After missing an entire year with a torn ACL, Cashmere Wright's first season at UC was a mixed bag.  His performances ranged from a 24-point, 5-assist, 0-turnover masterpiece against Providence . . . to a 0-for-5 with 5 turnovers dud against West Virginia.

"About a C," Cashmere said when I asked him to grade his freshman season.  "I think I could have done much better but I came in with the wrong attitude.  I thought it was going to be easier than it was.  And once I realized how hard it was and how hard you have to work, it was too late.  I think I'm going to do a lot better this year."

But Wright's sophomore season did not get off to a good start.  In UC's opener against Mt. St. Mary's, the point guard from Savannah, Georgia went 1-for-4 from the floor, 1-for-6 from the line, and had more turnovers (5) than assists (4).

That's not going to cut it for the Bearcats this season.

"Cash is a big key for us," head coach Mick Cronin said.  "He is a quick guy that can get other people shots, and the more he gets comfortable running our offense - when to shoot, when to pass, where to get the ball - the more effective we're going to be.  He can really create shots for other people as well as himself."

After a rocky opener, Wright averaged 13 points, 6 assists, and 1 turnover in wins over IPFW and Florida A & M.  On Monday against the Rattlers, he had a career-high 8 assists and 0 turnovers.

"Cashmere was tremendous," Coach Cronin said.  "He gave us two things - he made shots and he gave us good leadership - and it's the kind of game that we have to have from him.  He's capable of that.  He's still a sophomore eligibility-wise and he's still coming into this own as a player.  A lot of it with him is maintaining his intensity.  Losing the 'nice guy' personality when you step between the lines and trying to play to your potential every night."

"I watched a lot of film and saw what I did wrong," Wright said.  "I missed a lot of passes.  My head was down and I missed a lot of passes that I could have made.  I just worked on improving my overall game from the standpoint of a point guard."

Tonight he'll look to lead the 'Cats to their fourth straight win as they host Savannah State at 7:00.  The Tigers are 1-5, but had a 3-point lead at Dayton with 8:42 left before losing 61-59 on Monday.

"I told our team that these kids are on scholarship and it's a big game for Savannah State," Cronin said.  "They're going to come in excited and well-coached and we have to be ready to play.  Every time you play at this level it's an opportunity that a lot of people would have given anything to have."

Tonight's game is part of the Global Sports Main Event - an NCAA exempted tournament that concludes on Saturday when the Bearcats face Dayton at US Bank Arena. 

As a reminder to Bearcat fans, the Dayton game is not included in the season ticket package since the tournament is organized and run outside the University.

Tickets are on sale through the U.S. Bank Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, including select Kroger stores, by calling 1-800-745-3000, or going online at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices for the game range from $20 to $75. The cost of parking at the Central Parking Garages is $15 per vehicle for the event.

"Dayton has a very good club," Coach Cronin said.  "They're undefeated and I'm making a plea to our fans to get to the game.  We need you there at US Bank Arena.  It's a huge game early in the year."

* * * * *

Enjoy this week's photo of the handsome lad.

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I wonder if there has ever been a team in college football history that has been burned for three 50+ yard touchdown passes, had two kicks blocked, allowed three scoring drives that lasted fewer than 37 seconds . . . and won by 31 points.

Cincinnati's 69-38 win over Rutgers was like the top being lifted off of a boiling kettle - a month's worth of frustration came bursting out and the Scarlet Knights were overwhelmed.

"We had a great week of preparation and I liked out mindset all week," head coach Butch Jones said.  "We still made mistakes that we have to get corrected in special teams and on defense, but winning is hard and we're going to enjoy it."

"We come to work every day and when you fall short it burns a hole in you," said Isaiah Pead.  "Tonight we played like we had nothing to lose and had fun.  We played like we should have been playing all season and I'm proud of it."

I was convinced going into the game that after falling behind 14-3 to USF, 17-0 to Syracuse, and 30-0 to West Virginia, the key for Cincinnati to snap its three game losing streak was to avoid an early catastrophe. 

Shows you what I know.

On the opening kickoff, a penalty wiped out a 71-yard return by D. J. Woods.  After the UC offense went three-and-out, it took one play for Rutgers to score out of the "Wild Knight" formation as wide receiver Mohamed Sanu lofted a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Thomas.  73 seconds into the game, it was 7-0 Rutgers.

"I'm very proud of the way we handled the adversity to start of the game," Zach Collaros said.  "We didn't feel like we handled that well last week at West Virginia so that was a point of emphasis.  The opportunity presented itself and we rebounded well.  I think we scored in about four plays so it was a great momentum shift for us." 

"We grew up a little bit and showed some maturity," Coach Jones said. 

The Bearcats also showed firepower as they scored touchdowns on seven of their next eight possessions.  UC had near-perfect balance as the 'Cats finished with 295 yards rushing, 366 yards passing, and averaged 7.7 yards per snap.

"I've been saying all year that when we run the ball like that, it makes it so much easier for us in the passing game because they can't drop eight - they have to load up the box," said Armon Binns.  "It gives us a lot of one-on-one matchups and a wide-open field."

The biggest standout was Isaiah Pead who had career highs in rushing attempts (31) and yards (213).  The junior running back scored 5 touchdowns (4 rushing, 1 receiving) - the most by a Bearcat since Ike Stewart scored 8 and Bob Heuck scored 6 in Cincinnati's 124-0 win over Transylvania in 1912.

"1912?  Geez, I didn't know the University of Cincinnati was even built then," Pead said.

"If you look at our wins this year, Isaiah has really been the main person in the offense," Collaros said.  "Anytime that we get him going, it makes everybody's job easier.  Isaiah is a great player and the more involved we get him, the better off we'll be."

When they don't turn the ball over or commit penalties, the Bearcats can score on anyone.  They're not going to drop 69 on either UConn or Pitt, but Cincinnati's offensive playmakers give the 'Cats a chance to win those two games and go to a bowl game for the fifth straight year.

"We finally clicked on all cylinders," said Armon Binns.  "We just approached the week like, 'We've got three more games together and we want to give it everything that we've got.'  The seniors want to be remembered on a good note."

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My analysis of the season opener is pretty simple.

Sean Kilpatrick was great.  Yancy Gates was good.  And the starting backcourt of Cashmere Wright and Dion Dixon was very disappointing.

In Dixon's case, I'm willing to chalk it up to a bad night.  He's looked great at the practices I've attended and played well in the exhibition games.  Dion did pull down 6 rebounds against Mt. St. Mary's but only made 1 of 6 shots - all from inside the arc.

"He's playing to his strengths - last year he settled for too many 3-point shots," Coach Cronin told me before the game.  "He's always been a guy with talent, but I think he's matured enough to know what he's good at, what he needs to improve, and he's put a lot of time in.  He's put in more time than any guy on our team in terms of ball drills, shooting drills, trying to play against older guys.  He's been a pleasure to be around every day."

Wright started the game solidly by taking care of the ball and making some good passes, but once he made a couple of mistakes it all went downhill.  His decision-making on the fast break was especially troubling.  Cashmere was 1-for-4 from the floor, 1-for-6 from the line, and had more turnovers (5) than assists (4).  The 'Cats will not be significantly improved on offense until they get better point guard play.

"Your point guard has got to be a leader," Cronin said.  "He doesn't have to be your best player, but he has to run the team, get the ball where it's supposed to go, he's got to play with confidence, and he has to give other guys confidence.  Cashmere is really trying to do that."

Mick told reporters after the game that "Cashmere is a way better player than he showed tonight."  There is no doubt about that, but Wright needs to prove it on a consistent basis. 

Cashmere is the only true point guard on the roster, but the sophomore will have company next year with the addition of prospect Jeremiah Davis.  His letter of intent arrived on Monday, giving Cincinnati five recruits in the early signing period.

"Jeremiah Davis is a big point guard, although he can play the two if you need him to," Coach Cronin said.  "He's a legitimate 6'2" and his size is an advantage for him.  The game comes easily to Jeremiah.  He knows when to shoot and has great vision as a passer - stuff you can't teach.  He's very calm with the basketball and makes other people better.  He's going to have a great year at Huntington Prep playing with several Division 1 players.  I'm really excited about him because whenever you get a guy who has the feel to make other people better - those guys are hard to find.  We've been after him for three years, so we're excited to sign him."

UC still has one scholarship to give and since 6'11" Ibrahima Thomas and 7'1" Biggie McClain are seniors, the remaining target is a big guy.

"Absolutely," Mick said.  "We've been going hard after a lot of targets - some junior college guys in particular because of the balance of the class (five high school seniors).  We'd love to get an older big guy since Justin Jackson and Kelvin Gaines are so young, so that's definitely our focus in the April signing period. 

"It's definitely the best early signing period that we've had.  We still need to get a big guy, but we signed some really good players and all of them are four-year players.  Our best players right now are probably our freshman, sophomores, and juniors, so it bodes well for next year." 

* * * * *

Enjoy this week's photo of the handsome lad.

I'd love to hear from you.  Please take a moment to tell me who you are and where you're from in the comments section or you can e-mail me at dhoard@pawsox.com.

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I attended basketball practice on Sunday and Mick Cronin didn't yell at Yancy Gates once.

That speaks loudly.

For the past two years, Coach Cronin constantly barked at his highly-touted big man, trying to prod him to give maximum effort and live up to his potential.  At the practices I've attended this year, that hasn't been necessary. 

"We had some meetings in the spring - not only with Yancy but with some of the other guys as well - about what it's going to take for all of us to be what we want to be," Cronin told me.  "I think he did a lot of soul searching.  A lot of it is maturity and the willingness to put forth the effort to be who you want to be as a player.  He's still not there, but he's definitely a different athlete, a different player, and he's a much more fun guy to be around."

In the Bearcats' two exhibition games, Gates averaged 21.5 points.  Say what you want about the opposition or the fact that the games didn't count, but that's more than double what Yancy averaged in his first two seasons (10.5 ppg).

"He's not where he needs to be, but he's on the right path," Cronin said.  "In athletics, you have to be on the right road - working hard, having the right attitude, being coachable - that's going to get you where you're trying to go as a player.  It's making him a better player because he's on the right road.  I just have to keep reminding him that he's on the road, but he hasn't arrived yet." 

I'm really looking forward to seeing Gates and the Bearcats as they open the season on Monday night against Mount St. Mary's.  It will be the second game of the year for the Mountaineers, who opened the season with a 67-52 loss at Dayton on Saturday.  Mount St. Mary's is the school where the legendary Jim Phelan coached for 49 years (1954-2003), posting 830 career wins.

"I'm ready to get started," Coach Cronin said.  "It's been a long, productive off-season for us . . . but long.  Practice can only get you so far - you have to play somebody else that's going to be prepared and coached to try to beat you.  We a little more size and athleticism that Mount St. Mary's, so we're going to have to use that to our advantage."

Our radio coverage on Monday will begin at 6:30 on 700 WLW and 700wlw.com.  My man Chuck Machock will bring a streak of 228 games without being ejected into the 2010-11 season.

* * * * *

Freshman big man Kelvin Gaines won't play in the season opener after suffering a separated shoulder at practice last month.  The 6-foot-10 Floridian is practicing again after missing several weeks, but isn't ready for full contact.

"He may redshirt," Coach Cronin told me.  "I still have to meet with Dr. Colosimo on his shoulder injury - he's out there with a harness right now.  But he may have redshirted anyway because we definitely don't want to waste a year.  He does need to practice - the only way we're going to get him ready to play next year is to have him out here every day practicing hard.  It's good to have him back.  He missed so much time that he doesn't know everything that we're doing offensively." 

* * * * *

I've spent a lot of time thinking about the state of the UC football team since Saturday's 37-10 loss at West Virginia, and frankly, I'm as mystified as you are.

After the win at Louisville lifted the 'Cats to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the Big East, I thought that the team was gelling under the new coaching staff and had a chance to compete for another conference title.

But in the three games since - losses to USF, Syracuse, and West Virginia - the Bearcats have killed themselves with turnovers, penalties, and poor tackling.

While UC has some obvious flaws, it appears to me that the team is struggling to deal with high expectations - its own and ours.  After back-to-back BCS bowl appearances, the Bearcats are undoubtedly having a hard time fathoming their current struggles, and are playing tentatively.  When things start to go wrong, it snowballs.  The 'Cats need to relax, play under control, and stick together.

Forget about the last two years.  Forget about bowl eligibility.  Forget about Big East supremacy.

Beat Rutgers.   

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If you don't like it when a future UC football or basketball player is hyped as the "next great Bearcat" before ever playing a game, you should stop reading this column right now.

Because I'm about to lay it on pretty thick.

Admittedly, I have only seen Kenbrell Thompkins at a few practices, but I have no hesitation predicting that he will be the next great Bearcat wide receiver. 

I'm not alone.

"When our defense is going against the scout team, they are going against what I think is not only one of the best receivers in the Big East conference but the entire country," said head coach Butch Jones. 

"What do I know - I'm not a scout - but he's one of the best guys that I've ever thrown the ball to," said quarterback Zach Collaros.  "He runs unbelievable routes and pays attention to detail,"

"I appreciate them saying that," Thompkins told me.  "Some great receivers have come through this program and there are some great receivers here right now - Vidal Hazelton, Armon Binns, and recently Mardy Gilyard.  I'm going to work my butt off to be one of the best."

After spending two years at El Camino College in California, Thompkins originally signed with the University of Tennessee.   But when Vols coach Lane Kiffin abruptly bolted to become the head coach at USC, Thompkins reconsidered his options and chose to play for Butch Jones and Cincinnati. 

"I actually have a cousin that played at Central Michigan last year, who is currently on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster - Antonio Brown," Thompkins said.  "He told me nothing but good things about the University of Cincinnati.  I had offers from schools like Florida and Alabama, and I signed with Tennessee, but things didn't work out.  My heart and mind weren't with Tennessee after the situation that went down.  Antonio told me to make sure that I was comfortable at whatever school I decided to choose.  That played a big part in my decision.  He told me nothing but great things about Coach Jones and his staff.  I wanted to play for a guy that I knew would care about the players and would make sure that I graduated and did the right things. Coach Jones is doing a great job of that."

"Antonio called us and one thing led to another," Jones said.  "It was like he was meant to be here.  We hit it off on the visit and you could feel his passion for football and education.  He's been a model of consistency for us day in and day out."

"If I would have known Coach Jones during the whole recruiting process, he would have probably been the guy from day one," Thompkins said.  "I love everything about him and I like how he's running the program.  I'm blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of what he's doing."

Thompkins hoped to play for the Bearcats this season but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after Tennessee refused to release him from his letter of intent.  He is permitted to practice and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

"I was very worried about that because I know how much he needs football in his life," Coach Jones said.  "He's taken it all in stride.  He says he believes he's here for a reason and has been extremely positive and upbeat.  He's very attentive in meetings and he's patiently waiting his turn." 

"Everybody told me that it's just a process," Thompkins said.  "I can't get discouraged at all - that's one thing that I can't do.  Every bit of free time that I have, I try to go out and catch balls.  Even if it's just a jugs machine, I try to do anything that I can to get better." 

"I love K.T.  He's out here working harder than anybody else on our team every single day and he's not even eligible," Collaros said.  "In the summer we were out here every single day and I have a ton of respect for Kenbrell Thompkins.  I can't wait to be able to throw him the ball next year."

Thompkins commitment to excellence goes beyond the football field.  He earned a 3.9 GPA in his last academic term and has put on 15 pounds on muscle in the weight room since arriving in Clifton.

"You can't just live off of being a genetic freak," Collaros said.  "You need to fine tune your skills and he works hard at everything that he does."

"I think his future is as bright as it can be," Coach Jones said.  "He's tough, he's physical, and he's an individual that needs football in his life every day.  It's the first time that I've been around a player that isn't eligible to play who is one of the team leaders.  Our kids have a tremendous amount of respect for him." 

"My feeling is - if you're going to do something, be good at it," Thompkins told me.  "I try to lead by example - in the classroom and on-and-off the field.  I'm trying to do what I can this year, but next year, I'll be a great leader - trust me."

Glad you decided to keep reading?

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When the Bearcats fell behind Syracuse 17-0, my buddy C. Trent Rosecrans - the former UC beat writer for the Cincinnati Post who currently works for CBSSports.com - sent out the following tweet:

I'm guessing the UCBearcats bandwagon is now officially empty.  We'll hear a smattering of Butch Jones talk Monday and back to dark ages.

I'm sure there was an element of snark in C. Trent's tweet, but I really hope he's wrong.

I'm not going to sugarcoat the 31-7 loss to Syracuse - it was flat-out ugly and the Bearcats did not deserve to win.  But I hope that Bearcat Nation isn't bailing on Butch Jones after two months, or worse yet, writing off the last few years as a wonderful fluke.

"I told the team that we only know one thing and that's to go back to work," Coach Jones said after the game.  "There's nobody more disappointed than myself, but we have to deserve to win."

For starters, let's give Syracuse some credit for winning consecutive road games at USF, West Virginia, and Cincinnati.  With home games remaining against Louisville, Connecticut and Boston College, and a road game at Rutgers, I honestly think that my alma mater will win 9 or 10 games this year.  Doug Marrone has built a hard-hitting, disciplined team, and appears to be a shoo-in for Big East Coach of the Year.  But don't forget that he was 4-8 last year in his first year on the job - it didn't happen overnight. 

Secondly, the loss of Zach Collaros proved to be devastating for UC.  When Chazz Anderson stepped into the starting lineup and led the team to a pair of wins as a redshirt freshman, the veteran Bearcat defense held Marshall and Rutgers to 10 points apiece.  For lack of a better expression, Chazz strictly had to "manage the game."  With no seniors on defense this year, the 'Cats probably need to score at least three touchdowns to win a league game, and there's no doubt in my mind that a healthy Collaros could have done that against Syracuse.

As for the defense, I'm as guilty of anyone as thinking it would be better than it's been this season.  But I can't say that I'm shocked.  Last year's team gave up an average of 39 points in its last five games and lost six senior starters in Ricardo Mathews, Alex Daniels, Curtis Young, Andre Revels, Brad Jones, and Aaron Webster.  This year's team was bound to experience some growing pains on defense.

I thought the defense made progress yesterday as it sacked Ryan Nassib four times and forced two turnovers (think Collaros might have produced points on two drives that began at the SU 44 yard line?).  Syracuse finished with a pedestrian 262 yards of total offense.  But there are obvious weaknesses.  The safeties have struggled this season and the 'Cats still need to get more of a pass rush from their front four (only one of Saturday's sacks was by a lineman).  Don't be surprised if tight end Travis Kelce pulls a Connor Barwin and moves to defensive end when he returns from his suspension next year.

"The mark of good football programs is that you win together and you suffer through adversity together," Coach Jones said.  "That's what we're fighting right now.  But you learn a lot about yourselves in the face of adversity.  Nobody is going to quit here.  We're going to keep working and building."

Building is the key word.  In the last few years, the UC football program has attracted record crowds, improved its facilities, and won championships.  Nobody is happy with a 3-5 record, but there's no reason to think that this program can't continue to be one of the best in the Big East.      

In other words, the dark ages are ancient history.

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By now we should be used to this.

When it comes to starting quarterbacks, UC might as well stand for "Unanticipated Change."

Over the last three years, the Bearcats are an incredible 10-0 when forced to start a backup quarterback (details at end of column).

In 2007, Ben Mauk missed a pair of starts due to a bum shoulder and Dustin Grutza led the 'Cats to wins over Miami and Marshall.

In 2008, Grutza broke his leg in week two, and Tony Pike took over.  Pike started victories over Miami and Akron before breaking his arm against the Zips (with Zach Collaros coming off the bench to lead the team to a game-winning field goal).  The "Next Man In" was Chazz Anderson who directed the 'Cats to wins over Marshall and Rutgers before Pike reclaimed the starting job for the rest of the season.  When Tony got knocked woozy in a couple of late-season games, Grutza got rid of his cast and crutches and rallied UC to second half comebacks at Louisville and Hawaii.

Last year, Pike was gaining momentum as a Heisman candidate when he broke his arm again, and the team didn't miss a beat in the four games that Collaros started.

In other words, if Chazz Anderson has to start against Syracuse on Saturday, there's no reason to think that the Bearcats are doomed.

Zach Collaros is officially listed as questionable due his bruised knee, but did take some limited practiced reps on Thursday.

"Well, he's gone through practice all week long and it will be a game time decision," Butch Jones told me at his radio show on Thursday night.  "Right now it's too early to say because of the amount of time left - every hour is part of the healing process.  The great thing is that Chazz has split reps throughout the whole year.  Our philosophy is to get our number two quarterback ready the same way that we get our starting quarterback ready.  We'll have another practice on Friday and we'll put him through some things on game day and see where we're at.  We always take player safety first.  I know that he's chomping at the bit - I have three text messages from him on my phone already saying, 'I'm ready to go.'  We'll see come game time."

If Collaros is unable to play, don't look for major changes on offense.

"We may alter things a little bit," Jones said.  "We have to play to the strengths of our guy under center.  It all stems from the quarterback spot.  So we may alter a few things in the game plan to play to his strengths if Chazz is the guy.  But the great thing is that there are a lot of similarities between the two guys.  Chazz is probably a little bit faster, and we have an offensive system that we can build around the quarterback. 

"Whoever starts at quarterback, we're just going to need to step up and make plays around him - and not just offensively.  On defense, we have to get off of the field.  And in this game, special teams will be critical - we have to make some plays on special teams on Saturday."    

Collaros is not the only Bearcat looking to make a rapid recovery from a knee injury.  Wide receiver Vidal Hazelton, who tore his ACL in the season opener at Fresno State, sent out the following tweet to his 1,138 twitter followers on Thursday:

Ran routes today like full speed I'm like proud of how far along I've come.  I still got work to do though. Surprise coming soon for the Bearcat fans

Last week, Cincinnati Enquirer beat writer Bill Koch wrote that Hazelton hoped to be back for the regular season finale against Pitt, but the next-to-last game against UConn is apparently not out of the question.

"There may be a chance," Coach Jones said.  "We would never do anything to jeopardize him, but he's out there running around and practicing.  It's great to see him in uniform and I think that has really uplifted our kids.  It's a great illustration that if you have a great mentality and work ethic, you can do anything.

"In all of my years of coaching, and I think (athletic trainer) Bob Mangine would say the same thing, the progression that he's made coming back from this knee injury has been unbelievable.  He's rehabbing 8 to 10 hours a day - basically every free moment, whether he's in the training room or at home." 

* * * * *

Here's how I calculated the 10-0 stat for backup QBs:

2007:  Grutza 2-0 starting in place of Mauk.

2008:  Pike 2-0 starting in place of Gruzta.  Anderson 2-0 starting in place of Pike.  At that point Pike returned and started the final 8 games (even when Grutza was able to play), so I'm no longer counting him as a backup.

2009:  Collaros 4-0 starting in place of Pike.

* * * * *

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Enjoy this week's photo of the handsome lad.

The mistake that cost UC the game occurred midway through the first quarter.  The Bearcats had it 2^nd-and-goal at the 5-yard-line when Zach Collaros got sacked for a 15-yard loss when it looked like he plenty of time to throw the ball away.  The Bearcats had to settle for a field goal and the sequence breathed early life into the entire USF team.

Then again, maybe the killer gaffe happened in the second quarter when the Bearcats were on the verge of digging out of an 11-point hole and tying the game.  Bones Barnett - who had a sensational night - made a great catch-and-run for a 69-yard gain, but stepped out of bounds at the 4-yard-line as he attempted to launch himself into the end zone.  Barnett was not forced out by a Bulls defender.  Had he focused on staying in bounds he probably would have scored a touchdown.

But now that I think of it, the Bearcats most costly error took place moments later.  UC botched a 1^st-and-goal opportunity at the 4-yard-line when Armon Binns dropped a pass that hit him in the chest in the end zone.  For the second time, the Bearcats had to settle for 3 points when they should have scored 7.  In other words, UC left 4 points on the board on two separate occasions in the first half - an 8-point swing that turned out to be USF's margin of victory.

You get the point.

More than any UC game in recent memory, I thought the Bearcats cost themselves a victory with self-inflicted wounds.  The 'Cats committed 12 penalties for 115 yards, allowed the Bulls to convert 7 of 12 third down opportunities, and dropped a bunch of passes - including the throw by Chazz Anderson that went through the fingertips of D.J. Woods on the next-to-last play of the game.  It could have given the Bearcats the opportunity for a game-tying 2-point conversion.

"We put ourselves in position at the end of the game to at least try to get it into overtime, but we made way too many mistakes," head coach Butch Jones said.  "Too many blown coverages - all of their big plays were set up by blown coverages.  Too many penalties on offense . . . way too many dropped balls.  Not to take anything away from South Florida - they're a talented football team - but we can't have self-inflicted mistakes and expect to win."

If the offense can cut down on the mistakes, the Bearcats will score on anyone in the Big East.  The defense, on the other hand, has struggled in the first two league games, and the 'Cats desperately have to find a way to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Through 7 games, UC ranks next-to-last in the Big East in sacks, and dead last in forcing turnovers.  The two go hand-in-hand:  Pressure on the quarterback produces fumbles (especially on blind side hits), and less time to throw means more bad passes and/or decisions that lead to interceptions.

The silver lining in Friday's defeat is the fact that the Bearcats fell to a team that already has two losses in Big East play.  Just like 2008, if UC wins the rest of its league games, the 'Cats will capture their third straight Big East championship.

"We've been though adversity and everybody has doubted us for the entire year," Coach Jones said.  "We have good character people in our football program who have a passion for each other and football.  So we'll go back to work, learn from this, and move on."

I'm not predicting that the Bearcats are going to win the Big East.  But it would be a mistake to count them out.

I'd love to hear from you.  Please take a moment to tell me who you are and where you're from in the comments section or you can e-mail me at dhoard@pawsox.com.

And if you Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard

One of the toughest phone calls I've ever received came from my friend Darryl Parks from WLW in 2006 when he informed me that as much as he and the station would like me to continue broadcasting UC games, it would no longer be feasible.

The news was heartbreaking but I certainly understood.  I had just moved to Boston for family reasons and retaining me as the UC announcer would mean increased travel costs.  As badly as I wanted to remain the "Voice of the Bearcats," I knew this was the possible outcome when I left Fox 19 and moved east.

Enter Mike Waddell.

UC's Senior Associate Director of Athletics wanted me to remain behind the mic and found a way to offset the added travel costs that made sense to the university and the radio station.  Without his efforts, I would have missed back-to-back Big East football championships, dozens of memorable games, and millions of laughs with Chuck, Jim, Mo, and Tommy G.  Most importantly, I would no longer have a job that I truly love.

As you probably know, we are losing Mike to Towson University.  He was named Director of Athletics on September 30^th, and while I'm excited for him, it is a huge loss for UC.

Mike is one of those people whose brain ticks a little bit faster than most.  He's smart, creative, and tenacious, and his imprint is all over Bearcat athletics.  There is no doubt in my mind that he will be an outstanding athletic director.

The USF game will be his final event as a UC administrator before moving to Maryland.  It's fitting because he is largely responsible for the tremendous game day experience at Nippert Stadium, and a packed house on national TV will be a perfect send-off.

I'm thrilled that Mike is about to realize his dream of running a collegiate athletic department.

And grateful that he helped me continue to live mine.

* * * * *

So the UC basketball team was picked by the coaches to finish 12^th in the Big East this season.

Any idea who was picked to finish 12^th last year?

Marquette.

The Golden Eagles went 22-12, tied for fifth in the Big East, and went to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.

UConn, on the other hand, received a first-place vote and was picked to finish third last season.  The Huskies wound up 18-16 and missed the NCAA Tourney for the second time in the last four years.

My point is simply this:  In a 16-team conference, there are always schools that do much better or worse than expected. 

Here's hoping that Cincinnati is this year's Marquette.

I'd love to hear from you.  Please take a moment to tell me who you are and where you're from in the comments section or you can e-mail me at dhoard@pawsox.com.

And if you Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard

Now that my heart rate has returned to normal following the Bearcats' scintillating win over Louisville, do you know what I find myself thinking about?

Collaros for Heisman.

Not this year of course.  The Bearcats' slow start doomed any remote chance that Zach might have had of even being considered.

But think about 2011.

For Zach to have a prayer of winning the Heisman, four things would have to happen.

1. Monster Stats.  In 2011, Zach will be a 5^th year senior with a year's worth of experience in Butch Jones' quarterback-friendly offense.  This year, despite early-season struggles on the offensive line and the loss of one of his best weapons in Vidal Hazelton, Collaros ranks 7^th in the country with 17 touchdown passes and 10^th in QB rating.  For his career, Zach has 27 TD passes and only 5 interceptions.  While he'll lose a great target in Armon Binns, I'm hearing the Kenbrell Thompkins is the next outstanding Bearcat receiver.  If Zach is healthy, his numbers should be eye-popping.

2. Must See TV.  Big East candidates for Heisman face skeptical voters in much of the country, so it helps to have a breakout performance (or two) on national TV - preferably early in the season.  The Bearcats have a road game at Tennessee and a home game against NC State early next year, so the opportunities will be there.

3. Highly-Ranked Team.  When the Bearcats climbed into the Top 10 last year, Tony Pike started to appear on Heisman watch lists.  If he hadn't been injured, Pike almost certainly would have earned the highest Heisman finish in UC history (as it turned out, Mardy Gilyard finished 9^th).  Cincinnati would need to have another near-perfect season for Zach to have a shot.  With Collaros, Isaiah Pead, and D.J. Woods back on offense and everybody back on defense, the Bearcats should be formidable next season.

4. A Little Help.  This year's leading Heisman candidates include Denard Robinson, Kellen Moore, LaMichael James, Terrelle Pryor, Andrew Luck, and Cameron Newton.  Do you know what they all have in common?  There's not a single senior in the group.  For Zach to have a legitimate shot, several favorites would have to go pro early and others would either have to perform below expectations or get injured.  But it seems to me that the presumptive favorite for the Heisman rarely wins.  Last year, Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy were at the top of the list to begin the season and the trophy went to Mark Ingram.     

Why am I thinking about this midway through the 2010 season?  I honestly have no idea.

But when Zach is invited to the Best Buy Theater in Times Square in December of 2011, just remember that you heard it here first.

I'd love to hear from you.  Please take a moment to tell me who you are and where you're from in the comments section or you can e-mail me at dhoard@pawsox.com.

And if you Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard

Enjoy this week's photo of the handsome lad, enjoying the fall foliage.