It’s Finally Gameweek

Get Hyped, It’s Gameweek!!!

When the Cincinnati Bearcats take the field on Thursday night it will be their first game in 241 days (December 31, 2018 in the Military Bowl). It will be 272 days in-between games at Nippert Stadium.

Podcast

Down the Drive Podcasts debuts with a preview of the 2019 season and a special guest to give some additional thoughts on key players. Plus, I share my beliefs on transfers and why James Hudson is getting screwed

Listen here: Episode 1

Top Stories

UCLA game preview, via Clayton Trutor

A look at the history of “Power 5” conference teams coming to Nippert since 2005

Luke Fickell is entering year 3 at Cincinnati (15-10 overall record). Why fans should not be afraid of him keeping up with tradition of taking a bigger job after three years.

If Cincinnati beats UCLA on Thursday, all they need is 12 more wins and a lot of luck to make the Playoffs

Need a reminder of some of the key returning players? We have you covered in our Player Refresher Series

Answers to five key questions about 2019 Bearcats season

History vs UCLA

UCLA comes to town for the second half of a home-and-home series, which saw Cincinnati pull off a surprise victory in 2018 in week 1.

Cincinnati won 26-17 and QB Desmond Ridder made his collegiate debut, coming off the bench in relief of Hayden Moore.

Michael Warren ran for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns and the defense held Chip Kelly’s offense to just 2 touchdowns. Speaking of Warren, he is the topic of today’s Player Refresher Series.

In basketball, UCLA defeated Cincinnati in round two of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Since, the Bearcats swept the Bruins in a home-and-home winning at Pauley Pavillion in 2017 and a 29 point victory in Cincinnati last year, in what would be one of UCLA coach Steve Alford’s final games.

Mick Cronin Connection

With Alford’s departure, UCLA needed a new coach and after a long complicated process eventually poached Mick Cronin from Cincinnati. Cronin spent 13 years with the Bearcats, making the NCAA tournament each of the last 9 seasons, advancing to the second weekend just once. Overall, he had a 6-9 record in the tournament with Cincinnati.

UCLA Message Board - LOL

”No offense to Cincinnati whatsoever”

But you’re going to say something that’s probably offensive even though you lost at home to a young team coming off back-to-back 4 wins seasons...

“Last Year’s Cincy v UCLA Box Score Encourages Me”

I’m not sure they know what the word “encourage” means...

“Am I the only one who thinks we’re gonna spank Cinci?”

Based on the comments like the original poster is not the only one. But that would mean more than one person’s opinion is wrong

Additional quotes in their predictions threads

”I think our athleticism and skill players win this game handily. Bruins 34-24.”

“49-21 Boys in Blue, let’s do it”

“we are going to spank these dudes”

”the fact that we’re simply the more talented and athletic team, and I just don’t see them beating us this year. ”

Excitement about the Offensive Line

Before last season, Offensive Line was a big weakness and a position that was largely ignored on the recruiting trial by previous coaches at Cincinnati. But this year’s O-line has the chance to be special, creating holes for an exciting group of running backs and protecting.

The offensive line consists of

• Two men who were named captains for the 2019 season by Coach Fickell - Morgan James and Chris Ferguson. Both men return after being full-time starters last season. James’ story is awesome. He is a former professional hockey player and is 29 years old, one of the oldest players in college football. He didn’t play football until joining UC in 2015.
• Ferguson is from the Bahamas and never took a snap before 2018. He was recruited as a defensive lineman, but changed positions in 2015.
• At center will be Jakari Robinson, a key player from Fickell’s first recruiting class in 2017. Robinson was the 32nd ranked center in that class and started 6 games due to injuries in 2018.
• Jeremy Cooper is a redshirt freshman who will start at guard. He has the potential to be a four-year starter and future NFL OL
• The fifth starting spot is expected to go to Lorenz Metz, a 6’9, 330 pound monster from Germany. Metz was the 80th ranked athlete in the 2018 recruiting class and was initially a defensive player but has been practicing on the OL.

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