NC STATE, ESPN INVADE NIPPERT STADIUM

Tomorrow at Nippert Stadium, the NC State Wolfpack (2-1) visit the UC Bearcats (2-1) on ESPN Thursday Night Football. The game scheduled for 8:00pm is also available on ESPN3D. This will be the second meeting between the Bearcats and Wolfpack. Last season, UC lost to the Wolfpack in Raleigh 30-19.

DEFENSE LEADING UC:
Last season and this year have been complete opposite ends of the spectrum for the Bearcat defense. Ranking 1st in the nation this season with a +13 turnover rating and also lead first in turnover margin (4.0). Last week against Akron, the Bearcat defense scored three touchdowns. Two off of interceptions and one via the fumble recovery. It was the first time UC returned an INT for six since 2008 and the first time with two in a game since 1998.

WILL NC STATE GET PEAD ON?
Isaiah Pead has scored on his first rush in two of the three games this season. 40-yard dash to the endzone against Austin Peay and an incredible 65-yard sprint against the Tennessee Vols. Pead has carried the ball 27 times through three games for UC totaling 257 yards and 4 touchdowns. For those keeping track at home thats 9.5 yards per carry and 85.7 per game.

PREDICTION: UC needs this win for the school. With all of the re-alignment around college football the Bearcats need to fill up Nippert in primetime and defeat NC State handily. The Nip will be blacked out with the lights shining bright and the Bearcats will move to 3-1. Prediciting big games from Anthony McClung, Pead and Collaros will throw for atleast three touchdowns. Final score, Bearcats 34 NC State 21.

WR Nate Cole Commits To Bearcats

Coach, Butch Jones tweeted today that "HUGE day for #BearcatNation, let's keep this momentum rolling into Thursday!!!" about twenty minutes following the message from Butch Jones, the Bearcats received a commitment from Nate Cole.

NATE COLE

Nate, a Wide Receiver from Memphis, TN is a 3-Star recruit by Rivals.com, Scout.com and BNFB. Cole is ranked nationally by Scout.com as the 78th wide receiver in the nation and ranked 58th by Rivals.com. Nate possesses qualities it's hard to find in a high school player, the ability to run the routes the right way, his hands are very solid and he is a very tough football player who is not afraid to go across the middle to make a catch.

With any recruit comes things they need work on. Cole doesn't exhibit the great speed of a Mardy Gilyard or Shaq Washington but he will make the play needed. Nate had offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Virginia. Cole caught 64 passes for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns as a Junior.


Earlier in the week, UC also received commit from Linebacker, John Law. John a 2-star recruit by Rivals.com and also a 2-star here at BNFB hails from Atlanta, GA. Law stands 6'0 230 pounds and is expected to be a MLB for the Bearcats. He had offers from Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Southern Miss and UAB.

Where Will UC Play Football?

The Big East took it's blow in the everchanging view of college football Sunday, when Pitt and Syracuse were accepted into the ACC. The news came as a surprise to everyone especially the schools being Syracuse and Pitt to leave. Syracuse a founding father of the Big East conference and Pitt a member of 29 years.

Reports are out that UConn is aggressively making strides to join the ACC as well and Rutgers could be a possible member to join the ACC also. Florida State has been linked to leaving for the SEC but reports are not concrete. With the Texas A&M Aggies joining the SEC, Florida State is not needed to greatly.

So, where does this leave the leftover teams from the Big East? Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, West Virginia. Representives of the Big 12 and Big East have been in contact for what could be a merger conference between the two minus Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech. If the Big 12 and Big East merge into one conference, with the joining of TCU to the Big East next season you could see schools like Boise State, Houston and Central Florida replace those teams. Don't look past the Temple Owls or ECU Pirates as replacements as well.

We won't know what really goes down until it all happens and we can only speculate what may happen. However, Cincinnati fans are holding their breathe hoping and praying that when the college football carousel is over that the Bearcats, are not on the outside looking into the BCS.

Bearcats look to rebound against Akron

The UC Bearcats return home to Nippert Stadium on Saturday, to play an in-state opponent from the MAC in Akron. The Zips 0-2 on the season after falling to Ohio State and Temple by scores of 42-0 and 41-3. The Bearcats are looking to avenge a 45-23 thumping handed to them last week by the Tennessee Volunteers.

Don't Take Akron Lightly

The Zips have been known to give the Bearcats quite a fit when these two teams meet. In 2006, the Zips and 'Cats met at Nippert and UC walked away with only a six point victory 20-14. In 2008, every UC fan held their breathe when the Bearcats escaped by the skin of their teeth in the Rubber Bowl 17-15. However, the Zips should not create any sort of threat this week.

Turnovers

The Bearcats continue to show they not only worked on creating and limiting their turnovers but have forced a total of 6 turnovers via fumble or interception through the first two games of the season. UC on the other hand, yet to turn the football over. Isaiah Pead has done well to lock the ball high and tight and Zach Collaros has eliminated trying to make a play when nothing is there.

Prediction: Bearcats come home after a dissapointing loss in Tennessee and route Akron 53-10

Tennessee dominates Bearcats in Knoxville 45-23

Following a 65-yard touchdown run by Isiah Pead on the first drive for the Bearcats on Saturday against the Tennessee Vols, the offense quickly faded away and the defense could not slow down Sophomore quarterback, Tyler Bray or wide reciever, Da'Rick Rogers.

Tennessee quickly drove down the field following the Pead touchdown and Marlin Lane scored a TD from 2 yards out to make it 7-7. Vols head coach, Derek Dooley pulled off a play out of Sean Peyton's book as the Vols kicked the ball onside following the touchdown and recovering forcing the Bearcats defense to stay on the field and Tyler Bray made the 'Cats pay. Justin Hunter caught a 33-yard pass to make it 14-7 Tennessee. The Bearcats however, stayed with the Vols through quarter one as Zach Collaros found tight end, Adrien Robinson for a 13-yard touchdown to make it 14-14 at the end of one quarter.

In quarter two the Bearcats were faced twice with fourth and one and failed on both attempts. This opened the doors and the Vols broke the game wide open as Bray hooked up with Da'Rick Rogers for two touchdowns from 11 and 15 yards to make it 28-14 Tennessee at the half.

The start of the second half did not get any better for the Bearcats. Tyler Bray ran in his first touchdown of the game from a yard out and the Vols led 35-14. UC would set up a good drive in the 3rd but failed to score a touchdown and had to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Tony Miliano. Bray would connect with Zach Rogers on a 16-yard touchdown pass before the end of the quarter and the Vols would lead UC 42-17.

The fourth quarter was quite boring and didn't mean much. Anthony McClung would catch his 3rd touchdown of the season, a 6-yard catch from Collaros. Tennessee would get a field goal to finish the game and defeat the Bearcats by a final score of 45-23.

Tyler Bray simply threw all over the UC defense. 34-41 on the day with 4 touchdowns and 405 yards through the air while running in a TD as well. Tennessee also had two recievers finish with over 100 yards on the game.

Collaros was 21-34 with 2 touchdowns and 230 yards with no interceptions.
Isaiah Pead led the day for UC with 14 carries 155 yards and a touchdown.

The Bearcat defense while allowing 45 points to the Volunteers did force two turnovers via the fumble. UC continued to prove they worked on turnovers in the off-season not throwing and INT or fumbling in this game as well.

UC plays host to Akron (0-2) next Saturday at Nippert Stadium 3:30 kickoff on ESPN3.

Bearcats Roll Over APSU 72-10

Isiah Pead ran 2 TD for the Cats against Austin Peay

The 2011 Bearcats football season got off to about the best start possible. True freshman, Ralph David Abernathy returned the opening kick-off 60 yards for the 'Cats. On the first play from scrimmage, Collaros handed off to Isiah Pead who ran 40 yards untouched to give the Bearcats a very early 6-0 as freshman, Tony Miliano missed the PAT.

The Governors of Austin Peay got off to a good start in their first drive before senior linebacker, J.K. Schaffer intercepted the pass from Jake Ryan. Isiah Pead would find the end zone again from 13 yards out to make it 13-0 Bearcats. They would finish off the 1st quarter as Zach Collaros connected with junior transfer, Kenbrell Thompkins and the 'Cats led 20-0.

The 2nd quarter was just as mean to the Governors, if not worse. Collaros would connect on a 34-yard touchdown pass to senior D.J. Woods to make it 27-0. The Bearcats were not done there. Collaros would connect on two more TD passes in the 2nd with sophomore, Anthony McClung for passes of eight and twenty-nine yards to make it 41-0 UC at the half.

Sophomore QB, Munchie Legaux took over in the 2nd half for the Bearcats who extended their lead in the 3rd quarter to 51-3 on a field goal from Miliano and an 5-yard touchdown run from Legaux, his first college touchdown.

The 4th quarter saw true freshman, Akise Teague the reigning Mr.Football in Ohio score his first touchdown on a four yard run. Teague finished with two carries for 13 yards. Sophomore transfer QB, Jordan Luallen ran in a TD from 11 yards out and Adam Fearing scored a TD to finish off the game and break 70 points for the Bearcats with a 14 yard run for touchdown.

Schaffer INT

Zach Collaros finished the day 12 of 19 for 134 yards and 4 touchdown passes. Isiah Pead carried the ball 7 times for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns. Anthony McClung caught 3 passes for 48 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Kenbrell Thompkins, D.J. Woods, Munchie Legaux, Adam Fearing, Jordan Luallen and Akise Teague also put TD's on the board for UC.


Defense for the Bearcats was exceptional. Aaron Roberson and J.K. Schaffer intercepted passes for the Bearcats and the defense also forced three turnovers via the fumble. The Bearcat defense also held the Governors to a total of 277 yards of offense.

Next week the Bearcats travel to Knoxville, TN to take on an SEC foe in the Volunteers of Tennessee (1-0) on ESPN2 at 3:30pm on 9/11 

Austin Peay visits Bearcats to open 2011

College football is back and the Bearcats open the 2011 season looking to earn their 3rd Big East title in four years. The Austin Peay Governors visit Nippert Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 7 p.m. on FSN OH and 102.7 WEBN. This is the 124th season of UC Bearcats football. The 'Cats coming off a season to forget with a 4-8 record. The Governors finished a dismal 2-9 in D1-AA.

The Bearcats return the Big East top passer in Zach Collaros, rusher Isiah Pead, tackler J.K. Schaffer and leader in all-purpose yards and receptions D.J. Woods along with 51 letterwinners from 2010.

Collaros threw for 2,902 yards and 26 touchdowns earning First-Team All-Big East honors at QB.

Pead rushed for 1.029 yards and six touchdowns which earned him Second-Team All-Big East.

Schaffer placed second in the Big East and first on the team last season in tackles with 111 and snagging All-Big East Second-Team honors. He will be looking for his third straight 100 tackle season.

DJ Woods the leading receiver and return man for the 'Cats returns after leading the league in all-purpose yards, averaging 154.9 per game and taking Second-Team All-Big East honors at wide receiver.

On the defensive side of the football joining J.K. Schaffer the Bearcats return 11 starters from last season. Transfer from Maryland, Ben Pooler has earned the third starting linebacker spot. Lineman, Brandon Mills led the team in 2010 with 12.5 tackles for a loss and 6.0 sacks. Walter Stewart will join Dan Giordano on the edge as a DE this year to give the Bearcats more of a presence on the edges. Derek Wolfe leads the defense with 25 career starts.

RS Freshman, Tony Milliano will handle the field goal duties for the Bearcats against Austin Peay earning the job in camp and will have senior transfer, Shane Popham and true freshman, AJ Fleak behind him.

TRUE FRESHMAN TO SEE THE FIELD:
Butch Jones has made it a point that 7-8 true freshman will see the field against Austin Peay. Here is the BNFB list of who you can expect to see on Saturday. Jameel Poteat and Akise Teague will see the field at the running back position while at wide receiver expect to see Alex Chisum and Shaq Washington and include RS freshman Dyjuan Lewis to that list.

On the defensive side of the football for the Bearcats, Dwight Jackson and Nick Temple could see time at linebacker along with Clemente Casseus.

Prediction:
BEARCATS-58 Governors-6

The Bearcats should have this game over at halftime with big stats from Zach Collaros (275 yds, 3 Td), Isiah Pead (150 yds 2 Td) and DJ Woods (100 yds 1 Td) and look to see Kenbrell Thompkins (50 yds) and Anthony McClung (75 yds 1 Td) have good games.

On defense, the Bearcats should create at least four turnovers from Austin Peay. Expect to see sophomore Deven Drane come away with a pick and also a big game from transfer Malcolm Murray and Dominique Battle.

How can Austin Peay stay in the game? Give the ball to Ryan White. The senior running back is the best player the Governors have earning pre-season All-Ohio Valley honors. Behind an o-line that averages 315 pounds, White could have a big game if he gets some blocks.

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