TicketsOct. 9, 2008
November 18, 2006. You can arguably say the "new era" of UC football went into place that day and the chain of events that brought Brian Kelly to Cincinnati began on that night.
As many of you may recall, that's the night the Mark Dantonio-led Bearcats knocked off 9-0 Rutgers at Nippert Stadium. I shouldn't really say "knocked off" because it was a whippin' of epic proportions as the 5-5 Bearcats beat up the seventh-ranked team in the nation on national TV, 30-11.
And that came as Mark Dantonio reluctantly started Nick Davila at quarterback over Dustin Grutza.
What happened afterward was Mark Dantonio was then contacted by one of his former Big 10 employers—Michigan State. While the Spartans wooed Dantonio the following week, the Bearcats went on to beat Connecticut in what turned out to be Dantonio's last game.
At the time, many of us felt hurt and used the way schools feel when a coach builds something up and then leaves it at the altar. However, as religious a man as Dantonio knows, the Lord works in mysterious ways.
As the cycle of events turned Mark Dantonio northward to East Lansing, the same cycle led to another football coach from Michigan coming south to inquire about the Bearcats.
Brian Kelly, by way of Grand Valley State and Central Michigan, agreed to coach Mark Dantonio's team and run a variation (albeit more adventurous) of the Dantonio offense.
So, current UC O-line coach Jeff Quinn stayed back in Mt. Pleasant and coached the CMU Chippewas to the Motor City Bowl win and this cocky guy named Kelly took your Bearcats into Toronto and coached another guy's team to the International Bowl win.
Counting that early January '07 win at the Rogers Centre (a/k/a Skydome) Brian Kelly is now 15-4 and now the Bearcats expect to win Big East games—be them home or away.
That leads us to Saturday's game where the tables are turned a bit. Rutgers now comes in as an underdog at 1-4 to face the 4-1 'Cats. Despite the record, I think this Rutgers team is better than all of the teams UC has faced with the exception of possible national champion and No. 1 Oklahoma.
The Scarlet Knights dropped their first three against Fresno State, North Carolina and Navy; they beat Morgan State at home—then lost by a touchdown at West Virginia last weekend. Needless to say, outside of the Sooners, Rutgers has faced tougher competition.
That's what makes them somewhat of a threat Saturday. They're hungry for a win. Their season is on the line. And most assuredly, coach Greg Schiano will remind them of the humbling defeat that took place nearly two years ago.
The good thing about that is, Brian Kelly was not here and has no knowledge of that game other than old tapes and stat sheets. He also knows how tough last year's victory in Piscataway, NJ, was and how many talented Scarlet Knights are still hanging around.
Luckily, the Bearcats have not had a QB issue this week as the same two that were ready to go in Huntington last week, are ready for this one.
Once again Chazz Anderson will be your starter. A bit of a surprise for some of us last week, but I've never won a national championship game or a bowl game, so I defer all judgment to the loud Irish guy on the sideline.
As per the "agreed upon rules" here's how it shakes out (by the way I'll again have the "Stadium Show" Saturday morning outside of the Lindner Center—so if you disagree with me you'll find me there between 10 a.m. And 11:30):
WHEN: High noon Saturday (Gary Cooper time for old movie enthusiasts)
WHERE: "The Wrigley Field of College Football" Nippert Stadium
THE SERIES: Jersey Boys lead 7-5-1
LAST TIME: UC wins 28-23 as Ryan Manalac ices it with an interception and Jim Kelly, Jr. screams like Meg Ryan!
UC OFFENSE VS. RUTGERS DEFENSE
I think everyone is feeling better about the Bearcat offense after the UC coaches put together a pretty solid game plan against Marshall. Considering Marshall DC Rick Minter had seen quite a bit of UC's offense last year, his Herd was still unable to stop a redshirt freshman (Anderson) in his first collegiate start. While Anderson's numbers weren't stunning, he successfully moved the sticks when he needed to and fired two TDs to Dominick Goodman and rolled in for one himself. The key to it all though, was an early running TD from John Goebel, 99 hard yards from Jacob Ramsey and then some impressive speed late from Isiah Pead that makes you wonder how long it will be before he's in the game in the first half. Credit to Trevor Canfield, Chris Jurek and the rest of the offensive line too. If they protect the QB like that and can run the ball that way—UC wins a lot of games.
The Rutgers defense is led by an NFL caliber safety in Courtney Greene and middle linebacker Ryan D'Imperio (your tackle leaders vs. WVU). Defensive end Jamaal Westerman has had a number of collegiate sacks, but the Scarlet Knights put up a "goose-egg" in that category last week. Rutgers gave up a lot of points in their first three losses and the Mountaineers might've had more last week if Pat White hadn't left the game in the third quarter.
Nod: UC with the home crowd, although I wouldn't look for an explosion. (Unless of course, Marcus Barnett reappears off the milk carton, then you never know).
RUTGERS OFFENSE VS. UC DEFENSE
Rutgers is still quarterbacked by Mike Teel who still makes tremendous plays, but still turns the ball over. Their receivers are among the best in the league with two 1,000-plus yard guys in Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood. Britt caught 12 of Teel's 14 completions last week, so it should be no secret who his favorite target is. The best thing for UC is there's no Ray Rice. He's in Baltimore sharing time with Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain in the Ravens backfield. Hefty Jourdan Brooks has been the guy of late, but don't be shocked if Rutgers unveils Kordell Young against UC. Young was next in line behind Rice and is coming off of knee surgery.
The UC defense put in a respectable performance last week, with Connor Barwin, Lamonte Nelms, Mike Mickens, and Aaron Webster all stepping up with big plays vs. Marshall. I'm still waiting for Terrell Byrd to go crazy in a game and I'd like nothing better than to see the round, fast one chasing Mike Teel backward into the turf. Rattle Teel (and it has been done) and you win.
Nod: I expect Teel and either Britt or Underwood to make some plays in this one, but at some point the UC defensive line is going to put Teel on his tush. Once the pressure is established, Mickens and Co. can start hauling down errant passes. The key is to not let Rutgers get any type of running game going.
SPECIAL TEAMS
We've got Kevin Huber and they don't. Jake Rogers is 3-for-3. Jeremy Ito is no longer at Rutgers. Connor Barwin blocked a punt for a safety last week, partially touched another and had a block last year. Barwin is your Big East Special Teams Player of the Week.
Nod: I think it's evident.
THROW IT OUT AND SEE WHERE IT STICKS
Again, the Bearcats have to guard against the "nothing to lose" mentality a 1-4 Rutgers team could have in this one. Regardless of the record, Schiano has still been recruiting top notch talent and eventually talent plays its way to the top. Defensively, I think Rutgers is vulnerable, but UC clearly doesn't have it's "high potency" offense when you're running out what you could say is option #4 at QB. I think if UC wins this one with a pared down game plan again, then BK can open some more things up for Anderson and maybe Collaros. Also, by then you stand a good chance of Tony Pike being back. Funny how you fantasize of what an offense might be like when you get a guy back that would only be making his third college start. Such is the pleasure of an imaginative offense.....