The University of Cincinnati Bearcats might make silly mistakes at crucial junctures, as they did Sunday against Purdue. They might get pushed around on defense occasionally, and they might have trouble with their passing game, but in the seven years Rick Minter has been UC's coach, they always have been able to run the ball successfully.

        If Minter has a trademark, it's his commitment to the running game. That's why he was so concerned after the Bearcats' season-opening loss to Purdue last week when he looked at the stat sheet and checked UC's rushing yardage.

UC at ARMY

• When: 1 p.m. today.   • Where: Michie Stadium (39,929), West Point, N.Y.   • Records: UC 0-1, Army 0-0.   • Radio: WLW-AM (700).   • Series: Army leads 2-1 (last: 2000, UC 23-17).   • Line: UC by 5.   • What to watch: After being held to 87 rushing yards last week against Purdue, UC will attempt to rediscover its running attack against an Army defense that allowed an average of 216 yards a game a year ago.

        Minter is hoping the subpar rushing effort was the result of an unusually strong Purdue defense and not an inherent flaw in the Bearcats' offense. He'll find out more at 1 p.m. today when UC plays Army at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y. The Bearcats are 0-1 as they enter their first Conference USA game of the season. This is Army's season opener.

        The Cadets, coming off a 1-10 season in Todd Berry's first year as head coach, let just about everyone run over them last year when they allowed a whopping 216 rushing yards per game. If the Bearcats can't move the ball on the ground against Army, which is picked to finish last in C-USA, they may be in for a longer season than anyone expected.

        “We have to mix things up,” Minter said. “But we can't lose our power running game.”

        Senior Adam Hoover will make his second straight start at quarterback for UC, but if the Bearcats can build a decent lead, freshman Gino Guidugli could make his college debut.

        And wide receiver LaDaris Vann needs 61 yards to become the 12th Bearcat to gain 1,000 career receiving yards.

UC must stay on run against Army

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