TicketsJan. 21, 2010
CINCINNATI - Former University of Cincinnati football players Mardy Gilyard, Tony Pike, and Mike Windt will play in the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl, set for Jan. 30 in Mobile, Ala.
The game is a sellout and is scheduled for 4p.m. EST kickoff from Mobile's Ladd-Peebles Stadium. It will be televised live by the NFL Network. All three UC players will be on the North team roster, coached by the Detroit Lions staff.
Gilyard, a first team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association, was named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year for the second straight year this season and was a first team All-BIG EAST selection at wide receiver. He led the conference and finished second in the country with 2,690 all-purpose yards and was also tops in the BIG EAST in receiving yards (1,191), receiving yards per game (91.62), receptions per game (6.69), punt return average (12.63 ypg) and kickoff return yardage (1,281).
The Bunnell, Florida native finished his career as Cincinnati's all-time leader in receptions (204), receiving touchdowns (25), receiving yards (3,003), all-purpose yards (5,904), kickoff returns (93) and kickoff return TDs (4).
Pike was a first team All-Big EAST selection in 2009 after leading the conference with 2,520 passing yards. Despite missing three games due to injury, Pike also led the BIG EAST in total offense--averaging 252.6 yards per game. The 6-6, 225 pound quarterback threw 29 touchdowns this season and helped the Bearcats to a Big EAST conference title.
For his career, Pike threw for 5,018 yards and 49 touchdowns, finishing fourth and second respectively on Cincinnati's all-time list. He finished his career by throwing a touchdown in 17-straight starts and holds a school record for completion percentage (61.7).
Windt, a long snapper, appeared in 39 games during his UC career, snapping for a Ray Guy Award finalist and Consensus All-American (Kevin Huber) and a Lou Groza Award semifinalist (Jacob Rogers). During his tenure at UC, the Bearcats were twice the top NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision team in net punting (2007, 08) and he was a perfect on his nearly 400 career snaps.
UC has sent 26 players to the Senior Bowl, with five Bearcats, Connor Barwin, Trevor Canfield, Kevin Huber, Mike Mickens, and DeAngelo Smith, earning invites a year ago. During the 1960 event, former standout Jackie Lee earned MVP honors for the game.
That brings the total of former UC student-athletes in all-star games to five. Alex Daniels and Aaron Webster will play in the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge, on Feb. 6, 2010 in El Paso, Texas.
The Under Armour Senior Bowl is college football's premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the nation's best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by NFL coaching staffs. Senior Bowl practices and game week festivities are attended by more than 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from all 32 National Football League teams, making Mobile and the Under Armour Senior Bowl the week-long host to a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention. For more information on the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl please visit the bowl's website at www.seniorbowl.com.