59.3 rushing yards per game. The 36 yards rushing by Oregon State marked the fewest allowed by the Bearcats since they held Akron to 36 yards rushing in a 20-14 win a year ago.
MICKENS IS ALWAYS AROUND THE FOOTBALL: Heralded cornerback Mike Mickens snatched an interception and also recovered a fumble in the first quarter of Cincinnati's 40-14 victory over Marshall. Mickens leads the Bearcats with five turnovers created this season. The junior started his season with two interceptions and six tackles in the victory over Southeast Missouri State. Mickens' first pick off stopped a drive in the end zone; he stepped in front of a pass and returned the second interception 45 yards for a touchdown. He added his third interception at Miami (OH). The two-time all-BIG EAST performer has finished each of his first two seasons in the top 10 nationally in passes defended.
STOPPING A HEISMAN HOPEFUL: Touted as a Heisman Trophy hopeful prior to the season, Oregon State's Yvenson Bernard found little running room against the Cincinnati defense. UC held the 2006 all-Pac-10 running back to 30 yards on 16 carries and 17 yards on seven receptions to quickly put a halt to the hype.
LIMITING THE PASSING NUMBERS: Cincinnati limited Southeast Missouri State to 87 yards through the air in the season opener. The 87 yards on 12-of-22 pass attempts were the fewest allowed by a UC defense since holding Rhode Island to 58 yards on 2-of-5 pass attempts in a 31-24 victory on Nov. 8, 2003.
SMITH MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF: In his first year starting opposite an All-BIG EAST performer, cornerback DeAngelo Smith has had no trouble making a name for himself. Smith is second on the team with three pickoffs, highlighted by a 54-yard interception return for touchdown at Miami (OH). Smith is tied for 46th in the country with six passes defended (3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups).
BEARCATS RECORD SIX PICKOFFS: The Cincinnati defense collected six interceptions, the second-highest single-game total in UC history during the 34-3 victory over Oregon State. The last time the Bearcats tallied six interceptions in a game came in a 35-13 loss to North Texas State on Nov. 5, 1966
NAKAMURA PACKS A PUNCH: The leader of the secondary, Haruki Nakamura shares the team lead with 28 tackles (11 solo, 17 assists). Nakamura totaled six tackles and two interceptions in the victory over Oregon State. The senior safety paced Cincinnati with eight tackles (2 solo, 6 assists) and a forced fumble vs. Southeast Missouri State. The Bearcats' active leader with 173 career stops, Nakamura paced the team with 76 tackles during the 2005 campaign.
BYRD UNCAGED: Having to sit out the first game of the season, junior defensive tackle Terrill Byrd has responded with five tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback sacks. In his first action of the season, he totaled three tackles, including one for loss against Oregon State. One week later, Byrd tallied two sacks at Miami (OH). He totaled five tackles, including 2.5 for loss in the victory over Marshall. The 2004 Gatorade National High School Defensive Player of the Year, Byrd is a returning first-team all-BIG EAST performer.
SCOUTING REPORT: Special teams have already played a large role this season in the Bearcats' success. Three first-year starters junior punter and holder Kevin Huber, redshirt freshman long snapper Mike Windt and redshirt freshman kicker Jake Rogers are making names for themselves as specialists.
HUBER AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE: Junior Kevin Huber entered the season with seven career punts for a 38.1 average, but has shown to be one of the best in the country in the early going. Huber is averaging 49.8 yards on 17 punts this season. Huber boomed a career-long 62-yard punt at Miami (OH) and then kicked two 62-yarders in the victory over Marshall. His only punt at San Diego State went 52 yards. Not only kicking long, Huber has notched eight punts inside the opposition's 20.
HUBER SETS RECORD DAY: Behind a pair of 62-yard punts, Kevin Huber established a Cincinnati single-game record with a 59.7 yard per punt average on three kicks against Marshall.
ROGERS REBOUNDS AFTER SHAKY START: Redshirt freshman Jake Rogers rebounded from his shaky start to convert field goals of 38 and 55 yards in the 34-3 victory over Oregon State. One week after converting 1-of-3 PAT kicks and missing a 47-yard field goal, his 55-yarder in the third quarter was the second-longest field goal in UC history. Rogers has split the uprights with a field goals in four consecutive games and is currently 5-of-8 on field goals and 23-of-25 on PAT kicks.
KICKING UP THE KICK RETURN GAME: Dominick Goodman who averaged 25.8 yards per return is back for another year as the deep kickoff return man. DeAngelo Smith, who averaged 20.2 yards on four kickoff returns last season, is also ready to return kickoffs. An experienced kickoff and punt returner, Mike Daniels is an able reserve. Daniels is seventh on UC's all-time list in kickoff returns (40) and eighth in kickoff return yardage (777).
NEW NAMES IN RETURN GAME: Sophomore Jacob Ramsey has been the Bearcat top returner early this season. Ramsey has returned eight kickoffs for 186 yards, a 23.2 yards per return average. Ramsey saw limited action on kickoff coverage a year ago. Dominick Goodman has six returns for 130 yards (21.7 yards per return) to his credit this season. Marshwan Gilyard averaged 22.0 yards on eight kickoff returns in 2005 and has one return for 19 yards this season.
NAKAMURA PROVIDES STEADY HANDS ON PUNT RETURNS: Not known for owning breakaway speed, Haruki Nakamura has carded 31 yards on six punt returns. Nakamura registered a 12-yard return at Miami (OH). He totaled five punt returns for 2.8 yards per return a year ago.
BLOCK THAT KICK, AGAIN! One week after Cincinnati's Marshwan Gilyard contributed a blocked punt against Oregon State, Gilyard repeated the feat at Miami (OH). Against Oregon State, Gilyard's block was recovered in the end zone by Marcus Barnett. For the Bearcats, it was the first punt blocked and returned for touchdown since Antwuan Giddens accomplished the feat against Marshall in the 2004 Fort Worth Bowl. Against Miami (OH), the Bearcats' 2006 scout team special teams player of the year's block went through the end zone for a safety.