Willy And Youk

Early Saturday morning the final buses rolled on to campus and unloaded the students and the band.  The 2009 Orange Bowl is now history.  Now how long will the "analysis" last?  Questions will be asked and debated, but in the end it's still a 20-7 loss.  

We agree, certain adjustments could have changed the game.  For example, we saw WLW superstar Bill Cunningham wearing a "Taco Bell" hat (see picture for hat) early in the game when UC was winning.  Why did he take it off?  Was that the Bearcats "mojo"?  Another question worth raising.  Former Bearcat and current Boston Red Sox star Kevin Youkilis was in the stands cheering on his Cats.  Wasn't Kevin at the UCONN game?  Did he see only two games this year....both losses?  We hope Kevin snuck in a win,  other wise is he a bad luck charm?   

So next year when the Bearcats return to a BCS game it doesn't' matter if they stay with P Diddy at the Ritz or if Tony Pike runs on 2nd down.  It will again come down to if "Willy" can keep the Taco Hat on for the entire game and if Kevin can get a Bearcat win under his belt during the season.

Orange Bowl Champs?

Dubois Bookstore in Clifton has announced that "after the team wins the Orange Bowl", they will have t-shirts available the very next day.  We love the confidence the Dubois Family has in UC football.  They have stock piled a nice assortment of Big East and Orange Bowl items.   So stop by and check them out!

The Invasion Begins

Several Bearcat fans have already arrived in South Beach to begin the "Orange Bowl Experience". However, Tuesday afternoon the largest single group headed down I 75 toward Miami. At 4:00 13 buses left campus with the Orange Bowl 22 hours away. Our own Shawn Hayes is on one of the buses and filed this report as they were leaving.

We hope everyone heading south a safe journey. Please be careful. Shawn will be reporting for Bearcat Sports Page.com from Miami starting Wednesday, or as soon as both he and his laptop re-charge their batteries.

UC Favored by 2

When the BSC selections first came out the odds makers had the Orange Bowl as a "pick'em" game. Meaning that they didn't have a favorite. Since then UC has become favored by 2 points. In our search across the internet we have found that most "experts" are now picking UC in their attempt to pick winners and losers for every bowl game. ESPN's Lee Corso has gone against the trend and went as afar as to make Virginia Tech his "lock" or his guaranteed winner. Last week before the team left we asked them about some experts picking against the Bearcats.

Video: Courtesy: ESPN

Our favorite prediction came from Wat if Sports.com. They took UC 23-14. In their computer simulated game they even had Mardy Gilyard making an 89 yard TD catch from Tony Pike.

Made for TV Honors

With just a few games being played over the past week the "analyst" are forced to analyze something.  Most of the bowl games themselves have been analyzed, so what's left?  The players themselves.  Last week ESPN's Mark May named Tony Pike to his "May Day Team".    Players he feels showed tremendous toughness and determination over the season.  

A couple of other Bearcats have gotten some national recognition on ESPN since the BCS selections were made with other "made for TV honors".

Please check out espn.com for more detailed analysis of the upcoming Orange Bowl.

Miami Bound, The Adventure Has Started

This afternoon at 3:00 the Bearcat football team touched down in Miami to officially begin their Orange Bowl Experience. The buses left campus this morning at 11:30 and Bearcat Sports Page.com was on hand. The team got together this morning for the first time since they parted ways last Saturday. A team meeting took the players right up to the 11:30 departure so Coach Kelly and Connor Barwin were the only available interviews. Here is what they had to say.

I don't know how many times he has answered the same question, but Coach Kelly continues to stress that they are going to Miami to win a football game, not sight see. He definitely wants his players, especially the seniors to get the most out of the BCS experience so no one has to look back and say "what if".

LAST DAY FOR TICKETS

Today, Tuesday December 23rd, is the last day to order Orange Bowl tickets through UC.  Any ticket purchased form any other source does not help the school recover the cost of the tickets they were allotted.  If you plan on going and have not bought a ticket yet contact the ticket office.

Even if you can not go to the game, purchasing a ticket will help the University cover the cost of their tickets.  

3 Hokies May Miss Game

When Virginia Tech takes the field against the Bearcats on New Years day they will possibly be without three starters.  Senior offensive lineman Nick Marshman will not play because of academic ineligibility.  Marshman, who has already received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech did not pass the required 6 credit hours during the fall quarter to maintain elegibility.    Injuries more than likely will side line two more, linebacker Brett Warrenn and defensive end Jason Worilds, are both expected to miss the Orange Bowl.  The source of this information is the Roanoke Times:  Click here for the entire article.

Goodie Bag

For the past two weeks UC players, fans and coaches alike have been giving the gift or oranges.  Next week when the Bearcats check into their hotel there will be more than a bag of oranges to greet them.   According to an article appearing on Fox Sports.com this is a list of what the team gets for their efforts.

1.  $300 Sony Gift Suite for electronics

2.  New Era fitted hat

3.  Tourneau Watch

4.  Crocs with Orange Bowl Logo

5.  Ogio backpack

6. Customized Luggage Tags

The national championship participants get the same list, wit the addition of a Blockbuster subscription.

For a complete list of what each bowl gives out:  Click Here

Last Practice at Nippert

Saturday morning the Bearcats will strap on the pads for their final practice of the season at Nippert Stadium. After practice they will all go their separate ways to celebrate Christmas before meeting up again in Clifton on December 26th to board a plane for Miami. Excitement for the bowl game is starting to sink in, but for the seniors it's also starting to sink in that this is their final practice in the stadium they call home.

The last practice means more than just leaving a stadium. For most it's like members of a family going their separate ways. In his interview after practice DeAngelo Smith put his arm around head football trainer Bob Mangine. A man that has had a tremendous impact on so many young men since he came to UC in 2001.

As the seniors walk out of Nippert after their last practice they can look back and say that they are leaving the program in better shape than it was when they arrived.

The seniors also know that the program is in good hands. Not just the coaches, but the younger players that will keep going what they have started.

One of the under lying benefits of playing in a bowl game that is scheduled on New Years day is the extra practice time. Not necessarily to get ready for the opponent, but to get the younger guys some extra practice time. Ask any coach and they will tell you that this is a tremendous benefit for developing a team. The team leaves for Miami on Dec 26th and will begin practice on the 27th. During a normal week the team practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a walk through on Friday. Leading up to the bowl game they will get an extra day of practice. Bearcat Sports Page.com wishes everyone on the football team a safe trip home for the Christmas and look forward to seeing them in Miami.

Orange Bowl Practice Today

With ice and snow covering the turf at Nippert Stadium the team headed north to mason again today for practice. Wall to Wall Sports was kind enough to make room for the team today as they continue to get ready for the Orange Bowl on January 1st.

Party Time Cut Short

If you want to share a beer with a Virginia Tech football player on South Beach, do it before midnight.  Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer has set the Hokies curfew for their 6 day stay for midnight.  Apparently in years past it was set at 2AM.  VT has lost 4 of their last 5 bowl games including a 24-21 upset loss to Kansas in last years Orange Bowl.  Here is a comment taken from the Roanoke Times on an article about the curfew:

"We're not going to be there to get drunk and party, we're going to win the Orange Bowl".

Virginia Tech Senior Defensive End Orion Martin

Other changes by the Hokies in an attempt to reverse their loosing bowl trend include moving from the team hotel the night before the game and giving the players scouting reports on the opponent earlier that in past years.  This according to an article in the Roanoke Times.

No word yet on UC's pre-game strategy, or curfew times.

Day 1: Short Practice

Monday afternoon the Bearcat football team returned to the turf at Nippert Stadium.  The team practice was supposed to run from 3:00 until 5:00, instead it ended around 4:10.  Because of that, our coverage is not what we had planned.  The Bearcat Sports Page.com  crew arrived to find an empty stadium and one player still doing interviews.  In this case we were lucky it was senior Torry Cornett.  We asked the Columbus native what if it is hard to get back after a week off and what the team will try to accomplish this week.

With snow on the way practice the next few days may be moved to an indoor facility away from campus.  As for off the field preparations for the Orange Bowl, according to Senior Associate Athletic Director Mike Waddell the school has sold 12,500 tickets for the January 1st game. The remaining 4,500 tickets will be available in Clifton until December 23.

It's a Sleeping Giant

The Orange Bowl countdown now stands at 23 days and counting. If a person drove past campus this week they would have no idea that this is the most exciting week in UC history. However, looks can be deceiving. It may look quiet.....but it isn't.

The only quiet place in Varsity Village may be the locker room. The players are taking finals and have off until next Monday, that's when their preparation for the Orange Bowl starts on the field. As for those looking for Orange Bowl gear you can visit Dubois Bookstore at their locationon Calhoun Street near campus or visit them on line: Click Here.

The Party Just Started!

NEWS FLASH: UC OFF TO ORANGE BOWL

News flash #2: It's December and it should be cold. Not that it was a secret but as far as drama, there was very little Sunday night at Fifth Third area as far as where the Bearcats would be celebrating New Years Eve. Okay...the drama was lacking but excitement certainly filled the void. Who cared? UC was off to a BCS bowl game, orange or sugar. Last year it was pizza, this year it's a South Beach diet.

We are sure the local news gave you plenty of player and coach interview segments, here at Bearcat Sports Page.com we give you more. For example Brian Kelly's "pre selection" speech to the fans that gathered on a cold Sunday night at Fifth Third Arena.

As far as player interviews, we turned a player into the interviewer. Connor Barwin took the

microphone and talked to a couple of team mates, and his head coach.

We want to thank Connor for his help. He's been great to work with all season. On cold days after practice while all of the other guys are in the locker room, Connor is the last guy in. He's on the phone with a radio show or talking to the media. Where ever he goes in the NFL, he will be a media favorite from day one. Thanks to Connor, his team mates and Coach Kelly for giving us some time on this special and weary night. The team got back on campus at 2:00 today, and final exam week starts Monday.

Sweet 16

Saturdays win over Pittsburgh sent the Bearcats up a few spaces in the polls to #16 across the board (AP, USA Today, and BCS).  There is still one very important game to be played but the experts have UC playing in the Orange Bowl against an ACC opponent.

CBS:  Orange-Boston College

NBC:  Orange-Virginia Tech

ESPN:  Orange-Virginia Tech

              Orange-Florida St

College Football Poll: Sugar-Alabama

College Football News: Orange-Boston College

Sports Projections:  Orange-Virginia Tech

The Favorite

It looks like the odds makers in Las Vegas and the college football "experts" agree on UC this weekend. The line opened up with UC as a 5 point favorite. Most of the time being the home team is worth 3 points so the odds makers are seeing UC as more than just a home field favorite.

As for the experts they also see UC winning this game because almost everyone has UC in the Orange Bowl as the Big East Champs.

CBS: Meineke vs Virginia Tech

NBC: Orange vs UNC

ESPN: Orange vs Maryland

ESPN: Orange vs Miami

Sports Projections: Orange vs Miami

Si.com: Orange vs UNC

Fox is hoping that Pitt wins because they listed them as their " Dream match up: Pitt vs Miami"

As for their "nightmare match up: Cincinnati vs any 8-4 ACC team".

Orange Bowl?

Not that these "experts" have a clue about what team ends up in what bowl, here is a sample of what they are thinking. Of course UC winning the next three games leaves only one question, Sugar or Orange. Interestingly enough the majority seem to agree that the Big East Champ goes to the Orange Bowl with Utah ending up in New Orleans against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

NBC: Gator against Virginia Tech

College Football News: Meineke ( Charlotte) against Georgia Tech

Bowl Projections.com: Meineke against Florida State

ESPN U ( 2 experts): Orange against Florida St

Meineke against Maryland

Rivals.com: Sugar against Alabama

SI.com: Orange against North Carolina

Other sites are still behind last weekend and have West Virginia n the BCS and UC in Toronto.

Either way it does not look like the "experts" think UC can take care of business. We will see.