Fresno Sights & Sounds

From BK's new web site. http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=cinn&media=141960

UC @ Miami

We will be the highest ranked team to ever visit the Foreskins. Can you say trap game? We better bring it. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090929/SPT0101/309290080/1064/UC-Miami+about+rivalry++not+rankings

USC Beat OSU?

Pike for Heisman!

It's official. He has a blog advocating it (not from him mind you) and his own T-Shirt. Check out his stats vs. the other candidates and tell me he doesn't have a case? http://pikeforheisman.com/

Gotham Bowl Announced

Well, kinda. I just think Gotham sounds better than Yankee. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/09/29/yankee-bowl/index.html

Tailgate CHANGE!!

The UC Alumni Association, unhappy with our "assigned" tailgate spot by the Miami Foreskin group, is rolling the dice, getting there early, and setting up shop in the middle of enemy territory! New map directions attached. See you there in the West Millett Lot! http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=2906+Woodside+Drive,+Cincinnati,+OH,+45221&daddr=39.515033,-84.736133&geocode=&gl=us&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=39.513941,-84.732077&sspn=0.00836,0.019248&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16

Josh's Blog

Besides writing Bearcat's Rising, Josh does a blog on UC sports. He makes some interesting observations in his most recent column that can be found at http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/blog/spec-rel/092909aaa.html. In particular:

1. FYI: be on the lookout for a four-page feature on the UC football team that’s in this week’s Sports Illustrated.

2. Junior linebacker Robby Armstrong – who is 10th on the team in total tackles and also has recorded a sack – is done for the year after tearing the ACL and MCL in his knee while trying to break through a wedge on the kickoff return team in the win vs. Fresno State.

3. The other tidbit I'll let you read about. Will be interesting to see the day we don't have any players who remember the days before sold out crowds and big bowls.

Fresno St vs. UC Highlights

Posted via GoBearcats. Worth watching just to see DJ's catch! http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=cinn&media=141679

Miami Tailgate!

As I reported before we'll be tailgating with the alumni association. Tom is getting there early and participating as well. Start time is about 9AM. Bring some drinks and watch us take over Oxford. UC"s allotment of tickets is sold out! http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092809aab.html, but tickets remain thru Miami. I'm hearing huge numbers of Bearcats are attending. Site of tailgate can be found at http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=5132+Bonham+Rd,+Oxford,+OH+45056&geocode=%3BFbEHWwIdMCjz-g&dirflg=&saddr=2906+Woodside+Drive,+Cincinnati,+OH,+45221&f=d&gl=us&hl=en&sll=39.521224,-84.727077&sspn=0.008359,0.019248&ie=UTF8&ll=39.519867,-84.728719&spn=0.00418,0.009624&t=h&z=17

UC Fresno Highlights

Via ESPN and the BE Network. http://www.bigeast.org/newMediaPlayer/sl/console.htm?type=vod&DB_MENU_ID=&oemid=19400&CLIP_FILE_ID=651241&id=651241&SPSID=&SPID=&CLIP_ID=640973&DB_OEM_ID=19400

WSJ

You know you're getting the love when the WSJ ranks you 4th! Very good article on why polls preseason don't mean squat. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125406517481244141.html

ROAD TRIP

Heading to Miami this weekend and ready to party. Won't be there in time to throw our own tailgate, so we'll be joining the alumni association. Check out the following Google link to see where they'll be set up. See you there! http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=5132+Bonham+Rd,+Oxford,+OH+45056&geocode=%3BFbEHWwIdMCjz-g&dirflg=&saddr=2906+Woodside+Drive,+Cincinnati,+OH,+45221&f=d&gl=us&hl=en&sll=39.521224,-84.727077&sspn=0.008359,0.019248&ie=UTF8&ll=39.519867,-84.728719&spn=0.00418,0.009624&t=h&z=17

White Out Success?

I think so. But WTF is up with the bunny?

UC 10th!

Are we good? Yes. This good? We'll see. Meanwhile, I'm basking in the glow! http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090927/SPT0101/309270014/1064/Bearcats+hit+No.+10+in+AP+poll

Hoard on the Practice Facilities

Read the article and please get involved. http://www.gobearcats.com/ot/dan-hoard-column.html. Some of the highlights include:

In case you missed it, Brian Kelly did an interview with Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com last week where he stressed the need to improve the football practice facilities at UC.
I'm guessing that you didn't miss it.
But just in case, here are a couple of noteworthy passages:
Dienhart: What's the key to the program taking that next step?
BK: "Facilities. It's the absolute most critical element that this university has to continue to take a hard look at. We aren't where we need to be. But we put an exciting product on the field. We have won a lot of football games. Now, it's up to the university to step up and get these things done."
Dienhart: Is it true that you really have no practice fields?
BK: Yes, we have no practice fields. We practice at the stadium. There is no ability to go out and practice a spread, no-huddle offense. We don't get 120 yards to do that. We have to do it on 50 yards because the defense is on the other half of the field. It is hard to do, and I give our kids a lot of credit for being able to overcome it and continue to win. And, of course, we have no indoor facility. In fact, to prepare for the Orange Bowl, we had to practice in an indoor soccer facility. It obviously wasn't a very good way to prepare our football team.
The interview has ignited another wave of panic that the two-time BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year will leave Cincinnati the next time a school with deeper pockets comes calling.

AND

I'm not on the UCATS payroll, and I'm extremely uncomfortable asking you to give money, but here's the bottom line: Is the phenomenal rise of the UC football program worth supporting? Perhaps you're in a position to give a major gift. Maybe you can afford $20 a week, or a dollar a day. That's a decision that only you can make.
It's a very specific contribution that would go directly toward construction, so you could literally point toward the practice bubble in the future and say, "I helped to build that."
That's what I plan to do.

Go Cadets!

How it's supposed to sound.

The Lance Effect

Sure, it's football season, but let's remember that UC might just have their best basketball team in years. On top of that, they arguably have their biggest recruit since Oscar waiting to be cleared (as are all of our freshmen). He's the all-time leading scorer in NY history. Let that sink in for a minute. He's rated higher than any other recruit we've had (including Kenyon, Johnson, Wingfield, Satterfield, Fortson). He was a McDonald AA and leading scorer in the game. In NY he's an icon, featured in his own reality show. In Cincinnati, kids aren't even asking for an autograph yet! Gonna be an interesting year. http://www.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090922&content_id=7094884&oid=2&vkey=21

Fresno St. Tailgating Times

Last update for this Sat. If you need maps or other info refer to the tabs on the left of the screen. Email me at armybearcat@gmail.com if you need anything else. Looking forward to Goetta and a bloody mary or screwdriver! Go CATS!

Ohio's Best Team?

I'm not about to enter into this argument, b/c I think both schools have good teams and either could win on any given day, but it's nice just to be in the conversation for once. I did find this quote interesting: "Pead knows well that his opinion will be anathema to the Buckeye fans who inhabit every corner of the state. He grew up in Columbus, where he topped one of Ohio State's greatest players: Pead broke two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin's career rushing record at Eastmoor Academy, then had to choose between the two schools for college.Buckeyes? Or Bearcats?“I liked the situation they have here,” the sophomore running back said. “They were an up-and-coming team and I love the coaches. The coaches were nice, whereas the OSU coaches were, 'If you come here, you come here. If you don't, then that's fine, we'll get the next guy.' I felt these coaches, they cared about you.”Not even a little lobbying by Griffin himself could sway Pead. Griffin was a frequent topic of conversation in Pead's home because his grandfather played little league baseball and high school football against him in Columbus. Pead grew up reading the yellowed newspaper clippings of those encounters." http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090922/SPT0101/309220052/1064/UC+thinks+it+s+Ohio+s+best+team

UC OSU Highlights

On CBS Sports. http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=cinn&media=79863. Very well done.

Feel Good Story of the Day

From the best. Enjoy. http://www.gobearcats.com/ot/dan-hoard-column.html

WVA Game a Sellout!

And only 2000 tickets remain for this Sat. Get your tickets soon! http://www.cincinnati.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=992055

UC National Pub

CFN writes that UC is the sleeper team for the national championship. You heard that right. I'm not saying we'd win or that we'll even make it that far, but close your eyes and go back 3 or more years from today and ask yourself, did I ever imagine we'd be in this conversation? I have to honestly answer no. http://cfn.scout.com/2/901294.html

UC OSU Highlights

Via Big East Network. http://www.bigeast.org/newMediaPlayer/sl/console.htm?id=649570&SPSID=&type=vod&CLIP_ID=639217&DB_OEM_ID=19400&SPID=&DB_MENU_ID=&oemid=19400&CLIP_FILE_ID=649570

Sat Game is WHITEOUT

Don't ask me why, it just is. http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092009aaa.html. Army ROTC will have T-shirts at my tailgate for the game, so stop by and pick one up. BTW, we're in the top 15 in all polls! Go CATS!

Thanks for the Memories!

UC OSU highlights from 2007.

UC Pounds the Beavers!

Holy Cow what a game! I'm slowly regaining my blood pressure and voice today but thought I'd share the write-up. I'd say the D passed the test for the game as they held OSU to field goals on multiple drives starting inside our half of the field. With Curtis Young out with a torn meniscus. Any win on the road, especially against a P10 team across the country who is ranked is IMPRESSIVE! Go CATS! http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090919/SPT0101/309190037/1064/UC+defense+stops+Oregon+State++++

"Tailgating Times" for Fresno St.

Of course we have to take care of OSU tomorrow, but it's worth putting out a warning order for the Fresno St. tailgate since it's only a week away. This is a Noon gametime, so Tom is planning on arriving before 8AM and we hope to be there by 8:30 or so give or take. As I previously posted, the alumni association is hosting a goetta cookoff http://www.alumni.uc.edu/events_nav/bearcat_football/tailgating_contest.html in which our team (basically Tom's family) has been busy practicing with their recipe in anticipating of winning Grand Poobah Champion!

• Kegs and eggs will be the course for the day. We'll have a breakfast casserol and goetta breakfast sandwiches. No keg this time just BYOB or enjoy ours, but I doubt we'd drain a keg again by noon!
• eInvite will follow soon to help us get a handle on how much to fix. Email me at armybearcat@gmail.com if you'd like to be included.
• This game is a whiteout sponsored by the US Army. They will be dropping 50 or so T-shirts off at the tailgate for people to wear instead of having to pick them up in line at the gate.

Come support the CATS!

Just in time for Oktoberfest

Keep voting!

The Kelce's Shine

Great article on 2 brothers playing side by side at UC. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090917/SPT0101/309160085/1064/Brothers+key+cogs+for+Bearcats

Just Had to Share

WV UC Tickets

Only 400 remain. Get going if you need more! http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091609aae.html

Bearcat Videos

Both BK's press conference and the 1986 UC vs. Miami game highlights at Riverfront Stadium posted. Very cool to see the old footage. Remember to click clear all then select the video you want to see. http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=cinn&media=79863. If you scroll down they've also posted SEMO highlight from a couple days ago too.

Jefferson Ave Sports Complex

Here's the bottom line. If we raise the money to build these facilities BK stays. If not he goes year-end. There is only so long even a comitted person will continue to do well at a place with half the resources of his competition before he leaves to join that competition. We are the only BE team without an indoor practice facility. Even Akron in the MAC has one! Even small donations help. Visit http://www.gobearcats.com/facilities/indoor-practice-facility.html to view more pictures and make a donation. I really don't want to go back to what we were, so please consider.

Tailgate Thank You

Thanks to everyone who participated, donated, cornholed, and helped drain a full keg of Mmmm Good Drinking (MGD)! I'd have to say wundertailgaters Mike & Tom took 1st place with a two flat-screens set-up as I counted over 100 people at the party, most glued to the UM ND game. I hate to compliment Tom's loin too much, but it was certainly the hit of the Pig Out!

I've posted some new pics in the screen show to the left. Click to bring up the entire collection and new ones will always be posted at the bottom. I've got 2 more collections being sent to me for inclusion and will post ASAP.

As for the game, it was over as fast as the flyover by the F-16's! Between the Apache, the jump team, fireworks and the fighters marketing put on quite a show for the home opener.

Now the real work begins. OSU is ranked, has something like a 26 OCC winning streak at home, and is a brutal place to play. If we win this, and I mean IF, I will fully believe in our hype.

I'll post more on the Fresno St. tailgate soon. Thanks again for coming! GO CATS!

Vote Bearcat!

Remember to keep voting for the Bearcat everyday! We've won our first three matchups and the winning mascot earns the University cash! http://www.capitalonebowl.com/

Dan Hoard Reviews SEMO

As always, top notch from the best broadcaster in UC history. http://www.gobearcats.com/ot/dan-hoard-column.html

Bearcat Intro Video

In case you missed it or was too hammered to remember!

Bearcats Vault to #17

Trying not to get too excited. OSU next weekend is the big test. One can say we caught RU early in the season before their new QB was ready (and he'll be a good one), that SEMO was a IAA, but playing at OSU will set the record. That West Coast trip is never easy, just ask USC. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090913/SPT0101/309130022/1064/Bearcats+vault+to+17th+in+AP+poll

Dan Hoard on Pike

From the best person ever to cover UC sports. Great article on how none of our QB's were highly recruited, but BK has turned each into an All-Conference selection. http://www.gobearcats.com/ot/dan-hoard-column.html

Coach's Show

Post RU coach's show posted. I never seem to be able to catch it on TV but you can watch it online. Great job, lots of highlights, and insights into the players and coachs. http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=cinn&media=138396

More Highlights!

Probably the best so far. Check out the link, which is UC's official online video store where the marketing department posts all their videos first. Some make it to Youtube, others don't. If you want to see them all this is CBS Sportsline, the app is easy to load, then click "Clear All" to bring up the most recent posts. Everything is on here, post game press conferences, highlight videos, clips from the weekly coach's TV show, etc. http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=cinn&media=79863

UC vs. RU Highlights

Courtesy of the Big East Network. http://www.bigeast.org/newMediaPlayer/sl/console.htm?id=647122&SPSID=&type=vod&CLIP_ID=637116&DB_OEM_ID=19400&SPID=&DB_MENU_ID=&oemid=19400&CLIP_FILE_ID=647122

Gameday Activities

Here's a link to the gameday activities for SEMS. Go CATS! Bobblehead night no less! http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090809aaa.html

Two Great Articles

UC to #23 per the Equirer. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090908/SPT0101/309080050/1064/UC+ranked+No.+23+in+latest+polls

ESPN says UC the team to beat in the BE. http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/tag/_/name/bearcats-knights-090509

Pike Violates RU

Best quote of the whole article, "Pike took Greg Schiano's defense and did things to it that violated state decency laws.' http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12171919

UC Set to Name New President

Yep, it's a sports blog. But you better believe the new president's support, and fundraising ability, will directly affect if we keep BK and continue to get better in both football and basketball. Don't know much about the hire, but here's what someone pointedo out to me:

Worked his way through college.Played high school basketball and football.Worked in law enforcement.Attended Muncie Central High School. A powerhouse in basketball back in his day.High school's sports team nickname: "The Bearcats"Muncie Central is also the high school of Ron Bonham.Knows how the get the cash flowing.Reserved and not overbearing. Cincinnati likes reserved. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090908/NEWS0102/309070006/UC+set+to+name+new+president

UC vs. RU 2 Years Ago

Last time we went to RU. Let's hope for a repeat. BTW, I sure miss seeing Mauk play.

Tailgating Times Sept 12th vs SEMS

First warning order going out! We're ready to party, pray for good weather, and a win against SEMS Sept 12th. Some of the highlights:

• Click on the tailgate tab on the lower left and there are maps to our site.
• We'll be starting NLT Noon, but hopefully earlier.
• We'll be cooking pork sandwiches, brats, and Tom's got the pork loin. Feel free to bring sides and you can sign up for the eInvite to let us know. Email me at armybearcat@gmail.com if you'd like to get an invite.
• You are welcome to bring beer, but I'll have a keg available ($5 donations/person appreciated to cover the cost).
• As always, we'll have tents, cornhole, football and all the assorted tailgating stuff. Feel free to bring a chair if you'd like.
• New for this year, Tom will have a TV and generator running for us to watch games during the day weather depending. AWESOME!

Can't wait to see you there and email me with any questions!

UC vs. RU Game Preview

Anything and everything you need to know about the opening game listed here. Go cats! http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090309aaa.html

Bearcats Adopt

As we head into the season it's good to see stories like this. Hopefully he does well, and I'm sure having 100 big brothers is a nice help. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090902/SPT0101/309020080/1064/Bearcats+have+a+new+teammate

UC Alumni Tailgate @ RU

If you're headed to the game at Rutgers worth stopping by. Always put together a nice spread.

http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/CTA/events_alumni/event_order.cgi?tmpl=events&event=2231910

Bearcat Throws Deep!

Just a reminder to vote for the Bearcat in the Capital One mascot bowl! Here's a video of him at a local school throwing deep for a TD!

BK Interview on Broo

http://www.kenbroo.com/BrianKellyIntw.mp3

Audio interview to finish up camp and kickoff the first week's prep against RU.