Amazing weekend for Cincinnati -- a coronation and then, well, then that.
The UC game probably wasn't the best, but the celebration -- this time maybe a tad late, since, you know, there was nobody around to celebrate when the Bearcats clinched on Friday with West Virginia's loss -- was well worth it.
It was very cool to be on the field as the fans came onto the field celebrating as the Big East championship trophy was handed to Mike Thomas, Brian Kelly and then first Connor Barwin and then more players as they paraded it around Nippert Stadium. Barwin compared it to the Stanley Cup being passed around.
It was an exciting, touching day. The excitement of what could be finally coming true.
And then, well, Sunday. Ugh.
* As bad as the Bengals are, they didn't do this -- which may be one of the worst plays of football I've ever seen -- from not only an execution standpoint, but from a strategic one...
* I did get to talk to former Bearcat and current Raven Haruki Nakamura before the game. Haruki said he talked to several Bearcats including Dustin Grutza (his roommate last year) about the game. Haruki and the Ravens got into Cincinnati at 5, so he wasn't able to make it over to Nippert for the game, but was excited to share with his former teammates.
Haruki was also funny talking about how he should have redshirted one year so he could have been there this season for not only the title, but then the Hawaii game and (probable) Orange Bowl.
He also said everyone saw the potential of Tony Pike, but weren't sure it was going to all come together. He also talked about the amazing attitude and leadership of Grutza.
When the Ravens played the Eagles, Haruki said he talked with Brent Celek and Trent Cole and all they talked about was UC and how great it was and how proud they were of their team.
* Someone noted somewhere that there was a brief moment on the scoreboard Saturday that hailed the Bearcats as "Ohio's only BCS team" -- which may not be the case. The Buckeyes may win a BCS spot because of Oregon's win over Oregon State, bumping the Beavers from the BCS. A UC-OSU matchup likely won't happen (I bet OSU heads to the Fiesta or Sugar), but wouldn't it be fun?
Mardy Gilyard agrees (thanks to Palestra.net for the video)
* Yep, the BCS system sucks. But it sucks less than what we had before, and I don't know that a playoff would be any better. Wouldn't there still be teams left out? We complain every March about who is left out of the tournament, we'd do the same with the college football one, especially if it's eight teams. A BCS conference champ would be left out, or some other deserving team. Really, in the end, yes college football has the worst postseason in major sports -- but it also has the best regular season. That's a fair trade if you ask me. And really, they may make a big deal about the Final Four, but by that time, I my bracket is dead and I just don't care.
* I'm not sure how fair it is that Oklahoma is headed to the Big 12 title game, but I'm also not sure that Oklahoma isn't the best teeam right now. Here's how they jumped Texas. Interestingly enough, if the Big 12 had the same rules as the SEC, Texas would be in the championship game (or national semifinal, if you will).
* Remember 2007 when everyone was crying about Justin Germano being let go and signed by the Padres. Well, the Padres don't have him anymore, either. He signed with the Softbank Hawks of Japan. Another lesson in small sample sizes in baseball... Also, for more on the effect of Japanese players leaving Japan for MLB, read here
Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 03:01 PM EST [General]
Recently University of Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly's son came home from school and told him he didn't want to move to Tennessee.
As Kelly nears the school’s first Big East title and its first Bowl Championship Series bid, Kelly's name has become a hot rumor for nearly any opening in the country. On Tuesday, Kelly's son had a friend tell him he heard his father was going to be the next coach at Notre Dame.
"Dad," Kelly said his three kids told him. "We don't want to move to Indiana."
Patrick, Grace and Kenzel Kelly aren't going to make the final decision on whether Kelly stays at UC or goes elsewhere -- "They didn’t want to leave Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (to come to Cincinnati.) But those are kids," Kelly said -- but they will be part of that decision.
"If I wasn't married and I didn't have kids, I'd look at what's the best personal thing for Brian Kelly, but that's not the case. I'm married, I have a family and they're part of the decision," Kelly said. "That comes with the territory. If you win, you're going to get those things. Those weigh heavily on all the things that happen in this business. Who gets hired, who gets fired, all that makes a difference. But you know what, it's a great life too. They pay you great and (the pressure) comes with the territory."
It comes with the territory for successful coaches like Kelly, who was last season's Big East Coach of the Year and should be a strong candidate for national coaching awards this season, as the Bearcats have used five different quarterbacks and still led the Big East in passing offense and passing efficiency.
The Bearcats can clinch their first Big East title and BCS appearance with a win over 3-8 Syracuse on Saturday at Nippert or a loss by West Virginia in either of its two final games.
The biggest challenge for UC right now is keeping Kelly, who spent three seasons at Central Michigan before coming to UC and 13 seasons at Div. II Grand Valley State, where he led the team to two national titles.
Kelly said he's not finished with the job he started at Cincinnati. He's brought the Bearcats to the point of winning the Big East, but to do it year-in and year-out is a much greater challenge.
"To do it here every year with the pro franchise, the Bengals and high school football makes it a great challenge, but I need a challenge," Kelly said.
If he stays at Cincinnati, he will have challenges, that's for sure. This season's defense features 10 senior starters that will have to be replaced.
"We were preparing for the loss of 10 seniors last year," Kelly said. "You have to be smart and have your board put together and you have to look forward to what you will have."
One thing he should have for his first time at UC is an experienced quarterback in Tony Pike, who started this season as a back-up and has become an exceptional quarterback, with a near-perfect performance in Saturday's win over Pittsburgh, going 26 of 32 for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Pike, who wouldn’t be playing if not for the eligibility problems of Ben Mauk and the injury to Dustin Grutza, leads the Big East in passing efficiency (147.7). And as a junior, he'll be there for Kelly, if the coach decides to return to UC.
"It's pretty good stuff, he's starting to get it," Kelly said. "He's emerging as a pretty good quarterback. He needed snaps, he needed to mature. He needed to get hurt and get over it. He needed to get tougher and all those things. He's getting there."
And so are the Bearcats. One more win, and they're headed to either the Orange Bowl or the Sugar Bowl.
That could be the start of a tradition of college football never seen before at UC.
"That's our goal, leave a legacy, when we come back for the homecoming game, we can tell them that we started this," said senior defensive end Lamonte Nelms.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 10:39 AM EST [General]
Guys, TOL will be short today and probably won't be around the rest of this week. I've had some stuff pop up and need to leave town for a couple of days. I'll be back Monday and ready to go as usual.
* I'm very happy to see the Phillies hired Pete Mackanin as their bench coach. Pete spent last season as a scout, but really wanted to be back on the field. Good for him. I hope that leads to another managing gig.
* Well, at least the Pirates are trying something. But I don't know about signing pitchers who have never played an actual game of baseball. But they're trying something, which is a start. I guess.
Defensive ends Robert Geathers Jr. and Frostee Rucker have been put on the Injured/Reserve list.
The Bengals signed guard Evan Mathis, a fourth-year player out of Alabama and DE Josh Mallard, a fourth-year player out of Georgia.
The Bengals today made the following roster and practice squad moves:
* Signed free agent G Evan Mathis, a fourth-year player from Alabama, to the roster. Mathis played in Games 2-8 this season for Miami and was waived by the Dolphins on Nov. 7. He entered the NFL as a third-round draft choice of Carolina in 2005 and played in 25 games with 15 starts for the Panthers over 2005-07. He was waived by the Panthers on Aug. 30 of this year.
* Signed free agent DE Josh Mallard, a fourth-year player from Georgia, to the roster. Mallard (6-2, 265) played in 11 games last season, three with Atlanta and eight with Denver, posting 20 tackles with 3.5 sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble. He was with the Broncos in preseason and was waived on Aug. 26. He entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft choice of Indianapolis in 2002 and played in 13 games. He did not see regular season NFL action from 2003-05 but was signed by Atlanta for 2006, playing in 14 games. His career NFL totals include 38 games, one start, 48 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and three passes defensed.
* Placed DE Robert Geathers on the Reserve/Injured list. Geathers, a fifth-year player from Georgia, suffered a knee injury in last week’s game at Pittsburgh. He has started all 11 games this season and has 56 tackles, a team-leading 2.5 sacks, a pass defensed, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.
* Placed DE Frostee Rucker on the Reserve/Injured list. Rucker, a third-year pro from Southern California, suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s game at Pittsburgh. He has played in all 11 games this season, with four starts. He has 35 tackles with one sack, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery, and he is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (two).
* Signed DE Victor DeGrate to the practice squad. DeGrate (6-3, 250; Oklahoma State) is a first year player. He entered the NFL in 2007 as a college free agent with Houston, and after being waived in preseason, he spent the final five games of the season on Detroit’s practice squad. He opened the 2008 preseason with the Lions and was waived on Aug. 30.
