Cincinnati Bearcats Football Writing the Beginning of History by Ryan Giesting
Contributor Written on January 19, 2010
Bleacherreport.com
What do you think of when you hear Cincinnati football? Do you immediately think of the Cincinnati Bengals? Or do you think of the excellent high school football? St. Xavier, Colerain, Elder, La Salle? The city that Kirk Herbstreit had his high school classic every year where he would bring in the best high schools from around the country to play Cincinnati high schools?
You would not be a fool to think these things, but in the outskirts of downtown Cincinnati there is a campus, with one of the most historic football fields in the country. Nippert Stadium is the home of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats football team.
It is the home of the back to back Big East Champions, situated right in the center of campus. Nippert only holds 35,097 people, but it is the past, present, and future of what will forever be known as Cincinnati football.
The past three seasons for the Bearcats have been incredible with Brian Kelly at the helm running his fast tempo, spread offense. He started his tenure at University of Cincinnati in 2006 when he left Central Michigan and led the Bearcats to a win in the International Bowl.
In his first full season in 2007 he led the Bearcats to a historical 10-win season, a first since 1949. Kelly excelled more in 2008 to an 11-win season and a Big East Championship.
That leads us to 2009, the “season to remember.” The perfect 11-0 record was on the line on December 5, 2009 when the Bearcats traveled to Heinz Field to take on Pittsburgh. The matchup was the de facto Big East Championship; whichever team won this game was the champion and headed to a BCS bowl game.
The Bearcats were down by 21 in the second quarter before Mardy Gilyard ran back a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. That kickoff return was not just a touchdown; it was way more than that. It was the beginning of an ESPN Classic. It was the start of a comeback that will never be forgotten, and the foundation of what people will first think of when they hear Cincinnati football. Bearcats.
The Bearcats won the game 45-44 in thrilling fashion. The next week, the 12-0, back to back Big East Championship, Sugar Bowl bound Bearcats were told that their coach was the new coach or Notre Dame and that Kelly would not be coaching them in the Sugar Bowl.
The most memorable season in Bearcat history was dampened by the poor performance in the Sugar Bowl against the Florida Gators.
The future is now upon us Bearcat faithful. The Brian Kelly era is over, in comes Butch Jones.
Jones was named the head coach at UC on December 16, 2009. He comes with success from Central Michigan where he led the Chippewas to a 27-13 record in his three seasons. In 2009 he led CMU to an 11-2 record and a MAC title. He was also an assistant at West Virginia, so he knows the Big East and the competitiveness.
Jones runs an offense similar to Kelly’s. It is a fast tempo offense that spreads the field. With the recent success with this offense at UC, and the returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, there is more success to come at Cincinnati.
Zach Collaros is a proven starter when he replaced the injured Tony Pike in 2009. He played exceptionally well under tough circumstances and is always a threat to run the ball. An experienced receiving corps will give Zach lots of targets.
Armon Binns, DJ Woods, and USC transfer Vidal Hazelton will certainly prove to be great playmakers in 2010. Isaiah Pead is a proven running back with great speed and vision and will head up the running attack.
Overall, the Bearcats have many opportunities to improve on the recent success. Butch Jones has many opportunities to be a great coach at the University of Cincinnati and I believe he will continue to excel with the recent success. Watch out for the Bearcats in 2010, for this is the beginning of history.
Contributor Written on January 19, 2010
Bleacherreport.com
What do you think of when you hear Cincinnati football? Do you immediately think of the Cincinnati Bengals? Or do you think of the excellent high school football? St. Xavier, Colerain, Elder, La Salle? The city that Kirk Herbstreit had his high school classic every year where he would bring in the best high schools from around the country to play Cincinnati high schools?
You would not be a fool to think these things, but in the outskirts of downtown Cincinnati there is a campus, with one of the most historic football fields in the country. Nippert Stadium is the home of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats football team.
It is the home of the back to back Big East Champions, situated right in the center of campus. Nippert only holds 35,097 people, but it is the past, present, and future of what will forever be known as Cincinnati football.
The past three seasons for the Bearcats have been incredible with Brian Kelly at the helm running his fast tempo, spread offense. He started his tenure at University of Cincinnati in 2006 when he left Central Michigan and led the Bearcats to a win in the International Bowl.
In his first full season in 2007 he led the Bearcats to a historical 10-win season, a first since 1949. Kelly excelled more in 2008 to an 11-win season and a Big East Championship.
That leads us to 2009, the “season to remember.” The perfect 11-0 record was on the line on December 5, 2009 when the Bearcats traveled to Heinz Field to take on Pittsburgh. The matchup was the de facto Big East Championship; whichever team won this game was the champion and headed to a BCS bowl game.
The Bearcats were down by 21 in the second quarter before Mardy Gilyard ran back a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. That kickoff return was not just a touchdown; it was way more than that. It was the beginning of an ESPN Classic. It was the start of a comeback that will never be forgotten, and the foundation of what people will first think of when they hear Cincinnati football. Bearcats.
The Bearcats won the game 45-44 in thrilling fashion. The next week, the 12-0, back to back Big East Championship, Sugar Bowl bound Bearcats were told that their coach was the new coach or Notre Dame and that Kelly would not be coaching them in the Sugar Bowl.
The most memorable season in Bearcat history was dampened by the poor performance in the Sugar Bowl against the Florida Gators.
The future is now upon us Bearcat faithful. The Brian Kelly era is over, in comes Butch Jones.
Jones was named the head coach at UC on December 16, 2009. He comes with success from Central Michigan where he led the Chippewas to a 27-13 record in his three seasons. In 2009 he led CMU to an 11-2 record and a MAC title. He was also an assistant at West Virginia, so he knows the Big East and the competitiveness.
Jones runs an offense similar to Kelly’s. It is a fast tempo offense that spreads the field. With the recent success with this offense at UC, and the returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, there is more success to come at Cincinnati.
Zach Collaros is a proven starter when he replaced the injured Tony Pike in 2009. He played exceptionally well under tough circumstances and is always a threat to run the ball. An experienced receiving corps will give Zach lots of targets.
Armon Binns, DJ Woods, and USC transfer Vidal Hazelton will certainly prove to be great playmakers in 2010. Isaiah Pead is a proven running back with great speed and vision and will head up the running attack.
Overall, the Bearcats have many opportunities to improve on the recent success. Butch Jones has many opportunities to be a great coach at the University of Cincinnati and I believe he will continue to excel with the recent success. Watch out for the Bearcats in 2010, for this is the beginning of history.