SB Nation - Ben Mauk

Bearcats beat the gantlet, one step closer to Orange Bowl; Pike will play in the NFL

Kirkendall — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:37:16 -0000

It's because you're a superstar, you superstar. If you were one of the fans crashing the party with ticks left on the clock, then Paul Daugherty talks down to you with the utmost contempt. He writes that "most all of them lubed, all of them (irresponsible) and selfish, don't especially care about the well being of others, or even how they could jeopardize a game's outcome. They're just out there, raising hell and feeling entitled." We think that genuine joy continuing a tradition that's existed for generations among every football team at one pinnacle peak during their historical program, is fine. As much as entitlement comes in beating up on the local professional teams, so does a fan's onslaught of celebration checking off another item in the Big East championship run. Forget a moment that the clock appeared expired for the moment, or forget that the fans stampeding the crowd, just for a moment. Cincinnati's football team is the story in the area right now; as is Elder and Anderson playing for the Division one and Division two championships this weekend.

"You saw it," said defensive end Connor Barwin, who had three of Cincinnati's season-high seven sacks. "It was crazy. I was surrounded by fans asking to take my picture, shaking my hand. I couldn't get back to the locker room."

Barwin had three sacks Saturday night. It was a party, even though Daugherty attacks UC fans at Nippert Saturday.

With a putrid rushing offense (2.3 yards per rush), the Bearcats receiving duo of Gilyard and Dominick Goodman (who owns the record for receiving touchdowns), each over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown, were benefactors of Pike's career performance. He was outstanding. After missing games against Marshall and Rutgers with a broken arm, and a terrible performance against Connecticut (feeling the affects of said broken arm, sitting after half time), Pike went on to cruise through the gantlet (see below) which doesn't include a combined 43 of 58 for 561 yards and five touchdowns with no picks against Miami University and Akron before the injury.

Opponent	Result	Comp	Att	Yards	TDs	INTs
South Florida	W, 24-10	20	28	281	2	1
@ W. Virginia	W, 26-23	16	30	178	1	0
@ Louisville	W, 28-20	19	33	250	2	1
Pittsburgh	W, 28-21	26	32	309	3	0

He's six-foot, six. He's over 200 pounds. He's a junior. His career won't be finished once he graduates from Cincinnati.

The Gantlet is an avenue of two paths. After losing to Connecticut 40-16, this blogger held reservations of surviving a gantlet of games against South Florida, West Virginia, Louisville and Pittsburgh. The gantlet suggests if you win all four, the world is yours. If you don't beat the gantlet, the gantlet beats you. After handling South Florida, the Bearcats nearly had the collapse of all collapses against West Virginia, pulling out a three-point overtime win. They played down to Louisville for much of the game, and made the Pitt game less competitive than we expected.

Celebrate as one should, but not so much that we suck more than Notre Dame. If they beat Syracuse, UC is going to the Orange Bowl. It's premature, but the Orange freakin' Bowl!

Tony Pike turned in a career performance against Pittsburgh, completing 26 of 32 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns... After a 28-21 beating over the Pitt Panthers, the Bearcats moved up to 16th in the BCS... The Bearcats honored Ben Mauk before the game against Pitt... If it makes one feel well to spin facts, then this should be near euphoric; Texas Tech couldn't do what University of Cincinnati Bearcats did -- keep the margin under 30 points... Thanks to Pat White and West Virginia, the Bearcats were unable to clinch the Big East title Saturday outright. Now they have to beat Syracuse... Brian Kelly doesn't care about other job offers, and he wouldn't have it as good any place else other than UC, who is 20-5 (.800).

Wednesday Morning links and notes -- Reebok wants $4 million from Johnson for name change

Kirkendall — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:48:53 -0000

Hobson takes a look at team matchups (not individual) for this weekends home opener against the Tennessee Titans.

Five reasons that the Bengals must win Sunday.

What's David Pollack up to these days? "I get to talk sports for a couple of hours a day. I'm a fanatic of every sport. I'd watch pingpong if it was on."

It could cost Chad ______ (fill in last name here), a lot of money to be permitted to change the last name on his jersey. PFT says it "is less than $800,000" but "more than $750,000". However, Reebok wants $4 million.

Bengals tickets for their opening home game, is the cheapest they've been since 1982 (at least).

Joe Fortenbaugh offers the Bengals offense as one of the ugliest things during week one. How can we not agree?

I thought that Pete Prisco ranking the Bengals 25th was pretty generous. "On a day when the defense showed up, the offense was nowhere vs. the Ravens. Chad Ocho Cinco didn't do much with that new name."

After struggling against Ohio University, the Buckeyes were dropped to fifth in the polls.

Beanie Wells is expected to return against USC. However, it depends on how well he practices that determines his contributions Saturday night.

Remember USC and tOSU game in 1990?

Late in the game, the Buckeyes drove 50 yards through the thunderstorm for a touchdown that left the Trojans on top 35-26 with 2:36 left.

"We had some momentum," said Frey. "I had been down this road before. I'm thinking, 'We've got a ton of time.' "

Except they didn't.

Referee Ron Winter conferred for a second time with USC coach Larry Smith and Ohio State coach John Cooper about suspending the game.

"I told him we were going to try an onside kick," Cooper said. "I told him if USC gets it, it's all over."

And that's precisely what happened.

Making the situation even worse for distraught Ohio State fans, no sooner had the teams left the sodden field — and the wet, angry fans had filed out of the stadium — than the weather cleared.

The fallout was almost immediate. Ohio State's fans were outraged that Cooper elected to take the defeat and called him a quitter, a tag he had difficulty avoiding.

On September 20th, the Bearcats game against the Miami Redhawks will kickoff at 7:30 pm, on ESPN360.com. And yes, that's total crap.

Former Notre Dame quarterback, Demetrius Jones, could "see increased role at Cincinnati."

Mardy Gilyard was named the Big East Special Teams player of the week after setting a "BIG EAST record with 246 yards on kickoff returns and had a school-record 365 all-purpose yards (119 receiving, 246 return yards)"

Quarterback Ben Mauk lost another appeal to play another year.

Thursday Morning links and notes

Kirkendall — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:26:40 -0000

The players, not the coaches, front office or even the media, are telling you, the fans to stick with them, hang in there with and for them. Antonio Chatman even believes that the Bengals "will be in the playoffs and we will be running for a championship this year."

John Thornton relates and understands the fan's point of view, having lost so many games in the 90s through 2002. "You know, when I'm retired and a fan, I'll have those same feelings."

Perry isn't worried about critics, nor injury. "It's out of my hands. I can't control that. So for me to worry is a waste of time."

Kenny Watson would be in Real Estate if he wasn't playing football.

Willie Anderson is in high demand right now.

Interesting results on an Enquirer survey regarding the Bengals.

WDR thinks that the Bengals should include a clause in Jeremi Johnson's contract fining him per day for being overweight. The only problem is that the Bengals can't just add something into the contract. Johnson is signed through 2011, and gets paid handsomely for a fullback. Maybe restructuring his contract isn't a bad thing; nor a clause for his weight. But Johnson would have to agree to it.

Robert Geathers picked up some skills while playing linebacker last year that he'll apply returning as a pass rushing end.

Carson Palmer press conference
Marvin Lewis press conference

DeDe Dorsey likes kick boxing.

Bobbie Williams is proud to be a big family guy.

Antwan Odom on injury: "No pain, no soreness, nothing. I taped it up and it didn't bother me a bit," Odom said Wednesday of his practice experience Monday. "No restrictions. I just tape it up and go. I want to prove to the fans that I belong here."

How does the defense feel about being the weakest link on this team? Mike Zimmer says, "I think they're tired of all that stuff."

The Bengals newest fullback Reagan Maui'a was arrested back in April for misdemeanor battery.

Bad publicity will always take precedence over all the good that players do in the community that never gets documented.

AROUND THE LOCAL COLLEGE SCENE

Paul Daugherty asks where the UC buzz is. Apparently he doesn't read this blog.

The NCAA denied Mauk, again, saying:

“Our review of the facts as presented and possible mitigating factors for this eligibility request was extensive and thorough, exhausting all avenues in the administrative procedures and ensuring a fair process for this student-athlete,” said Carol Iwaoka, the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee chair and associate commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. “Even after reviewing the latest information, the committee was unable to identify compelling factors that might be viewed as beyond the control of the student-athlete and the University of Cincinnati.”

Is it now on the University of Cincinnati to give the Big East a boost?

Brian Kelly press conference

Head coach Jim Tressel gave the seniors a box of 12 marbles, each one representing how many games are left in their college career, pointing out how quickly they go.

Buckeyes defensive lineman Nader Abdallah is a New Orleans native, and thankful that Gustav wasn't a repeat of Katrina.

Thursday morning links and notes -- UC Bearcats kickoff tonight

Kirkendall — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:52:37 -0000

Even though the Bengals play tonight, another local football team kicks off their season tonight. The Cincinnati Bearcats host the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, tonight at 7:30pm at Nippert Stadium. Brian Kelly's first season with the the Bearcats last season finished with a 10-3 record and a 17th ranking in the AP rankings. A total of 12 starters return on offense and defense (six each), including cornerback Mike Mickens who earned the first team all-Big East.

The Enquirer's Bill Koch runs through the Big East, listing the Bearcats fifth behind West Virginia, South Florida, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers. He writes that the "Bearcats enter Brian Kelly's second season as head coach well-equipped on defense with All-America tackle Terrill Byrd and two standout defensive backs in Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith. But there are question marks on offense, beginning at quarterback." While Ben Mauk continues his effort to have the NCAA reinstatement him after his eligibility was up, Dustin Grutza will have another opportunity to remain as the team's starting quarterback. Preview tonight's game here.

Naturally, I'm a Buckeyes fan first in the college ranks. But I like seeing the Bearcats succeed; and the start of a Brian Kelly era may be generating a ton of local interest. We'll talk about them throughout the year. For now, let's get on with the Bengals.

There's an increasing belief that Ryan Fitzpatrick might become the team's starting quarterback because of the lack of protection for Carson Palmer. Even though Fitzpatrick will start tonight, having an opportunity to shine, I doubt it means anything more than auditioning for next year's free agency, where he could become the most coveted veteran quarterback available. And yes, I mean veteran by having some NFL game experience -- though it's not a lot.

Through three seasons, Fitzpatrick has started three games (all as a rookie with the Rams) and played in one game in each of the past two seasons (one with the Rams, one with the Bengals), though not attempting a pass. As a starter with the Rams, Fitzpatrick is 0-3, recording only one touchdown and seven interceptions (five in one game against the Vikings). His last pass attempt in a regular season game happened on December 18, 2005.

I've always liked Rudi Johnson -- not for just his play, but he's always been a good guy for the community. However, I think he's doing a disservice to himself by publicly showing pity for himself. "It's already been decided; the game is irrelevant," Johnson said, "The situation has already been presented. The game doesn't really matter."

However, Marvin Lewis denied any trade rumor. James Walker isn't buying it, saying "Lewis also denied interest in Chris Henry and that the team was offered two first-round picks for Chad Johnson. So we know the drill." Apparently, "we" means James himself. Lewis was truthful about Henry, only to have ownership supercede his word. As far as Lewis is concerned with Rudi Johnson, he's probably still telling the truth and ownership is doing their own thing again; which word has it, Lewis was taken aback when he learned of the rumor too.

The Ravens don't expect Ed Reed to play kickoff weekend against the Bengals.

Paul Daugherty asks what football town this is, Bearcats or Bengals? I ask, why does that matter? And I'd say high school football should be weighed in also, for this area.