Cincinnati Bearcats Football Tickets - Games - Buy Cincinnati Bearcats Football Tickets

In 2003 UC actually outgained league foes by 86 ypg, the 3rd best mark in the league but in a jinxed season, finished just 2-6 in CUSA games and Rick Minter was let go. It was a great situation for Mark Dantonio to step into in 2004 as he had the most veteran team in the league (17 starters) led by senior QB Gino Guidugli. They opened up just 2-4 but outgained league foes by 118.6 ypg (not counting their season finale vs Louisville in which they were outgained by 305 yds without Guidugli}. The Bearcats won the Ft Worth Bowl 32-14 over Marshall. Dantonio was just the 2nd UC coach to take his team to a bowl in his first year (Sid Gillman 1949). Last year they had to replace Guidugli, a 1,000 yard rusher, their top two receivers, top 8 tacklers and lost 26 seniors overall. With just 11 seniors back (only 3 were starters in 2004), they had just 6 returning starters. Last year I called for a losing season. UC performed better than expected as they avoided the cellar in the Big East with a 2-5 record but were outgained by 104.7 ypg in conf play. They trailed EM 20-14 at the half and EM missed a 2 pt conv which would have tied it in the 4Q. UC scored a lot of garbage points including two late scores vs Penn St, one vs Miami and another vs Louisville. IAA W Carolina actually had a 284-273 yd edge but had a TD called back and was int'd at the UC 2 yd line in a 7-3 UC win. One of their BE wins came vs Connecticut, who was forced to start a backup QB and Cincy sacked him six times. They also got a 17 yard fumble return for a TD for the winning points late vs Syr in their other BE win. UC was shutout for the first time since 1998 when WV drilled them 38-0 and their -23 yards rushing vs Rutgers was the second worst total in school history. The Bearcats started 5 true frosh on defense at times. The Bearcats' closest loss was by 15, so they achieved their best case scenario at 4-7 and with 3 close wins, could have been 1-10. This year UC has the most returning starters in the Big East (17). Dantonio talked about building his team to stop a pattern of losing years following winning years and will be trying for UC's 5th bowl in the past 7 years. They get 4 home games in Big East play but also have some tough non-conf games (Ohio St and VTech). Last year the Bearcats had just 3 returning starters on the offense and only scored 17.5 ppg, their lowest amount since 1994 (14.5). This year they have 7 offensive starters back and have experience at QB. UC has their top rushers and 12 of the 13 players who caught a pass LY back. Look for a significant increase in production. On defense, the Bearcats had just 3 starters back last year and allowed 31.4 ppg, their highest since 1998. This year 10 full-time starters return and 20 defen-, sive players overall with starting experience making them a vastly improved unit.