Loading

Football Returns Home For BLACKOUT Against No. 24/23 USF

Football Returns Home For BLACKOUT Against No. 24/23 USFFootball Returns Home For BLACKOUT Against No. 24/23 USF

Oct. 27, 2008

Game Notes | Season Statistics | Live Video | | Listen


PREVIEWING THE USF GAME


GAME 8: CINCINNATI vs. No. 24/23 USF

Thursday, Oct. 30 | 7:30 p.m. EDT | Nippert Stadium (35,000) | Cincinnati, Ohio

Series: Cincinnati leads 3-2
Last Meeting: UC 38, USF 33 (Nov. 3, 2007 - Raymond James Stadium)
Television: ESPN: Chris Fowler (PXP), Craig James (ANA), Jesse Palmer (ANA), Erin Andrews (SL)
Streaming: www.ESPN360.com
Radio: 700 WLW & XM Channel 173: Dan Hoard (PXP), Jim Kelley, Jr. (ANA) Tom Gelehrter (SL), & Mo Egger (Host/ENG)

SETTING THE MATCHUP

CINCINNATI BEARCATS

2008 Record: 5-1, 1-0 BIG EAST
Ranking (AP/Coaches): N/A
Last Game: Oct. 25, 2008 (L, 40-16 at Connecticut)
Head Coach: Brian Kelly
Career Record: 153-56-2
vs. USF: 1-0

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rushing: Jacob Ramsey (78 car., 394 yds., 0 TD)
Passing: Tony Pike (61-of-103, 2 Int., 770 yds., 7 TD)
Receiving: Dominick Goodman (43 rec., 530 yds., 5 TD)
 USF BULLS

2008 Record: 6-2, 1-2 BIG EAST
Ranking (AP/Coaches): 24/23
Last Game: Oct. 25, 2008 (L, 24-20 at Louisville)
Head Coach: Jim Leavitt
Career Record: 85-49
vs. UC: 2-3

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rushing: Matt Grothe (86 car., 289 yds., 3 TD)
Passing: Matt Grothe 155-of-231, 3 Int., 1,896 yds., 14 TD
Receiving: Jessie Hester (34 rec., 350 yds., 3 TD)

UC RETURNS HOME FOR BLACKOUT AGAINST NO. 24/23 USF
The University of Cincinnati football team plays its second game in five days Thursday, taking on USF at Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats enter at 5-2 (1-1 BIG EAST) and are coming off a 40-16 loss at Connecticut on Oct. 25. No. 24/23 USF is 6-2 (1-2 BIG EAST) in 2008 and makes its second trip to the tri-state area in five days after losing, 24-20, at Louisville on Oct. 25. Thursday's game will be televised live by ESPN and will also air as the ISP BIG EAST Radio Game of the Week. UC fans have been encouraged to wear black to Thursday's game as UC will look to BLACKOUT Nippert Stadium the night before Halloween.

THE SERIES
Cincinnati and USF meet for the sixth time Thursday with UC leading the all-time series 3-2. The Bearcats have won three of the past four meetings, including a 38-33 win over the Bulls a year ago at Raymond James Stadium.

THE COACHES
Brian Kelly, the 2007 BIG EAST Coach of the Year, is in his second full season at the helm of the Cincinnati football program with a 16-5 record and an 18-year career mark of 153-56-2. Kelly led the Bearcats to a school-record-tying 10 wins in 2007 and a victory in the Papajohns.com Bowl. He won two NCAA Division II National Championships at Grand Valley State and led Central Michigan to the 2006 Mid-American Conference Championship. He is the leader in victories among active BIG EAST coaches and is the only current BIG EAST coach with 150 or more career wins.
Jim Leavitt is 85-49 in his 12th season with the Bulls. He is the only coach in program history and is 2-3 against UC.

STREAKS, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS

  • Quarterback Tony Pike, who made his return at Connecticut after missing two games with a broken left arm, will be a gametime decision for Thursday's matchup with USF.
  • Pike played in the first half and suffered numbness in his left (non-throwing) hand. Chazz Anderson relieved him and played the second half. If Pike is unable to go, Anderson will start.
  • Anderson led UC to a 33-10 win at Marshall and a 13-10 win over Rutgers in his first two collegiate appearances.
  • UC has used four quarterbacks this season, Anderson, Zach Collaros, Dustin Grutza, and Pike. Grutza started the first two games before breaking his right fibula at Oklahoma, and Collaros led UC to a 17-15 come-from-behind win at Akron.
  • The UC defense has produced 10 sacks in its last four games after recording three in the first three games of the season.
  • Defensive end Connor Barwin has seven sacks on the season, leading the BIG EAST and tied for 10th best nationally.
  • Wide receiver Dominick Goodman needs one receiving touchdown to tie for UC's all-time lead Jim O'Brien (21).
  • Cornerback Mike Mickens snagged his 12th career interception at Marshall to move into a tie for UC's career lead with Blue Adams and Jocelyn Borgella. He leads UC with 39 tackles.