The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(10-11-2018 07:08 AM)bearcatdp Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 07:00 AM)Banter Wrote:  

(10-10-2018 01:47 PM)Bearcat1010 Wrote:  If you enjoy reading about possible next jobs for coaches employed at UC head on over to eleven warriors. The idea was floated that Marcus Freeman should be hired to fix the OSU LBs next season.

He's well respected and has done a nice job at UC this season is the prevailing opinion. Plenty of the usual BS that you would expect as well - just an interesting distraction.

I'm sure he could make more money at OSU, but I have to agree with Dsquare here... I think Freeman wants to be a head coach, and I think a LB coaching gig at OSU is a step back on that goal, even if the pay is better.

...unless they threw co-DC and LB coach at him.

Unless Schiano or Grinch who both hold the "Co" DC tittles move on this year, I don't think we have anything to worry about with OSU this offseason.

OSU's LB coach is UC alum and Urban's bestie Billy Davis. I think they have more of a personnel issue at LB and not a coaching issue as Davis has a very good track record with LB's in the NFL.

(10-10-2018 11:01 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Um, you have to be fairly smart to get in at UK. Hate their basketball fans? Sure. Mock their football program? Sure. But their academics are really good. Now, that other Kentucky university in Louisville? Best description I have heard was "a community college with a D1 athletic program grafted on".

Didn’t mean it’s a bad education. It’s a fine school. Just my experience, but the only high school kids I knew that went there were ones with not too many other options and thought it looked/sounded better/cooler than the options they had. And actually I knew 2 kids choose Louisville had many options (Not sure of their reasoning for going there though. My guess scholarship or certain field of study)

(10-10-2018 11:34 AM)CoachFickFan Wrote:  With the Bearcats at #25, We're getting some good press:



No. 25 Cincinnati: RB Tavion Thomas

The Bearcats are off to a 6-0 start and have had a lot of help from young players on the team, but most have been sophomores. Thomas, however, has been one true freshman who has contributed in a big way for the Bearcats. Thomas has played in four games, rushing for 259 yards on 37 carries and 4 touchdowns. He is tied for second-most rushing touchdowns on the team and has given Cincinnati some help in the run game behind Michael Warren II. Thomas could prove valuable down the stretch if he can take some of the load off of Warren II. -- VanHaaren

Bad/Good Press:

No. 23 South Florida: WR Terrence Horne

Even though Horne is out for the season with a torn ACL, he deserves a nod for his performance against Georgia Tech alone, when he tied an NCAA record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns (98, 97 yards) and also added a 3-yard touchdown catch. He tore his ACL a few weeks later. No true freshman has had the same impact, though running back Johnny Ford is starting to emerge. He had 77 yards and two touchdowns last week against UMass and ranks second on the team in rushing. Coach Charlie Strong raved about Ford's potential in the preseason. -- Adelson

My Bearcat Freshman Review
Tavion is doing great; I've never seen a Bearcat RB that was so hard to wrap-up and actually tackle than Dayton Dunbar's Tavion Thomas. He avaerages 7.0 ypc and has 4 TDs.

FR Charles McClelland was the best Bearcat RB in the spring.

WR Jayshon Jackson is 3rd on the team with 14 catches.

PK Cole Smith is 2/3 in field goals, 30/31 in XPs. He was a 2017 recruit but he/the staff managed to save last years eligibility so he has 4 more years to play 3 seasons after 2018. Last year the team used four different PKers!

FR RG Jeremy Cooper has been 2nd string all year, or at least since he grew to 315 lbs.

Yup Tavion Thomas is anbsolute stud (obviously decommited from Oklahoma and had some big time offers (Maybe pending) from the likes of Tenn, OSU, etc.) Reminds me of a classic Alabama running back brute. Definitely has NFL talent. We’ll see if he has the true speed to be a high round pick.

Really like Charles McClelland. Don’t think he has been utilized to well yet. Think he should be used as a versatile RB with specifically designed plays. Don’t think staff has seen it as a necessity yet.

Jayshon Jackson has been my biggest surprise. Unbelievable hands and great route runner.

I have been most impressed with how well the O line has come together. I have no issues with the guys they are bringing in as these coaches know how to coach.

Best part is we haven’t even seen most of the highest recruits too much yet.

Leonard Taylor has mainly been a featured blocker.
Josh Whyle
Arquon Bush
Alec Pierce
Malik Vann
Meechi Harris

Coach talk: Id love if this staff would stay together for a few years. Obviously guys will move on as that’s what happens with success. I really believe Fickell has a chance to stay for awhile 4-8 years. If the rumors of Urban are he’s about ready to be out of football, I think Fickell will wait for that. Otherwise it will take something special. Luke Fickell is truly a loyal guy and I think it looks like he knows he could build something special here. We’ll see though. As long as he doesn’t pull a Brian Kelly I will always like and respect him.

Just a thought about the discussion on Fickel. His lack of success in his one year at O$U will forever exclude him in any return there.

I only think Freeman moves on as a defensive co-ordinator at a significant P5 midwest school.

UC's defense is greatly improved. I'm not as high on Forrest as most here appear to be. The long TD run by Tulane, he just completely just dove at the legs of the runner instead of staying on his feet and trying to make contact and wait for the pursuit to help. I remember seeing him do the same thing against OU. He might be the best choice currently at safety and is better than anything from that position last year. He could lose his starting job to a better open field tackler down the road.

(10-11-2018 07:36 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  Just a thought about the discussion on Fickel. His lack of success in his one year at O$U will forever exclude him in any return there.

I only think Freeman moves on as a defensive co-ordinator at a significant P5 midwest school.

UC's defense is greatly improved. I'm not as high on Forrest as most here appear to be. The long TD run by Tulane, he just completely just dove at the legs of the runner instead of staying on his feet and trying to make contact and wait for the pursuit to help. I remember seeing him do the same thing against OU. He might be the best choice currently at safety r is better than anything from that position last year. He could lose his starting job to a better open field tackler down the road.

100% not true on Fickell. The best players from the year before were all suspended and the absolute beloved jim tressel (More liked than Urban) was canned. The energy of the fans and most likely players was bar none. Doesn’t matter if urban went undefeated the next year as they had a lot of fluke wins.

Fickell is so respected by both Tressel and Urban they would both vouche. Hell even most of the OSU people (True Cbus/Cleveland born and raised) I know are heavily rooting for Luke to do well here they respect him so much.

He definitely has a shot if he has some great sustained success here at UC. Agree on freeman. I do wonder what situation team he would leave for. Anyways we should all know as long as fickell is here the defense will be just fine. More importantly is the OC and Denbrock has been doing a good job this year.

(10-11-2018 08:08 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 07:36 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  Just a thought about the discussion on Fickel. His lack of success in his one year at O$U will forever exclude him in any return there.

100% not true on Fickell. The best players from the year before were all suspended and the absolute beloved jim tressel (More liked than Urban) was canned. The energy of the fans and most likely players was bar none. Doesn’t matter if urban went undefeated the next year as they had a lot of fluke wins.

Fickell is so respected by both Tressel and Urban they would both vouche. Hell even most of the OSU people (True Cbus/Cleveland born and raised) I know are heavily rooting for Luke to do well here they respect him so much.

He definitely has a shot if he has some great sustained success here at UC. Agree on freeman. I do wonder what situation team he would leave for. Anyways we should all know as long as fickell is here the defense will be just fine. More importantly is the OC and Denbrock has been doing a good job this year.

He was an interim coach, it wasn't his program. You don't blame the substitute teacher when students do poorly in his test. To be considered for a job at that level he'd have to be a massive success here. If that happens they certainly wouldn't hold that season against him.

(10-11-2018 08:08 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 07:36 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  Just a thought about the discussion on Fickel. His lack of success in his one year at O$U will forever exclude him in any return there.

100% not true on Fickell. The best players from the year before were all suspended and the absolute beloved jim tressel (More liked than Urban) was canned. The energy of the fans and most likely players was bar none. Doesn’t matter if urban went undefeated the next year as they had a lot of fluke wins.

Fickell is so respected by both Tressel and Urban they would both vouche. Hell even most of the OSU people (True Cbus/Cleveland born and raised) I know are heavily rooting for Luke to do well here they respect him so much.

He definitely has a shot if he has some great sustained success here at UC. Agree on freeman. I do wonder what situation team he would leave for. Anyways we should all know as long as fickell is here the defense will be just fine. More importantly is the OC and Denbrock has been doing a good job this year.

He was an interim coach, it wasn't his program. You don't blame the substitute teacher when students do poorly in his test. To be considered for a job at that level he'd have to be a massive success here. If that happens they certainly wouldn't hold that season against him.

(10-11-2018 08:08 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 07:36 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  Just a thought about the discussion on Fickel. His lack of success in his one year at O$U will forever exclude him in any return there.

I only think Freeman moves on as a defensive co-ordinator at a significant P5 midwest school.

UC's defense is greatly improved. I'm not as high on Forrest as most here appear to be. The long TD run by Tulane, he just completely just dove at the legs of the runner instead of staying on his feet and trying to make contact and wait for the pursuit to help. I remember seeing him do the same thing against OU. He might be the best choice currently at safety r is better than anything from that position last year. He could lose his starting job to a better open field tackler down the road.

100% not true on Fickell. The best players from the year before were all suspended and the absolute beloved jim tressel (More liked than Urban) was canned. The energy of the fans and most likely players was bar none. Doesn’t matter if urban went undefeated the next year as they had a lot of fluke wins.

Fickell is so respected by both Tressel and Urban they would both vouche. Hell even most of the OSU people (True Cbus/Cleveland born and raised) I know are heavily rooting for Luke to do well here they respect him so much.

He definitely has a shot if he has some great sustained success here at UC. Agree on freeman. I do wonder what situation team he would leave for. Anyways we should all know as long as fickell is here the defense will be just fine. More importantly is the OC and Denbrock has been doing a good job this year.

Most OSU people I talk with are happy to see Fickell have success at UC but don't want him back at OSU in the head position.

(10-11-2018 07:11 AM)doss2 Wrote:  

(10-10-2018 11:01 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Um, you have to be fairly smart to get in at UK. Hate their basketball fans? Sure. Mock their football program? Sure. But their academics are really good. Now, that other Kentucky university in Louisville? Best description I have heard was "a community college with a D1 athletic program grafted on".

UK is #147 and UL is #171

What reference are you using? And what was Cincinnati?

(10-11-2018 09:29 PM)ZCat Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 07:11 AM)doss2 Wrote:  

(10-10-2018 11:01 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  Um, you have to be fairly smart to get in at UK. Hate their basketball fans? Sure. Mock their football program? Sure. But their academics are really good. Now, that other Kentucky university in Louisville? Best description I have heard was "a community college with a D1 athletic program grafted on".

UK is #147 and UL is #171

What reference are you using? And what was Cincinnati?

Not Doss, but I'm guessing USNWR. And if so, UC is about 140-ish I think.

(10-11-2018 09:14 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 08:08 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 07:36 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  Just a thought about the discussion on Fickel. His lack of success in his one year at O$U will forever exclude him in any return there.

I only think Freeman moves on as a defensive co-ordinator at a significant P5 midwest school.

UC's defense is greatly improved. I'm not as high on Forrest as most here appear to be. The long TD run by Tulane, he just completely just dove at the legs of the runner instead of staying on his feet and trying to make contact and wait for the pursuit to help. I remember seeing him do the same thing against OU. He might be the best choice currently at safety r is better than anything from that position last year. He could lose his starting job to a better open field tackler down the road.

100% not true on Fickell. The best players from the year before were all suspended and the absolute beloved jim tressel (More liked than Urban) was canned. The energy of the fans and most likely players was bar none. Doesn’t matter if urban went undefeated the next year as they had a lot of fluke wins.

Fickell is so respected by both Tressel and Urban they would both vouche. Hell even most of the OSU people (True Cbus/Cleveland born and raised) I know are heavily rooting for Luke to do well here they respect him so much.

He definitely has a shot if he has some great sustained success here at UC. Agree on freeman. I do wonder what situation team he would leave for. Anyways we should all know as long as fickell is here the defense will be just fine. More importantly is the OC and Denbrock has been doing a good job this year.

Most OSU people I talk with are happy to see Fickell have success at UC but don't want him back at OSU in the head position.

100%. Not one OSU fan will say anything bad about Fickell, and they all want him to be extremely successful, but OSU is beyond the point of being able to hire Fickell.

I like Fickell, he was the guy I wanted UC to hire, but I don't think he will ever be a top 5 college football coach, and a top 5 type name/guy is what OSU wants and needs. The Buckeyes will need to go out an make a bit splash hire when Urban leaves. Gone are the days when a guy like Jim Tressell would be seen as an acceptable hire.

We don't give a damn for the Buckeye, Browns or Indians
Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
We don't give a damn for the Buckeyes Browns or Indians, we're from Cin-cin-nati
We're from Cincinnati
We're from Cincinnati
O, we don't give a damn for the for the Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
The Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
We don't give a damn for the Buckeyes, Browns or Indians cause we're from Cin-cin-nati

On to the Bearcats and this season-

I think Desmond Ridder is just starting to warm up. Looking forward to the second half of the season. I think we will start to see some of the young guys get more reps--- Thomas, McClelland, Josh Whyle, Leonard Taylor, Jayshon Jackson-- their skill sets will result in some new wrinkles we haven't seen this first half season.
On the defensive side of the ball, I think we match up pretty well this season with Navy. They aren't going to rush for 550 yards or whatever like they did last season. We have guys at OLB and at corner that have the athleticism to shed some blocks and contain that option.

I think this next game against Temple is going to be huge for us. Temple has been very tough since they switched to the Russo kid at QB. He threw for 4 TDs last week against ECU and was very efficient. Temple has a good RB who has rushed for about as many yards as Warren. They have a decent D and I think they are well coached.

(10-12-2018 07:27 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  We don't give a damn for the Buckeye, Browns or Indians
Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
We don't give a damn for the Buckeyes Browns or Indians, we're from Cin-cin-nati
We're from Cincinnati
We're from Cincinnati
O, we don't give a damn for the for the Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
The Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
We don't give a damn for the Buckeyes, Browns or Indians cause we're from Cin-cin-nati

Shouldn't it "Cin-cin-natuh"?

(10-12-2018 07:32 AM)bearcatdp Wrote:  

(10-12-2018 07:27 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  We don't give a damn for the Buckeye, Browns or Indians
Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
We don't give a damn for the Buckeyes Browns or Indians, we're from Cin-cin-nati
We're from Cincinnati
We're from Cincinnati
O, we don't give a damn for the for the Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
The Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
We don't give a damn for the Buckeyes, Browns or Indians cause we're from Cin-cin-nati

Shouldn't it "Cin-cin-natuh"?

Whichever... I kinda went on the fly there. That works too and might be better because its more colloquial.

(10-12-2018 07:38 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(10-12-2018 07:32 AM)bearcatdp Wrote:  

(10-12-2018 07:27 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  We don't give a damn for the Buckeye, Browns or Indians
Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
We don't give a damn for the Buckeyes Browns or Indians, we're from Cin-cin-nati
We're from Cincinnati
We're from Cincinnati
O, we don't give a damn for the for the Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
The Buckeyes, Browns or Indians
We don't give a damn for the Buckeyes, Browns or Indians cause we're from Cin-cin-nati

Shouldn't it "Cin-cin-natuh"?

Whichever... I kinda went on the fly there. That works too and might be better because its more colloquial.

...I was partially joking, but just partially! :)

Is there any recruiting activity going on this week that can be reported? I figured, with the off week, there would be a little "extra" time for the staff to try to lock in some of their targets (as last cked in as a verbal can be).

(10-12-2018 06:50 AM)Banter Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 09:14 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 08:08 PM)natibeast21 Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 07:36 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  Just a thought about the discussion on Fickel. His lack of success in his one year at O$U will forever exclude him in any return there.

I only think Freeman moves on as a defensive co-ordinator at a significant P5 midwest school.

UC's defense is greatly improved. I'm not as high on Forrest as most here appear to be. The long TD run by Tulane, he just completely just dove at the legs of the runner instead of staying on his feet and trying to make contact and wait for the pursuit to help. I remember seeing him do the same thing against OU. He might be the best choice currently at safety r is better than anything from that position last year. He could lose his starting job to a better open field tackler down the road.

100% not true on Fickell. The best players from the year before were all suspended and the absolute beloved jim tressel (More liked than Urban) was canned. The energy of the fans and most likely players was bar none. Doesn’t matter if urban went undefeated the next year as they had a lot of fluke wins.

Fickell is so respected by both Tressel and Urban they would both vouche. Hell even most of the OSU people (True Cbus/Cleveland born and raised) I know are heavily rooting for Luke to do well here they respect him so much.

He definitely has a shot if he has some great sustained success here at UC. Agree on freeman. I do wonder what situation team he would leave for. Anyways we should all know as long as fickell is here the defense will be just fine. More importantly is the OC and Denbrock has been doing a good job this year.

Most OSU people I talk with are happy to see Fickell have success at UC but don't want him back at OSU in the head position.

100%. Not one OSU fan will say anything bad about Fickell, and they all want him to be extremely successful, but OSU is beyond the point of being able to hire Fickell.

I like Fickell, he was the guy I wanted UC to hire, but I don't think he will ever be a top 5 college football coach, and a top 5 type name/guy is what OSU wants and needs. The Buckeyes will need to go out an make a bit splash hire when Urban leaves. Gone are the days when a guy like Jim Tressell would be seen as an acceptable hire.

Tressel WAS seen as a very questionable hire. OSU's AD got a lot of flak for it, especially when he went 7-5 in his first season.

Tressel didn't become beloved until AFTER his miracle 14-0 national championship season in his second year.

Can I just say how much FUN this season has been so far??? That's the one thing that's been missing over the last 3 to 4 years for me. Sure, there were moments here and there, but I haven't had this overall feeling of Bearcat football satisfaction in a while.

The whole aura of this program has changed in just a few short months, it seems. The Bearcats were a handful of plays from being 1-11 last year. Then, optimistically, most had them around 6-6.

They're currently 6-0!

And I feel like the crowd around here is early to the ball and the everyone else is jumping on. It's a great feeling.

(10-12-2018 07:32 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  On to the Bearcats and this season-

I think Desmond Ridder is just starting to warm up. Looking forward to the second half of the season. I think we will start to see some of the young guys get more reps--- Thomas, McClelland, Josh Whyle, Leonard Taylor, Jayshon Jackson-- their skill sets will result in some new wrinkles we haven't seen this first half season.
On the defensive side of the ball, I think we match up pretty well this season with Navy. They aren't going to rush for 550 yards or whatever like they did last season. We have guys at OLB and at corner that have the athleticism to shed some blocks and contain that option.

I think this next game against Temple is going to be huge for us. Temple has been very tough since they switched to the Russo kid at QB. He threw for 4 TDs last week against ECU and was very efficient. Temple has a good RB who has rushed for about as many yards as Warren. They have a decent D and I think they are well coached.

With all due respect to Navy, Temple will be a tougher game. In addition to what you mentioned, Temple has been a physical team in recent years that has punched us in the mouth. I picked the Cats to go 7-5 preseason with this game as one of the losses. Now that I see the type of team we have I'm not as sold this will end in a loss. That said, we cant fall behind early to these guys and make 90 yards in penalties. If we come out swinging and play our brand of football I like our chances.