By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The University of Cincinnati football team opens a season as a defending champion today for the first time since 1965, when it was coming off back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference titles.

But the Bearcats, who play Conference USA foe East Carolina today at noon at Nippert Stadium, haven't received much follow-up acclaim based on the championship they shared last year with TCU. They were picked to finish fourth this year by the league's coaches.

"Coach Minter pounds into our head every day that we start from ground zero like we didn't win it," said linebacker Jamar Enzor. "Reading the papers and magazines, it's as if we didn't win it because they give it all to TCU right now. We're focusing on winning it again and having sole possession."

For that to happen, the Bearcats will need strong performances by untested skill players on offense. They have perhaps the best quarterback in the league in junior Gino Guidugli, but he'll be throwing to new receivers, and he'll be handing off to a new featured running back, junior Richard Hall.

"I wouldn't say it's a question mark," Guidugli said of the UC offense. "People don't really know the characters that are going to be involved. That might be to our advantage. Some of the team might not know who our go-to guy is."

That's because the UC players themselves don't yet know whom they can count on when they need a big play on offense.

Hall, the Ohio State transfer, could be one of them.

"I think Richard is going to prove to people that he's not a burner as a running back," Minter said. "He's probably not going to break a lot of runs 60 yards up the chute and never get touched, but I think he's going to be an elusive back with some power. He's going to make a lot of guys miss."

But if Hall falters, Minter believes he has plenty of depth at the position with Booker Vann, Kyle Koester, Tedric Harwell and a couple of freshmen, Derick Eddington and Terry Arnold.

"Richard has had a solid summer," Minter said, "but I don't believe anybody has rolled over. There are a lot of guys who think this is their window of opportunity to step up and be the man."

This season will present a window of opportunity for sophomore Chet Ervin, last year's punter, who this year will be asked to punt, kick off and fill the void left by departed place-kicker Jonathan Ruffin, UC's career scoring leader.

Until the offense can sort itself out, the UC defense might have to pick up the slack.

"There's all kinds of talent on this team," Guidugli said. "Our defense could be one of the most talented in the country. As long as our offense puts some points on the board, we should be pretty good."

Guidugli led the league in total offense and pass efficiency last year. He set school season records for pass attempts, completions, passing yards and total offense. But he was also intercepted 21 times.

"I've got to be smarter," he said.

The Pirates, 4-8 last season, will attempt to confuse Guidugli with a variety of defensive looks implemented by new head coach John Thompson.

"They force you into six or seven-man protections to account for everybody," Minter said, "then they only bring five guys. It's organized chaos and that's a compliment to them. That's tough on an offensive line."

Cincinnati vs. East Carolina

Kickoff: Noon today, Nippert Stadium (35,000).

Records: UC (0-0), East Carolina (0-0).

Radio: WCKY-AM (1360).

TV: ESPN.

Series: East Carolina leads 12-3.

Line: UC by 7 1/2.

What to watch: UC's inexperienced receivers will receive an early test from the confusing defensive schemes that are expected from new East Carolina coach John Thompson.

UC	Team stats	ECU
397	Offense avg.	339
137	Avg. by rush	124
261	Avg. by pass	215
318	Defense avg.	446
138	Avg. by rush	207
180	Avg. by pass	239
29	Avg. points for	28
23	Avg. pts. against	33

---

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com