CINCINNATI – Head coach Scott Satterfield, fifth year quarterback JC French IV, junior inside linebacker Simeon Coleman, and fifth year offensive lineman Judea Milon spoke with the media ahead of Saturday’s game vs. Miami.
The Bearcats and RedHawks will meet for the 129th time on Saturday at TQL Stadium. The Battle for the Victory Bell will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+.
HEAD COACH SCOTT SATTERFIELD
Opening Statement
“It is Miami week, obviously a huge rivalry game. I am looking forward to it and excited about it. I have already addressed a lot of things leading up to this game with our team starting in the locker room Saturday evening. It is our 129th meeting. It is a 61-60-7 series. It has been played since the 1800’s. There is a lot of history that goes along with this game. I think it is interesting nowadays the fact that you have so many new players on the roster. I know they do, we do. I try to really get it across to the new guys how important this game is. We have guys like JT [Thompson] and Antwan [Peek Jr.], these guys that have been here for some years, that know a lot about this rivalry, and they have helped spread that message. I was excited about this game, being able to play it. We did not play it last year. One unique thing about it is we are playing at TQL Stadium. That is different. We have never played there, so I am looking forward to playing in that venue as well. I have been to a soccer game there. I think it is really cool for fans. I think it will be a great experience to be able to watch a football game in that stadium. We are ready to go for this game and I am looking forward to it.”
On the importance of this rivalry
“We talk to our guys about how, no matter who we are playing, we have to play to our standard. We have to practice to our standard, and that is what we talk about as well. Getting everything we can out of our guys. We got our guys knowing exactly what to do and all that. But they need to know who we are playing against and the history behind the team we are playing. There is more history behind some teams like Miami compared to Western Carolina last week. We need to get across how important this game is to our guys, and that is something that we have been able to do. We will continue to talk about this throughout the whole week. The thing about these guys at Miami is Coach [Chuck] Martin has been there. I think it is his 13th year. He has done a great job. I think they played for three straight MAC Championships. You can turn the film on for this year. You can turn it on five years ago. It is pretty much going to look the same. They do a great job on defense and offensively. They are always a very solid and sound team. They are coached extremely well. Their kids play hard. They do things the right way, and therefore they are a tough out for anybody they are playing. We got to be on point with everything that we are doing and go out and play our best game.”
On Miami quarterback David McComb
“I think he certainly can run, he is capable. I think he is probably better at running than what somebody would give him credit for. He is a bigger guy. They do run a little bit of zone lead stuff, where he will pull off the backside if you do not account for him. He is certainly not going to be the type of runner that we saw the first week. Boston College's Max [McKenzie] was a really good runner. Last week I thought Lex [Thomas] was very elusive as well. So, it will be a little bit different this week. He is a big kid and he can throw it. He throws a good, accurate football. I think last week he was 13-for-13, so he is accurate. I think for us, being able to get him off the spot is huge. If you just allow him to sit in the pocket, just stand there, he will make the throws, and he will make you pay. We have to do a great job of trying to get him off the spot, making him try to move a little bit, and cause some havoc. Last week I don't think we had any sacks. We did not get in the quarterback's face as much, so we got to do a much better job of getting the quarterback.”
On playing against a QB with a quick release
“Going into the Western Carolina game, we know he got rid of the ball fast. That is something that we are not going to get many sacks, if they do what Western Carolina did. He did a lot of throws that were quick, which we do too. I mean you know that is a way not to give up sacks. But you are still throwing the football. You just have to do some different things, mix some things up as far as who is in the flat, body on body. I think those types of things, showing them some different looks, so that he cannot just throw it quickly. If we tighten up coverage a little bit too that would be a way to effect. But that is Western Carolina's offense, it is what they do. They did a good job of not allowing us to get penetration and getting those sacks. But when they do play-action and when they do hold the balls, and some shots down the field, that is when you better be able to get back there and get pressure.”
On playing on a grass surface at TQL Stadium
“We do not have a grass field to practice on or anything, so we are just going to prepare and do everything we normally do. Hopefully go out and play fast. That turf was perfect. I think it will be a great track to be able to play fast. It is beautiful, it really is. They take a lot of pride in the grounds crew there at TQL Stadium. They have to do a lot of things in order to take care of that grass and they do a really good job with it. I think more than anything, it is about us executing and playing fast. Obviously the venue is new and will be different, but it is still going to be the same size field once we get out there.”
On his impressions of his team through two games
“You never know how they will prepare throughout the week. But I have been impressed with our team the first two games. Two totally different opponents, an ACC opponent and an FCS opponent. Our team is mature in how they approach the week, the practices, and come out and execute at a high level, especially these first two weeks. I have been very pleased with that. Those are things you do not really know as a coach. It is week three, can we continue to do that, how do we prepare throughout the week? Today will be another hot day, it is going to be close to 90 today. It will be hot outside this practice. But how can we bring it? How can we continue to bring it week in and week out? That is what I want to see. But I do think we have a mature team that are hungry to go out and prove. I think if we continue to do that, then we will have more success than not.”
On the Battle for the Victory Bell rivalry game
“Coming into it, I didn't know too much, but obviously we're emphasizing it a lot this week. It means a lot to us and the fans, I think it's one of the best rivalries in college football. I'm excited to be part of it.”
On his best throw of the Western Carolina game
“I think the best throw of the day probably was to JV [Gibson] in that two-minute drill. That just sparked things, we were moving a little bit. We had a setback in that two-minute drive, but I hit that go ball down the sideline. It felt nice to have a downfield passing attack, and to finish our first two-minute drive of the year, which was pretty exciting.”
On his thought process on that throw to JV Gibson
“I think the first time that they manned up JV out to the field, that safety's kind of cheating inside a little bit, and then they finally rolled the middle of the field. I had my chance, so we took it, and you have to take advantage of those moments. You don't get them too often, so when you do, you have to make them count.”
On the wide receivers and tight ends and their impact on the running game
“They are very unselfish players, which is awesome. I think that will help them later in the year. They're busting their tails every day to block, to open up the run game, open up those holes. I think that takes a lot of character within that room because most guys just want out with the ball, but they're blocking their teammates. Our big thing is that we reach and support the team. They do a great job of on this.”
On his ability to dissect a defense
“I think for me, it really started that end of 2024 season when I was at Georgia Southern. In that offense it was on the quarterback a lot to get into checks, getting to certain runs if it's a pass play, and also check passes and protections and all that, so that's where I think I learned the most. Last year I think I got a lot better at it. This year I feel comfortable doing all that. But it's not as much of an emphasis in this offense as it was. So it's nice coming in here and kind of having that tool in my tool belt if we need it.”
On his snap count and staying fresh
“I believe it's a part of why we've been playing so well, honestly, because we're able to stay fresh and fly around and play to our best abilities.”
On the Miami rivalry
“It's a great rivalry. It's a great game. I can't wait. We know that we're going to give their best shot. So today, this whole week of practice, we need to focus on the little stuff, the details. It's another game, but it's a rivalry game at the same time.”
On Marquaze Parker’s growth during his time at UC
“It's crazy to say that because Marquaze [Parker] and I were roommates when we first got here together. Marquaze is a great guy. He's definitely matured a lot, and he's a great football player. He's always been a great player, and it's great to see him step into the leader role.”
On new defensive coordinator Nate Woody’s defense
“We haven't really done too much yet, but it's a great defense for linebackers specifically because it allows you to make a lot more plays. Honestly, you can blitz, you can run around the field and make taggers out on the sideline, so it really opens up for linebackers.”
On his play through the first two games
“I have played pretty good, but there’s still room to get better. I’m just trying to stay consistent. Trying to stick to our style of play, but it could always be better.”
On the wide receivers and tight ends blocking in the run game
“From the receiver point of view, the receivers are doing great. They are doing a really great job blocking. They are giving it their all. You see Larenzo Fenner blocking 30 yards down the field. Just the receivers and the tight ends, all of us coming together is going to win us a lot of games. I am excited, I love to see that. I love seeing the receivers getting pancakes, I love seeing that stuff.”
On working with offensive line coach Nic Cardwell
“I knew on my visits and during the recruiting process that Coach Cardwell was a great coach, not just on the field, but off the field. When someone has that type of personality off the field, you see his genuineness, I started to imagine what he could do for you on the field. Him sticking with me every day, after my injury. Coach Cardwell is probably is the best coach I have ever had in my life and it shows. He has helped me be a great player. I knew that this was going to be the guy that helped me.”
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