All is well in Bearcats country
Rousing success in the opener has spirits high
Sep. 1, 2013


UC's Tommy Tuberville era got off to a great start with a 42-7 win over Purdue in front of a record crowd at Nippert Stadium. / The Enquirer/ Joseph Fuqua II

Written by
Bill Koch

Tommy Tuberville was the first highly scrutinized hire for University of Cincinnati athletic director Whit Babcock, so it’s understandable that Babcock was a bit anxious before Tuberville coached his first UC game Saturday.

As it turned out, Babcock couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Not only did the Bearcats roll past Big Ten opponent Purdue, 42-7, they did it before a record Nippert Stadium crowd of 36,007.

“I realize it’s only one game,” Babcock said, “but we’re one-for-one and that was a great start.”

The Bearcats will try to make it two-for-two this Saturday when they play at Illinois in their first road game under Tuberville.

The Illini ended a nine-game losing streak with a 42-34 season-opening victory over Southern Illinois from the Football Championship Subdivision – formerly Division I-AA – getting a career-high 416 passing yards and two touchdown passes from senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. The Illinois defense surrendered 407 yards.

Under second-year head coach Tim Beckman, the Illini are looking for better results after a 2-10 season in 2012, 0-8 in the Big Ten, but are still considered one of the weaker teams in the conference.

The veteran Tuberville’s sideline style Saturday was in direct contrast to that of his predecessor, Butch Jones, now the head coach at Tennessee.

While the hyperkinetic Jones rarely stopped pacing, Tuberville remained calm, even when things went wrong, which they did when starting quarterback Munchie Legaux’s first pass was intercepted.

“It’s not his first rodeo,” Babcock said of Tuberville. “He’s been doing it a long time. I think he brings a calming influence to the team. I think your players feed off of you and he was calmly confident. That’s why he’s one of the best.”

Tuberville’s approach was welcomed by the UC players.

“He’s very laid back,” said linebacker Greg Blair, “especially from last year when everything was kind of a big deal. We met a lot before the game and a lot of slogans were being said. (Tuberville) just gets straight to the point. He’s all about winning.”

After breaking down film Sunday, Tuberville said the Bearcats played better than he thought they would in executing a new offense and defense for the first time. He also saw evidence of the physical approach he emphasized during training camp after taking over what he considered to be a finesse team.

He was especially pleased with the play of his quarterbacks, seniors Legaux and Brendon Kay, and said he could see how much Legaux’s performance –13 for 20, 145 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions – meant to him after he lost his starting job to Kay last year.

“When we pulled him out he had a smile on his face,” Tuberville said. “We talked on the sideline and he asked me what I thought. He had his poise, he didn’t lose his patience. He stayed in the pocket. Last year he would have gotten outside of the pocket a little quicker. I’m proud for him because he didn’t get to play much last year at the end of the season.”

Kay also was sharp, completing four of five passes for 59 yards, including a 51-yard strike to Chris Moore.

“He played 19 snaps and did everything perfect,” Tuberville said. “It was fun to watch. … I’m excited about both of these kids.”

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Tuberville named running back Ralph David Abernathy IV the offensive player of the week. Linebacker Nick Temple was the defensive player of the week and Corey Mason was the special teams player of the week.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130...ts-country

OK, I'll be the first to say this is a positive point of view from Mr. Koch. Most would be hard pressed to find any negatives Saturday except for temperature and the stadium amenities which will soon be resolved through the renovation. Sunday's Enquirer also provided the coverage we should expect regularly--full sports section front page photo and two more full pages with the game story, commentaries, photos and statistics.

(09-02-2013 08:31 AM)indycat Wrote:  OK, I'll be the first to say this is a positive point of view from Mr. Koch. Most would be hard pressed to find any negatives Saturday except for temperature and the stadium amenities which will soon be resolved through the renovation. Sunday's Enquirer also provided the coverage we should expect regularly--full sports section front page photo and two more full pages with the game story, commentaries, photos and statistics.

I agree - Koch wrote the article he should write in this situation. I am perfectly fine with the 'write positive when it happens, write negative when it happens' approach to journalism (the Marty Brennaman way and, no, he is not a journalist). It's just write the story. Most of the time, Koch goes out of his way to emphasize the negative. In this case, he didn't. We Bearcat fans, who would be most interested in the story, appreciate that. Tell the story, positive or negative, and don't put your slant on it. You won't get criticized for that. Well done Mr. Koch.

(09-01-2013 08:46 PM)ctipton Wrote:  “He’s very laid back,” said linebacker Greg Blair, “especially from last year when everything was kind of a big deal. We met a lot before the game and a lot of slogans were being said. (Tuberville) just gets straight to the point. He’s all about winning.”

(09-02-2013 08:59 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  

(09-01-2013 08:46 PM)ctipton Wrote:  “He’s very laid back,” said linebacker Greg Blair, “especially from last year when everything was kind of a big deal. We met a lot before the game and a lot of slogans were being said. (Tuberville) just gets straight to the point. He’s all about winning.”

i always found Lyle to be very much a corporate marketing guy, always thinking of slogans that "capture the team's essence" or something to that effect. i always wondered how he came up with them. Marketing team? Perhaps he has a moleskin notebook that he keeps in his back pocket that he busts out every time a potential new slogan pops up? it genuinely interests me.

eroc, it is clear that we have an upgrade, and at all coaching positions, not just the head man.

(09-02-2013 09:25 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  eroc, it is clear that we have an upgrade, and at all coaching positions, not just the head man.

Undoubtedly. i was, honestly, just wondering how he came up with all the slogans. Every year a different one. i was initially going to make the comparison of BK, who often got the moniker of salesman, and later seedy/slimy salesman, whereas Lyle was just viewed as camp but, in retrospect, Lyle was as much, if not more so, a sales/marketing person as BK. i think it speaks as much to the respect Coach Tubs commands. Whereas the new/er guys would have to sell kids on a message and have them buy in, Tubs can just speak from experience/accomplishment and command the same amount of respect, if not more. With results like this past saturday's against Purdue only reinforce the clout and status Coach Tubs possesses.

I just hope there is toilet paper in the bathrooms today.

(09-02-2013 09:35 AM)eroc Wrote:  

(09-02-2013 09:25 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  eroc, it is clear that we have an upgrade, and at all coaching positions, not just the head man.

Undoubtedly. i was, honestly, just wondering how he came up with all the slogans. Every year a different one. i was initially going to make the comparison of BK, who often got the moniker of salesman, and later seedy/slimy salesman, whereas Lyle was just viewed as camp but, in retrospect, Lyle was as much, if not more so, a sales/marketing person as BK. i think it speaks as much to the respect Coach Tubs commands. Whereas the new/er guys would have to sell kids on a message and have them buy in, Tubs can just speak from experience/accomplishment and command the same amount of respect, if not more. With results like this past saturday's against Purdue only reinforce the clout and status Coach Tubs possesses.

BK got labeled a salesman because he was out busting his hump selling the program to the community. I think he did a good job of that, especially if you ever drive by campus on Jefferson Ave.

I don't know how BJ compared to BK in that respect, but I'm glad the stupid sideshow act is over with.