Just ask the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.

In the span of three weeks, the Bearcats (3-4 overall, 2-2 Conference USA) have gone from wondering how to salvage the rest of their season to looking ahead to their last four games with renewed enthusiasm, beginning with Saturday's3 p.m. homecoming game against Texas Christian (4-3, 2-2) at Nippert Stadium.

After losing to Army Oct. 9, allowing the Black Knights to break their 19-game losing streak, the UC program was at its lowest point in years.

The players and coaches talked about being embarrassed and humiliated.

Then they came back last week to trounce a 5-1 Memphis team that had one of the most productive offenses in the country, and suddenly the world looked a little brighter.

"It's an emotional lift," UC coach Mark Dantonio said. "I don't think people realize how difficult it is to just sit and dwell on that (loss). But the attitude of our team is very good. The attitude of our seniors is good. Since I've come here, everything I've asked them to do they've done."

Against Memphis, UC played a near-perfect game, with no turnovers and only four penalties for 35 yards.

Execution was important, but Dantonio said emotion was equally important in producing UC's best overall effort of the season.

That's what the Bearcats hope to carry into the TCU game this week.

"It just showed us what emotion can do for you," said running back Richard Hall. "We had it in our mind and our heart that we were going to get started and we wanted to play mistake-free."

The trick now is to stage a repeat performance against the Horned Frogs, who nearly lost to Army themselves the week before UC faced the Cadets. TCU rallied from a 17-point deficit to post a 21-17 victory.

TCU, which threatened to barge into a BCS bowl last year after winning its first 10 games, lost two of its final three to settle for an 11-2 record, which included a loss to Boise State in the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl.

After winning their first two games this year, the Horned Frogs have lost three of their last five.

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com