BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It has been 61 years since the Cincinnati Bearcats had a winless football season. They have two weeks to avoid another one.
UC (0-9) has Houston (3-6) and Arkansas State (3-7) remaining. Both games are highly winnable, but also highly losable until UC proves otherwise.
Houston visits Saturday at 3:30 p.m. for the Bearcats' Homecoming game. UC finishes Nov. 21 at Arkansas State, which has been a Division I-A program since 1992.
''You always remember your senior year, so hopefully we can end it on a good, positive note for our seniors,'' UC coach Rick Minter said Monday.
UC is buoyed by a relatively strong showing in its most recent game, a 24-21 loss to East Carolina last Thursday. It was easily UC's best game of the year, after losing by at least 17 points in every other game.
''We knew all along we could contend with other teams,'' said senior cornerback Shawn Ferguson. ''We still think we're going to win one.''
Positive signs include freshman tailback DeMarco McCleskey, whose 234-yard rushing effort vs. East Carolina was sixth-best in school history. Also, the UC defense comes off its best game of the year.
A look at the final two opponents:
HOUSTON (3-6, 2-2 Conference USA) has played a backbreaking schedule, including losses to Bowl Championship Series honchos UCLA (42-24) and Tennessee (42-7).
Why UC might win: Houston lost to lowly Army at home 38-28. And the Cougars start only three seniors.
Why UC won't win: Houston has beaten both East Carolina (34-31) and Memphis (35-14), two teams that beat UC.
Notable: Houston is an 11-point favorite.
Should UC go to 0-10, it faces the daunting task of going to Jonesboro, Ark., to avoid 0-11. But recent weeks have not been too kind to Arkansas State. A look:
ARKANSAS STATE (3-7, independent) has had a strange year. The Indians have played much better on the road than at home, which could work in UC's favor.
Why UC might win: Arkansas State has lost five straight games, most recently a 69-21 home loss to Louisiana Tech.
Why UC won't win: Arkansas State lost only 17-14 at Minnesota, and only 30-17 at Mississippi.
Notable: Arkansas State is scheduled to play at UC on Oct. 2, 1999. The program in '99 joins the Big West.
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