32 replies to this topic

[The BeastFan]

Well, its that time of year again. Its only a little more than a month until football season, both for college and the NFL. This thread is to focus on the former.

First, I'd like to lay out a disclaimer, and that of course concerns the Penn State scandal this past year. This thread is to only mention the NCAA punishments and the impact to the football program. We aren't going to allow discussion on the details on the Sandusky case or the Freeh report beyond those areas mentioned above as that conversation would go beyond the realm of what the Code of Conduct allows.

Anyways, for those who have known me for a while, or if you check my signature, I am a Cincinnati Bearcat fan. We're coming off of a 9-3 year, a 1/3rd owner of the Big East championship with Louisville and the now departed West Virginia. However, in the off-season, we lost a lot of defense and offense, particularly a great QB in Zach Collaros and the best running back in the BE, Issiah Pead. Munchie Legaux was a decent back up last year, but he certainly had some things to work on this off season. That's the only real big question mark this year. The schedule looks do-able at the very least.

*- BE game
@- away

Sept 6- Pittsburgh*
Sept 15- Deleware State
Sept 29- Virginia Tech (@ Fed Ex Field)
Oct 6- Miami (OH)
Oct 13- Fordham
Oct 20- @Toledo
Oct 26- @Louisville*
Nov 3- Syracuse*
Nov 10- @Temple*
Nov 17- Rutgers*
Nov 23- South Florida*
Dec 3- @Connecticut*

Louisville is the Big East favorite and after last year I can see why. They have a decent defense to keep teams in check enough for their offense to work. I feel the entire conference save for Temple (who I don't know their history in football) will be tight this year. The first game vs. Pitt feels like a tone setter having a conference game first. I'm looking very forward to the game vs. VTech (which I'll attend thanks to band ).

[Thunderhead]

Hokies offensive line is going to be rough. Four first year starters, not to mention a new running back. But the defense is going to be killer. 9 of 11 return at the two replacements have see a good bit of playing time.

Mike, gonna be rowdy at FedEx. Those NoVa Hokies are nuts.

[The BeastFan]

I really wanted that Bama/Michigan game to be closer.

Also, Pitt appears to be just as bad as last year.

EDIT (9/6)- Should be an interesting game tonight. We have a fresh and hungry Cincinnati team ready to get the season underway at home for a prime time game, and Pittsburgh is kind of desperate for a win to redeem the butt kicking they received from FCS member Youngstown. We've been able to handle Ray Graham in years past, and Sunseri is an awful QB.

[The BeastFan]

Yep...Pittsburgh is terrible again. Why does the ACC want them again?

Anyways, the Bearcats got off to an explosive start on their first home game. Under the lights of Thursday Night Football, UC mailed in 2 touchdowns in under 5 minutes. Pitt made attempts in the red zone, but couldn't convert the efforts into points, though they seemed to rattle off 3rd down conversions easily. They only got a field goal and a late touchdown, but by then it was all over. Pittsburgh was nothing but miscues and penalties, including a lot of delay of game calls. Final score- Bearcats-34, Panthers- 10. Next week is a seemingly easy game vs Delaware State.

BTW, I was nervous about our QB Munchie Legaux after last season seeing him as the back up to Collaros, but he proved me wrong. He can fire some bullets in close quarters and has a pretty accurate arm. I can't wait to see him tear up Delaware State.

[Tyler Carlton]

Sorry to see that your band made the Sports Center Not Top Ten Mike.

[The BeastFan]

^About that...

1. The trumpet player in question is the kind of guy to take it in stride.

2. I can't believe that video went viral

3. We've had falls before, this just happens to be the first caught on ESPN, most happen near the bottom like what was shown, as concrete turns to turf

4. I take it as somewhat good publicity

5. At least it was a trumpet and wasn't a saxophone

[Tyler Carlton]

True, it always seem to be the brass guys that fall down. We always entered using our "quick step" and we had a few people fall down when it was muddy, but they were always trombones or baritones

[Ryan Shrout]

So how bout that PAC 12???

[The BeastFan]

I bet Kook is pretty pleased with the Orange right now. Yes, Syracuse did lose twice, but they kept it pretty close with Northwestern, and they put up a valiant fight against USC until the 4th quarter. I'm not in the least bit optimistic about playing Syracuse, though its good that game is in Cincy. 'Cuse looks to have one of the hardest if not the hardest OOC schedule in the Big East along with USF.

And....yes, Pitt is still terrible. That is all.

[BJ KoasterKooK]

^ Close...i'd be "pretty pleased" if they were 1-1, like they should be. There is no way they should have lost that game with Northwestern.

A perfect example of why I am not a big fan of so-called "prevent" defenses down the stretch while protecting a small lead.

Yep, played big, tuff USC very well overall. Thanks for bringing my boys up Mike, as they'll probably not even get to 6 wins this season with that schedule of theirs.

[The BeastFan]

Well, the Big East lost all the leverage it had with Notre Dame in any capacity. All sports sans football going to the ACC.

[The BeastFan]

So....UC did beat Delaware State, but it sure was an ugly win. Cincy gave up 6 turnovers. We couldn't finish drives either. A lot of those turnovers happened in the red zone. The 23-7 win should have really been 46-7 if we didn't make all those mistakes. Oh well, a win is a win I suppose, but we better use this off week to get our act together as Virginia Tech won't be so forgiving on turnovers.

BTW, the UC band is going to DC for the game, so I'll be there! (Its also a 'home' game for us despite DC being knee deep in VTech territory )

[The BeastFan]

So now I won't be going to DC for the UC/VTech game due to the fact I can't make it work from a medical standpoint.

On the other hand, I'm looking more forward to this game than I was a few weeks ago, especially now that V-Tech lost to Pittsburgh of all teams.

[Thunderhead]

As long as the defense can defend the (very basic) wham inside zone then we should be fine. If that defense could contain Denard Robinson then we should be able to scheme around Munchie. Secondary depth is a concern. I have a feeling the defending the wham will force Munchie to throw a little more and our secondary is weak. Ronny Van-Dyke is starting at whip according to some sources, which is great. He's a play-maker.

The other concern I have is the run game. Ed Wang said he will be back from his ankle injury, which is good. Benedict and Arkema have been shaky in pass-pro. I hope Tony Gregory gets the start at RB, him or JC Coleman. Holmes just isn't hitting holes. Logan has been extremely shaky, but he's a work in progress. I don't see much improvement from him. If we lose this game it will be because of the offense I believe.

The important thing to take away from all of this is that our team is a trainwreck of a piece of work in progress. The team says Pittsburgh was a fluke, and I think so to an extent. Still not a great team, but much better than the one that took Heinz Field a few days ago.

But same story, different year for the Hokies.

Edited by Thunderhead, 25 September 2012 - 09:29 PM.

[The BeastFan]

Hopefully, Munchie will get over his turn over problems from last week.

[Thunderhead]

Yeah, Hokies need to force a few turnovers, control the TOP, and play stout defense.

[Tyler Carlton]

Oh, there's college football this year? I hadn't even noticed

[Daniel Westfall]

I hear the college refs are actually better this year.

[The BeastFan]

So we had a 'home game' in Washington DC. The reality of it was UC got paid $3.5 million to move the game to DC. But the game commenced with lots of drama. The game was pretty back and forth between the Hokies, including only giving up 2 first downs in the first half. The offense turned on a lot in the 2nd half, but when it was all said and done, UC prevails 27-24 over VTech. UC moves to 3-0, 1-0 in the Big East. Next week is a white out homecoming in the 117th Battle for the Victory Bell vs Miami (OH).

Also, I'm REALLY glad West Virginia is in the Big 12 this year. Geno Smith is just lighting up the scoreboard every game, particularly in that 70-63 win over Baylor. Then again, that score also means the defenses seemingly took the day off.

[Thunderhead]

I could rant for 4+ hours about today's game. Basic idea is we need some change in our week to week preparation. Whether it comes from changing the staff, to practice, to gameplan, I don't know but every week we start off slow. Congrats on the win, defense kept us in it. Our offense is a **** sandwich.

[The BeastFan]

I do have a few things to point out with UC. Defense was stellar today, I have little to complain about there. Our secondary in particular is much improved over last year in giving up less big plays. Our offense has issues, too. Our o-line often left Munchie pretty vulnerable, though it was against one of the better defenses we'll see this year. Munchie seems to have a tendency to overthrow a lot, too, though that's better than under throwing. The arm strength is there, its just some accuracy tweaks with him.

I have some concerns on our place kicker as well. There was the FG that bounced in through the uprights, and of course, the missed field goal. Those will really hurt us in close games, though that luckily wasn't the case for this game. We have a great punter though, up there with Kevin Huber. The good thing is with UC's schedule at this point, we get 2 MAC teams and Fordham before diving into Big East play again with the favored Louisville Cardinals right off the bat.

I'm also surprised USF kept it close with FSU. I thought for sure that FSU would just run all over the Bulls.

[The BeastFan]

UC will hold the victory bell yet another year. The Bearcats stomped the Redhawks of Miami (OH) by a final score of 52-14. The game started slow for us with a few early Miami touchdowns. The Bearcats came back and had a few scores, but nothing very reminiscent of the week before vs. V-Tech. That all changed the 2nd half. UC came out guns firing on offense, though we got caught for a lot of holding penalties. Miami had the worse set of penalties with a few personal fouls and PI calls late. Obviously, it didn't matter in the end. UC absolutely crushed the Redhawks. UC now moves to 4-0. Next week is a game vs a 2nd FBS school in the Fordham Rams.

Also, how about this week in college ball?! LSU FINALLY falls to Florida, FSU goes down late to NC State, and WV showed they fit the Big 12 very well in winning a 2nd straight shoot out style game @ Texas.

[Tyler Carlton]

I'm glad to see Michigan finally show up to play now that the Big Ten season has gotten underway. They went out and stomped Purdue and with Illinois on the docket for next week we should be 2-0 (knock on wood) heading into the big game vs Michigan State.

In other news, as much as it burns me to say this, this video is one of the coolest band performances I've seen in a while.

Apparently I don't remember how to imbed, so here is the link

[The BeastFan]

^Bands are a bit different than sports teams. We don't really 'compete' with each other. We just sit back and enjoy the music. Even I have to admit TBDBITL is a very, very good band (especially after having played opposite them twice).

Those licensing fees to play those video game tunes must have cost tOSU a ton.

Why in the world does tOSU band have a Michigan flag?! O.o

Oh, and I forgot to mention this- UC is ranked 21st in the AP poll!

[The BeastFan]

UC showed up to play today better than they did against Deleware State, but there was still a lot left to be desired. UC put up 49 points in the 49-17 win, but that 17 is too big a number to allow a FCS school. The defense took a while to really get any stops down, and Munchie is overthrowing the ball a ton. Next week's school in Toledo won't let those things nor the penalties we piled up go to waste, so UC needs some focus. I don't want to lose to a MAC school. UC moves to 5-0 with the win.

Also, a few things that were weird occured. Our place kicker made put the ball through the uprights on a kick off, yet missed a decent field goal. Also, we scored nearly 2 touchdowns (the 2nd was nullified by a fumble called back as being a completion) with 0 yards of offense.