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ONE former Bearcat football player, to bring back for the 2021 season, who would it be and why?

It can be any player from any era...let's say that you could get that player back at the apex of their Bearcat career.

(And yes, I am borrowing this topic from the "College Sports and Realignment" board.)
I'm going to go with Ben Mauk. I think Mauk brought the qualities we miss at QB; he had the poise in the pocket, the decision making skills, and the "touch" on his throws. It'd be fun to watch our WR's like Michael Young and Alec Pierce connect up with him.

Not to mention the fact that he was just getting his full range of motion and endurance back when he finished here and should have gotten that medical redshirt from the NCAA. It would have been amazing to watch him take that next step up with us.

On the positive note, I will also say that I think most of the other units are solid. So, while I'd like Michael Warren or Isaiah Pead at RB (just to toss a couple of names out for that position), I think the RB stable looks pretty good this upcoming season, so I can use that to address some other area.
Mardy Gilyard.

We have never had another player like MG who could flip the field or take it to the house on a kickoff or punt return- not to mention on a pass play.

As much as Pike to Binns is celebrated around here people seem to have forgotten Mardy put us in a position to win that game by taking several kickoffs back near midfield (and one to the house), including the one on that game winning drive.

Edit: what about that 365 all-purpose performance against Oklahoma in 2008



(02-15-2021 04:51 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]Mardy Gilyard.

We have never had another player like MG who could flip the field or take it to the house on a kickoff or punt return- not to mention on a pass play.

As much as Pike to Binns is celebrated around here people seem to have forgotten Mardy put us in a position to win that game by taking several kickoffs back near midfield (and one to the house), including the one on that game winning drive.

For next years team, I’d want to sure up LT so I’d go with James Hudson/Jeff Linkenbauch or another old time great Bearcat at that position.

Agree on Mardy. I love Binns but Mardy was the man that entire year.

As noted, he returned a kick when a lot thought we might be out of it vs Pitt. Never watched another Bearcat make plays the way he did!
I don't see how you could choose anyone but Greg Cook. He would have been a HoF-er if his arm had not failed him. Comparing with Mauk: Mauk was a fine college QB who went undrafted and played in Canada; Cook was a first-rounder. The only other UC player that bears mention with him is Kelce, and QB is a more important position than TE, so the choice is made.
I never saw Greg Cook play but if Bill Walsh calls you the best QB he's ever seen, that's pretty hard to beat.

Of the guys I did see, I would have to go with Terrell Byrd. What we could do defensively with a run stopper like that.
(02-15-2021 05:59 AM)Former Lurker Wrote: [ -> ]I don't see how you could choose anyone but Greg Cook. He would have been a HoF-er if his arm had not failed him. Comparing with Mauk: Mauk was a fine college QB who went undrafted and played in Canada; Cook was a first-rounder. The only other UC player that bears mention with him is Kelce, and QB is a more important position than TE, so the choice is made.

I know what I am going to say is considered heresy to some but Cook would be a no for me as would Kelce for this exercise. The premise is you get one guy to add to next year’s team. As much as those guys are all-time greats I don’t see where adding them to the team would elevate the team to another level. Kelce is fantastic, but we have two really good TEs already on this team will will be playing on Sundays. I don’t see adding a Kelce would make the team that much better. That is why I chose MG- Mardy would add an element that we do not currently have, that threat to take it to the house whenever the ball comes his way.

As for Cook I just have a hard time replacing a guy who is 31-5 lifetime as a starter here with a guy whose best season was 5-4-1. Yes I know what Bill Walsh said, I know GC was a #1 draft pick and I realize Ridder had the benefit of better talent around him, but again if I just one guy to fill in from the past I would have to go with a guy who brings something we currently do not have.
CA, your logic is sound. I was in school with Cook. He was the best QB I ever saw. With small crowds you could hear his passes hit the receivers pads.

My initial reaction to the question was Mardy. I agree, adding him to this team would be a dynamic upgrade. I remember sitting in Pittsburg freezing my butt of and our team down big. I said to myself, Mardy save us, and he did. Pike to Binns is the sporting thrill of my life. Mardy made that play possible.
This one is easy. James Hudson. It doesn't matter who your QB/RB/WR/TE if the line isn't good. It's the most important position group in football. Even the great Mahomes couldn't win without his Tackles.
Connor Barwin

I think people forget how good he was his senior year at defensive end. 11 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss.
Too many great choices. How about Hiroki Nakamura? Adding him to the existing defensive backfield, nobody would be able to pass on UC.
Jason Kelce wouldn't be the worst choice in the world.
(02-15-2021 08:51 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote: [ -> ]Jason Kelce wouldn't be the worst choice in the world.

Since they've both been first team all pros both Kelces come to mind but they both play positions of expected strengths in '21. In reality there's not any position of weakness on this roster. I'd probably join the Greg Cook group since you can never argue with going with the best player in program history at the most important position in sports.
(02-15-2021 08:51 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote: [ -> ]Jason Kelce wouldn't be the worst choice in the world.

Thank you!!! If your name doesn't begin with Jason (Kelce or Fabini) there is no point in having this conversation! 03-lmfao

Next year's team is the most talented team in UC history, but it has one, huge glaring weakness / unknown at arguably the 2nd most important position in football, but definitely the offense (left tackle). We just saw what happened to UC when James Hudson was DQed in the Peach Bowl - we went from being able to go toe to toe with the SEC's best, to praying our 3 and outs would take enough time off the clock to win a game.

No QB, TE or RB will make any difference if there isn't enough talent on the line. If you could put Kelce or Fabini on next year's team, they're a playoff team, guaranteed.
(02-15-2021 07:56 AM)nachoman91 Wrote: [ -> ]Connor Barwin

I think people forget how good he was his senior year at defensive end. 11 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss.

Second Barwin. Plug him in at end opposite of Myjai and we have one of the best DL's in the country. Never saw Cook play but I don't see why you replace Dez at this point in this hypothetical.
(02-15-2021 06:46 AM)Bcatbog Wrote: [ -> ]CA, your logic is sound. I was in school with Cook. He was the best QB I ever saw. With small crowds you could hear his passes hit the receivers pads.

My initial reaction to the question was Mardy. I agree, adding him to this team would be a dynamic upgrade. I remember sitting in Pittsburg freezing my butt of and our team down big. I said to myself, Mardy save us, and he did. Pike to Binns is the sporting thrill of my life. Mardy made that play possible.

I was there and told my wife "If we can just cut it to 14 it will be game on". Then Mardy took it to the house and it was game on! After the Binns catch the PU fans who had abused us all game disappeared fast.
For next season's team, i can certainly understand the want of a LT since that part was definitely exposed during the Peach Bowl; however, if this were extended to a top three or five, one of my picks would be Jonathan Ruffin. i realize it may seem strange since we are talking any player at any time but how many points did we leave on the board because of our kicking game?
(02-15-2021 10:44 AM)eroc Wrote: [ -> ]For next season's team, i can certainly understand the want of a LT since that part was definitely exposed during the Peach Bowl; however, if this were extended to a top three or five, one of my picks would be Jonathan Ruffin. i realize it may seem strange since we are talking any player at any time but how many points did we leave on the board because of our kicking game?

I guess my argument to that would be that we didn't lose a game last year because of a kicker...but we certainly lost a game because of a lack of a LT.
(02-15-2021 09:22 AM)Baleen Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-15-2021 08:51 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote: [ -> ]Jason Kelce wouldn't be the worst choice in the world.

Thank you!!! If your name doesn't begin with Jason (Kelce or Fabini) there is no point in having this conversation! 03-lmfao

Next year's team is the most talented team in UC history, but it has one, huge glaring weakness / unknown at arguably the 2nd most important position in football, but definitely the offense (left tackle). We just saw what happened to UC when James Hudson was DQed in the Peach Bowl - we went from being able to go toe to toe with the SEC's best, to praying our 3 and outs would take enough time off the clock to win a game.

No QB, TE or RB will make any difference if there isn't enough talent on the line. If you could put Kelce or Fabini on next year's team, they're a playoff team, guaranteed.

I forgot Fabini. The thing this team (and most teams) need most is a strong, deep offensive line). We are an injury or two away from Peach Bowl type disaster on the line.
Trent Cole was crazy good his final years. The year we should have beat Osu down at Paul Brown he was the best player on the field for either team.
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