2009 Throwback - Celebrating Isaiah Pead

2019 is the 10 year anniversary of the Cincinnati Bearcats perfect regular season in 2009. Cincinnati went 12-0, won the Big East championship and played Florida in the Sugar Bowl in what was Brian Kelly’s third and final season as Bearcats head coach.

At Down the Drive, we will celebrate the team’s accomplishment from that season and remember some of the top moments and players. Last week, we reflected on the quarterbacks and the success of Tony Pike and Zach Collaros. This week, we look at the running backs, specifically Isaiah Pead.

Isaiah Pead’s 2099 Season

• Pead led Cincinnati with 806 yards rusing and 9 TDs.
• 201 yards receiving and 2 TDs
• Averaged 6.7 ypc and was always a threat to run to the endzone every time he touched the ball.

Summary of 2009 RB situation

Isaiah Pead was a sophomore in 2009 and played sparingly in 2008 as a freshman, getting just 30 carries in 7 games. In 2009 though, he played all 13 games and led the team with 121 carries. Running the ball was not a priority for Cincinnati as they threw 470 passes versus 224 carries from the running backs.

Senior Jacob Ramsey was the clear #2 running back. One year after leading the team with 152 carries in 2008, Ramsey got the ball only 74 times on the ground in 2009. He turned those 74 carries into 439 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and ran for 4 TDs (more on those below).

Isaiah Pead’s top 4 moments from 2009

4. 33% Touchdowns

To the pleasure of Cincinnati fans everywhere, the 2009 Louisville team was not good. They finished 4-8 and 1-6 in Big East play. Cincinnati won 41-10 in a route at Nippert Stadium. Because of the lopsided score, Pead only carried the ball 6 times, but 2 of those 6 carries went into the endzone. That’s a strong carry:touchdown ratio.

3. First and only 100 yard game

Pead only ran for 100 yards one time in 2009. That one time also coincided with his season-high (and career high to that point) of carries in a game. Pead ran 18 times for 175 yards. The 9.7 yards per carry were his THIRD best of the season (12 ypc on 5 carries vs Miami and 14.7 ypc vs Louisville).

2. First career TD vs Rutgers

You never forget your first. Cincinnati kicked off the 2009 season with a 47-15 victory at Rutgers. On the opening drive, Isaiah Pead scored from 2 yards out to give Cincinnati a quick lead and the first touchdown of his career.

1. Game-winning touchdown

Cincinnati hosted UConn with the game taking place on ABC Primetime. With just over a minute to go, on 4th down up 40-38, Isaiah Pead took the carry 14 yards for a touchdown to put the game away for good.

How great is it hearing Brent Musberger calling this game? Also, that crowd....

Jacob Ramsey’s Big Moment

Ramsey was a quality running back who did a great job in his role in 2009. He had some very strong moments prior to his senior season but his one big senior moment came week 5 vs Miami. Ramsey ran 12 times (tied for his season-high) for 103 yards (his only 100+ yard game of the season) and 3 touchdowns (ran for just one more the rest of the year). Ramsey scored the first touchdown of the game late in the first quarter from 4 yards out, his second just a couple minutes into the second quarter from 8 yards out (made the score 19-0 before extra point), and ran it in from 2 yards out at the start of the 4th quarter (put UC up 29-13). Cincinnati ended up winning the game 37-13.

Looking back at the performances of Tony Pike and Zach Collaros during Cincinnati’s 2009 season.