The Purdue game was an event. The Miami game possessed all the spice of a good rivalry.

        Now, after a week off, it's time for the University of Cincinnati to get down to the routine business of competing in Conference USA, beginning with Saturday's 7 p.m. game against Tulane at Nippert Stadium.

Tulane running back Mewelde Moore (26) runs past Southern defenders Herman Hartman Jr. (48) and Michael Landry (46) last Saturday. (AP photo/Bill Haber) | ZOOM |

        It will be the first of four consecutive conference games for UC. And though these games may not possess the marquee appeal of Purdue or the backyard flavor of Miami, they're far more crucial to the Bearcats' chances of landing a second straight bowl bid.

        The top four teams in the conference standings receive automatic bowl invitations. The Bearcats, 1-2 overall, are 1-0 in the league, with a victory over Army. That's not exactly what UC coach Rick Minter had in mind when practice began in August.

        “I wanted us to be 3-1 at this point, minimum,” Minter said Monday. “I wanted us to be a more complete team, to be able to have played more players, be more experienced and deeper. We felt coming into October we needed to be at a certain level to jump back into the league.”

        But the Louisiana-Monroe game postponement following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, along with last week's scheduled open date, meant the Bearcats will have played only three games in five weeks by Saturday. It will be their first home game in 34 days.

        As a result, they haven't established the rhythm that comes with playing every Saturday, or played as many reserves as Minter would have liked. They really don't know what kind of team they have. Their defense, allowing 20 points per game, appears serviceable. Their offense seems to be in capable hands with freshman Gino Guidugli at quarterback, but even with him, the Bearcats have moved the ball sporadically.

        “We're just playing sparring football right now,” Minter said. “If we're not going to do anything explosive, then we'd better be good at the normal, ordinary stuff.”

        So far, they haven't been. Their running game has been anemic (100.7 yards per game), they've been penalized an average of 83 yards per game and they've converted only 29.5 percent of third-down opportunities.

        Tulane (1-4, 0-1 C-USA) would seem to offer the perfect tonic to a sluggish offense. Before knocking off Southern 41-7 Saturday, the Green Wave had been allowing 51 points per game with a defense that lacks a single senior starter.

        But Tulane has been a UC nemesis. The teams met in the first-ever C-USA game in 1996, the Green Wave winning 34-14. UC has yet to beat Tulane in three games since.

        “Something happens when we play them,” Minter said. “I can't put my finger on exactly what.

Rusty UC back to C-USA play

Cincy top prep city in U.S.?
Who's No. 1? The pundits sound off
High school roundup
Bengals' resolve strong
Bengals notebook
Braham will strive to avoid surgery
49ers rely on running to top Jets
Browns win with attitude
New Orleans likely to keep Super Bowl
Reds still owe taxpayers, judge says
Reds massaging Mateo's rehab
Up next: Reds vs. Cubs
Astros, Bonds both pursuing magic number
End is near for slumping Mets
Flawed Braves hold on
Jordan driven by his own legend
OSU spreads out for Northwestern
Red Wings demote 4 to AHL Ducks
River Downs holds fall sale
College sports notebook
No rap record from Iverson