TicketsBy Bill Koch
GoBEARCATS.com
CINCINNATI – Not so long ago, when the University of Cincinnati football program was really rolling, it seemed unthinkable that the Bearcats would ever again be saddled with a five-game conference losing streak.
But here they are in their first season under head coach Luke Fickell looking for their first American Athletic Conference victory since Oct. 22 of last year. In fact, they've lost eight of their last nine conference games.
And then there's the unsettling reality that UC hasn't beaten a ranked opponent since Sept. 29, 2012 when it knocked off No. 25 Virginia Tech at FedExField in Landover, Md.
The Bearcats (2-3 overall, 0-1 in the American) have a chance to terminate both streaks when they take on No. 25 Central Florida at 8 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium looking for their first home win over a ranked opponent since Oct. 15, 2009 vs. South Florida.
UCF's Knights are 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the American and are ranked for the first time since the end of the 2013 season. Statistically they rank as one of the most dominant teams in the country. They lead the conference in scoring defense, allowing 13.3 points per game, and total offense (539.3 yards per game). They're one of just three teams that are ranked in the top 10 nationally in both scoring offense (46.3 points per game) and scoring defense. The other two are Alabama and Washington.
The Knights have outscored their three opponents, 57-3, in the second quarter.
"They've got skill all over the place," Fickell said. "They've upgraded from what I watched last year. You're right, it poses another challenge. It poses a bigger challenge for us, probably as big a challenge as we've had the entire season. But that's what we've got to do.
"We'll throw it on the shoulders of every one of us. It's not gonna be done by one guy. It's not like (quarterback) Hayden Moore is gonna go out there and we're gonna say, you know what, if he has a great game, he's gonna lead us to victory. No, there's got to be 22 guys out there, 11 at a time, that are really gonna have to hone in, really have to do their job and play with some energy and create some things."
Moore had one of the best games of his career two weeks ago in a loss at Navy, but struggled last week in a loss to Marshall. He has averaged 219.4 passing yards per game, which ranks seventh in the league, and has completed 52.5 percent of his passes.
Earlier this week, Fickell said his team needed some sort of spark, something to generate positive momentum, but so far he has not a made a change at quarterback in search of that spark. Moore has taken every snap from center this season.
Fickell said he considered inserting sophomore Ross Trail last week against Marshall but thought better of it because of the time Trail missed with an injury at the end of training camp and the beginning of the season, and because of how the game was going.
"When you're down so much they're obviously playing much different," Fickell said. "They don't have to respect some things based on the situation. To throw him in there for his first time this year, they're able to all-out blitz and do what they want to do without having to throw caution to the wind because they're leading. We didn't feel like it was the right time to give him that opportunity."
Whether Trail sees his first playing time of the season this week, Fickell said, would depend on how well he practiced during the week.
"Basically it's how the game's going but also how practice goes," the UC coach said. "You get a good sense when guys are completely locked in and you feel like as a coach if you've got an opportunity for a guy to give you a chance. But you also don't want it to go the other way. There's a balance there. There's a lot more to it than just hey, let's put him in and see if he can do it. If we're gonna do this, we've got to have a plan and there's a reason for it."
UCF counters with sophomore McKenzie Milton, who ranks seventh in the country in passing efficiency. Milton has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 792 yards and eight touchdowns against only two interceptions. He averages 9.2 yards every time he runs.
"He does a great job of extending plays," Fickell said. "He's very mobile. What he's done a better job at this year than last year is his ability to scramble to throw where last year he would scramble to run."
The Knights also feature the league's 2016 Defensive Player of the Year in senior outside linebacker Shaquem Griffin.
Fickell was quick to point out that UC's problems on offense – the Bearcats rank 11th in the league in scoring offense (22.8 points per game) and total offense (319.4 yards per game) – are not all Moore's fault.
"We've got to put him in some situations to help him out," Fickell said. "We've got to be able to run the football."
That, too, has been a problem for the Bearcats. Running back Mike Boone gained 100 yards in the season opener vs. Austin Peay but twisted his ankle the following week at Michigan and missed the next two games. He returned last week to gain 17 yards on five carries against Marshall, but says much better equipped physically to contribute in a more substantial manner.
"I'm way better than I was," Boone said. "I've got a lot of hours in the training room. They feel like they want to get me in space. I trust them that they'll put me in a situation where I'll be successful. I just try to do what I can do to help us be a more powerful offense."
The Bearcats are doing their best to remain upbeat during this difficult stretch.
"We're not mentally worn down," said defensive tackle Cortez Broughton, "because the things that we do during the offseason mentally prepare us for these tough times. We know tough times are going to hit. It's all about how you respond."
If UC can respond the right way Saturday, there are two losing streaks sitting there waiting to be snapped. Ever the optimist, Boone says this is the week do it.
"We've got to turn some things around," Boone said. "We need to come out all fired up and give the fans something to watch."
Bill Koch covered UC athletics for 27 years – 15 at The Cincinnati Post and 12 at The Cincinnati Enquirer – before joining the staff of GoBEARCATS.com in January, 2015.
GoBEARCATS.com
CINCINNATI – Not so long ago, when the University of Cincinnati football program was really rolling, it seemed unthinkable that the Bearcats would ever again be saddled with a five-game conference losing streak.
But here they are in their first season under head coach Luke Fickell looking for their first American Athletic Conference victory since Oct. 22 of last year. In fact, they've lost eight of their last nine conference games.
And then there's the unsettling reality that UC hasn't beaten a ranked opponent since Sept. 29, 2012 when it knocked off No. 25 Virginia Tech at FedExField in Landover, Md.
The Bearcats (2-3 overall, 0-1 in the American) have a chance to terminate both streaks when they take on No. 25 Central Florida at 8 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium looking for their first home win over a ranked opponent since Oct. 15, 2009 vs. South Florida.
UCF's Knights are 3-0 overall, 1-0 in the American and are ranked for the first time since the end of the 2013 season. Statistically they rank as one of the most dominant teams in the country. They lead the conference in scoring defense, allowing 13.3 points per game, and total offense (539.3 yards per game). They're one of just three teams that are ranked in the top 10 nationally in both scoring offense (46.3 points per game) and scoring defense. The other two are Alabama and Washington.
The Knights have outscored their three opponents, 57-3, in the second quarter.
"They've got skill all over the place," Fickell said. "They've upgraded from what I watched last year. You're right, it poses another challenge. It poses a bigger challenge for us, probably as big a challenge as we've had the entire season. But that's what we've got to do.
"We'll throw it on the shoulders of every one of us. It's not gonna be done by one guy. It's not like (quarterback) Hayden Moore is gonna go out there and we're gonna say, you know what, if he has a great game, he's gonna lead us to victory. No, there's got to be 22 guys out there, 11 at a time, that are really gonna have to hone in, really have to do their job and play with some energy and create some things."
Moore had one of the best games of his career two weeks ago in a loss at Navy, but struggled last week in a loss to Marshall. He has averaged 219.4 passing yards per game, which ranks seventh in the league, and has completed 52.5 percent of his passes.
Earlier this week, Fickell said his team needed some sort of spark, something to generate positive momentum, but so far he has not a made a change at quarterback in search of that spark. Moore has taken every snap from center this season.
Fickell said he considered inserting sophomore Ross Trail last week against Marshall but thought better of it because of the time Trail missed with an injury at the end of training camp and the beginning of the season, and because of how the game was going.
"When you're down so much they're obviously playing much different," Fickell said. "They don't have to respect some things based on the situation. To throw him in there for his first time this year, they're able to all-out blitz and do what they want to do without having to throw caution to the wind because they're leading. We didn't feel like it was the right time to give him that opportunity."
Whether Trail sees his first playing time of the season this week, Fickell said, would depend on how well he practiced during the week.
"Basically it's how the game's going but also how practice goes," the UC coach said. "You get a good sense when guys are completely locked in and you feel like as a coach if you've got an opportunity for a guy to give you a chance. But you also don't want it to go the other way. There's a balance there. There's a lot more to it than just hey, let's put him in and see if he can do it. If we're gonna do this, we've got to have a plan and there's a reason for it."
UCF counters with sophomore McKenzie Milton, who ranks seventh in the country in passing efficiency. Milton has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 792 yards and eight touchdowns against only two interceptions. He averages 9.2 yards every time he runs.
"He does a great job of extending plays," Fickell said. "He's very mobile. What he's done a better job at this year than last year is his ability to scramble to throw where last year he would scramble to run."
The Knights also feature the league's 2016 Defensive Player of the Year in senior outside linebacker Shaquem Griffin.
Fickell was quick to point out that UC's problems on offense – the Bearcats rank 11th in the league in scoring offense (22.8 points per game) and total offense (319.4 yards per game) – are not all Moore's fault.
"We've got to put him in some situations to help him out," Fickell said. "We've got to be able to run the football."
That, too, has been a problem for the Bearcats. Running back Mike Boone gained 100 yards in the season opener vs. Austin Peay but twisted his ankle the following week at Michigan and missed the next two games. He returned last week to gain 17 yards on five carries against Marshall, but says much better equipped physically to contribute in a more substantial manner.
"I'm way better than I was," Boone said. "I've got a lot of hours in the training room. They feel like they want to get me in space. I trust them that they'll put me in a situation where I'll be successful. I just try to do what I can do to help us be a more powerful offense."
The Bearcats are doing their best to remain upbeat during this difficult stretch.
"We're not mentally worn down," said defensive tackle Cortez Broughton, "because the things that we do during the offseason mentally prepare us for these tough times. We know tough times are going to hit. It's all about how you respond."
If UC can respond the right way Saturday, there are two losing streaks sitting there waiting to be snapped. Ever the optimist, Boone says this is the week do it.
"We've got to turn some things around," Boone said. "We need to come out all fired up and give the fans something to watch."
Bill Koch covered UC athletics for 27 years – 15 at The Cincinnati Post and 12 at The Cincinnati Enquirer – before joining the staff of GoBEARCATS.com in January, 2015.