By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The most recognizable player on the team is quarterback Gino Guidugli, who stands to break most of the school's passing records, but as the University of Cincinnati football players report to campus today, their strength lies in their defense.

"The defense dominated our spring game," UC coach Rick Minter said. "I don't think that's because Gino had a bad game. I think our defense can play. I think we're going to be pretty good, but they're going to have to be, because we're going to need time to grow on offense."

Minter begins his 10th season at UC with a school-record streak of three straight bowl appearances. He needs just three victories to pass Sid Gillman as the winningest football coach in the school's history.

The Bearcats open their season Sept. 1 at Nippert Stadium against East Carolina. Their first workout is scheduled for Thursday. They'll practice at the Higher Ground Camping and Retreat Center in West Harrison, Ind., from Aug. 11-23.

Minter's 10th UC team returns six starters from a defense that ranked 21st nationally last season. Also back are 11 reserves who saw extensive playing time.

There's not nearly so much experience on offense, where running back DeMarco McCleskey, the second-leading rusher in the school's history, will be replaced by Wyoming High School's Richard Hall, who rushed for 264 yards on 59 carries last season.

The Bearcats lost their entire receiving corps, an accomplished group that included LaDaris Vann, UC's career receptions leader, and Jon Olinger, who was drafted in the fifth round by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

The position is wide open, with returning reserves, incoming freshmen and junior-college transfers all jockeying for a chance to show what they can do. It should be the most interesting aspect of the preseason.

Junior George Murray, who caught 26 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns last year, and sophomore Derick Ross (four catches, 78 yards) have the inside track for starting positions.

Freshmen Mike Daniels (Princeton High School) and Bill Poland (Elder) as well as junior-college transfers Cedric Dawley and Hannibal Thomas will be in the mix.

Daniels, Ohio's Division I Offensive Player of the Year, offers myriad possibilities as a receiver and a kick returner.

Guidugli is eager to throw to all of them so he can begin to establish the same rapport he had with last year's receivers.

"You don't have the same chemistry that you've had for the last two years with those seniors," Guidugli said. "You don't know where everybody's going to be. It's going to be important in camp the first couple of days to establish one- and two-deeps so we can start building that chemistry."

Because of the relative inexperience, Minter is counting on Guidugli to be the steadying force on offense.

"When he came in, he had a veteran team," Minter said. "He was the youngster who just went out and did his thing. Now he has to take his game to another level and really capture the essence of being a quarterback. He's got to bring along young receivers and unproven players."

---

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com