TicketsSept. 11, 2009
Game Notes | Roster | | Live Audio | Springer: UC-SEMO Preview
AT A GLANCE
Date: Sept. 12, 2009
Time: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Venue: Nippert Stadium
Capacity: 35,000
Surface: FieldTurf
Live Stats: GoBEARCATS.com
Series Record: UC leads 1-0
In Cincinnati: UC leads 1-0
ON THE AIR
FOX Sports Ohio will televise the game. Michael Reghi (play-by-play), former UC standout defensive back Artrell Hawkins (analyst), and Betsy Ross (sideline) will have the call.
The game will air over the Cincinnati Bearcats Radio Network presented by IMG College starting at 7 p.m. on 700 WLW and on Sirius Channel 152. Dan Hoard (play-by-play), Jim Kelly Jr. (analyst), Tom Gelehrter (sideline), and Mo Egger (host/engineer) make up the UC broadcast team.
The radio broadcast can also be heard over the internet at GoBEARCATS.com.
NO. 23 FOOTBALL OPENS HOME SCHEDULE AGAINST SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE
The University of Cincinnati football team, coming off a 47-15 win over BIG EAST Conference foe Rutgers on Labor Day, returns to Nippert Stadium Saturday to take on Southeast Missouri State. The Bearcats ran off 25 unanswered points in the first half and finished with 564 yards of total offense. UC's new-look defense came up with 11 tackles for a loss, five sacks, and three interceptions. Quarterback Tony Pike was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week. The Redhawks had a 72-3 win in their season opener against Quincy, setting a modern-day record for points in a game. Southeast is led by wide receiver Walter Peoples. Peoples had five catches for 76 yards and a TD in the opener, surpassing the 1,000-career yard mark.
A UC THUMBNAIL
UC returns eight offensive starters, including Tony Pike (QB), Jeff Linkenbach (OL), and all-America wideout/kick returner Mardy Gilyard. The Bearcats return only one starter on defense (Aaron Webster), but the depth chart features veteran players who have seen extensive playing time. UC has a new defensive coordinator in Bob Diaco and a new multiple-front defense.
THE SERIES
Cincinnati and Southeast Missouri State meet for the second time on the gridiron Saturday. UC earned a 59-3 win in the two squads last meeting in the 2007 season opener at Nippert Stadium.
THE COACHES
Brian Kelly, the two-time reigning BIG EAST Coach of the Year, is in his third full season at the helm of the Cincinnati football program with a 23-6 record and a 19-year career mark of 160-57-2. Kelly led the Bearcats to a school-record 11 wins, a BIG EAST Championship, and a Bowl Championship Series game berth in 2008. 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.
Tony Samuel is 12-23 in his fourth season with the Redhawks. He has a career mark of 46-80 and is 0-1 against UC.
STREAKS, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS
- UC is ranked No. 23 in both the Associated Press poll, and USA Today Coaches Polls entering the week. This marks the third-straight season UC has been ranked.
- Under third-year coach Brian Kelly, Cincinnati had its second straight 10-win season in 2008. Before Kelly arrived, Cincinnati had exactly one 10-win season (1951).
- UC set a school record with its 11 wins in 2008.
- Cincinnati was picked third in the BIG EAST preseason media poll, despite the Bearcats' receiving as many first-place votes (eight) as favorite Pittsburgh.
- Sixteen players saw their first game action in the season opener with nine earning their first start.
- UC's five scoring drives in the first half at Rutgers averaged 1:56. Only two of UC's seven scoring drives in the game were longer then 3:00.
- UC's running backs combined for 87 receiving yards and one touchdown at Rutgers. The running game produced 168 yards in the season opener.
- 10 different receivers caught passes for the Bearcats against Rutgers, with three players recording career bests (Armon Binns, DJ Woods, Isaiah Pead).
- Senior tight end Kazeem Ali will face off against his brother Ola this week. Ola Ali is a wide receiver for the Redhawks. He redshirted in 2008.