http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sp...12323.html

Quote:By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer
Updated 7:56 AM Wednesday, September 23, 2009
So, University of Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead finally said it: In his opinion, the Bearcats are the state’s best college football team.

That thought has been bumped around for the past few weeks, as Ohio State got off to a lackluster start against Navy and Southern California and Cincinnati started rolling up big-time numbers and points.

If nothing else, think of how far Cincinnati has come. In 2005, some of you might have been there live when Miami University hosted UC and trounced the Bearcats 44-16. That Cincinnati team looked like it was many years, if not decades, away from being competitive.

That was the low point. Now, the Cincinnati team we see is one that gains 516.7 yards per game while holding opponents to 271. The quarterback, Tony Pike, throws for 307.7 yards per game. It all adds up to an average of 48.3 points per game.

Cincinnati has played Ohio State tough, and if there were ever a recent season during which we would want to see them play, this is it.

The argument about which team is tops in the state should provide an interesting story line throughout the season, particularly if both continue to win.

But sitting here today, right now, looking at both, one thinks about Pead’s statement.

The best college football team in Ohio? The Bearcats have my vote.


Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@coxohio.com

wow...this is just amazing!!!!

I remember the Miami fans talking crap at that game as well... it was a Wednesday night, and it was UGLY for UC. The Redsquawk fans started talking smack, I responded with "BCS", they responded with "Nancy Zimpher". I had no comeback... it was only a month or so after Huggins had been run out of UC. Things have really changed...

This article is especially surprising coming from Dayton and DDN. I didnt realize they knew UC was relevant.

(09-23-2009 10:09 PM)socTHEgreat Wrote:  This article is especially surprising coming from Dayton and DDN. I didnt realize they knew UC was relevant.

soc... I agree wholeheartedly. Living in Dayton for, well way too long, the only "major" college sports covered well are the Flyers (well major-ish anyway) and the team from Columbus. Even when UC had top 10 hoops teams the coverage was always in the "Other Ohio Action" section or possibly the DDN would pick up the AP 2 sentence synopsis. It is even worse with football. It was bad enough that my 20 year old daughter whose most redeeming characteristic is that she hates all teams that wear dark blue (that starts with Duke and extends to XU and UK) called me at work to point out the article and ask what's going on at the DDN. Again just goes to show how well this Bearcat team is being received. In some ways, the 'Cats are really a feel good story of a team playing big time football without all the recruiting or other scandals surrounding them. I keep waiting for THAT story... UC Bearcats, doing it the right way.