TicketsFor Bearcats fans, so much of this season has been focused on the future––this College Football Playoff, a looming move to the Big 12 Conference, and the heights the program will have the ability to reach in the future. But it's easy to forget that, for may members of this football team, their Cincinnati chapters are nearing a close with only one guaranteed game left in red and black. The Cotton Bowl provided a chance to create a keepsake before it's over. On Monday night, coaches and players met for dinner at the Sign and Dine event. Each attendee received a commemorative football to be autographed by coaches and teammates, a gift that will unquestionably outlast all the t-shirts and backpacks.
On Tuesday it was back to practice for the Bearcats, who have no time to waste as they prepare for Friday's long-awaited College Football Playoff Semifinal date with the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. For the first time Tuesday, UC got a glimpse at its own branding inside AT&T Stadium as workers installed new signage ahead of this week's Cotton Bowl Classic.
Amidst all the fun and festivities the Cotton Bowl provides, the message from Coach Fickell after practice was clear: Enjoy this moment, but now is not the time to relax. The team remains focused, finishing practice with a lifting session before some members of the defense met with the media.
Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel spoke about the yin and yang star corners Coby Bryant and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner provide his defense before Sauce himself took the podium. He gave credit to Alabama's talent before praising director of football sports performance Brady Collins' work in transforming him from a gangly 3-star recruit to a 2022 NFL draft hopeful. "I appreciate him for that," said Gardner. "It took a lot of dedication by me, because I always just liked eating junk food––Wendy's, 24/7. I spent so much money on Wendy's it don't make no sense."
The buses whisked the team back from Arlington to Grapevine where some of the Bearcats stars took time for a virtual visit with the local Children's Medical Center––the highlight of the day. Each Bearcat introduced themselves to the children with their favorite food, including Myjai Sanders (hibachi), Jowon Briggs (lasagna), and Lorenz Metz (duck with dumplings). They were asked which famous football athlete they'd most like to meet. Sanders gave the obvious answer: Desmond Ridder. "He's a nice guy." Tight end Leonard Taylor made clear his love of Spiderman, to great approval from the kids on Zoom, and when a kid asked the players what their favorite TikTok dance was, Sanders once again rose to the occasion by delivering a performance in the middle of the room.
The team closed the visit by teaching the children Down The Drive. When UC takes the field at AT&T Stadium on Friday, they'll have fans at the Children's Medical Center, but the kids will undoubtedly have similar support from the guys in red and black who had the chance to meet them Tuesday.
Read More - Sports Illustrated: Rick Flick Lost His Son. At Cincinnati, He Found A New Purpose.
On Tuesday it was back to practice for the Bearcats, who have no time to waste as they prepare for Friday's long-awaited College Football Playoff Semifinal date with the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. For the first time Tuesday, UC got a glimpse at its own branding inside AT&T Stadium as workers installed new signage ahead of this week's Cotton Bowl Classic.
Amidst all the fun and festivities the Cotton Bowl provides, the message from Coach Fickell after practice was clear: Enjoy this moment, but now is not the time to relax. The team remains focused, finishing practice with a lifting session before some members of the defense met with the media.
Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel spoke about the yin and yang star corners Coby Bryant and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner provide his defense before Sauce himself took the podium. He gave credit to Alabama's talent before praising director of football sports performance Brady Collins' work in transforming him from a gangly 3-star recruit to a 2022 NFL draft hopeful. "I appreciate him for that," said Gardner. "It took a lot of dedication by me, because I always just liked eating junk food––Wendy's, 24/7. I spent so much money on Wendy's it don't make no sense."
The buses whisked the team back from Arlington to Grapevine where some of the Bearcats stars took time for a virtual visit with the local Children's Medical Center––the highlight of the day. Each Bearcat introduced themselves to the children with their favorite food, including Myjai Sanders (hibachi), Jowon Briggs (lasagna), and Lorenz Metz (duck with dumplings). They were asked which famous football athlete they'd most like to meet. Sanders gave the obvious answer: Desmond Ridder. "He's a nice guy." Tight end Leonard Taylor made clear his love of Spiderman, to great approval from the kids on Zoom, and when a kid asked the players what their favorite TikTok dance was, Sanders once again rose to the occasion by delivering a performance in the middle of the room.
The team closed the visit by teaching the children Down The Drive. When UC takes the field at AT&T Stadium on Friday, they'll have fans at the Children's Medical Center, but the kids will undoubtedly have similar support from the guys in red and black who had the chance to meet them Tuesday.
The kids at the Children's Medical Center officially know Down The Drive. 👏👏👏👏 U-C‼️
— Cincinnati Bearcats (@GoBEARCATS) December 28, 2021
Behind @GoBearcatsFB's second day in Dallas preparing for the @CottonBowlGame.
📝: https://t.co/MBPmjHfUFy pic.twitter.com/pYNJ8qIR1K
Read More - Sports Illustrated: Rick Flick Lost His Son. At Cincinnati, He Found A New Purpose.