By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Fresh off Saturday's 15-13 victory over West Virginia, University of Cincinnati football players and coaches awoke Monday to discover they had received five votes in the Associated Press Top 25.

It was the first time UC had received votes in the AP poll since Sept. 18, 2000. The Bearcats have never been ranked by the AP.

"It's good that people recognize that you beat a quality opponent," UC coach Rick Minter said. "I don't think it's anything to get too hung up about. The minute we start reading about what people are saying about us, that's when you get knocked off."

FAST START: When UC (2-0) faces Temple (0-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium, the Bearcats will be looking for their first 3-0 start since 1985 when the Bearcats, under coach Dave Currey, opened the season with victories over Virginia Tech, Austin Peay and Youngstown State before losing at Alabama 45-10. The Bearcats finished 5-6 that year.

TOP 10: UC is ranked No. 5 nationally in total defense (223 yards per game) and No. 6 in scoring defense (8.0 points per game.)

"We're not very big, but (Trent) Cole and (Andre) Frazier have tremendous quickness," Minter said. "Our ends and linebackers make us a little better than the average speed club."

GUIDUGLI RECORD: Gino Guidugli's 3-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Hawley in the West Virginia game was the 40th of his career, breaking the UC record previously held by Danny McCoin.