tcu/cinn....

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CINCINNATI VS. TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIV. PREGAME
Posted By: Logan Link

August 31, 2002

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats (7-5 in 2001) football team will play the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs (6-6 in 2001) this Monday (Labor Day) at Nippert with a 4:30 p.m. ET kick off. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and also live on the Armed Forced TV Network. The radio broadcast is on 1360-AM The Homer and is simulcast on the school web site WWW.UCBEARCATS.com for the out-of-towners. Skyline Chili is distributing two-for-one ticket coupons at all locations, eat a 3-way and yell 1-way, for the Bearcats. TCU returns 13 starters from their team that lost in the galleryfurniture.com bowl. TCU was shocked when 3 year starting QB Casey Printers transferred to pass-happy Division I-AA Florida A&M. This gave 5th year senior QB Sean Stilley the starting job this year. Stilley played in 5 games, mostly when Printers was injured or struggling. Stilley has the experience and won't make many mistakes. The TCU offense returns everyone but Printers and tight end Matt Schobel, who was selected by the Bengals in the 3rd round. TCU runs multiple offensive sets that strive for a 60/40 -- 50/50 balance between run & pass. Their defense is an attacking, pressure oriented mindset that is looking to disrupt the UC offensive schemes while trying not to give up big plays. TCU has a strong defensive tradition under Head Coach Gary Patterson, ranking 10th against the run and 24th in total defense last year. A highlight was holding Eric Crouch (Heisman Trophy winner) and Nebraska to 159 yards rushing, 156 under the Huskers season average. TCU also held C-USA champ Louisville to -47 rushing yards and sacked UL QB Dave Ragone 10 times, wow. With Coach Patterson as Defensive Coordinator in 2000, the Horned Frogs' defense ranked 1st in the nation in total defense (245.0 YPG) and 1st in scoring defense (9.6 PPG). The big battle will be between UC's protection of Gino and TCU's constant attacks at him from different positions. TCU is a good team and if UC comes out flat I will worry, if we get behind at least we have the comeback kid. UC 29 TCU 21.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
6 Sean Stilley (Senior QB) Slotted to start, has seen action when Printers was hurt last year, went 21-of-29 for 273 yards last year vs. Army.
34 Ricky Madison (Junior TB) Leading rusher last year with 611 yards on
174 carries, runs the 40 in 4.34 seconds. Killed Louisville last year with 31 carries for a 156 yards, ouch.
32 Corey Connally (Junior TB) Despite slow start and missing last 3 games of season was 2nd in rushing last year, ran for 199 yards vs. Houston.
3 LaTarence Dunbar (Senior WR) Receiver/Kick Returning speedster that is elusive, led the Frogs in all-purpose yardage last year with 1,034 yards.
Led the nation in kick returns in 2000 with an average of 33.7 yards per return, 2 TD's. At a pep rally last week he called TCU's former QB that transferred, "Casey Interception."
13 Adrian Madise (Senior WR) Was not in the 2001 TCU Football Media Guide but went on to earn the team's MVP honors. Big play receiver that averaged 16.4 YPC and 74.5 YPG. He closed out last year with four straight 100-yard games.
73 Jamal Powell (Senior C) was selected to Rimington Trophy Watch List as one of the best Centers in the country.
44 LaMarcus McDonald (Senior LB) Outside linebacker that was selected to the Butkus Award Watch List, he had 26 tackles for loss last year (4th in the nation) with 7 sacks.
2 Ken Hilliard (Senior FS) Led team 58 unassisted tackles.
26 Joey Biasatti (Senior P) was selected to the Ray Guy Award watch list as one of the top punters this year, his career average is 42.2 YPP.

HEAD COACH: Gary Patterson, career record 6-7 is in just his 2nd year as
Head Coach since replacing Dennis Franchione who left for Alabama. He was 1
of 8 coaches nationally to take his team to a Bowl game in his 1st year.
Last year was their 5th straight season going to a Bowl game (97 Insight.com
Bowl, 98 Northwest Sun Bowl, 99 Mobile Alabama Bowl, 00 GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl, 01 galleryfurniture.com Bowl). Coach Patterson was a 2000 finalist for the Frank Broyles National Assistant Coach of the Year award. Coach Patterson played safety and outside linebacker for the Kansas St. Wildcats in 1980-81, KSU led the nation in pass defense his senior year, 1981.

 

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2002 UC FOOTBALL TEAM PREVIEW
Posted By: Logan Link

August 31, 2002

The University of Cincinnati football season starts Monday with an unprecedented wave of optimism surrounding the team this year. Bearcat football has been to 3 Bowls in 5 years and has finished 2nd in the league 2 years in a row. Coach Minter (41-49-1) has signed a contract extension and trails only Hall of Fame Coach Sid Gillman in victories at UC. UC has 16 returning starters, and the recruiting class for next year is impressive. The good news is UC has a very talented team this year, the not so good news is their 13 game schedule maybe the toughest we've seen in a long time.

The offense is led by sophomore Gino "The Passin Assassin" Guidugli, last years C-USA's Freshman of the Year. GG was nominated to the Dave O'Brien Award Watch List (best QB). Gino started the season on the bench last year but when starter Adam Hoover was injured, he took the starting job and posted a 7-3 record in regular season games he played in (2,573 yards passing & 16 TD's). GG has put on 15 lbs. of muscle, is throwing better, and plays his position like a seasoned veteran.

UC has 3 talented running backs led by starter Sr. DeMarco McCleskey. DeMarco should have a huge year, he has a chance~ to become the #2 all-time rusher at UC. He split the running duties last year with Ray Jackson but this year will be the man. Jr. Tedric Harwell and So. Richard Hall will get their chances, their production will determine their PT.

UC has 3 senior wide receivers. LaDaris Vann was a preseason honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith and will be ranked nationally this year in many categories. Every catch for LaDaris sets UC records. Tye Keith has experience, good hands, and a big heart, and Jon Olinger (7 TD catches last year) had some huge games last year.

The offensive line starters are Sr. Kirk Doolin (3 yr starter), Sr. Josh Gardner (3rd team pre-season Athlon All-American, Outland Trophy nominee), Jr. Josh Shneyderov (named UC's top OL 2001), Jr. Travis McGee (2 time juco national champ), So. Kyle Takavitz (C-USA All-Frosh team), and So. AJ Lucius. Rusty Burns is the new offensive coordinator & plans to fully utilize his star QB. Coach Minter will want to establish the run and pick the opponents defense apart with passes as opportunities arise.

The defense is led by Sr. Antwan Peek who has gotten bigger while lowering his body fat%. Antwan has been nominated to the Lombardi & Bronco Nagurski Awards Watch List, was 2001 1st team C-USA, honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith, and is setting all the UC sack records. Sr. Ivan Fields (UC active tackle leader), So. Doug Monaghan (2nd team Sporting News All-American, led team in tackles), Sr. Willis Edwards (2nd in active tackles), Jr. Zach Norton (UC DB of 2001), Sr. Derrick Adams (3rd year starting), Sr. DeMarcus Billings, Sr. Blue Adams, Jr. Tyjuan Hagler, Jr. Jason Russell, and Sr. Matt Tupuola.

UC was not very good against the run last year, if they don't improve, the names will change. Their field goal kicking is solid with Sr. Jonathan Ruffin-the-kicker, the former Lou Groza Award winner was nominated again. Punting could be an adventure, frosh Chet Ervin has looked good. The offense should be consistent, the defense is the question mark.

Many preseason polls have UC picked as a middle of the pack team in C-USA, here's hoping there wrong again, last year they picked us at 6th. For all of those Minter-is-to-conservative on offense people, the school record for total offense in a season was set in 1999 with 4,668 yards, 2nd place is 1998 with 4,599 yards, and 3rd place was last year with 4,579 yards. I think this year will top them all.

 

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Posted on Sat, Aug. 31, 2002

TCU NOTES
Connally to start at tailback in opener
By Tracey Myers
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH - What was probable Thursday became official Friday.

Horned Frogs junior Corey Connally will start at tailback against Cincinnati on Monday afternoon, coach Gary Patterson said after Friday's practice. It will be the first season-opening start for Connally, who started four ballgames in 2001.


"Corey is probably the total package because he's got the bigger body to take the pounding," Patterson said. "But he can still run away from you."


Connally got his first start last year in Game 5 against Houston and set single-game highs in carries (30) and rushing yards (199). He also earned Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors for his outing. But with two other strong candidates at tailback, the competition won't end.


"That's the guy that's got the start [against Cincinnati]," Patterson said. "If he doesn't get it done, someone else gets in."


Connally, Ricky Madison and Kenny Hayter already have a healthy competition between them. One more player might be added to the fray. Patterson said Lonta Hobbs, a freshman recruit out of Clarksville, will work with the varsity next week. Hobbs rushed for 983 yards as a high school senior and 997 as a junior.

 

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Posted on Sun, Sep. 01, 2002

3's No Crowd
Trio give Horned Frogs punch at tailback
By TRACEY MYERS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH - TCU's top three running backs each bring something to the table. One has the best speed, another has the physical power, while another has a mix of speed and power.

Together they give the Horned Frogs a wealth of backfield options. Separately, they will battle for that one starting job at tailback.


Corey Connally, Kenny Hayter and Ricky Madison are giving each other plenty of competition, and coach Gary Patterson plenty to think about. And while Connally is scheduled to start when the Frogs play Cincinnati on Monday, Hayter and Madison will still contend for playing time.


"Competition's never a bad thing," Connally said. "But it's somewhat discomforting not ever knowing exactly what type of situation you're in, how much you're going to play, if you're going to play. It's just the type of thing that you just want to work hard and be ready for whenever opportunity does come. You want to take full advantage of it."


Connally and Madison competed against each other last season. Madison was the starter at the beginning of 2001 and rushed for 611 yards and three touchdowns. But when Madison struggled with ankle and thigh injuries in the middle of the season, Connally stepped in. The Crowley High School graduate had his best game in his first start, rushing for 199 yards against Houston. Madison got the starting job back in the last three games when a groin injury and stress fracture sidelined Connally, and had a career-best 154 yards against Louisville.


Madison said it was a good example of why every player should be ready, regardless of who's starting.


"You have to have that," Madison said. "You can't have a back that doesn't know the assignments or alignments when one goes down. We want our weakest link to be like the strongest link, to know what he's doing."


Now enter Hayter, who sat out last season after transferring from Texas. The biggest of the three backs - 6-foot, 225 pounds - Hayter worked through the spring and summer to become familiar with a new offense.


Patterson said each has his niche.


"Corey is probably total package," Patterson said. "Ricky has the speed factor, and he's the guy that knows everything. He doesn't make very many mistakes. Kenny Hayter gives you the bigger back, not necessarily the breakaway guy but a guy that can really pound at you."


The competition won't be changing anytime soon, even if the starting assignment does. If one fails to do the job, another one's waiting. If one is on a roll, the job remains his. Assignments can also change depending on opponent and defense.


Nerve-racking, yes. But it's keeping the three on their toes - literally.


"You've just got to practice harder and it makes everybody better to have competition," Hayter said. "Just watching the other guys, I see how they make cuts, moves, what made them do this, do that. If you don't have anyone pushing you, you get lazy."