TicketsI wrote this piece during camp about Battle's humbling rehab and his excitement to be back on the field again. The only good news in all of this was that Battle was granted a redshirt last season, so he will be a senior next year and can hopefully play a full year healthy without any injuries.
He had two interceptions, including one taken back for a touchdown, and a forced fumble this year. I always like talking to Battle, he's intelligent and thoughtful with his answers and never afraid to be honest. And he's just a good kid. Always wish the best for him.
Sophomore Deven Drane will take over Battle's spot. The two have been in competition for playing time all season. Drane came up with a big interception Saturday and UC hopes there will not be much of a dropoff with the injury.
Let's eat...
--- UC held the introductory press conference for new AD Whit Babcock yesterday. It went off well and you get the feeling his fresh perspective will energize the department and the base.
Three observations stuck out in my head after:
1) A full row of Babcock's co-workers from the University of Missouri, including his boss, AD Mike Alden, made the trip to Cincinnati to be present at his press conference. If that doesn't tell the story of why President Gregory Williams hired Babcock, I don't know what does.
2) Babcock's unique view of realignment coming from Missouri's perspective will be an enormous help in making the correct decisions regarding conference expansion. He had this to say about the Big East, which I thought was forthcoming and hit the nail on the head:
"Trust and stability," he said. "Right now, I don't know that the Big East has either. But there is a chance to pull it together with the addition of teams and see what the Big 12 does. Hopefully things will settle down and the Big East can build back. But that trust and stability right now is wavering. We got to get that back."
How do you get that back?
"I don't know that I have the perfect answer for it. I think it all has to play out. Schools certainly should be loyal to the conference, but I also know that Dr. Williams job is to do what is in the best interest of the University of Cincinnati. So, you really have a dual role there, I don't know how you build it back until it calms down a little bit and stabilizes. But it is an interesting time, hopefully it doesn't last too much longer."
3) Babcock also made some telling comments about the Paul Brown Stadium/Nippert Stadium situation. I wouldn't expect UC to be playing all their games at PBS anytime soon.
"My philosophy is I want to play as many games in every sport that we have on this campus," he said."There may be times where we need to go over there. And will we do some things for finances? Yes, but not everything. We are not going to let that be the sole determining factor in what you do. As an athletic director you got to see the broad picture and all that."
--- Dan Hoard took a unique perspective and helped you get to know Whit Babcock. DH delves into Babcock's upbringing and what turned him into an administrator.
--- Box Miller offered his perspective on Babcock, as well.
--- Tommy G sat down with Babcock and they discussed his past, the present days and future of the UC athletic department.
--- Babcock did this Q&A with Bill Koch, touching on a number of interesting topics, including if UC could compete in the Big 12 and potentially paying college athletes.
--- Here is the full transcript of his press conference.
--- Butch Jones was an assistant coach at WVU while Babcock was there. The two were in touch at the beginning of the process. Babcock talked about how his connection with Jones was part of the allure of coming to UC.
Here was Babcock and Jones talking about each other at CoachButchJones.com.
--- You probably have seen enough Q&A's with Babcock to recite his speaking points verbatim yourself, so, we'll move on.
--- The game at Pitt on Nov. 5 will be at 7 p.m. and on ESPNU the conference announced yesterday. Not sure the night game will be any significant advantage or disadvantage other than the crowd being a little rowdier in Heinz Field than they would be for a noon tilt.
--- Pitt will play tomorrow night (Wednesday) at home against UConn on ESPN. They've lost four of five and developed into a train wreck. That said, they showed enough to punish USF 44-17 at home a few weeks back. The potential is there.
Boy, there are few things that scream tradition and football more than games on Wednesday night.
--- Andrea Adelson at ESPN talks about the wide open nature of the Big East race. UC technically controls its own destiny, but to expect to run the table in the conference might be asking a lot. You just wonder how many times the Cats can tempt fate with comebacks and find ways to win.
That said, they clearly look like the best team in the conference right now. And will be a favorite -- or close to it -- in the majority of the games from this point forward.
--- Mo Egger talks loudly and confidently about UC football, for those unfamiliar with his work, he also talks loudly and confidently about the McRib. (Which is back!) So, don't think this is a special occasion.
--- Former UC backup QB Chazz Anderson went off for 404 yards and three TDs Saturday for Buffalo. Unfortunately, the Bulls missed a PAT that would have tied that game and lost 31-30.
--- Some randomness...
--- Check out this literal thumb drive. For all my Lebowski buffs out there, I'd love to have a toe with green nail polish.
--- Some kid in Florida took off from the 5-yard line and soared into the end zone. In related news, a crazy person had reconstructive surgery to look like Superman.
--- A woman stole a cash register. It contained a quarter. This feels like one of the stories for a new book, "Aesop's Fables: Florida."
--- I think I'll pass base jumping off a 1,300 foot tall antenna.
--- For those of you that just can't get enough, here is some exclusive postgame celebration video from Saturday in Tampa courtesy the Butch Jones Blog.