By Bill Koch
Enquirer staff writer
Mark Dantonio wrote the message at the top of his practice schedule this week. It contained only two words: "Get even."
"That's the next step," the University of Cincinnati head coach said. "We have to get to 4-4. We can't think beyond that."
UC (3-4, 2-2 Conference USA) faces TCU (4-3, 2-2) at 3 p.m. today in a homecoming game at Nippert Stadium.
Dantonio also could have been referring to "getting even" in the sense of extracting a measure of revenge after last year when the Bearcats lost 43-10 at TCU, which was undefeated and ranked No. 9 at the time.
UC outgained TCU 373-298 but committed three turnovers, had a punt blocked that was returned for a touchdown, and watched Nick Browne, who has since moved on, kick five field goals.
"We were in the game early, and then it just kind of got out of hand for us," said UC quarterback Gino Guidugli, who was responsible for one of the fumbles, which TCU recovered in the end zone.
The Bearcats believe they have righted their ship in time to position themselves for a late run at a bowl game. They have to reach the six-victory level to be eligible, which means they have to win three of their last four games.
And that means every game is crucial.
"I finally got a chance to experience a losing season last year, and it didn't taste too good," said linebacker Jamar Enzor. "I don't want to have that again. To win out and make it to a bowl game would send the school into the Big East without a losing record, hopefully with a bowl win."
But first things first.
"We've got to go out and win this game to even think about anything like that," Guidugli said.
Following today's game, the Bearcats still have to play at No. 25 Southern Miss and at No. 14 Louisville. They also face South Florida (2-4) at home.
The last time UC played TCU at Nippert Stadium, in 2002, Guidugli helped the Bearcats overcome a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter, then scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime in UC's 36-29 victory. The Bearcats went on to share the conference title with the Horned Frogs.
This year TCU has struggled with a young defense that allows 428 yards a game. It has a powerful offense, though, with 281 passing yards a game, which ranks first in the league and 12th nationally. The Horned Frogs rank 11th nationally and second in the league with 35.9 points a game.
TCU has two capable quarterbacks in junior Tye Gunn and senior Brandon Hassell.
Gunn, who's 10-1 as a starter, came off the bench last week and passed for 234 yards in TCU's win over Houston after being hampered by an ankle injury. Hassell is 8-4 as a starter and passed for 293 yards against UAB.
Running back Lonta Hobbs, who averages 94.5 yards and leads the nation with 12 points a game, did not play last week as he recovered from a concussion. But his replacement, Robert Merrill, ran for 137 yards against the Cougars.
The Horned Frogs have committed only seven turnovers compared with UC's 17.
"When they haven't turned the ball over, they've played very well," TCU coach Gary Patterson said of the Bearcats. "They did not turn the ball over against Memphis and they went up and down the field."
TCU at Cincinnati
