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UC vs. Tulsa
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Radio: WLW-AM (700)
Line: UC by 9 1/2.
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The University of Cincinnati football team plays a rare Thursday night opener tonight vs. Tulsa, and seeks a rare opening win.
UC, 0-3 in openers under coach Rick Minter, is a 9 1/2-point favorite at Nippert Stadium.
Memories of the 1996 opener, when UC was a 12 1/2-point home favorite over Tulane but lost 34-14, still burn. The Bearcats recovered for a second straight 6-5 season, but needed a 4-1 finish to do it.
"We're tired of starting out 0-1 every year," UC junior quarterback Chad Plummer said. "Last year we got too cocky, because we were favored to win our league. This year, we have confidence we're going to get the job done."
UC is picked fourth in Conference USA, after tying for third last year.
Tulsa, 4-7 last year, has had five straight losing seasons and is picked seventh in the eight-team WAC (Western Athletic Conference) Mountain division.
The game will mark contrasting styles, featuring UC's power running and attacking defense vs. Tulsa's pass-oriented offense and suspect defense.
"We want to get it started early this year," Minter said. Under Minter, UC is 3-8-1 in August and September games but 9-5 in games played after October 15.
There is optimism generated by the return of 15 starters, including the front seven players from a defense that ranked No. 13 nationally.
"This is a very serious, dedicated group," Minter said. "I'm talking about tough guys, guys with character, guys who play for the team. It's the best group since I've been here."
Yet, UC already is feeling its annual lack of depth. The early toll includes:
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Senior tailback Daryl Royal, who led the team with 853 rushing yards last year, could miss the whole season with academic deficiencies.
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Starting fullback Eric Beal is injured and out for the year.
- Senior placekicker Eric Richards, recovering from a fractured foot, probably won't play tonight. He is second in UC history with 29 field goals.
"We have to stay healthy, because we're not very deep," Minter said.
There is talent at most of the starting positions, however. They include:
- Quarterback, where Plummer returns. UC is 11-7 in games he has played at quarterback since 1995.
- Running back, Robert Cooper and Orlando Smith fill in at tailback. At fullback, Landon Smith returns.
- Offensive line, where every starter returns.
- Defensive line and linebackers, where every starter returns.
- For the first time in six years, UC returns the same defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan.
"That continuity is important," Minter said. "It probably took us three or four games to get used to a new defensive system last year."
Offensively, UC will try to pound the ball on the ground. Both wide receivers (Cornelius Bonner, Jason Collins-Baker) are first-year starters, so the passing game may need time to mature.
The Bearcats led Conference USA in rushing last year, and are cheered by the fact that Tulsa finished 107th of 111 Division I-A teams in rushing defense last year.
"At the beginning of games, we're going to throw the hammer down," said linebacker Phillip Curry, who is 75 tackles from the UC career record. "We have to beat teams in the first quarter, but also in the fourth."
Minter has given his players more rest after some complained of weariness entering last year's opener.
"If we win the game," Minter said, "then you'll say, well, he did everything right this time. If we somehow stumble, then you'll say, well, you haven't solved a darn thing."
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