Cincinnati Bearcats

Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
Cotton Bowl Game Thread
Author Message
Bookmark and Share
eroc Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 8,981
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation: 117
I Root For: UC, Liverpool
Location: The District
Post: #361
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-01-2022 12:25 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  
(01-01-2022 12:09 PM)ZCat Wrote:  
(12-31-2021 06:42 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  We sold out against the pass and we got killed versus the run.

Our offensive game plan was just odd today.

So do we not trust our DB’s 1 on 1?
They could have mixed in both styles so maybe we had a better shot.

Sauce and coby both were in a ton of one on one. We protected against the deep pass against other guys (and still got burnt by it once). Defense got plenty of stops. It was 17-6 after 3.

Calculation was we can give up some yards on the ground, let's not give up the big play and let's make sure we get pressure on young when they throw. I think it was the right calculation.

i would agree largely because we did this most of the season. Bend but don't break in the RZ. We gave up a ton of yards in the run game all season but kept lesser talented teams from getting into the end zone by and large. The biggest issue is that on 3rd and long, we couldn't get off the field the way we generally were able to against lesser competition. We had a number of 3rd and longs that Alabama was able to convert. And while Alabama didn't light up the scoreboard, for every point they put up, it felt like they were adding 10 points. That isn't on the defense. That's on the offense that wasn't able to hold up their end of the bargain.

That said, the calculation that you refer to probably didn't account for the Offense largely failing. At some point, the Coaching staff needed to redo their math. if the offense was unable to get things going without significant assistance, than the defense and special teams needed to take on more of the burden. Maybe they blitz more, maybe they try and block a punt, maybe they fake a FG, maybe they do something outside of what they ended up doing. Truth be told, part of me felt like they weren't trying to win so much as they were trying not to get blown out. That is also not on the defense, it's on the coaching staff.

As far as observations:

Outside of the RZ, where Bama seemed to stack the box, Pierce rarely had single coverage. Bama played cover two and probably had safety help over the top. it was like that for most of the game. if we were going to win in the passing game, we had to do it within the first 20 yards past the LOS, and the Bama DL were denying passing lanes. Someone mentioned moving the pocket upstream. Maybe try some screen to Ford out of the back. Honestly, try and go four wide and throw up a jump ball. Maybe you get a PI (although unlikely the way the game was getting "Officiated"). Bottom line, they needed to try something different and they didn't.

Bama played with a lot of pace on offense and didn't substitute much. in fact, they caught us trying to sub our DLs and LBs a number of times, which affected our ability to get set on defense, which was very frustrating. Conversely, we never pressed the pace on offense and allowed Alabama to sub without penalty. We frequently subbed allowing Bama's defense to sub as well. in terms of game management, i would love for the offense to figure out substitution patterns and personnel that holds the defense captive. This especially important when the coaching staff knows that they are in 4 down situations. Why sub and give the defense an opportunity to get their personnel in? it's ridiculous.

While i understand the calculation made by the defensive coaching staff, i really felt that if they were going to play 3 DL, they needed to run blitz the entire time, from different angles. While they crept up closer to the LOS, by the time they found Robinson, Robinson had reached them in the second level. They were 2nd/3rd and short virtually all game. You can't win that way Alabama and we didn't.

i know that some of the above is rehashing stuff that was already stated in other posts so apologies for the duplication.
 
01-02-2022 12:09 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Bearcatbdub Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 7,521
Joined: May 2006
Reputation: 150
I Root For: The 'Cats! duh!
Location: Union, KY
Post: #362
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
So we were out-talented coming into it. And then we got out-coached.


Hopefully Fickell learned from the experience.
 
01-02-2022 12:21 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
bearcatmark Offline
Moderator
*

Posts: 30,724
Joined: Dec 2006
Reputation: 800
I Root For: the Deliverator
Location:
Post: #363
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-02-2022 12:21 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  So we were out-talented coming into it. And then we got out-coached.


Hopefully Fickell learned from the experience.

Fickell is an elite coach but it's the one area of he and his staff that can be disappointing. I think the do what you do and do it great attitude mostly works but you can't be afraid to throw wrinkles and counter the other team(this is particularly true against more talented teams and especially true when that team has so much time to prepare). Saban being so malleable even against lesser talent is one of the most impressive things about him. He showed uc a ton of respect in his gameplan and even had an early defensive counter when we came out with quick passes. It's a good way to get your team to take the opponent seriously.
 
01-02-2022 12:50 PM
Visit this user's website Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
UCGrad1992 Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 31,770
Joined: Sep 2013
Reputation: 2265
I Root For: Bearcats U
Location: North Carolina
Post: #364
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
IMO, I think you can over analyze things upon reflection. We were two touchdown dogs for a reason. X's and O's matter only so far when the team lining up on the other side is arguably the most talented, best coached team in college football. A lot of what we wanted to run on offense was negated because Bama's dee was the best we faced all season with some NFL body type, production dudes. Ask Michigan how they fared coaching and talent-wise against Georgia. This game showed us how high the bar is set by the top of the SEC. It's also what drives our coach to stay here and continue to build our program up to higher heights.
 
01-02-2022 01:01 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
ZCat Offline
Special Teams
*

Posts: 996
Joined: Sep 2018
Reputation: 30
I Root For: UC
Location:
Post: #365
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-02-2022 12:09 PM)eroc Wrote:  
(01-01-2022 12:25 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  
(01-01-2022 12:09 PM)ZCat Wrote:  
(12-31-2021 06:42 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  We sold out against the pass and we got killed versus the run.

Our offensive game plan was just odd today.

So do we not trust our DB’s 1 on 1?
They could have mixed in both styles so maybe we had a better shot.

Sauce and coby both were in a ton of one on one. We protected against the deep pass against other guys (and still got burnt by it once). Defense got plenty of stops. It was 17-6 after 3.

Calculation was we can give up some yards on the ground, let's not give up the big play and let's make sure we get pressure on young when they throw. I think it was the right calculation.

i would agree largely because we did this most of the season. Bend but don't break in the RZ. We gave up a ton of yards in the run game all season but kept lesser talented teams from getting into the end zone by and large. The biggest issue is that on 3rd and long, we couldn't get off the field the way we generally were able to against lesser competition. We had a number of 3rd and longs that Alabama was able to convert. And while Alabama didn't light up the scoreboard, for every point they put up, it felt like they were adding 10 points. That isn't on the defense. That's on the offense that wasn't able to hold up their end of the bargain.

That said, the calculation that you refer to probably didn't account for the Offense largely failing. At some point, the Coaching staff needed to redo their math. if the offense was unable to get things going without significant assistance, than the defense and special teams needed to take on more of the burden. Maybe they blitz more, maybe they try and block a punt, maybe they fake a FG, maybe they do something outside of what they ended up doing. Truth be told, part of me felt like they weren't trying to win so much as they were trying not to get blown out. That is also not on the defense, it's on the coaching staff.

As far as observations:

Outside of the RZ, where Bama seemed to stack the box, Pierce rarely had single coverage. Bama played cover two and probably had safety help over the top. it was like that for most of the game. if we were going to win in the passing game, we had to do it within the first 20 yards past the LOS, and the Bama DL were denying passing lanes. Someone mentioned moving the pocket upstream. Maybe try some screen to Ford out of the back. Honestly, try and go four wide and throw up a jump ball. Maybe you get a PI (although unlikely the way the game was getting "Officiated"). Bottom line, they needed to try something different and they didn't.

Bama played with a lot of pace on offense and didn't substitute much. in fact, they caught us trying to sub our DLs and LBs a number of times, which affected our ability to get set on defense, which was very frustrating. Conversely, we never pressed the pace on offense and allowed Alabama to sub without penalty. We frequently subbed allowing Bama's defense to sub as well. in terms of game management, i would love for the offense to figure out substitution patterns and personnel that holds the defense captive. This especially important when the coaching staff knows that they are in 4 down situations. Why sub and give the defense an opportunity to get their personnel in? it's ridiculous.

While i understand the calculation made by the defensive coaching staff, i really felt that if they were going to play 3 DL, they needed to run blitz the entire time, from different angles. While they crept up closer to the LOS, by the time they found Robinson, Robinson had reached them in the second level. They were 2nd/3rd and short virtually all game. You can't win that way Alabama and we didn't.

i know that some of the above is rehashing stuff that was already stated in other posts so apologies for the duplication.

No need to apologize for the duplicate information. I’m really enjoying the discussion. Just not ready to look at the 2022 thread yet nor think about Spring ball.

Lots of nice points from different people.

Your point That since The offense was not able to pull their weight, then the defense and special teams needs to do more was an excellent point. I was going to mention this many different times but you worded it better than I would have. I totally agree. Let’s make them throw, maybe we get an interception. Maybe we get beat deep and we lose by another touchdown but maybe we score a touchdown.

I just can’t stand being so passive and content with accepting a loss in the third quarter. Another touchdown would give us 13 points and the offense some confidence and momentum and juice to possibly put together another drive or two. Maybe it would make Alabama change up their defense slightly.

I keep hearing about complementary football. And I understand and respect that, but Obviously our base offense was not good enough so a flea flicker or reverse or some type of offense that would get our potential NFL tight ends the ball would have been great.

Great point about pace and substitutions. I understand Coach was at Ohio State and he sees the talent disparity better than we do. That doesn’t mean that you only think about substituting so that your players aren’t gassed. Just don’t substitute your players SOMETIMES -use half the play clock to rest and don’t let the genius coach on the other sideline substitute to their strength.
 
01-02-2022 03:46 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
ZCat Offline
Special Teams
*

Posts: 996
Joined: Sep 2018
Reputation: 30
I Root For: UC
Location:
Post: #366
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-02-2022 11:27 AM)Cat-Man Wrote:  Keep in mind that Saban had a month to prepare for UC, same as he's had with previous semi final games/victories. He's also very familiar with UGA already (ie. not a lot of prep or scheming needed). An expanded playoff would force him to possibly have to prep for more teams he's never played on a short notice. I could see that equaling out the playing field just a TAD more. However, at the end of the day, they are still Alabama filled with their 5* recruits.

Yeah
If it was a 1-2 week prep maybe their analysts have less time.
But a big part of their prep was also just looking at the Navy and Tulsa game. Lol.
 
01-02-2022 05:14 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
ZCat Offline
Special Teams
*

Posts: 996
Joined: Sep 2018
Reputation: 30
I Root For: UC
Location:
Post: #367
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-02-2022 12:21 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  So we were out-talented coming into it. And then we got out-coached.


Hopefully Fickell learned from the experience.

Was the prep exactly like Jim tressel’s would be? Would Tressel have made adjustments or stuck with “ who we are”.

If Tressell would’ve done the same thing then, no I don’t expect him to change.

I understand wanting to win 27 to 26. I really do. But when it’s not working, the players can figure out the coach does not think they can win. If the coach does not think they can win, then the players will also get that vibe.
Same thing in the practices is leading up to the game.
 
(This post was last modified: 01-02-2022 07:55 PM by ZCat.)
01-02-2022 05:22 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
rath v2.0 Offline
Wartime Consigliere
*

Posts: 51,147
Joined: Jun 2007
Reputation: 2147
I Root For: Civil Disobedience
Location: Tip Of The Mitt

Donators
Post: #368
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-02-2022 12:50 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  
(01-02-2022 12:21 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  So we were out-talented coming into it. And then we got out-coached.


Hopefully Fickell learned from the experience.

Fickell is an elite coach but it's the one area of he and his staff that can be disappointing. I think the do what you do and do it great attitude mostly works but you can't be afraid to throw wrinkles and counter the other team(this is particularly true against more talented teams and especially true when that team has so much time to prepare). Saban being so malleable even against lesser talent is one of the most impressive things about him. He showed uc a ton of respect in his gameplan and even had an early defensive counter when we came out with quick passes. It's a good way to get your team to take the opponent seriously.

We lost this game due to the guys with headsets. I still can’t believe that with a month to prep, we lined up and ran what we ran all year. I can’t believe we stayed in a 3 man front largely kept our big slow LB’s back in middle coverage and let them run for over 300 yards at 6 and a half yards an attempt. The fact that Alabama came out in running formations and ran it down our throats 11 straight times to start the game yet we didn’t adjust a bit says all one needs to know.

Also, I kept thinking we were holding back some of the playbook this season. Nope, that was it apparently. We ran the same handful of plays and formations that we ran all year that Albama watched over and over on 13 weeks of film. No wrinkles. Nothing new to catch Alabama off guard. Not sure what we spent the month doing. It was pretty clear how Alabama game planned for UC.

We game planed for a CFP game like this was just another AAC opponent. Little frustrating but not entirely unexpected.
 
(This post was last modified: 01-02-2022 05:40 PM by rath v2.0.)
01-02-2022 05:37 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Billy_Bearcat Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 18,859
Joined: Mar 2004
Reputation: 401
I Root For: UC Bearcats
Location:

Donators
Post: #369
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-02-2022 05:37 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  
(01-02-2022 12:50 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  
(01-02-2022 12:21 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  So we were out-talented coming into it. And then we got out-coached.


Hopefully Fickell learned from the experience.

Fickell is an elite coach but it's the one area of he and his staff that can be disappointing. I think the do what you do and do it great attitude mostly works but you can't be afraid to throw wrinkles and counter the other team(this is particularly true against more talented teams and especially true when that team has so much time to prepare). Saban being so malleable even against lesser talent is one of the most impressive things about him. He showed uc a ton of respect in his gameplan and even had an early defensive counter when we came out with quick passes. It's a good way to get your team to take the opponent seriously.

We lost this game due to the guys with headsets. I still can’t believe that with a month to prep, we lined up and ran what we ran all year. I can’t believe we stayed in a 3 man front largely kept our big slow LB’s back in middle coverage and let them run for over 300 yards at 6 and a half yards an attempt. The fact that Alabama came out in running formations and ran it down our throats 11 straight times to start the game yet we didn’t adjust a bit says all one needs to know.

Also, I kept thinking we were holding back some of the playbook this season. Nope, that was it apparently. We ran the same handful of plays and formations that we ran all year that Albama watched over and over on 13 weeks of film. No wrinkles. Nothing new to catch Alabama off guard. Not sure what we spent the month doing. It was pretty clear what Alabama cash he’s game planning for UC.

We game planed for a CFP game like this was just another AAC opponent.
Little frustrating but not entirely unexpected.

They game plan like their talent level is even. It’s why the O$U game a couple years ago was so ugly. They don’t get creative trying to initiate some kind of advantage to offset the severe talent gap.
 
01-02-2022 05:41 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
bcat1997 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 2,772
Joined: Mar 2014
Reputation: 35
I Root For: Cincinnati
Location:
Post: #370
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-02-2022 03:46 PM)ZCat Wrote:  
(01-02-2022 12:09 PM)eroc Wrote:  
(01-01-2022 12:25 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  
(01-01-2022 12:09 PM)ZCat Wrote:  
(12-31-2021 06:42 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  We sold out against the pass and we got killed versus the run.

Our offensive game plan was just odd today.

So do we not trust our DB’s 1 on 1?
They could have mixed in both styles so maybe we had a better shot.

Sauce and coby both were in a ton of one on one. We protected against the deep pass against other guys (and still got burnt by it once). Defense got plenty of stops. It was 17-6 after 3.

Calculation was we can give up some yards on the ground, let's not give up the big play and let's make sure we get pressure on young when they throw. I think it was the right calculation.

i would agree largely because we did this most of the season. Bend but don't break in the RZ. We gave up a ton of yards in the run game all season but kept lesser talented teams from getting into the end zone by and large. The biggest issue is that on 3rd and long, we couldn't get off the field the way we generally were able to against lesser competition. We had a number of 3rd and longs that Alabama was able to convert. And while Alabama didn't light up the scoreboard, for every point they put up, it felt like they were adding 10 points. That isn't on the defense. That's on the offense that wasn't able to hold up their end of the bargain.

That said, the calculation that you refer to probably didn't account for the Offense largely failing. At some point, the Coaching staff needed to redo their math. if the offense was unable to get things going without significant assistance, than the defense and special teams needed to take on more of the burden. Maybe they blitz more, maybe they try and block a punt, maybe they fake a FG, maybe they do something outside of what they ended up doing. Truth be told, part of me felt like they weren't trying to win so much as they were trying not to get blown out. That is also not on the defense, it's on the coaching staff.

As far as observations:

Outside of the RZ, where Bama seemed to stack the box, Pierce rarely had single coverage. Bama played cover two and probably had safety help over the top. it was like that for most of the game. if we were going to win in the passing game, we had to do it within the first 20 yards past the LOS, and the Bama DL were denying passing lanes. Someone mentioned moving the pocket upstream. Maybe try some screen to Ford out of the back. Honestly, try and go four wide and throw up a jump ball. Maybe you get a PI (although unlikely the way the game was getting "Officiated"). Bottom line, they needed to try something different and they didn't.

Bama played with a lot of pace on offense and didn't substitute much. in fact, they caught us trying to sub our DLs and LBs a number of times, which affected our ability to get set on defense, which was very frustrating. Conversely, we never pressed the pace on offense and allowed Alabama to sub without penalty. We frequently subbed allowing Bama's defense to sub as well. in terms of game management, i would love for the offense to figure out substitution patterns and personnel that holds the defense captive. This especially important when the coaching staff knows that they are in 4 down situations. Why sub and give the defense an opportunity to get their personnel in? it's ridiculous.

While i understand the calculation made by the defensive coaching staff, i really felt that if they were going to play 3 DL, they needed to run blitz the entire time, from different angles. While they crept up closer to the LOS, by the time they found Robinson, Robinson had reached them in the second level. They were 2nd/3rd and short virtually all game. You can't win that way Alabama and we didn't.

i know that some of the above is rehashing stuff that was already stated in other posts so apologies for the duplication.

No need to apologize for the duplicate information. I’m really enjoying the discussion. Just not ready to look at the 2022 thread yet nor think about Spring ball.

Lots of nice points from different people.

Your point That since The offense was not able to pull their weight, then the defense and special teams needs to do more was an excellent point. I was going to mention this many different times but you worded it better than I would have. I totally agree. Let’s make them throw, maybe we get an interception. Maybe we get beat deep and we lose by another touchdown but maybe we score a touchdown.

I just can’t stand being so passive and content with accepting a loss in the third quarter. Another touchdown would give us 13 points and the offense some confidence and momentum and juice to possibly put together another drive or two. Maybe it would make Alabama change up their defense slightly.

I keep hearing about complementary football. And I understand and respect that, but Obviously our base offense was not good enough so a flea flicker or reverse or some type of offense that would get our potential NFL tight ends the ball would have been great.

Great point about pace and substitutions. I understand Coach was at Ohio State and he sees the talent disparity better than we do. That doesn’t mean that you only think about substituting so that your players aren’t gassed. Just don’t substitute your players SOMETIMES -use half the play clock to rest and don’t let the genius coach on the other sideline substitute to their strength.

I mean we were only down 17-6 going into 4th quarter when Bama had the big strike. We were hanging around perfectly on D, but the O was a no show. Thought D game plan was perfect.
 
01-02-2022 09:25 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Dannyboy Offline
All American
*

Posts: 2,559
Joined: Aug 2013
Reputation: 63
I Root For: Bearcats
Location:
Post: #371
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
As the inferior team, we needed the D to hang around and then hope we get some big breaks. The D hung around but the big breaks never came because Alabama is too talented and too well disciplined. The breaks that could have been:
- Recover the muffed punt
- Defender stays on his feet for an INT return instead of going to a knee
- The TD pass on the first drive isn’t tipped
Etc.

When you don’t have the talent you need the breaks. It didn’t happen. The better team won.
 
01-03-2022 06:58 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Loco Bearcat Offline
Special Teams
*

Posts: 610
Joined: Feb 2017
Reputation: 20
I Root For: UC
Location:
Post: #372
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-02-2022 05:37 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  
(01-02-2022 12:50 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  
(01-02-2022 12:21 PM)Bearcatbdub Wrote:  So we were out-talented coming into it. And then we got out-coached.


Hopefully Fickell learned from the experience.

Fickell is an elite coach but it's the one area of he and his staff that can be disappointing. I think the do what you do and do it great attitude mostly works but you can't be afraid to throw wrinkles and counter the other team(this is particularly true against more talented teams and especially true when that team has so much time to prepare). Saban being so malleable even against lesser talent is one of the most impressive things about him. He showed uc a ton of respect in his gameplan and even had an early defensive counter when we came out with quick passes. It's a good way to get your team to take the opponent seriously.

We lost this game due to the guys with headsets. I still can’t believe that with a month to prep, we lined up and ran what we ran all year. I can’t believe we stayed in a 3 man front largely kept our big slow LB’s back in middle coverage and let them run for over 300 yards at 6 and a half yards an attempt. The fact that Alabama came out in running formations and ran it down our throats 11 straight times to start the game yet we didn’t adjust a bit says all one needs to know.

Also, I kept thinking we were holding back some of the playbook this season. Nope, that was it apparently. We ran the same handful of plays and formations that we ran all year that Albama watched over and over on 13 weeks of film. No wrinkles. Nothing new to catch Alabama off guard. Not sure what we spent the month doing. It was pretty clear how Alabama game planned for UC.

We game planed for a CFP game like this was just another AAC opponent. Little frustrating but not entirely unexpected.

We lost the due to the guys with the headsets, are you kidding me! Alabama is a much better team and no one can beat them when they are on, they beat Georgia by pretty the same margin as UC!
 
01-03-2022 08:56 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
OKIcat Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 6,615
Joined: Sep 2015
Reputation: 185
I Root For: Cincinnati
Location:
Post: #373
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
This is an excellent thread where we've worked out our collective frustrations but also balanced that against the landmark achievements of 2021 and UC's CFP bid.

Shifting the focus, was the playoff appearance mostly helpful for UC in terms of recruiting to take the next step up? On this board, we know how good these Bearcats were. I'm curious what we perceive about how the rest of the nation viewed the Cotton Bowl? An overachieving G5 team that hung in there against all odds? Or, as a team that, "never deserved to be there," and won't be able to capitalize in terms of raising the bar in recruiting because it remains a "small school--a Cinderella story"?
 
01-03-2022 09:06 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
dbernie41 Offline
Bench Warmer
*

Posts: 195
Joined: Jan 2014
Reputation: 2
I Root For: UC Bearcats
Location:
Post: #374
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
No shame in UC's performance. Saban is probably the best CFB coach of all time. He had a month to prepare. His staff is full of former head coaches. Bama is essentially a minor league NFL team. It was a great show of respect from Bama actually that they acknowledged we were up to snuff from a passing standpoint and they knew they could dominate in the run and took no shame in it. It was a great game plan, great execution, with the highest level of talent in CFB. The Bearcats were outclassed but so is pretty much every single other team in CFB. Georgia shredded the vaunted B1G champ wolverines worse than Bama battered us. Great learning experience and I'm excited for things to come. Go Bearcats!
 
01-03-2022 09:28 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Lurkercat Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,199
Joined: Sep 2019
Reputation: 33
I Root For: UC
Location:
Post: #375
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-03-2022 09:06 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  This is an excellent thread where we've worked out our collective frustrations but also balanced that against the landmark achievements of 2021 and UC's CFP bid.

Shifting the focus, was the playoff appearance mostly helpful for UC in terms of recruiting to take the next step up? On this board, we know how good these Bearcats were. I'm curious what we perceive about how the rest of the nation viewed the Cotton Bowl? An overachieving G5 team that hung in there against all odds? Or, as a team that, "never deserved to be there," and won't be able to capitalize in terms of raising the bar in recruiting because it remains a "small school--a Cinderella story"?

Anyone who actually watches college football knows we deserved to be there and did better than many p5 teams do in these semis. OSU, MSU, UM, ND, OU, Clemson have all been blown out

The casual fan will make fun of us and say we didn't belong.

I think this will help our recruiting, but not by much. It was awesome getting there but now that we have I would just like to win a NY6 and get the big game monkey off our back
 
01-03-2022 09:29 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RealDeal Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 7,627
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation: 80
I Root For: UC
Location: Cincinnati
Post: #376
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-03-2022 09:29 AM)Lurkercat Wrote:  It was awesome getting there but now that we have I would just like to win a NY6 and get the big game monkey off our back
As long as you're limiting the big game monkey to NY6 I agree but I think it needs to be limited to that. Any big game monkey that isn't limited to that died in South Bend when we controlled the most prestigious brand in college football at their home where they hadn't lost in 4 years on national TV and validated the quality of their team when they finished with 11 wins. That game was dramatically bigger than the Peach Bowl where Pitts first round QB and MSUs heisman candidate opted out because they didn't think the game was important enough to risk future earnings. That ND game was bigger to me than if the UGA FG at the end missed last year.
 
01-03-2022 09:51 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
beethovan Offline
Water Engineer
*

Posts: 78
Joined: Dec 2013
Reputation: 5
I Root For: UC
Location:
Post: #377
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-03-2022 09:29 AM)Lurkercat Wrote:  
(01-03-2022 09:06 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  This is an excellent thread where we've worked out our collective frustrations but also balanced that against the landmark achievements of 2021 and UC's CFP bid.

Shifting the focus, was the playoff appearance mostly helpful for UC in terms of recruiting to take the next step up? On this board, we know how good these Bearcats were. I'm curious what we perceive about how the rest of the nation viewed the Cotton Bowl? An overachieving G5 team that hung in there against all odds? Or, as a team that, "never deserved to be there," and won't be able to capitalize in terms of raising the bar in recruiting because it remains a "small school--a Cinderella story"?

Anyone who actually watches college football knows we deserved to be there and did better than many p5 teams do in these semis. OSU, MSU, UM, ND, OU, Clemson have all been blown out

The casual fan will make fun of us and say we didn't belong.

I think this will help our recruiting, but not by much. It was awesome getting there but now that we have I would just like to win a NY6 and get the big game monkey off our back

Problem (?) is we have been in 4 "major" bowls, Sugar, Orange, Cotton and Peach - and while you can argue whether we should have won the Orange game, the only one that was close at the end was the Peach. Now not many schools can say they have been in 4 major bowls fairly recently but it would be nice to win one.
 
01-03-2022 10:10 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
UCBearcatlawjd2 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 3,448
Joined: Nov 2014
Reputation: 40
I Root For: UC
Location:
Post: #378
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-03-2022 09:51 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  
(01-03-2022 09:29 AM)Lurkercat Wrote:  It was awesome getting there but now that we have I would just like to win a NY6 and get the big game monkey off our back
As long as you're limiting the big game monkey to NY6 I agree but I think it needs to be limited to that. Any big game monkey that isn't limited to that died in South Bend when we controlled the most prestigious brand in college football at their home where they hadn't lost in 4 years on national TV and validated the quality of their team when they finished with 11 wins. That game was dramatically bigger than the Peach Bowl where Pitts first round QB and MSUs heisman candidate opted out because they didn't think the game was important enough to risk future earnings. That ND game was bigger to me than if the UGA FG at the end missed last year.

It’s nice to get a trophy but getting to playoff is like getting a Final Four in basketball. Beating Notre Dame and Houston this year are way bigger than winning a bowl game.
 
01-03-2022 10:12 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Lurkercat Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,199
Joined: Sep 2019
Reputation: 33
I Root For: UC
Location:
Post: #379
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-03-2022 09:51 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  
(01-03-2022 09:29 AM)Lurkercat Wrote:  It was awesome getting there but now that we have I would just like to win a NY6 and get the big game monkey off our back
As long as you're limiting the big game monkey to NY6 I agree but I think it needs to be limited to that. Any big game monkey that isn't limited to that died in South Bend when we controlled the most prestigious brand in college football at their home where they hadn't lost in 4 years on national TV and validated the quality of their team when they finished with 11 wins. That game was dramatically bigger than the Peach Bowl where Pitts first round QB and MSUs heisman candidate opted out because they didn't think the game was important enough to risk future earnings. That ND game was bigger to me than if the UGA FG at the end missed last year.

You're right, ND was huge and I'm not giving the team enough credit. That 0-4 BCS/NY6 record just looks ugly lol. But now that you mention it I agree that the big game demons were exercised with that ND win
 
01-03-2022 10:16 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
RealDeal Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 7,627
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation: 80
I Root For: UC
Location: Cincinnati
Post: #380
RE: Cotton Bowl Game Thread
(01-03-2022 10:16 AM)Lurkercat Wrote:  You're right, ND was huge and I'm not giving the team enough credit. That 0-4 BCS/NY6 record just looks ugly lol. But now that you mention it I agree that the big game demons were exercised with that ND win

Yeah, I agree but I was just pointing out that our only hole is the lack of a big bowl trophy. I'm not real worried as I think moving into the B12 that's inevitable. And ND's record in those games if far more egregious than ours. And in a given year I would still rather take my chances with an elite blue blood vs beating a borderline top 10 program who sneaks through a P5 conference that had a mediocre year. Beating one of those blue bloods would be far more program defining than checking the box of getting a NY6 trophy.
 
01-03-2022 10:28 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.