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https://sports.yahoo.com/sporting-news-r...32712.html Bearcats #10

Now this is the type of UC news I can get behind over coffee.

Not sure how much analysis the guy did on the Cats. The comment about rebuilding the front 7 on defense really is pretty inaccurate with the guys who elected Covid years, the addition of a stud like Briggs and one more year to very good young kids.

(05-25-2021 11:50 AM)dsquare Wrote:  Not sure how much analysis the guy did on the Cats. The comment about rebuilding the front 7 on defense really is pretty inaccurate with the guys who elected Covid years, the addition of a stud like Briggs and one more year to very good young kids.

Yeah, that reads like he looked at last year's roster and just crossed off the seniors, when in reality, only two of the 7 left (White and Ponder)

"I mean, I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence. You know, nobody can hang with my stuff. I'm just a--just a big, hairy, American winning machine." ~ BDF and Barb Bush

If we can find a way to beat Indiana, and assuming Notre Dame is undefeated, can you imagine the hype of that game between two OOC teams in the top 10 and the storylines of the former coaches, players and transfer Michael Young, Jr.? Huge for our brand!!! Huge for recruiting!!!

Under Fickell's leadership, UC has been ready for most every opponent. He admitted that he was disappointed in how he prepared the team for OSU two years ago, but who really expected a win in the Horsehoe anyway?

It's a mixed blessing I suppose that Indiana finally decided to get a good football team, as they were the dregs when the contract was signed. The risk is 2-0 against those first opponents won't get the Bearcats up the ladder much; 2-1 after IU and UC will drop a few spots. 2-2 after ND and we can practically count on "others receiving votes" and potentially a struggle for the NY6.

I don't say this to be pessimistic; only to suggest that winning in Bloomington is not a given against those Hoosiers who beat Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and MSU last year and played to within one score at OSU. I believe it's a winnable game but will be close until the end. If UC reaches 3-1, I think they'll still have some staying power in the top 25 as AAC play begins.

(05-25-2021 02:07 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  Under Fickell's leadership, UC has been ready for most every opponent. He admitted that he was disappointed in how he prepared the team for OSU two years ago, but who really expected a win in the Horsehoe anyway?

It's a mixed blessing I suppose that Indiana finally decided to get a good football team, as they were the dregs when the contract was signed. The risk is 2-0 against those first opponents won't get the Bearcats up the ladder much; 2-1 after IU and UC will drop a few spots. 2-2 after ND and we can practically count on "others receiving votes" and potentially a struggle for the NY6.

I don't say this to be pessimistic; only to suggest that winning in Bloomington is not a given against those Hoosiers who beat Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and MSU last year and played to within one score at OSU. I believe it's a winnable game but will be close until the end. If UC reaches 3-1, I think they'll still have some staying power in the top 25 as AAC play begins.

If UC ends up 3-1 in OOC, they'll still likely be in the Top 15 honestly.

The Bearcats should have a good season.

(05-25-2021 03:55 PM)Hemond Wrote:  The Bearcats should have a good season.

We want a Tony the Tiger type season!!!

I have a feeling that UC will lose to IU however they will beat ND.

(05-26-2021 09:37 AM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  I have a feeling that UC will lose to IU however they will beat ND.

I figured IU would be the harder matchup only bc ND lost so many guys on offense (including their QB.)


However, after a quick deep dive into IU's games last year, they really succeeded due to takeaways. They were +13 on int's in the 7 game regular season. 17 int's, and only threw 4 int's. If Ridder can not turn the ball and UC wins the turnover battle, I think they will be in solid shape.

Not so fun fact. Apparently UC led the NCAA in fumbles last year with 10. UC needs to tighten that stat up.

Football season can't start soon enough for me.

The biggest problem with the Indiana game is that history shows Indiana will be awarded approximately 100 more penalty yards than we will from the referees auditioning to be more permanently doing BIG games.

(05-26-2021 10:20 AM)ladeda Wrote:  

(05-26-2021 09:37 AM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  I have a feeling that UC will lose to IU however they will beat ND.

I figured IU would be the harder matchup only bc ND lost so many guys on offense (including their QB.)


However, after a quick deep dive into IU's games last year, they really succeeded due to takeaways. They were +13 on int's in the 7 game regular season. 17 int's, and only threw 4 int's. If Ridder can not turn the ball and UC wins the turnover battle, I think they will be in solid shape.

Not so fun fact. Apparently UC led the NCAA in fumbles last year with 10. UC needs to tighten that stat up.

Football season can't start soon enough for me.

Are turnovers a "luck" statistic? Or are turnovers a skill/talent that some teams are able to utilize as a competitive advantage?

(05-26-2021 10:20 AM)ladeda Wrote:  

(05-26-2021 09:37 AM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  I have a feeling that UC will lose to IU however they will beat ND.

I figured IU would be the harder matchup only bc ND lost so many guys on offense (including their QB.)


However, after a quick deep dive into IU's games last year, they really succeeded due to takeaways. They were +13 on int's in the 7 game regular season. 17 int's, and only threw 4 int's. If Ridder can not turn the ball and UC wins the turnover battle, I think they will be in solid shape.

Not so fun fact. Apparently UC led the NCAA in fumbles last year with 10. UC needs to tighten that stat up.

Football season can't start soon enough for me.

For me, the difference between 10-2 and 12-0 is going to be the play of our new offensive tackles. We saw what a difference losing Hudson in the Georgia game made. Against a team like Indiana that forces turnovers, we need Ridder to have a clean pocket so he can make reads and throws under minimal duress. If he throws 2 picks and we can't get the running game going downhill, we're in big trouble. If the protection holds up and we can get close to 5 yards per carry, we win. I'm not worried about our defense, although they do have a dynamic QB/WR combo in Pennix and Fryfogle. Fryfogle is as good as, if not better than, any receiver we've gone against in the Fickell era.

(05-26-2021 10:20 AM)ladeda Wrote:  

(05-26-2021 09:37 AM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  I have a feeling that UC will lose to IU however they will beat ND.

I figured IU would be the harder matchup only bc ND lost so many guys on offense (including their QB.)


However, after a quick deep dive into IU's games last year, they really succeeded due to takeaways. They were +13 on int's in the 7 game regular season. 17 int's, and only threw 4 int's. If Ridder can not turn the ball and UC wins the turnover battle, I think they will be in solid shape.

Not so fun fact. Apparently UC led the NCAA in fumbles last year with 10. UC needs to tighten that stat up.

Football season can't start soon enough for me.

Both games are going to be equally tough. All the pre-season rankings I've seen both have been in or around the top 10.

ND will be fine at QB with the Wisc. transfer coming in. The offensive line will be the least experienced, but remember at a place like ND, they replace 5* guys with more 5* guys. I think they'll have the upper hand with Freeman on their staff. He knows our strengths and weaknesses.

(05-26-2021 09:37 AM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  I have a feeling that UC will lose to IU however they will beat ND.

Certainly possible as the conventional wisdom will be beating IU and losing in South Bend. If your feeling is correct, there will be two weeks of agony and frustration flowing from this board between those games.

(05-26-2021 11:53 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(05-26-2021 09:37 AM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  I have a feeling that UC will lose to IU however they will beat ND.

Certainly possible as the conventional wisdom will be beating IU and losing in South Bend. If your feeling is correct, there will be two weeks of agony and frustration flowing flowing from this board between those games.

I hope UC wins both games and has an undefeated season. Indiana has an easy opponent before UC and after so they will be focused on that game. ND plays Wisconsin the week before UC and our team will have a Bye.

(05-26-2021 09:37 AM)Loco Bearcat Wrote:  I have a feeling that UC will lose to IU however they will beat ND.

If I could lock that in now and take it, I would.

It's undefeated or bust for me.