By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The University of Cincinnati football team prides itself on its stable of capable running backs, but West Virginia can match the Bearcats back for back.

When UC (1-0) plays at West Virginia (1-1) Saturday afternoon in Morgantown, the Bearcats' defense will be challenged by a team that features plenty of backs who can wear down a defense, especially a rather small one like UC.

"They're big, strong, physical guys," UC coach Rick Minter said of the West Virginia backs. "They believe in running through tacklers. They're just thick guys who break a lot of tackles."

Both teams rushed for exactly 361 yards against East Carolina.

West Virginia is led by 5-foot-10, 215-pound senior Quincy Wilson, who gained 147 yards on 19 carries against the Pirates. Junior college transfer Kay-Jay Harris (6-1, 240) gained 78 yards on 18 carries. Eight different runners carried the ball for the Mountaineers against East Carolina.

"They're real good runners," said UC defensive Trent Cole. "We've just got to go in there and take them on."

Cole, a 6-4, 227-pound junior who led UC with 10 tackles against East Carolina, has caught the attention of West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez.

"He'll be one of the most explosive defensive players, regardless of position, that we'll face all year," Rodriguez said. "In the East Carolina game, he was the single most dominant player on the field on both sides of the ball."

West Virginia ran for 334 yards against UC last year. But Minter is confident this year's UC team is better prepared to handle the Mountaineers' power running attack.

"We had not settled in yet," Minter said. "I think we're farther along now on defense than we were last year."

HALL ON CLARETT: Having been forced to wait for three years to begin his college career, UC running back Richard Hall can relate to what Maurice Clarett is facing at Ohio State after being suspended for the rest of this season.

Unlike Clarett, Hall was never accused of taking improper benefits, but had problems gaining his academic eligibility at Ohio State and never played for the Buckeyes.

"He has to be patient," Hall said of Clarett. "I'm pretty sure he has everything under control. He's an adult now. He's in the real world. You do the crime, you got to do the time. He keeps saying there's two sides to every story, which is true. We haven't heard his side. Until we hear his side, I can't pre-judge anything."

POSITION CHANGE: Senior Tedric Harwell has been switched from running back to cornerback in an attempt to get him on the field more often.

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com