UC quarterback Chad Plummer shivered against the wind and declared: ''It's a bad day to be an underclassman.''
Plummer is a junior and that means he was out on the frozen turf at Nippert Stadium for the University of Cincinnati's first bowl practice since 1950.
''We've waited 47 years for this,'' coach Rick Minter said, ''and I give the seniors a day off. People will probably say I'm getting soft.''
But Minter's move was all part of a plan.
''I want our coaches to see all the guys who are missing,'' he said.
''The big guys like Jason Fabini. Maybe that will make them recruit a little harder.''
The Bearcats are doing more than just getting ready to take on Utah State Dec. 29 in the inaugural Sports Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho.
The extra practices will be key for next year's development. Since he arrived at UC, Minter has said that the extra practice time is an added bonus of getting to a bowl.
''It's the old adage: The rich get richer,'' he said. ''The teams that get this extra practice usually start fast the next year.
''We're treating it like an extra session of spring practice.'' To that end, the Bearcats went through two days of conditioning before returning to the field Friday.
Once on the field, they went back to basics.
''Today will be like the first day of practice,'' Minter said. ''We'll work on fundamentals and not worry about Utah State at all.'' The players didn't relish going out in the cold Friday, but they know the extra time is good.
''It will help us dramatically,'' Plummer said. ''It gives the younger guys a chance to prove themselves for next year.''
Minter plans to have the Bearcats practice hard for the next eight days - going twice a day if necessary - have a live scrimmage, then give the players five days off for Christmas.
''That's the dangerous part,'' he said. ''but I feel it's important. ''Then we'll group and head to Boise.''
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