TicketsAug. 9, 2010
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati football team opened fall practice Monday with a two-and-a-half hour workout under warm sunny skies at Nippert Stadium.
The team worked out in helmets in the 90-degree heat, on the first of five NCAA-mandated acclimatization days. UC picked up right where it left off in the spring, spending a large amount of time on fundamentals. Several periods were devoted to offensive and defensive install, as well as special teams.
The Bearcats welcomed 26 newcomers to the field Monday. The team checked in on Sunday and spent the day in administrative and team meetings in preparation for taking the field.
Head coach Butch Jones was pleased with the team's effort despite the conditions.
"Our kids battled through the heat and they finished, which is the most important thing," Jones said. "Every time we step on the football field we have to become a better team. I thought we made some strides today to becoming a better team."
Quarterback Zach Collaros and running back Isaiah Pead were named Monday to the Maxwell Award watch list. The award recognizes the top player in college football.
Collaros was named the team's starter coming out of the spring. He was 93-of-124 for 1,434 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2009. He made four starts, going 4-0, had a quarterback rating of 195.5, and added 344 yards rushing, along with four touchdowns.
Pead led all BIG EAST Conference running backs with a 6.7 yards per carry average. He gained 806 yards on 121 carries with nine touchdowns. Although he only reached double-digit carries six times, he showed what he can do in extended action after gaining 175 yards on 18 carries against West Virginia.
Following practice, Jones announced that wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins will miss the season after his appeal to the NCAA for immediate eligibility was denied.
Thompkins, who joined UC last spring from El Camino CC, originally signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Tennessee out of Miami (Fla.) Northwestern HS. UT denied his request to be released from the original NLI.
The NLI Appeal Committee partially granted Thompkins' appeal to be released by upholding the requirement to serve a year in residence but granting relief from the standard penalty of losing a season of competition for not satisfying the original terms of the NLI with Tennessee. The provisions of the NLI state that if a student does not fulfill the terms of the NLI and the school does not release the student from the NLI, the student is required to serve a year in residency at their next institution and loses a season of eligibility.
He will be a junior entering the fall of 2011 and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
"Obviously we are disappointed for Kenbrell," Jones said. "However, we are excited about the fact that he will have two years of remaining eligibility. Kenbrell was out here today, giving his best effort, making himself a better football player and making us a better football team. We are going to need more of that out of him as we move forward this fall."
Jones also said that tight end Travis Kelce would miss the season due to a violation of team rules.
UC returns to the field Tuesday for its second of four practices at Nippert Stadium this week. The team will move to its off-campus site, the Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center, for two weeks after practice Thursday.
The Bearcats open the 2010 season on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Fresno State. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN2. UC will open the home schedule on Sept. 11 against Indiana State at noon inside Nippert Stadium. Call 1-877-CATS-TIX or visit CATSTIX.com to reserve your season tickets today.