TicketsThat's right, one week from tomorrow it will be gameday at The Nipp. In this business, we are trained to stay pretty neutral and not mention our excitement. But, as I have done many times, I will toss my strong OU J-School education to the side, and say that I am pretty excited to see this UC team in action.
We've covered all the angles. We know the questions. Now it's time to see if the Bearcats have the answers. What a great time of year.
Before we move forward, though, let's take one last look back. Yesterday's Beanie Bowl officially marked the end of camp and beginning of the season.
Tommy G unearthed this Best of Camp video with some of the best moments from the time spent baking in West Harrison, Ind. --- a great piece and must watch.
Since we are the dynamic duo, I've got the brother piece to his video. I tracked down three of the most exuberant, outspoken Bearcats to find out the truth behind this trip to Higher Ground. The important probing questions like, "Who hates the cold tub most?" and a blog staple "Who had the worst facial hair."
The three comedians for this piece are strong Moeller Crusader Tom DeTemple, QB and self-proclaimed Tiger Woods Golf team champion Jordan Luallen and Mr. McSaucy aka Randeasy aka Ragu aka OL Randy Martinez.
Find out why Luallen is concerned about his fade, Martinez summons Kimbo Slice and DeTemple throws Kerry Coombs under the bus.
Without further ado, here's their responses to the true taste of Higher Ground.
Tom DeTemple: I would say (volunteer assistant) Pat Coggins on the horn. He definitely had a couple premature horns which kind of screwed up the practice a little bit. Coach Jones would get up on him a little bit. Then the next practice he would be worried if he was pressing the horn or not and he wouldn't hit it. So, then he's yelling at him again to hit the horn. So, it's like, wow, you're job is to hit the horn when the clock runs out and you can't do that. That was pretty hysterical. Mr. McSaucy: The bonfire (Tuesday) night was a really good moment, we really got to bond with our teammates. Behind the barn, they made two big bonfires, all the seniors got up and talked to the team about what the team really means to them and things we want to do together.
There were S'mores out the ass.
Jordan Luallen: For me personally, it was probably listening to Kevin Schloemer imitate McGruber. It's pretty good and just funny, his voice and mannerisms when he does it.WORST MOMENT OF CAMP
MMS: Probably when I was about to catch a full body cramp out here, one of those days. The first one-a-day practice where we went at least 30-some periods. It was ridiculous. Everybody was really dragging toward the end. That was the hardest day.
TDT: Circle of accountability. We count everybodys loafs and softs, we are in a big circle and we are doing up-downs. We end up doing anywhere form 50-75 straight up-downs. They would run in and say, 'Hi, I'm Tom DeTemple, I let the team down because I had four loafs, everybody has to do four up-downs for you.' They do that for the whole offensive unit.
JL: Probably trying to go to sleep after Chris Williams fell asleep, because he snores like a freight train.
BEST FACIAL HAIR OUT HERE
JL: There were a bunch of good ones. Trav had a great beard going with his Friar Tom cut. Pat O'Donnell had a great mustache, which I was sad to see go. Brad Harrah had a fantastic mustache. You got to give him props for what that was.
RAGU: By far, Travis Kelce. It was full earlier. His beard was looking epic at one point. He had to shave it for picture day. You can't send your mom a picture and be looking all...It wasn't even close.
TDT: Jordan Stepp had a good one, he had lines cut into it.
WORST FACIAL HAIR OUT HERE:
TDT: Coach Coombs (laugh). He like can't get it to go, so he just let it go and it just got kind of stubbly everywhere.
No, (I didn't let him know). I just kind of turned away and let that go.RM: Has to be either Hoffman or Evan, because they have the patchy beards with one patch. It's horrible. We made a bet as an O-line that we are not going to cut our hair. So the rest of the year is just going to be big. I am growing it out and I am going to have the Kimbo on the face, it is going to be bad.
JL: Bujnoch, no doubt about it. Bujnoch. He's actually got a soul patch that is off-center to the right. It's garbage. The worst thing I've ever seen.
FIRST THING YOU WILL DO WHEN GET BACK:
RM: No. 1 is taking a nap. The longest nap I have ever had in my life. We get nap time (here), but as soon as you wake up you know you have to get your mind on football. I am going to nap the day away, a solid 16 hours of sleep. And then eat.
TDT: It's going to be nice to smell UC's locker room. In (the Higher Ground locker room) right now is...bad. There are flys everywhere, they keep this (garage door) up. Loud fan going. We have a nice locker room. So, get to my locker room -- nice, wood locker room. Sit there for a minute and just take a deep breath and relax. OK, we are back at the Nipp, we are here, it's good.
JL: Get a haircut. Definitely. I am real particular with who cuts my hair. I've got a guy. I got to go my guy. He is in Indianapolis. I got a fade. Half inch on top, 1/8 on the side, it's real particular. They take care of me. Chad's Barbershop. Top notch.
WHO HATES THE COLD TUB MORE THAN ANYONE:
RM: We threw in Coach Mahoney's little son, Jake, we threw him in the cold tub. He was horrified. He was freezing.
TDT: Zach Collaros. No question. He calls it a myth. He never gets in it. Today is legit the first time he's gone in it.
WHO LOVES HIGHER GROUND MORE THAN ANYBODY:
MMS: Has to be Tom DeTemple because Tommy is out here for six periods and it doesn't affect him. He is chilling drinking Gatorade the rest of the time.
TDT: Yeah, I get my work in, then I kind of observe what is going on. There are a lot of funny things that happen.
WHO IS THE WORST ROOMMATE:
TDT: I have never roomed with him, but I would say Jordan Stepp. My locker is next to him and he's just filthy. I'll come into practice, I am literally three lockers down from him and his clothes are in front of mine. I just say, 'How did they get over here?' And he's across from me at UC. His stuff is just everywhere. I would assume he would probably be pretty rough to deal with.WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT:
RM: Not too many things because once you get back you are pretty tired, but the bugs. The friggin' bugs. I got stung by two hornets one day. One day I left my door slightly cracked for five minutes, I went back in my room and there were two grasshoppers and a moth just flying around my room. It is like the wild, wild west.
TDT: The AC units in your room: EEEHHHHHHHH. Sounds like someone is cutting the grass outside your room. Then it shuts off and an hour later it cuts back on.
JL: Chris Williams.