By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Having lost three straight games, and with its season hanging in the balance, the University of Cincinnati football team begins the second half of its schedule today in dire need of a victory.

Fortunately for the Bearcats, Army is coming to the rescue.

The Black Knights (0-7 overall, 0-5 Conference USA) have lost nine straight and 18 of 19 dating back to last year. They changed coaches on Oct. 13, firing Todd Berry and naming defensive line coach John Mumford as interim coach.

And yet, as vulnerable as Army appears, UC (3-3, 1-2) is in no position to look down on anyone as it takes the field at Nippert Stadium for the 3 p.m. homecoming kickoff.

"We're 0-3 the last three weeks," said UC coach Rick Minter, "so we have nothing to brag about."

Not long ago, it appeared that this would be a season that would give the Bearcats plenty to brag about. They walloped East Carolina in their season opener, upset West Virginia on the road, and survived a triple-overtime battle against Temple. But they haven't won a game since Sept. 20, having lost to Miami, Southern Miss and UAB.

If they're going to recover to make a run toward their fourth straight bowl game, they have to begin today.

"Nothing's guaranteed to you," said UC running back Richard Hall. "People would like to say you're supposed to win because of the records, but it's a new day. The sun is going to shine on everybody one day. That's what you practice for, so that those things don't happen to you, so that any given day a team like that doesn't come in and beat you."

Hall, who ranks 13th nationally with 109 yards per game, suffered a concussion in the Oct. 4 Southern Miss game and did not play against UAB, but he says he's fine now. Quarterback Gino Guidugli, who played against UAB with a sprained left knee, is also expected to be close to full strength as the Bearcats attempt to get their sputtering offense on track against a team that surrenders 456 yards per game.

Defensively, the Bearcats will focus on stopping Army wide receiver Aaron Alexander, a 6-foot-6 junior who has caught 40 passes for 571 yards. The Black Knights like to throw the ball up and let him out-jump defensive backs for possession.

His 28-yard touchdown reception last week against East Carolina was the first offensive touchdown the Black Knights have scored in the first half this season and gave them their first lead of the 2003 season.

"We'll continue to feed him the ball," Mumford said. "But we'd like to take a little pressure off him because teams are going to start double-teaming him."

Minter says the Bearcats will be braced for a fight, regardless of Army's record.

"We'll have our guys ready to go mentally," he said. "If one guy thinks for one second, 'OK, here comes Army on the schedule,' they'll have the last laugh."

BASKETBALL SCRIMMAGE: The UC men's basketball team will conduct an hour-long intrasquad scrimmage at Fifth Third Arena before the football game beginning at 1 p.m.

Only fans with a football ticket will be admitted.

Cincinnati vs. Army

Kickoff: 3 p.m. today, Nippert Stadium (35,000).

Records: UC 3-3 overall, 1-2 Conference USA; Army 0-7 (0-5).

Radio: WLW-AM (700).

TV: WXIX-TV (Channel 19).

Line: UC by 28.

What to watch: UC's offense should thrive on an Army defense that's allowing 456 yards per game.

Army	Team stats	UC
296.1	Offense avg.	378.8
67.3	Avg. by rush	182.8
228.9	Avg. by pass	191.0
456.7	Defense avg.	337.5
172.7	Avg. by rush	88.2
283.0	Avg. by pass	249.3
16.7	Avg. pts. for	26.0
37.3	Avg. pts. against	22.5

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E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com