BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
At first, it was feared Tinker Keck had suffered a season-threatening knee injury.
But Sunday, word came that Cincinnati's All-America candidate is "day to day" for Saturday's game with the Miami Hurricanes.
Keck, senior free safety and punt-return specialist, was among several Bearcats injured in Saturday's 52-34 opening loss to Tulane. He had an MRI Saturday night and was diagnosed with a right knee sprain, but full results won't be known until today.
"It was a war zone out there, and we're the ones picking up the casualties," UC coach Rick Minter said.
Freddy Smith (Princeton High School), a key backup at cornerback, is out indefinitely with a knee sprain.
Others hurt included quarterback Chad Plummer (sprained left thumb) and linebacker Hassan Champion (shoulder). Both are probable. Keck led UC with four interceptions last year and returned four punts for touchdowns, tying an NCAA record. In his only punt return Saturday, he went 21 yards.
Keck was hurt when clotheslined on a kickoff return late in the third quarter.
"We can't afford to lose many people, and it's not a bright picture down the road," Minter said. "We play the Miami Hurricanes, I believe someone told me, next week."
Miami, ranked 19th nationally by Sports Illustrated, opened with a 66-17 win over East Tennessee State on Saturday.
The UC-Miami game begins at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Ohio. Ample tickets remain, although a large crowd is expected because of the Miami name. The Hurricanes have won four national titles since 1983, though none since 1991.
NOTE:
UC freshman DeMarco McCleskey had 98 yards rushing, the second highest total by a Bearcat in his first college game. Harry Andreadis rushed for 142 in his UC debut in 1951.
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