WEST HARRISON, Ind. — Coach Rick Minter saw enough out of his University of Cincinnati Bearcats last season to know they will compete for the 2002 Conference USA championship.

        “We're just inches away,” Minter said from the lunchroom of the Higher Ground Retreat and Conference Center, site of UC's two-a-day summer getaway. “We're not doing anything wrong. We just have to get that big break at the right time and win that big game to get over the hump.”

CINCINNATI

OFFENSE     QB - Only question is who will back up Gino Guidugli. The answer: George Murray.     RB - Pitch right to DeMarco McCleskey, pitch left to McCleskey.     OL - Three starters and one reserve return to protect Guidugli. Coach Rick Minter looking for right combination.     WR - Three seniors, led by LaDaris Vann, give Guidugli lots of options.     TE - Inexperience could become unanticipated strength in the season.     K - Jonathan Ruffin 38-for-45 on field goals over past two years.     DEFENSE     LB - Group has the most depth on the team.     DL - Look for Derrick Adams to take advantage of being opposite Antwan Peek.     DB - Opponents will challenge lack of depth and experience.     P - Finding replacement for Adam Wulfeck will take time.         SCHEDULE     Sep. 2 TCU, 4:30 p.m.     Sep. 14 West Virginia, 7 p.m.     Sep. 21 Ohio St., 3:30 p.m.     Sep. 28 at Temple, Noon     Oct. 5 Miami (Ohio), 1 p.m.     Oct. 12 at Tulane, 3:30 p.m.     Oct. 19 at Southern Miss., 3 p.m.     Oct. 26 Memphis, 2 p.m.     Nov. 2 at East Carolina, 2 p.m.     Nov. 9 at Louisville, 2 p.m.     Nov. 16 Houston, 1 p.m.     Nov. 23 at Hawaii, 11 p.m.     Nov. 30 UAB, 1 p.m.

        The hump Minter mentioned isn't so big this season. The Bearcats return 16 starters and 40 lettermen from a 7-5 team that earned a berth to its second consecutive Motor City Bowl last season.

        Back is sophomore quarterback Gino Guidugli after earning Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors. Also returning are running back DeMarco McCleskey and a trio of senior receivers. All but one skill player returns on offense.

        Minter hasn't decided on a punter to replace Adam Wulfeck, and the secondary's youth is a concern, but the Bearcats' defensive front, led by senior end and school sack leader Antwan Peek, will be a strength.

        Apparently, conference coaches don't think it will matter. In a preseason poll, coaches picked UC to finish fifth behind defending champion Louisville, Southern Miss, East Carolina and TCU.

        “Polls and bowls we don't care about in August,” Minter said. “We only care about where we are in December, down that stretch run. Are we a healthy team? Are we playing well? Are we coming together? Are we winning on the road? The standings will all take care of themselves.”

        The Bearcats have their share of big games this season. UC will play No.13 Ohio State at a sold-out Paul Brown Stadium on Sept.21, one week after Big East team West Virginia visits Nippert Stadium.

        But the Bearcats' season couldbe summed up in three road games: Southern Miss (Oct.19), East Carolina (Nov.2) and No.17 Louisville (Nov.9).

        “We've got a long season ahead of us,” Guidugli said. “A long 13 games.”

        The Bearcats start their journey with a Sept. 2 home game against TCU.

        Despite the rough schedule, nearly every UC player recites two goals for this season: a conference championship and a Liberty Bowl berth. Minter won't announce such goals in public, but he expects the Bearcats to improve vastly if they start winning more close games.

Head football coach Rick Minter says the Bearcats are this close. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Last year, Guidugli steered three fourth-quarter comebacks, but there were just as many last-minute mistakes. There was a late penalty against Purdue, a stuffed quarterback sneak versus Miami and a failed two-point conversion against East Carolina.

        “We're not going to win every game we play, all the time, every year,” Minter said. “But you don't want to beat yourselves, a self-inflicted wound that hurts you.”

        Minter said UC could have won at least three more games and gone 10-1 in the regular season as easily as the Bearcats could have lost three more and finished 4-8.

        “The goal for our team should be to not make games so close,” Peek said. “We don't need to let a team score all the time just because we're beating a team.”