BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It is the best of times in these otherwise worst of times for the University of Cincinnati football team.
UC (1-9) is still celebrating its first victory of the season, Saturday's 44-43 upset of Houston.
Some small, Xeroxed signs saying, "Congratulations on your win," were posted Monday in the UC football offices, where the mood is sunny for the first time all year.
The Bearcats close the season at Arkansas State (4-7) this Saturday, and one oddsmaker lists UC a 4-point favorite.
"If someone in August had said, 'How about a 2-9 record,' I'd have said no way," UC coach Rick Minter said. "But if someone asks me now if I'd take a 2-9, I'd say, 'Oh my God, yes.' "
Minter is now 23-31-1 as UC coach, and No. 23 was as big as any.
"There may be a day, years from now, when we look back at the Houston game as a turning point," he said. "You're going to have to win some like this. I don't think Tennessee cares about how they won the other day, either."
UC will gladly take another one-pointer this week, with a rare visit to Jonesboro, Ark. The Bearcats have played Arkansas State just once, losing to the Indians 14-9 at UC in 1975.
Arkansas State, a Division I-A independent, has changed classification several times.
It was "College Division" for years, played Division I from 1975-81, dropped to Division I-AA from 1982-91, and rejoined Division I-A in 1992.
The program joins the Big West in 1999.
Arkansas State is coached by former Ohio State offensive coordinator Joe Hollis.
Hollis, 51, coached at OSU from 1991-96 and recruited 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George to the school.
Hollis is 6-16 in two years at Arkansas State, which is dwarfed by the homestate favorite Arkansas Razorbacks.
"They're a lot like UC is to Ohio State," Minter said. "They always want to play Arkansas, but Arkansas will never give in."
Ohio State did give into UC, and will play the Bearcats on Sept. 25, 1999. The following week, Arkansas State visits UC to complete their "one-and-one" contract.
Arkansas State has played some major schools tough, losing by only three points at Minnesota and 13 at Mississippi.
But the Indians also lost at home by 38 points (to Idaho) and 48 (Louisiana Tech).
"They're a lot like us, as a mid-size institution," Minter said. "They have their ups and downs."
It will be somewhat a homecoming for Minter, who grew up on the Arkansas border in Texarkana, Texas. Some family will be at the game, including his mother.
NOTES:
The death of former Covington Catholic football star Artie Steinmetz is also being felt inside the UC program. Steinmetz, killed Sunday in a traffic accident, was the best friend of UC freshman tackle Kirt Doolin. "Our hearts certainly go out to the Steinmetz family," said Minter, who excused Doolin from practice Monday.
Minter said UC tried to recruit Steinmetz out of high school. Steinmetz signed with Michigan State before transferring to Kentucky.
UC has allowed 449 points this season. The record worst is 460, by the 1990 Bearcats . . . DeMarco McCleskey is the first Bearcat freshman since Allen Harvin (1978) to record three straight 100-yard rushing games.
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