Bearcats Seek Bowl Eligibility vs. USF

[Guest HowieP1]

Bearcats Seek Bowl Eligibility vs. USF

Final home game for two dozen UC seniors.

11/15/2004

Cincinnati vs. USF

Date: Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004

Time: 3:30 p.m. EST

Site: Nippert Stadium (35,000, FieldTurf), Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: Sunshine Network, ESPN Game Plan.

Radio: WLW-AM 700 (Dan Hoard, Jim Kelly and Scott Springer). Also available on-line via UCBearcats.com

Records: Cincinnati 5-4, 4-2 C-USA; USF 4-4, 3-3 C-USA

Series: USF leads, 1-0

Last Meeting: Oct. 31, 2003 in Tampa

USF 24, Cincinnati 17, 2ot

Tickets: $22 Adult Reserved, $17 Section C; $11 Youth (12 and under).

As part of Fan Appreciation Day, adults purchasing a ticket can receive a youth ticket free. Also offered is a 4 for $44 specialâ€â€purchase four tickets for $44.Tickets for all UC home games are on sale at the Athletic Ticket Office (9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily) and are available on-line via www.UCBearcats.com, or by phone: 513-556-CATS.

Bearcats Seek Bowl Eligibility vs. USF

The University of Cincinnati will seek a winning season and eligibility to advance to a postseason bowl game when hosting South Florida on Saturday at Nippert Stadium. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m.

The USF game has been designated Fan Appreciation Day with two special ticket offers available. The purchase of an adult ticket will entitle fans to a free youth ticket. Additionally, there is the 4 for 44 promotion, in which four tickets may be purchased for $44.

The Bearcats, 5-4, enter the game riding a three-game winning streak, which has put them into a three-way tie for second place in Conference USA with Southern Miss and UAB. UC is coming off an open week. The Bearcats last played on Nov. 6, defeating then-No. 21 Southern Miss, 52-24.

USF enters the contest with a 4-4 overall record and a 3-3 league ledger. The Bulls downed East Carolina, 41-17, last Saturday.

Saturday’s contest looms as a battle of two hot teams. Cincinnati is on a three-game win streak, during which the Bearcats have outscored their opponents, 122-44. A victory would give UC its longest win streak since 2000 when the Bearcats closed the regular season with four straight victories. USF brings a two-game win streak into the contest, during which the Bulls have outscored their opposition, 86-37.

Gino Guidugli’s play has been a major factor in the Bearcats’ success. The senior quarterback has passed for 645 yards and nine touchdowns during the three victories, posting a lofty passing efficiency rating of 184.12 during that span to climb to No. 22 in the most recent national rankings. Guidugli threw a school-record five touchdown passes and finished with 308 yards on 19-of-26 passing in the win over Southern Miss to earn Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors last week.

Richard Hall, who is ranked 36th nationally in rushing (91.8 yards per game), needs to average 87 yards over his final two games to become UC’s 13th 1,000-yard rusher.

UC’s defensive play has also played a major role. The Bearcats have given up an average of only 300 yards over the last three contests.

The Bearcat seniors will be recognized in ceremonies preceding the contest. Twenty-four Bearcats will be playing their final home game.

UC vs. USF

Saturday’s game will be the second football meeting between Cincinnati and USF and the first ever in Cincinnati. The teams first faced off last season in Tampa, with the Bulls winning in double overtime, 24-17. The new rivalry is destined to continue as both programs begin play in the Big East next season.

About USF

• USF is the nation’s newest Division I-A football program. USF football debuted in 1997 at the I-AA level, and achieved I-A status in 2000. By contrast, Cincinnati is the nation’s fifth-oldest I-A grid program. UC, which launched football in 1885, is preceded by only Rutgers (1869), Michigan (1879), Navy (1880) and Minnesota (1883).

• USF has had just one losing seasonâ€â€its first with a 5-6 ledgerâ€â€in its grid history. The Bulls are 55-30, which includes a 35-17 record as a Division I-A team.

• The Bulls have relied upon football-rich Florida in building their team. Only four players on this year’s roster are from out-of-state.

Last Meeting

DeJuan Green broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run in the second overtime and Lee Roy Selmon intercepted a Cincinnati pass to left USF to a 24-17 victory in Tampa on Oct. 31, 2003. The Bearcats held the upper hand through most of the contest, scoring first on Mike Daniels’ 2-yard pass from Gino Guidugli and taking a 10-7 lead with Chet Ervin’s 38-yard field goal. USF tied the contest with a 30-yard field goal by Santiago Gramatica with 3:33 to play. The two teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime.

USF Boasts Rushing Leader

The USF offense is led by junior running back Andre Hall, who ranks 11th nationally in rushing, averaging 122.9 yards per outing. Hall, who has had a pair of 200-yard rushing performances, including a 275-yard day vs. UAB, is ranked third nationally and first in C-USA in all-purpose running (178.9 yards per game).

The Bearcat defense has risen to the challenge twice this season when facing nationally-ranked rushers. UC contained Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams, who was No. 7 nationally in rushing (147.3) to 57 yards. TCU’s Lonta Hobbs, No. 32 nationally in rushing (94.5 yards), and the nation’s top scorer, was limited to 49 yards and held out of the endzone.

On This Date

Cincinnati is 3-4 in games played on Nov. 20. In 1993 UC defeated East Carolina, 34-14, to cap an 8-3 season, and in 1976 a 20-6 win over Louisville ended a 9-2 campaign, two of the best years for UC football in the last quarter century.

1999 Memphis L, 21-13

1993 East Carolina W, 34-14

1976 Louisville W, 20-6

1971 at Miami (Ohio) L, 43-7

1965 Miami (Ohio) L, 37-7

1954 Miami (Ohio) L, 21-9

1941 Miami (Ohio) W, 26-0

Bearcats Climb to Second Place

Cincinnati enters the week tied with Southern Miss and UAB for second place in the Conference USA standings. All have 4-2 league ledgers and trail Louisville, which boasts a 5-0 mark. The Bearcats have been the hottest of those three, having beaten Memphis, TCU and then-No. 21 Southern Miss by a combined score of 122-44 over their last three outings.

Season Similarities

After Cincinnati lost to Army on Oct. 9 to fall to 2-4, Bearcat senior quarterback Gino Guidugli reminded his teammates and coaches that UC was in a similar situation in 2002. That team had fallen to 3-5, but reversed its fortunes with a 48-10 win over Memphis. UC won five of its last six contests, the lone loss a non-league fray vs. Hawaii, to capture the C-USA co-championship and advance to the New Orleans Bowl. This year, the Bearcats began their resurgence with a 49-10 victory over Memphis and have won three straight to move into a tie for second place, and are one win away from becoming bowl eligible.

Cole No. 2 in TFLs

After leading the nation in tackles for loss for two weeks, Trent Cole is ranked second for this week, averaging 2.22 TFLs per game. Marshall’s Jonathan Goddard is first, averaging 2.40 with Washington’s Manase Hopoi third at 2.20.

Gino on a Roll

Gino Guidugli is playing some of the best football of his four-year career. Guidugli set a new UC record when he threw five touchdown passes in last Saturday’s win over Southern Miss. The senior has completed 45 of 70 passes for 645 yards and nine touchdowns during the Bearcats’ current three-game win streak. He has posted a passing efficiency rating of 184.12 during this span to climb to No. 22 in the national rankings.

Gino Third Among Active Players

Gino Guidugli, the first Bearcat to top the 10,000-yard marks in career passing and total offense yardage, is third nationally, among active players, in passing yards and total offense yards. Guidugli has 10,845 career passing yards, trailing Timmy Chang of Hawaii (15,470) and David Greene of Georgia (11,184). Guidugli’s 11,043 yards in total offense is bettered by Chang (15,260) and Akron’s Charlie Frye (11,082).

UC Gets 500th Win

Cincinnati recorded the 500th football victory in the history of its program when the Bearcats defeated No. 21 Southern Miss on Nov. 6. UC has compiled a 500-522-51 ledger in its 116 seasons of competition.

A Look at the Win Streak

There are several factors involved in Cincinnati’s mid-season turnaround. You might say it is a total team effort:

• While UC’s offense has been only slightly more productive (UC averaged 421.3 yards over the last 3 games; season average is 411.7), the attack has been more efficient. The Bearcats have averaged 40.7 points over the last three games, compared to 23.0 in their first six contests.

• UC’s defense has given up averages of only 300 yards and 14.7 points over the last three contests, compared to 374.7 yards and 28.2 points in the first six games.

• The Bearcats have played near mistake-free football during this span, committing no turnovers while compiling six takeaways.

• Cincinnati’s offensive line has not given up a sack in the last four games.

UC Claims C-USA Honors

Conference USA Player of the Week honors continued to mount at the University of Cincinnati.

• Gino Guidugli, who passed for 308 yards and a school-record five touchdowns in the 52-24 win over No. 21 Southern Miss on Nov. 6, was named Offensive Player of the Week.

• Andre Frazier, who keyed the UC defense with eight tackles, four of them solo, and recorded a sack and two tackles for loss in the 21-10 win over TCU on Oct. 30, was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week.

• Chet Ervin, who punted seven times for a 44.3-yard average vs. TCU and gave the UC defense good field position with five punts on or inside the 20, earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

• Trent Cole earned the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week award following his three-sack, four-tackles for loss performance in the Bearcats’ 24-19 win over East Carolina on Sept. 25.

• Richard Hall was the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week after his 238-yard rushing effort in the Sept. 11 victory over Miami (Ohio).

Sack Race

Andre Frazier and Trent Cole are competing for positions in the Cincinnati career rankings for sacks and tackles for loss. Frazier is second in career sacks with 21.5, trailing only former teammate Antwan Peek, now with the Houston Texans, who recorded 27 sacks between 1998-02. Frazier is fifth in tackles for loss with 40.5. Cole is third in tackles for loss with 45.5 and fifth in sacks with 16.5.

Guidugli Tops Passing Marks

Every time Gino Guidugli throws a pass, he sets a new Cincinnati career record, and also closes in on a Conference USA record. The senior quarterback has broken all of the UC career passing and total offense records. Last week, he moved into third place in career completions for C-USA with 794, and needs four more completions to reach second place, held by Tulane’s Patrick Ramsey. Guidugli needs one more TD pass to climb into second place in C-USA.

Milestone March

Several other Bearcats have a chance to leave their marks on the defensive records lists:

• Daven Holly moved into a six-way tie for fourth place in career interceptions. He recorded the ninth INT of his career in the Oct. 30 win over TCU. Last season, Holly tied the UC single season record with six interceptions.

• Doug Monaghan is tied for 10th place in career interceptions with eight.

• Monaghan, with 193 solo tackles, is in sixth place on that career list and is tied for No. 9 on the career total tackles list with 322 total stops.

• Tyjuan Hagler, with 33.5 tackles for loss, has moved into ninth place on the career list.

Starting Streak

Gino Guidugli will be making his 46th consecutive start when Cincinnati hosts USF on Nov. 20. No other player has made more consecutive starts at UC. A couple of other members of the senior class also have impressive starting stats.

• Kyle Takavitz has started the last 35 games, 14 at right tackle in 2002 and 21 at guard in 2003 and this season.

• Strong safety Doug Monaghan has started 43 of the 45 games in which he has played during his four-year career (he’s missed five games due to injury). Monaghan has a streak of 21 straight starts.

• Left offensive tackle Steve Eastlake has a string of 21 consecutive starts.

What a Start!

Jeremy Jackson, who originally joined the Bearcats as a walk-on and whose service up until recently has been limited to appearances on the special teams, has stepped up in a very big way. The senior from Cincinnati got the nod to start at free safety for the Nov. 13 game at Southern Miss. Jackson performed well in his debut, sharing the team lead in tackles with nine. His interception set up UC’s first score in the 52-24 victory, and he also recorded a tackle for loss.

Bearcat Defense Responds

The Cincinnati defense has responded well to the challenge of stopping nationally-ranked offensive attacks during its winning streak.

• UC held TCU, which entered the game with the nation’s No. 11 scoring offense (35.9 points per game), to 10 points and kept NCAA scoring leader Lonta Hobbs out of the end zone.

• Hobbs, No. 32 nationally in rushing (94.5 yards), was limited to 49 yards.

• The Bearcats held Memphis, No. 8 in total offense (477.7), to 202 yards, limiting the Tigers’ No. 10-ranked passing attack (283.2) to 113 yards.

• UC contained Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams, who was No. 7 nationally in rushing (147.3) to 57 yards. Tiger QB Danny Wimprine, No. 14 in total offense (275.0) managed just 37 yards vs. the Bearcats.

• Against Southern Miss, the UC special teams contained John Eubanks, who entered the game leading the nation in kickoff returns. Eubanks, who was averaging 34.4 yards per return, managed just 42 yards on two returns and had no yards in four punt returns. Bearcat sophomore Greg Moore forced Eubanks to fumble a kickoff in the first quarter which led to UC’s first touchdown.

Leftovers from the Southern Miss Game

• The Gino Guidugli-Hannibal Thomas 80-yard touchdown pass was Cincinnati’s longest since an 82-yard Eric Vibberts-to-Robert Tate TD pass vs. Kansas in 1995.

• Hannibal Thomas’ three touchdown receptions tied the UC single game record. It is the fourth time the record has been reached, the most recent by Jon Olinger vs. East Carolina on Dec. 6, 2002.

• Thomas recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and fourth of his career. It was his second two-touchdown reception game of the season and the third for the Bearcats.

• The Cincinnati offensive line extended its streak of games in which the Bearcats have not surrendered a sack to four.

• The 52 points scored by UC is the most since the Bearcats also tallied 52 in a 52-42 win over Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 30, 1999.

• The victory was the 500th win in UC football history. It marked the fourth time in school history that Cincinnati has defeated a ranked opponent and the first since a 27-24 win over No. 24 Southern Miss in 2000.

Celek Sets Mark

Brent Celek has set a UC mark for touchdown receptions by a tight end. The sophomore from Cincinnati caught his sixth TD pass of the season at Southern Miss, eclipsing the previous high of four set by Darryl Goosby in 1982 and tied by Joe Koynock in 1990.

Hall Pursuing 1,000

Richard Hall has rushed for 826 yards in Cincinnati’s first nine games, topping his season total for all of last season. The senior, who is ranked No. 32 in the national rushing statistics (91.8 yards per game) needs 174 yards over UC’s final three games to become the 13th Bearcat to reach the 1,000-yard mark.

Frosh Making Impact on Receiver Corps

Freshmen have been making their impression on the Cincinnati receiver corps.

• True freshman Earnest Jackson, who reported to UC as a quarterback candidate, is the team’s third-leading receiver with 18 receptions for 267 yards. He posted career bests of seven receptions for 89 yards vs. UAB on Oct. 2.

• Doug Jones, a redshirt frosh, has made 11 catches for 122 yards and a three TDs over his last four games.

Double Rushing Trouble

Though Richard Hall is among the national rushing leaders, the senior is no longer a one-man force in the Cincinnati ground attack. Freshmen Butler Benton and Bradley Glatthaar have emerged as threats. Benton is the team’s second-leading rusher (314 yards), which included a 127-yard performance vs. East Carolina on Sept. 25. Glatthaar is third (182) with three games of 40-or-more yards. He had a career-high 47 vs. Memphis on Oct. 23 and has rushed for a TD in three straight games.

Block That Kick

The Bearcats continue to add to their reputation for blocking kicks. UC has made four rejections this season. Mike Wright blocked a PAT try in the Sept. 11 Miami game, which was scooped up and returned for a defensive two-point PAT by Daven Holly. Adam Roberts blocked a field goal in the Sept. 18 contest vs. Syracuse. Trent Cole blocked a PAT vs. Army. Tyjuan Hagler deflected a punt in the Nov. 6 win over Southern Miss. Cincinnati blocked five opponent field goals in 2003 and returned two of those for touchdowns.

Hall of a Day

Richard Hall must take the Cincinnati-Miami football rivalry to heart. Hall, who rushed for a career-high 161 yards in the 2003 showdown vs. the RedHawks, topped that this season by gaining 238 yards, the sixth-highest single game rushing total in UC history, in UC’s 45-26 win on Sept. 11. Hall, who scored three touchdowns in the “oldest rivalry West of the Alleghenies,†put Cincinnati on the scoreboard first with a 70-yard TD run. He later broke free for a 79-yard jaunt, the longest rush in six seasons and tied for the sixth-longest run in UC history, to set up the Bearcats’ final TD. For his efforts, Hall was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 13.

Thomas Makes Big Plays

Hannibal Thomas continues to make the big plays in the Cincinnati passing game. The senior, who leads the team in receiving (42 receptions, 748 yards), is ranked 28th nationally in receiving yards per game (83.1). Thomas tied a UC record with three touchdown receptions in the Nov. 6 win over Southern Miss. He finished with seven catches for 168 yards. Thomas caught five passes for a personal best 175 yards, and was on the receiving end of a 69-yard pass play, in the Sept. 11 win over Miami. Dating back to last season, Thomas has 12 TD catches in his last 13 games.

Up Next

Cincinnati closes the 2004 regular season on Nov. 27 at No. 8 Louisville. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. The game will be televised by WXIX-TV 19.

http://www.ucbearcats.com/sports/football/release.asp?release_id=3088

[RJWGoBulls]

Looks like it is on Gameplan so I can watch it over here!  ;D

[The_Reaper]

I like that comment... "Gino on a roll.: I think I'll have him with peppers, onions, and a little mustard!

[smazza]

gut checktime for bulls

[bullsmania]

If the offense (Pat) comes to play this could be a shootout.  I hope our young secondary is up to the task.  

[go_usfbulls]

The Bearcat defense has risen to the challenge twice this season when facing nationally-ranked rushers. UC contained Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams, who was No. 7 nationally in rushing (147.3) to 57 yards. TCU’s Lonta Hobbs, No. 32 nationally in rushing (94.5 yards), and the nation’s top scorer, was limited to 49 yards and held out of the endzone.

I believe this is the key to the game for USF.  Cincy has stopped 2 other main backs and for us to win we need Andre to have another big day.  It all starts there to open up the play action that has appeared to work lately.  I believe this is a big time game for our offensive line to show once again what they are made of.  

[Bullpride08]

I believe this is the key to the game for USF.  Cincy has stopped 2 other main backs and for us to win we need Andre to have another big day.  It all starts there to open up the play action that has appeared to work lately.  I believe this is a big time game for our offensive line to show once again what they are made of.  

It's sort of a loaded statement.  The Memphis game was a real anomoly, of course DeAngelo Williams only had 14 touches and ran for 58 yards.  I think alot of it had to do with the fact Danny Wimperine was 8-22 passing (like the UL game, when you can't get enough possessions and touches to your star RB he won't get his stats).  Again, the key is to get both PJ, and Hall on track.  The TCU game is smoke and mirrors, sure Hobbs only had 49 yards on 12 carries, but Draper, and Merrill ran 110 yards combined, and TCU ran for 168 against Cinci.

I also like how they forget to mention that Lydell Ross, Carlton Jones, and Walter Reyes all rushed for well over 100 yards.  No doubt Cinci's got a strong rush defense.  To beat them we need to rely on our offense to be balanced.  This isn't a game where Hall will go off and get 200 yards- although you never know.  I could see 26 carry's for 124 yards, and another 35 by Crossley.  If PJ can get a solid passing game going, and we don't turn the ball over we should win.

Balance beats Cinci.

[Zonald]

Yes, our O line needs to step it up.  Hall is most of what we've got.  If they stop him, we're in for a looooong night.  

[BullDoug]

Glad Davis is back this week.

[The_Reaper]

I wonder if Bobby Huggins will be in the stands with his new recuits...the 5 brewmasters from Hudepohl Brewery in Cincinatti!!! ;D      Reap

ps. I do know however, that the Ohio State division of Corrections will be there ready to take the pris...I mean players back to their "dorms."