The Cincinnati Bearcats are looking to wrap up the regular season in style today against No.24 Southern Mississippi.

        A win would give the Bearcats (6-4, 4-2 Conference USA) a share of the Conference USA title if Louisville (8-2, 5-1) loses at Houston today.

        UC also is looking to secure a bowl bid and go a perfect 6-0 at Nippert Stadium this season.

        A victory over Southern Miss — and a win in a bowl game — arguably would give the program its best season in two generations.

        Not that there haven't been some good ones.

        In 1964, UC, captained by Brig Owens, went 8-2 and won the Missouri Valley Conference title.

        Coach Rick Minter's 1997 team was good, going 8-4 and winning the Humanitari an Bowl. But a victory today over a ranked foe would further separate this year's team from that one, which had a losing conference record.

        This team also distinguished itself this season by upsetting Syracuse and giving Big Ten opponent Wisconsin all it could handle before losing in overtime on the road.

        There have been other good UC teams. In 1993, UC was 8-3 in coach Tim Murphy's last season, and in 1976, the Bearcats were 9-2, coach Tony Mason's last season.

        But this team's opportunity to beat a ranked opponent, finish high in conference and go to a bowl sets it apart.

        Another thing this team has a chance to accomplish is to be recognized as the team that turned the program around — the '97, '93 and '76 teams didn't do that, as the Bearcats struggled in following seasons.

        And this team, while senior-dominated, also is distinguished by its talented juniors and sophomores, who were the recruiting classes generated by the '97 bowl victory.

        As Minter noted, some “very good careers” are coming to a regular-season close today. Among the players who will play their last game at Nippert after spending multiple seasons as starters are:

        • Defensive back DeJuan Gossett and wideout Jason Collins-Baker (four-year starters).

        • Quarterback Deontey Kenner, center Doug Rosfeld and tight end Ashley Hunt (three-year starters).

        • Linebackers Eddie Johnson and Troy Evans (two-year starters).

        But much as these seniors would like a victory in their last home game, they know Southern Miss (7-2, 4-1) will be “burning its boats” today.

        That was the Bearcats' rallying cry last week at Memphis as they beat the Tigers on their home turf, 13-10 in overtime.

        UC defensive tackle Kirk Thompson, who made the interception in overtime to seal that victory, explained the genesis of the rallying cry.

        “(At Memphis) we burned our boats just like the ancient invaders used to do,” he said. “They did that when they arrived, because it meant they had no way out unless they conquered the natives.”

        CALLING ALL FANS: An eye-catching letter to the editor in this week's News Record,UC's campus newspaper, is headlined: “Players Want Fans.” In it, UC's four captains — Kenner, Evans, Johnson and Rosfeld — ask for the support of all UC students, faculty and staff.

        The players note that a victory today would give the team its “best finish ever” in C-USA and will “make a statement” to the bowl committees that the Bearcats are “the team that they should want to feature” in their bowls.

        “We look forward to seeing you in Nippert,” the letter concludes.

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