Gunner Kiel rejoins UC football team
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 12:38 p.m. EST January 24, 2016


Gunner Kiel is back.

University of Cincinnati football quarterback Kiel has rejoined the team and returned to school, Bearcats coach Tommy Tuberville announced Sunday. Kiel missed the Bearcats' Hawaii Bowl loss to San Diego State for undisclosed personal reasons, after being UC's starting quarterback for most of the past two seasons.

Kiel will return for his senior season of 2016, Tuberville said. Kiel has his undergraduate degree from UC but will be in graduate school now as a fifth-year senior, Tuberville said.

"Gunner Kiel is back in school and he's doing well, after his personal problems," Tuberville said. "We're excited to have him back on the team."

The coach made the Kiel announcement just before the UC-Tulane basketball game Sunday at Fifth Third Arena, at a press conference in which Tuberville also introduced new UC offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor, offensive line coach J.B. Grimes and running backs coach Jim Turner.

Kiel has been back with the football team for about a week, Tuberville said.

"He was a few days late for classes but he is in school," Tuberville said. "He does have his degree and he's working hopefully towards his Master's in the future. He's got a great attitude. Obviously he's disappointed he didn't get to play in the bowl game, but personal matters come first. He's got new life in his eyes."

Kiel, from Columbus, Indiana, threw for 2,777 yards and 19 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, this past season, in 10 appearances. Kiel missed some time earlier in the year with injuries. UC went 7-6 overall (including bowl game), and was 6-4 in games started by Kiel. In his first year as UC starter in 2014, Kiel tied the Bearcats' season record with 31 touchdown passes as UC went 9-4.

Hayden Moore, a redshirt freshman this past year, spelled Kiel at several junctures in 2015 including the 42-7 bowl loss to San Diego State. Kiel must work to regain the starting job, Tuberville said.

"As I told him, he'll start from the bottom and work back up," Tuberville said. "We all know what he's done over the last couple years. He's had some highlights and some lowlights. He's got the potential but again, this is his last and senior year coming up. I expect him to be a leader."

Tuberville said Kiel may be available to the media within the next few weeks.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../79264658/

(01-25-2016 01:00 AM)ctipton Wrote:  Gunner Kiel rejoins UC football team
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 12:38 p.m. EST January 24, 2016

Bearcats quarterback Gunner Kiel throws a pass against Tulsa.
(Photo: Enquirer file/Kareem Elgazzar)

Gunner Kiel is back.

University of Cincinnati football quarterback Kiel has rejoined the team and returned to school, Bearcats coach Tommy Tuberville announced Sunday. Kiel missed the Bearcats' Hawaii Bowl loss to San Diego State for undisclosed personal reasons, after being UC's starting quarterback for most of the past two seasons.

Kiel will return for his senior season of 2016, Tuberville said. Kiel has his undergraduate degree from UC but will be in graduate school now as a fifth-year senior, Tuberville said.

"Gunner Kiel is back in school and he's doing well, after his personal problems," Tuberville said. "We're excited to have him back on the team."

The coach made the Kiel announcement just before the UC-Tulane basketball game Sunday at Fifth Third Arena, at a press conference in which Tuberville also introduced new UC offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor, offensive line coach J.B. Grimes and running backs coach Jim Turner.

Kiel has been back with the football team for about a week, Tuberville said.

"He was a few days late for classes but he is in school," Tuberville said. "He does have his degree and he's working hopefully towards his Master's in the future. He's got a great attitude. Obviously he's disappointed he didn't get to play in the bowl game, but personal matters come first. He's got new life in his eyes."

Kiel, from Columbus, Indiana, threw for 2,777 yards and 19 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, this past season, in 10 appearances. Kiel missed some time earlier in the year with injuries. UC went 7-6 overall (including bowl game), and was 6-4 in games started by Kiel. In his first year as UC starter in 2014, Kiel tied the Bearcats' season record with 31 touchdown passes as UC went 9-4.

Hayden Moore, a redshirt freshman this past year, spelled Kiel at several junctures in 2015 including the 42-7 bowl loss to San Diego State. Kiel must work to regain the starting job, Tuberville said.

"As I told him, he'll start from the bottom and work back up," Tuberville said. "We all know what he's done over the last couple years. He's had some highlights and some lowlights. He's got the potential but again, this is his last and senior year coming up. I expect him to be a leader."

Tuberville said Kiel may be available to the media within the next few weeks.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../79264658/

Good news

glad he has his degree and is working towards masters...good for him.

Hope whatever his personal issue(s) were are resolved. I didn't think he looked as sharp this past year as I anticipated. Hopefully it was due to whatever personal issue(s) he had and with that resolved he can really turn into the qb I was expecting to see.

(01-25-2016 07:30 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  glad he has his degree and is working towards masters...good for him.

Hope whatever his personal issue(s) were are resolved. I didn't think he looked as sharp this past year as I anticipated. Hopefully it was due to whatever personal issue(s) he had and with that resolved he can really turn into the qb I was expecting to see.

Agreed. I can remember watching him all year thinking something was off. In addition to the mental errors there were times he could not physically get the ball to the receivers (I am talking some screens and short passes that he should have no problem with).

As you have indicated that is the past and hopefully he comes back a fresh and recharged Gunner.

(01-25-2016 09:32 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(01-25-2016 07:30 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  glad he has his degree and is working towards masters...good for him.

Hope whatever his personal issue(s) were are resolved. I didn't think he looked as sharp this past year as I anticipated. Hopefully it was due to whatever personal issue(s) he had and with that resolved he can really turn into the qb I was expecting to see.

Agreed. I can remember watching him all year thinking something was off. In addition to the mental errors there were times he could not physically get the ball to the receivers (I am talking some screens and short passes that he should have no problem with).

As you have indicated that is the past and hopefully he comes back a fresh and recharged Gunner.

+2 or x2. Rooting for a physically and mentally healthy Kiel for his Senior season (I like the way that sounds). His experience and leadership will also help the offense maintain some continuity in light of having a new OC hired.

The most important thing is the young man is healthy, physically and mentally.

Welcome back Gunner! Hope you have a kick a$$ year off and on the field.

Great to hear he is back and most importantly he is healthy! Hoping for a great send-off campaign.

Given the length of abscense, makes one wonder if it was some type of inpatient rehab/treatment program.

I hope they have a plan B. Whatever the issue there is a pretty high rate of reoccurrence in every thing I can think of.

It obviously affected his game last year as, in my opinion, his game regressed.

Moore and Trail better be ready.

(01-25-2016 04:21 PM)Bearcat Otto Wrote:  I hope they have a plan B. Whatever the issue there is a pretty high rate of reoccurrence in every thing I can think of.

It obviously affected his game last year as, in my opinion, his game regressed.

Moore and Trail better be ready.

Wow. How is that for a post full of judgment and speculation? Whatever the issue there is a pretty high rate of recurrence? Yikes.

As for the hopes about a Plan B, did you watch any games this year? We have a pretty decent backup who returns next year.

(01-25-2016 04:49 PM)geef Wrote:  

(01-25-2016 04:21 PM)Bearcat Otto Wrote:  I hope they have a plan B. Whatever the issue there is a pretty high rate of reoccurrence in every thing I can think of.

It obviously affected his game last year as, in my opinion, his game regressed.

Moore and Trail better be ready.

Wow. How is that for a post full of judgment and speculation? Whatever the issue there is a pretty high rate of recurrence? Yikes.

As for the hopes about a Plan B, did you watch any games this year? We have a pretty decent backup who returns next year.

Anything that keeps him out of school and from the team for over a month is not a minor issue. Major issues like that many times are dealt with some form of recidivism or at least take one's mind off focus on anything but recovery or wellness.

I saw the games this year. Moore at times looked good. His backup transferred to Kentucky. And Trail has never taken a snap outside of practice. Moore gets hurt and that is my Plan B concern. We are very thin at QB and if Kiel cannot answer the bell, we are even thinner.

I am sure their is a Senior out there that has graduated that may wish to extend his college career and get some free education for his time.

How about we let the kid prove if he can come back and keep clear of whatever it was he struggle with before sitting and deciding he's doomed.

(01-25-2016 04:13 PM)Kenyon#4 Wrote:  Given the length of abscense, makes one wonder if it was some type of inpatient rehab/treatment program.

I actually saw him, looking happy and healthy, a couple weekends ago at a Clifton breakfast spot. I guess all that really means is that he hasn't been away this entire time.

Hopefully his life works out going forward. Football is meaningless in the big picture, he has 60 years of living to do.