TicketsOct. 12, 2009
Game Notes | Roster | Gametracker | Live Audio
- BIG EAST Extends Agreement With Meineke Car Care Bowl
- Louisville Gametime Set For 3:30 p.m.
- Brian Kelly Weekly Press Conference Quotes
- Bearcats Grab National Media Spotlight
AT A GLANCE
Date: Oct. 15, 2009
Time: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Location: Tampa, Fla.
Venue: Raymond James Stadium
Capacity: 65,857
Surface: Grass
Live Stats: GoBEARCATS.com
Series Record: UC leads 4-2
In Tampa: USF leads 2-1
ON THE AIR
The game will be televised nationally by ESPN in HD. Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Craig James (analyst), Jesse Palmer (analyst), and Erin Andrews (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 AM, XM 102, and Sirius 126. 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. 8/9 Football Heads To Tampa For BIG EAST Matchup With USF Thursday Night
The No. 8/9 University of Cincinnati football team jumps back into BIG EAST Conference action with a Thursday night showdown at No. 21 USF at Raymond James Stadium. Both teams are coming off an idle week and are 5-0 and 1-0 in BIG EAST play. UC has won the past three meetings in the series. Cincinnati enters with the No. 4 ranked scoring offense (42.0 ppg) in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision while USF features the No. 5 ranked scoring defense (9.4 ppg). The Bearcats lead the nation in tackles for a loss and sacks, averaging 10.0 stops per game behind the line of scrimmage and 4.2 quarterback sacks per game.
THE SERIES
The two schools have met six times on the field with UC leading the all-time series 4-2. USF leads 2-1 in Tampa.
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 26-6 record and a 19-year career mark of 163-57-2. 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.
Jim Leavitt has a career record of 91-52 (.636) and is in his 13th season at USF. He is the only coach in program history and is 2-4 against UC.
A LOOK AHEAD
UC will look to retain the Keg Of Nails for the second-straight year as it welcomes Louisville into a sold-out Nippert Stadium for homecoming on Oct. 24. UC leads the all-time series 26-21-1, with a 14-12 UC lead on the home turf. The Bearcats knocked off the Cardinals in a 28-20 thriller a year ago at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
STREAKS, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS
- UC achieved its best-ever ranking entering the week, checking in at No. 8 in the Associated Press poll and No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches poll. This marks the third-straight season UC has been ranked. UC is 13-7-1 all -time when ranked.
- UC leads the nation in tackles for a loss (10.0 per game) and sacks (4.2 per game) while also ranking in the top-10 in turnover margin (4th/1.6) and scoring defense (13.8/10).
- The Bearcats have scored 210 points in five games (42.0 ppg) and are 5-0 for the second time in three years (2007).
- Cincinnati ranks third nationally in scoring offense, averaging 42.0 points per game, sixth in passing offense (329.8), and 11th in total offense (468.2), leading the BIG EAST in all three.
- QB Tony Pike has thrown a touchdown pass in 15-straight starts and leads the BIG EAST in total offense (306.8 ypg).
- WR Mardy Gilyard has caught a touchdown pass in each of UC's five games in 2009, extending his TD reception streak to seven. games. He has 38 catches for 517 yards and 7 TDs in 2009.
- Gilyard leads the league in all-purpose yards (166.4)
- 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).
- Cincinnati was picked third in the BIG EAST preseason media poll, despite the Bearcats' receiving as many first-place votes (eight) as favorite Pittsburgh.