TicketsBy Bill Koch
GoBEARCATS.com
CINCINNATI – Now that the University of Cincinnati Bearcats have finally rediscovered how it feels to win a game, it's time to find out if they can do it again.
The Bearcats' 17-16 victory at Tulane last week ended two losing streaks for UC – a five-game streak overall and an eight-game conference losing streak dating to last year. The Bearcats have a chance to fashion a winning streak Friday when they take on Temple at 7 p.m. at Nippert Stadium.
A two-game winning streak certainly seems modest, but it would be a big deal for the Bearcats, who haven't won two in a row since they beat Tennessee-Martin and Purdue to open the 2016 season. They haven't had a two-game winning streak against FBS opponents since Oct. 24 and 31 of 2015 when they defeated Connecticut and Central Florida back-to-back.
UC coach Luke Fickell is hoping that finally winning a game will carry over into the final three games of the season. If it does, the Bearcats (3-6 overall, 1-4 in the American Athletic Conference) could still land a spot in a bowl game.
"You just see things a little bit different," Fickell said. "There's a little different taste in the food.
I told that to the guys. I said, 'I hope you guys realize and you feel that there's a different feel in your belly right now. There's that euphoria, that payday that you worked so hard for. Now you can finally, tangibly and see it and got to feel it.' It had been a while. I think that's something that continues to push you."
Temple (4-5, 2-3) is suffering through a disappointing season after playing in the AAC championship game in each of the last two seasons. The Owls beat Navy, 34-10, last year and lost to Houston, 24-13, in 2015.
Under first-year coach Geoff Collins, Temple is also coming off a much-needed victory, 34-26 over the same Navy team that beat UC, 42-32, earlier this year. The Owls held the Midshipmen – the nation's top rushing team – to a season-low 135 rushing yards. Navy pierced UC's defense for 569 rushing yards back on Sept. 23.
"There's a reason why they've been in the championship game the last two years," Fickell said of Temple. "It's a physical football team. They've got talent. They've got length at the defensive line side of things and at the wideout spots. Coming off a big win against Navy, you can see a little bit of that momentum. They've switched quarterbacks, which I think has given them a little bit of a spark. I think it's going to be a great measuring stick for us."
The Owls played their first seven games with sophomore Logan Marchi at quarterback. After Marchi was injured in week seven against Connecticut, he was replaced by junior Frank Nutile, who was 22-of-30 for 289 yards and four touchdowns with one interception against Navy.
UC counters with junior Hayden Moore, who has started every game this season. Last week, Moore was 18-for-27 for 246 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.
"It was Hayden's Moore's best game," Fickell said. "He did everything we asked him to do as far as managing the football game."
The Bearcats received a nice boost against Tulane from redshirt freshman running back Gerrid Doaks, who gained a career-high 149 yards on 17 carries and looks to carry a heavier offensive load from here on out. Temple counters with Ryquell Armstead, who gained 919 yards with 14 touchdowns last season while sharing carries with Jahad Thomas. This season, Armstead has 454 yards and only three touchdowns.
UC ranks last in the 12-team AAC in total offense with 350.6 yards per game, while Temple ranks 11th with 374.6 yards. Both teams are better defensively. Temple is fourth, allowing 393.8 yards. UC is fifth with 409.6.
Understandably, things have been more upbeat around the UC football program after winning last week.
"Everybody's got that good feeling," said middle linebacker and co-captain Jaylyin Minor. "(One win) can make a big difference when our season hasn't been going as planned. It puts a little more pep in the young guys' and the old guys' steps."
Imagine what two wins in a row would mean.
"Let's take that next step and see where we really are," Fickell said. "Temple is as talented as any team in the league."
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 – Now that the University of Cincinnati Bearcats have finally rediscovered how it feels to win a game, it's time to find out if they can do it again.
The Bearcats' 17-16 victory at Tulane last week ended two losing streaks for UC – a five-game streak overall and an eight-game conference losing streak dating to last year. The Bearcats have a chance to fashion a winning streak Friday when they take on Temple at 7 p.m. at Nippert Stadium.
A two-game winning streak certainly seems modest, but it would be a big deal for the Bearcats, who haven't won two in a row since they beat Tennessee-Martin and Purdue to open the 2016 season. They haven't had a two-game winning streak against FBS opponents since Oct. 24 and 31 of 2015 when they defeated Connecticut and Central Florida back-to-back.
UC coach Luke Fickell is hoping that finally winning a game will carry over into the final three games of the season. If it does, the Bearcats (3-6 overall, 1-4 in the American Athletic Conference) could still land a spot in a bowl game.
"You just see things a little bit different," Fickell said. "There's a little different taste in the food.
I told that to the guys. I said, 'I hope you guys realize and you feel that there's a different feel in your belly right now. There's that euphoria, that payday that you worked so hard for. Now you can finally, tangibly and see it and got to feel it.' It had been a while. I think that's something that continues to push you."
Temple (4-5, 2-3) is suffering through a disappointing season after playing in the AAC championship game in each of the last two seasons. The Owls beat Navy, 34-10, last year and lost to Houston, 24-13, in 2015.
Under first-year coach Geoff Collins, Temple is also coming off a much-needed victory, 34-26 over the same Navy team that beat UC, 42-32, earlier this year. The Owls held the Midshipmen – the nation's top rushing team – to a season-low 135 rushing yards. Navy pierced UC's defense for 569 rushing yards back on Sept. 23.
"There's a reason why they've been in the championship game the last two years," Fickell said of Temple. "It's a physical football team. They've got talent. They've got length at the defensive line side of things and at the wideout spots. Coming off a big win against Navy, you can see a little bit of that momentum. They've switched quarterbacks, which I think has given them a little bit of a spark. I think it's going to be a great measuring stick for us."
The Owls played their first seven games with sophomore Logan Marchi at quarterback. After Marchi was injured in week seven against Connecticut, he was replaced by junior Frank Nutile, who was 22-of-30 for 289 yards and four touchdowns with one interception against Navy.
UC counters with junior Hayden Moore, who has started every game this season. Last week, Moore was 18-for-27 for 246 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.
"It was Hayden's Moore's best game," Fickell said. "He did everything we asked him to do as far as managing the football game."
The Bearcats received a nice boost against Tulane from redshirt freshman running back Gerrid Doaks, who gained a career-high 149 yards on 17 carries and looks to carry a heavier offensive load from here on out. Temple counters with Ryquell Armstead, who gained 919 yards with 14 touchdowns last season while sharing carries with Jahad Thomas. This season, Armstead has 454 yards and only three touchdowns.
UC ranks last in the 12-team AAC in total offense with 350.6 yards per game, while Temple ranks 11th with 374.6 yards. Both teams are better defensively. Temple is fourth, allowing 393.8 yards. UC is fifth with 409.6.
Understandably, things have been more upbeat around the UC football program after winning last week.
"Everybody's got that good feeling," said middle linebacker and co-captain Jaylyin Minor. "(One win) can make a big difference when our season hasn't been going as planned. It puts a little more pep in the young guys' and the old guys' steps."
Imagine what two wins in a row would mean.
"Let's take that next step and see where we really are," Fickell said. "Temple is as talented as any team in the league."
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.