TicketsSept. 18, 2008
UC/Miami version #113 comes your way under the lights of “Jimmy Nipp” Saturday night, and as dominant as you think UC could be, you best take this game serious as a fan.
If you’re a die-hard UC fan, it ought to really stick in your craw (whatever that may be) that Miami has the overall lead in this series winning 59 to our 46. Seven times the two teams have paraded on home with the emptiness of a tie—similar to having “Johnny Law” shine a flashlight in your backseat during an attempted amorous park encounter.
Thank goodness, ties don’t happen anymore. The last one was in my first radio season in 1994 when Jon Bacon connected on his only Bearcat field goal—a record 58-yarder to give UC the 17-14 lead. However, thru miraculous clockwork the then-Redksins were able to maneuver down the field and eventually find enough time for Chad Seitz to boot one thru the uprights to give UC that above mentioned “cold shower” feeling. Win #1 for Rick Minter was denied, Elden Wyckoff R.I.P. (Bearcat historians may remember that name).
Now, we have OT and the mighty Bearcats have prevailed twice. There was the triple overtime thriller at Nippert in the mid 90s that I’ve written about before (former NFL linebacker Brad Jackson forces a Nod Washington fumble—Bearcats win!). Then the next thriller, placekicker Eric Richards (who booted a 45-yarder to keep UC alive in the triple OT game) nailed one in the second overtime in Oxford and UC drank the wine again. (As an old coach used to say, somedays you “stomp the grapes”.)
As you may tell, the UC/Miami series has provided me with many memories. Most are good, some are not so good. I can assure you, it wasn’t much fun to hike on over to Martino’s on Vine to do a post-game show after being thrashed 41-0 by “Touchdown” Travis Prentice in the late 90s. It equally was not fun to watch Ben Roethlisberger go 3 and 0 against the Bearcats, even in games that UC could’ve/should’ve won. The guy always found a way to win and I’ve always said if he were at a higher profile school than Miami—he would’ve won the Heisman.
On the upside, I remember the great tailgates in Oxford and how former UC announcer Paul Keels could amazingly hang with supporters, throw a few “soda pops” down, and still call a game flawlessly. It’s also uplifting and humorous to watch my former broadcast partner Jim Kelly beat the table and scream at octaves previously unknown to man as UC takes a Victory Bell game.
On the player side, one year when UC won the Bell back at Yager Stadium, then-center Doug Rosfeld beat the Bell non-stop in the locker room and then pounded it all the way down Route 27 and Mt. Rumpke on the way home.
To those that know and appreciate history…it means that much.
I’ve never run with the bulls in Spain, but I have been in the way of a pack of wild Bearcats storming the opposing bench to snare the red, black and white bell. If UC wins, you don’t mind the trampling. If it’s Miami, you just hang your head and walk away and cover your ears.
Bearcat fans and players don’t ever want to hear or see that celebration. That means some of your co-workers get to jab you in the gut around the coffee machine/water cooler for the next year.
It could happen this year, but it won’t. Here’s why…..
UC/MIAMI (OH) ---you know they’re in Ohio, but that peeves them to no end so that’s why I write it that way!
WHERE: The home Field Turf kids!
CLEAT MEETS LEATHER: 7:30 p.m.
WHO LEADS: Bad Guys 59-46-7
LAST TILT: UC in a rout 47-10 at Miami
BEARCAT OFFENSE VS. MIAMI DEFENSE
The big story here is Dustin Grutza (Big East Offensive Player of the Week in week 1 vs. EKU and at Miami last year) is out with the broken leg. That means 6’6” Tony Pike out of Reading gets the call and goes from mop-up to head custodian. Pike is the most familiar with the Brian Kelly offense and therefore will have every chance to engineer some drives. However, Miami LB Joey Hudson will be “chomping at the bit” as he missed last year’s game and as a Sr. would like to leave this series on an up note. Hudson leads the former ‘Skins in tackles followed by fellow ‘backers Clayton Mullins and Caleb Bostic. DB Robbie Wilson is next on that list, and if things work out for Pike, you’d like to see Wilson and other DBs have the tackles because that means your offense is gaining ground. Now, if for some reason Pike can’t get the fast-paced offense in gear, don’t be shocked to see someone else in there. Demetrious Jones has an abbreviated playbook to work with but might be effective with his feet as Miami has not been real successful stopping the run and struggled with Vanderbilt’s running QB.
Nod: Bearcat offense at home should find a way, but might sputter sporadically against a determined Miami defense.
MIAMI OFFENSE VS. BEARCAT DEFENSE
Daniel Raudabaugh should remember Nippert well as he got his first start here a couple years ago. Despite being raw, he actually had a decent game and the Redhawks actually gave Mark Dantonio offensively-hesitant UC team a little to worry about. Clearly, the Shane Montgomery offense will feature some throwing as Miami has some talented receivers that have caught BK’s eye: Jamal Rogers, Eugene Harris, Dustin Woods and long-threat Armand Robinson. UC’s secondary though should be looking for some redemption from the Sooner torching they took in Norman. If there was ever a day for Mike Mickens, D’Angelo Smith, Brandon Underwood and co. to have a game—this would be it. This is also Terrill Byrd’s and Connor Barwin’s final games as Bearcats vs. Miami and I would expect them to respond accordingly by showing running back Thomas Merriweather and Raudabaugh a close-up view of the rubber particles in the Nippert turf. While Miami put 38 on Charleston Southern last week, they were sluggish in the first two games vs. Vandy and Michigan (and the Wolverines aren’t the Wolverines of old).
Nod: UC’s defense was soft against Oklahoma. Don’t think that went unnoticed during the week of closed practices. Bearcats will want a better showing.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kevin Huber is back to All-American form. Sad thing is, we’ve seen too much of him (at least against Oklahoma). In the kicking game, it could be a game time decision as both Jake Rogers and Brandon Yingling missed practice time, while Danny Milligan “auditioned”. Rogers will undoubtedly still kickoff and boom several toward the end zone. But, the kicking competition during the week apparently left a lot to be desired. Miami has Nathan Parseghian as kicker who’s five of six this year, but has not kicked anything from 40 yards or beyond. If the Bearcat defense plays as hard as they’ve been coached since the Sooner loss—Miami won’t get inside the 40. You do want to look out for Eugene Harris on punt returns. He’s not Ryne Robinson (he’s FINALLY gone) but Harris did take on back to the “house” at Yager from 44 yards out. For UC, cue the Mardy Gilyard Oklahoma tape. Enough said.
Nod: Good Guys. Hopefully we’re looking at extra points and not field goals.
THROW IT OUT AND SEE WHAT STICKS:
Miami will be pumped up for this one as you always want the Victory Bell back. They’re logic will be that they’ve played with Vanderbilt of the SEC and Michigan of the Big 10, so what’s UC of the Big East? True, the Big East appears down, but that should be motivation for the Bearcats as they should see long term how their chances of representing the league in a BCS bowl are as good as any as arguably Oklahoma is better than any of the teams South Florida, West Virginia, Connecticut, Rutgers, or Louisville have played thus far. Also, for a very open coach like Brian Kelly to close practice like he did in the bye week, that should tell you something.
Next man in, next team in—this is a game where someone should rise and catch your attention. Don’t know who that is yet—if I did, I’d be on staff.