The University of Cincinnati players, frustrated for years by small crowds at their home games, finally got a chance Sunday to see what Nippert Stadium looks like when it's filled with fans.

        They liked what they saw of the record sellout crowd of 35,097 that showed up for the Bearcats' loss to Purdue. “It really felt like you were at a college football game today,” said quarterback Adam Hoover. “John (Leonard) and I were watching the ball games on TV yesterday and sometimes we had to remind ourselves that we're college football players, too. It was a great atmosphere today.”

        UC officials said that about 8,000 to 10,000 Purdue fans bought tickets to make the game a sellout, but based on the Purdue gold scattered throughout the seats, it appeared that nearly half the stadium was filled with Boilermaker fans.

        UC players hope Bearcat fans liked what they saw and will come back for more. “We gave a good showcase,” said cornerback LaVar Glover, “but a showcase and an almost win weren't good enough for me and hopefully it wasn't good enough for our fans.”

        NO GINO: Gino Guidugli, the freshman quarterback from Highlands High School, will have to wait at least one more week to make his college debut. Hoover played the entire game, despite throwing two costly first-half interceptions.

        UC coach Rick Minter said he didn't seriously consider replacing Hoover with Guidugli because the situation wasn't right.

        “Gino has not been 100 percent in the last 10 days,” Minter said. “I think he's going to have his day here. I would love to have gotten him in there in some situation today, if at all possible. But we've got to be a little bit protective when we do put him in.”

        TOUGH RUNNING: The Bearcats, who averaged 141 rushing yards last year, were held to just 87. DeMarco McCleskey led UC with 55 yards on 13 carries. Ray Jackson had 43 yards on 13 carries.

        MONAGHAN DEBUT: Strong safety Doug Monaghan, the Colerain High School product who was starting his first game as a true freshman, had six unassisted tackles. He left the game briefly in the third quarter with a bruised knee.

        “He probably played like a freshman,” Minter said.“But a kid like that will come out of this game and learn a tremendous amount. He's going to be a really good football player here.”

        ETC.: The loss ended a six-game UC home winning streak, its longest since 1981-82. It was also the first UC loss on the new Field Turf artificial surface that was installed at Nippert Stadium last year...There were 16 NFL scouts in attendance, one of whom had UC running back Ray Jackson, punter Adam Wulfeck and cornerback LaVar Glover on his list of prospects...UC travels to Army on Saturday to open Conference USA play, then returns to Nippert on Sept. 15 to play Louisiana Monroe.

Purdue 19, UC 14 DAUGHERTY: UC won battle, lost composure Bearcats hope fans return UC-Purdue statistics

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