The University of Cincinnati Bearcats are hoping for a good-sized crowd for Saturday's game against No.20 Southern Mississippi — something close to the 30,000-plus drawn for rival Miami would be nice — so the seniors can go out on a high note.

        “This is our last home game for about 25 guys,” UC coach Rick Minter said. “That's the end of some very good careers around here.”

        UC, already 5-0 at home this season, is hoping to make it a perfect year at Nippert.

UC V. SOUTHERN MISS

• Cincinnati (6-4; 4-2 Conference USA) vs. No. 20 Southern Miss (7-2, 4-1)     • Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium     • TV: None     • Radio: WLW-AM (700)     • Series: Tied at 5     • Line: So. Miss. by 5 1/2.

        “It's a very sad day,” Minter said. “I always get emotional when we play our last home game with the kids that I've raised. They're like your own. When they walk out the door — and let's hope it's not Saturday, but around the end of December (after a bowl game) — a piece of you goes with them.”

        Senior linebacker Eddie Johnson has been one of those stalwarts. He was so happy after the victory at Memphis, one can only imagine what a victory Saturday would mean for him.

        After the Memphis win, Johnson summed up things perfectly.

        “This is something I've been waiting for since I've been at UC,” Johnson said. “It's my senior year, it was a road victory, and six wins makes us bowl-eligible. I'm going to remember everything about this day.”

        He said the Bearcats were going to be fired up, anyway, against Southern Miss, but that going for a seventh victory to close out the seniors' final game at Nippert Stadium was just going to add to the emotionally charged atmosphere.

        Minter said he can recall recruiting each of the 25 seniors.

        “I remember going into ev ery one of their homes,” he said. “Let's hope we have another game in store (after Saturday). It'd be fun to make another run with them.”
       

Seniors seek perfection in home finale Cincinnati loses Fuller to Fresno State

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