Monday, August 14, 2000

UC seniors set sights on bowl

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Wins will turn fans into believers

By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Center Doug Rosfield shows off the new jersey. | ZOOM |

        They have new uniforms (sharp), a new playing surface (soft) and an interesting schedule (opening with Army and Syracuse here, and revenge-minded Wisconsin and its Big Ten colleague, Indiana, there).

        The senior-laden University of Cincinnati Bearcats have a chance to do something no UC football team has done in a while:

        Win and pique the interest of local college grid fans.

        “People (fans) believe, but they don't really believe,” said senior free safety DeJuan Gossett (Wyoming High). “We like what happened when we beat Wisconsin last year. We want that same feeling this year — but we know we have to earn that support.”

Date	Opponent	Time
Sep 4	ARMY	4:30 pm
Sep 9	SYRACUSE	3:30 pm
Sep 16	at Wisconsin	2 pm
Sep 23	at Indiana	12 pm
Sep 30	at Tulane	6 pm
Oct 7	HOUSTON	1 pm
Oct 14	at Louisville	12 pm
Oct 28	MIAMI (OH)	2 pm
Nov 4	UAB	1 pm
Nov 11	at Memphis	2 pm
Nov 18	SO. MISS.	1 pm

        Say what you want about the Bengals and their new digs, UC is the local football team with the best chance of making the postseason.

        “If we come together as a whole, nobody can beat us,” said senior defensive end Mario Monds, who at 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds (third team preseason All- America by Athlon magazine) is a pro prospect.

        This year, for the first time, Conference USA has the commitment to send its top four teams (as opposed to three) to bowl games as long as those teams have winning records.

        “To shoot for anything less than winning our conference and going to the Liberty Bowl is not doing justice to our program and ourselves,” said center Doug Rosfeld, the senior co-captain from Moeller. “But it's great to know that four bowls are willing to dedicate spots to our conference.”

        UC's offense is potent given the presence of chain-moving senior quarterback Deontey Kenner, an experienced and talented offensive line full of local high school products, and running backs who are mostly unproven but have big potential.

        Tailback Ray Jackson, a transfer from Michigan who was named Conference USA's “Newcomer of the Year” by The Sporting News, has a chance to pop some shoulder pads and raise some eyebrows.

        But don't forget DeMarco McCleskey, who two years ago started the last four games of the season and averaged 200.3 yards per game. He didn't play last year — he'd been charged with rape, of which he was acquitted.

        “I think we can switch it up a lot on offense with our running backs,” Jackson said. “I think I can run between tackles, run outside and catch the ball pretty good.”

        As with any football team, eyes will first be focused on the quarterback. Kenner, who threw for a whopping 2,430 yards last season (208-for-379, a 55% completion rate) must throw fewer interceptions (his 15 out-paced his 14 touchdowns, a football no-no).

        “We've been a team that for a couple of years has been a pretty good sparring team,” UC coach Rick Minter said. “We can move it between the 20s ... That's going to get better because of the emphasis we're giving it.”

        As goes the offensive line, so goes a football team. Because of this, UC has a chance to be good. There may be times when UC features an “all-beltway” offensive line.

        In addition to Rosfeld there is sophomore tackle Josh Gardner (Moeller; started as a freshman), junior right guard Kirt Doolin (Covington Catholic), junior left guard Andy Weinheimer (Loveland) and junior Shawn Murphy (Oak Hills; a transfer from Michigan State.

        “It's awesome coming in to this family atmosphere,” Murphy said. “We've got all our talent back (on the offensive line). I think we could really do it (have a lot of success) this year.”

        Not from the local area, but an integral part of the offensive line, is senior Mike Love, of Lafayette, Ind., who took over as a starter at right tackle for the fourth game last season and remains there.

        There's a good local presence on defense, too, especially at safety Besides Gossett (Wyoming) at free safety, there's senior strong safety Freddy Smith(Princeton). One of UC's four captains this year is senior linebacker Troy Evans (Lakota).

       

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