Saturday, November 20, 1999
Bertucci to start at QB for UC
BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
University of Cincinnati cornerback Jeff Burrow is from Georgia, town of Sylvester, which is not to be confused with the cartoon cat of the same name.
You know Sylvester — he's the character to whom bad things always happen, usually at the hands of Tweety Bird.
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MEMPHIS at UC
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• Kickoff: 1 p.m. today at Nippert Stadium (47,700), Cincinnati.
• Records: UC 3-7 (0-5, C-USA), UM 4-6 (3-2).
• TV: None.
• Radio: WLW-AM (700).
• Series: UM leads 16-8 (last: 1998, UM 41-23).
• Line: UM by 2
• What to watch: UC coach Rick Minter likes the Tigers' wide receivers — Damien Dodson, whose 143 career catches rank No.1 at Memphis (his 2,062 receiving yards are only 62 yards short of the all-time mark) and Ken Coutain, who is averaging 15 yards per catch. “We're going to be stretched on defense,” Minter said. “They're two of the best combination receivers — size and speed — around.”
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And Tweety Bird, you'll remember, is always on the lookout for Sylvester. (“I taut I taw a puddycat.”)
Well, even though Burrow is from Sylvester, he is no puddycat. The man from Sylvester almost always makes bad things happen to the fleet-footed birds he covers.
It figures to be more of the same today as senior Burrow starts his final collegiate game. Game time is 1 p.m. at Nippert Stadium vs. Memphis.
Besides Burrows, nine other Bearcat seniors are making their swan song: quarterback David Bertucci, offensive guard Ken Biggs, running back Robert Cooper, linebacker Kwesi Daniels, cornerback Bobby Fuller, wide receiver Greg Hergott, kicker Joe Judge, cornerback Tinker Keck and linebacker Carlton Sykes.
Burrow is seventh on the team with 39 tackles, has 10 pass-blocks and returned an interception for a touchdown against Houston.
This cat is a play-maker.
He had a fumble recovery and interception in the Bearcats' stunning upset of Wisconsin in the third week of the season. That victory raised the Bearcats record to 2-1, but it's been a long season since, except for the victory over Miami.
The Bearcats (3-7) have been in every game except East Carolina, but the team's youth and inexperience has kept it from winning more games.
“Nobody really thought we had a chance to beat Wisconsin, so to beat them was really something,” Burrow said. “But, to lose so many of the close games we had, it's been frustrating. For me, personally, though, I've had a ball all year.
“This is what I came back for. Yeah, I would have hoped things would have turned out better for the team, but other than the win-loss record, I wouldn't have traded this year for anything.”
Seniors have perspective.
“I think with maturity the game becomes a little more important to you,” Burrow said. “So many of these guys are so young. They really don't understand that yet. But they've got time to grow into it.”
One of the most interesting seniors to watch today will be Bertucci, who is starting at QB for injured Deontey Kenner (concussion, thumb).
UC coach Rick Minter likes Bertucci, who is 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, with a quick release and good mobility. He's from Modesto, Calif.
“He came here to play quarterback, and perhaps it's only fitting he goes out playing quarterback,” Minter said. “We'll also have Greg Hergott (Beechwood High) at backup. He came in at quarterback, too, but he's been bounced around (to other positions).”
Minter said he hasn't altered the offense much for Bertucci.
“We might change a pass or two here or there,” Minter said. “We'll lean on the things he feels good about, the throws he's made best throughout the week, the things he's read the best.”
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