Here Come the Cats: A NCAA Preview

**Editor's Note: I'd like to welcome one more college football analyst to the site, UC Bearcat and St. Xavier Bomber Grift Krehnbrink. Grift will be covering the Queen City's beloved Cincinnati Bearcats and whatever else comes into play this season. Enjoy.**

College Football Preview: 

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats

 by Grift Krehnbrink

Upon being asked to write a blog about the upcoming football season and in particular the outlook for the University of Cincinnati, a few things need to be said before any masterful predicting is done.

First things first: I am a die-hard Bearcats fan who truly believes (warranted or not) UC is destined for greatness, so if you are looking for an unbiased article based on stats, sabermetrics, or the results of a past Sugar Bowl (See Tebow turns Water into Bearcat Blood), read Jeff Fay on the Enquirer.  This will be written solely for the purpose of pumping up Red & Black fans for the year ahead.  The fact of the matter is I love the addition of Tommy Tuberville to our program and all the redneck football awesomeness he brings with him,

Coach Tubs believes in cultural equality
 as shown above

Second, I realize UC plays in the AAC, which I could only assume stands for Alcoholics Anonymous Corp based on the booze I plan to consume to get me through games like Memphis, Temple, and SMU.  However, Cincy has gone out and scheduled some quality out-of-conference opponents to beef up the schedule and ends the season at home against Louisville, so don’t reach for that [Natural Light*] just yet. **Beer edited by site manager. 

Next, I am writing this based on previously attained knowledge with little research: just a man trying to spread the good word, and I will base my thoughts of what I have seen and what I expect to see.  I will have predictions, but they will be short and sweet.

I WANNA MEET
JOHN LENNON

Lastly, My qualifications for writing this are nothing short of pristine.  I have been to every UC home game in the last 6 years (excluding the USF game I was tossed from for chicken-winging someone).   John Hughes, starting DT for the Cleveland Browns, cheated off me in History of Rock & Roll freshman year.  When I asked him how he thought he did on the final, he responded, “However you did." Can’t be completely certain, but I take a lot of responsibility for his success thereafter.  Another NFL defensive tackle who will not be named also cold-clocked me at a bar sophomore year on campus and sent me a “Mile High”.  For my attendance, my inter-working knowledge of Chucky Berry and the Beatles, and the stress management course I gave to Wolfe (oops) for free, I have earned the right to write.

So let’s talk some football, shall we?  A few key items on the agenda to talk about.  To keep things interesting we will give these both a UC-branded feel using a scale of Barwin-to-Butch: Barwin will be our exciting as in Connor Barwin, dating back to his speech where he screamed to the crowd at the Crosstown Shootout if Xavier still had a football team we would kick their ass and who still rocks the letterman jacket; Butch will rep our not-so-exciting, for the coach who takes the same cliché slogans wherever he goes and changes one letter around to make them work (and here is his high school photo.  What a boring nerd). Represent the T, Butch.  Here’s a list of exciting and not-so-exciting things coming for UC in the next 4 months. 

Looks like you got a lot of pain by those eyes?
You know the cure for that?  Weed. You got any?

Chance for National Recognition-Kinda-ish:

The Bearcats are coming off back-to-back 10 win seasons, both shootout victories over middle-tier teams from Power conferences and for the first time ever breaking in a coach in Tommy Tuberville who doesn't need breaking in as the head of a major program. The Bearcats will have two more chances in the first two weeks of the season to take down teams from another Power Conference, and one us Cincinnati fans despise as that: The B1G.  Purdue comes to Nippert Stadium the first week of the season as 10 point’ dogs, and Cincy will head to Champagne, IL the following Saturday for a square-off with Illinois.  No, these are not games against Michigan and Ohio State, but they do provide a chance for UC to show the rest of the nation early on that most of the B1G is better in conference name alone.  Seeing how Tommy T handles himself in the Opener should be enough reason for everyone to tune in this weekend. Place on the Scale: Maybe not Barwin, but definitely not Butch.  We’ll call it Barwutch.  Might coin that name for a sandwich someday.

Kay vs. Legaux-- Controversial Controversy?

The quarterback controversy that has arisen in camp from Coach Tommy Tuberville's comments is total Butch.  You don’t even have to look at the numbers to see what Brandon Kay meant to the 2012 Bearcats. QB Munchie Legaux had his moments, and led an exciting comeback victory against Va Tech and an almost-comeback victory against Louisville, but many times it was his sloppy play that put us into those situations.  

Munchie has an abundance of talent, but can span from erratic to indifferent when he is on the field.  Kay doesn’t necessarily have the natural athletic abilities of Munchie, but he proved through the second half of 2012 his ability to make the right play, and his ability to lead the team through hard times.  I can understand Tommy T in his first year wanting hard work in camp to be a main factor in naming his QB and that new Offensive Coordinator Eddie Gran is putting in a system most likened to a hybrid spread-Pro style offense, but it should be Kay’s job to lose going into Saturday. Place on the Scale: Butch for sure, but not as Butch as this.  Damn you Butch.

Finding Another Skill Playmaker to Bring it All Together on O

Everyone who has watched UC football over the last two years knows what Ralph David Abernathy IV can do.  The offensive line returning is considered one of the best in the country, even with losing the Center Sprague to injury in camp.  The quarterback options have already been noted.  The question is, who will step up when quality defensive opponents are keying on RDA4? Travis Kelce is gone and taken residence in KC after leading the ‘Cats in receptions in touchdowns a year ago.  Kenbrell Thompkins is off and doing big things for the New England Patriots at their top receiver in the preseason.  George Wynn, the leading rusher from last year’s Belk Bowl Champion team is also gone.  

Can Chisum be the long ball option in 2013?

Can Anthony McClung regain his form from a couple of years ago at the wideout spot, or will it be Shaq Washington, Alex Chisum, or a newcomer who becomes the go-to option out wide.  Is redshirt freshman DJ Dowdy the answer to replace Kelce at tight end, or will it be senior Blake Annen who finally gets the nod? Can Tion Green, Hosey Williams, and Rod Moore provide necessary carries up the middle and in shorter yardage situations to let Abernathy do what he does best in open space out wide?  The talent is there, but we will see who steps up and turns that talent into production for the offense.  Place on the Scale: Barwin with a dash of Mardy Gilyard.

Shoring up Problems with Defensive Front and Backfield

The linebacker position should be a major strength for UC even with losing Malik Bomar to graduation. Greg Blair leads a group of linebackers along with Jeff Luc and Nick Temple which is considered tops in the AAC.  The question marks on defense rest in the front and in the back.  Up front, it will be up to mainstay Jordan Stepp to anchor a line replacing some key members from the last few years.  In the back, look for Devon Drane and Arryn Chenault to step up as leaders for a unit with a ton of inexperience.  I am excited to see who will step up and take charge, but I think I am most excited about seeing Silverberry Mouhon get a ton of snaps.  I mean c’mon, his name is Silverberry.  
Scale: SilverBarwin Mouhon?  No? Well, I tried.

Last Season With Nippert in its Current State

There was a keg snuck into the Student Section last year.  Yup

The Bearcats have announced they will play all of their home games in Paul Brown Stadium downtown in 2014 while renovations begin to finally add Suite capabilities and a few extra seats.  Going downtown for a year could be beneficial for the program, and hopefully it will bring with it bigger crowds and interests, but I will miss the claustrophobic, drunken mess that is Nippert.  

There is something about the close quarters, hour-long bathroom lines, overpriced beer, and being so close to the action you can throw snowballs at the opposing team that makes the historic stadium one of a kind.  If you didn’t go to UC or are not a fan, you just wouldn’t get it. I get that Nippert is in much need of a facelift, but the idea of having to fork over dollars to Mike Brown to watch my ‘Cats sickens me. Place On a Scale: Barwinning for the upgrades, Butch League having to pay any money to the Brown family.

Final Regular Season Matchup Against Rutgers 

and the ‘Ville on Senior Night:

I won’t sugarcoat it: it sucks being the team left out of conference realignment and watching Rutgers all gooey about their B1G invitation and seeing Louisville get scooped up by the ACC.  It’s like that time your sexy ex-girlfriend was all like “Hey you’re great.. you’re just not great for me”.  And you’re all like “But babe… I can change..just give me a chance”.  Well it might not get us out of the AAC, but these last scheduled games provide a chance to prove the big boys of college football were wrong about leaving us in the aftermath.  Rutgers comes into this season touted as the second best team in the AAC and a huge gate on their fence that reads “B1G bound! 2013”.  Louisville is ranked pre-season #9 and is every expert’s pick to win the depleted American in a landslide on the shoulders of Hesiman hopeful Teddy Bridgewater.  These are two solid football teams, but there should be optimism in Clifton for these matchups. 

For starters, UC lost to both of these schools last year by 7 points or less, Rutgers a long touchdown play in an otherwise deadlocked game, and with Louisville winning in overtime on a second-try field goal after a timeout gave the Cards Kicker a second chance.  Rutgers should be a quality test under second-year coach Kyle Flood, but it won’t be anything new out of Pescataway that we haven’t seen over the last few years, and I don’t really think QB Gary Nova is anything to write home about.  When Lousville comes to town December 5 for Senior Night,  Cincy must contain Bridgewater and be prepared to throw the football.  If they can, they will find themselves in the same situation as last year with a chance to knock off the favored Cardinals.  No matter what the outcome, both of these matchups against teams that don’t share much love should be fun to watch.  Place on Scale: Man I hate Louisville. Barwin with Braces.

Every article about football has to include a prediction on something, right?

Predictions for 2013:

Record : 10-2 with a berth in either Russell Athletic Bowl or Belk Bowl

UC has the potential to beat every team on their schedule, but they need to prove they can be consistent week in-week out enough to do so.  If the Bearcats can get off to a hot start by taking Purdue and Illinois, they have a few weeks of pick-me-up games to get ready for some tougher tests late in the year.  Rutgers and Louisville are the two matchups everyone needs to watch, but keep your eye games at Houston and at USF.  Houston could be a shootout and USF has always played us notoriously tough.

Most Valuable Player(s) on Offense –Alex Chisum and Tion Green

This isn’t a nod to these two being the best offensive players, but they are in my eyes two of the most important.  RDA4 is a touchdown waiting to happen on every play, and he will be seeing a bunch more touches with Kelce and Wynn gone.  He will not have many opportunities, however, if he is the only option in a one-dimensional offense.  I think Chisum gives the Bearcats a field stretching threat and a set of great hands, and I look for him to open some spaces for Ralphy and the other horses in the stable to gallup through.  Green will need to provide gutsy short yardage runs and show a fearless mentality in attacking between-the-hash runs.  If both of these guys can take care of business, you might just see the most exciting, athletic offenses UC has put on the field, and that counts all of the Brian Kelly years.

Most Valuable Player on Defense – Greg Blair

Nothing else to say.  Just a beast of an enforcer in the middle who leads this defense with pride and a chip on his shoulder.   Look for him to have a major season.

 Jersey I will Buy: Silverberry Mouhon

AND he's good with kids? 

I might have it abbreviated to S’Berry Mou, but haven’t decided exactly what will be labeled on my threads.  

Times Annoyed When Munchie Plays, 

Mostly Because of the Slogan “Legggoooo Munchie!”: 

Every. time.

Seriously people, stop doing this stupid chant.  It was clever maybe the first game last year.  Now you just sound like an idiot.

There's the door Munchie.  "Legggoo".  

That’s a wrap y’all.  Cats Fans, get excited for another year of what should be another fantastic year adding to UC football’s recent track of success.  Come to the games, enjoy some refreshments, be loud and annoying towards the other team, and buy a Silverberry Mouhon jersey with me.