No that's not Tony Pike catching a wave off of Waikiki Beach, Craig Carey...maybe. The Cats landed in Hawaii yesterday but this is no vacation. It's a business trip in a nice place. Tuesday's press conference was dominated with talk about stadium expansion and Coach Kelly signing a contract in blood with the media that he would never leave. However, there was some talk about football and here are some segments from that side of Tuesday.
First off Hawaii, last year a BCS Bowl team but this year they have a new coach. The biggest challenge for UC is the travel and the environment.
After a month of "must win games" how does the team get hyped up for a game that on paper means nothing? Don't tell them that, this game has tremendous meaning. Does this team still have goals left on the chalkboard from summer training camp at Camp Higher Ground in Harrison?
Yes, the team wants to win and they are focused. But remember this is Hawaii, how many of us got to see this Pacific Paradise when we were 19 or 20 years old?
Back in 2003 the Bearcat's dream trip to Hawaii turned out to be a nightmare. A 20-19 loss was accompanied by penalty flags and questionable calls that ended in a bench clearing brawl. Enquirer writer Bill Koch captured the memory of that trip well in his article Thursday. Coach Kelly says that was in the past, and it helps that Big East officials will be calling the game. Pay attention to the end of the clip when he jokes about the officials being on the same flight.
We want to thank Coach Kelly and DeAngelo Smith for talking with us Tuesday. Remember the game is late on Saturday, 11:30PM on ESPN2. The team arrives back in town at 2:00 Sunday afternoon then has the Selection Celebration at 8:00. After that they hit the books....finals next week. How many guys took books to Hawaii to get ahead? They are off until Dec 15th when they start practicing for the bowl.
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