BOISE, Idaho - No, it's not the Rose Bowl. But the Cincinnati Bearcats are attacking today's Humanitarian Bowl game here vs. Utah State (3:30 p.m.) as if the national title were at stake.
''This is pretty serious for us,'' said John Kobalka, UC senior defensive tackle. ''A lot of people will be watching, and we want to play well. If we win, it will be big for this program.''
UC (7-4) is playing its first bowl game in 47 years, and is anxious to prove bowl-worthy to a national TV audience on ESPN2.
The Bearcats have openly courted support from the city of Boise, saying and doing all the right things and giving away tickets at a pep rally Sunday night.
Big West champ Utah State (6-5) seems less thrilled. The Aggies were in a bowl just four years ago and are operating with a lame-duck coach in John L. Smith, who takes over at Louisville after this game. Not to mention, 20 Utah State players were involved in a Boise nightclub fight early Saturday morning, although there were no arrests.
UC seems to have the good karma and wants to erase the bitter taste of a 14-7 loss to East Carolina in the regular season finale. UC is a two-point favorite, but the schools have struggled to get a read on each other since they have never met and have no common opponents.
Linebacker Joseph Hamilton tries to keep warm during Sunday's workout.
(Idaho Statesman photo)
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It is a match of Midwest muscle vs. West Coast finesse. The UC power running game ranks 14th nationally (215.5 yards per game), while Utah State ranks No. 14 in passing (281 per game).
''It's definitely contrasting styles,'' UC coach Rick Minter said. ''They're a one-back team that throws the ball, and we make no bones about the fact that we'll run it. They're only 6-5 but they're a very high-powered offensive team.''
Utah State averaged 42.2 points in its last five games of the year, and UC's defense will try to adjust to the loss of coordinator Rex Ryan to Oklahoma in November. Kim Dameron, formerly defensive backs coach, is interim coordinator.
There are several other new wrinkles since UC last played Nov. 13:
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Quarterback Chad Plummer will start as usual, but will be spelled by freshman Deontey Kenner. Plummer will play wide receiver when Kenner is in.
- At tailback, Minter will start junior Orlando Smith, who has been running No. 3 all year and has just 38 carries for 165 yards this year. Usual starter Daryl Royal and backup Robert Cooper, who combined to rush for 1,114 yards and seven TDs this year, had some fumbles late in the year and Smith has played well recently.
- UC is without
its placekicker, senior Eric Richards, who was suspended for breaking unspecified team rules. Sophomore Joe Judge and freshman Jason Mammarelli could share kicking chores today.
UC also hopes to capitalize on the situation at Utah State, where some players were peeved when Smith announced his resignation last month.
''They've waited a lifetime for this,'' Smith said. ''You'd think they'd be ready to play.''
Said quarterback Matt Sauk: ''You don't work 365 days a year and then come out here and not try.''
In a sense, the Bearcats have already won. Just being in a bowl game is big enough for a program that, at the beginning of the 1990s, ranked last nationally among Division I-A teams in the Sagarin ratings.
Minter has told his players to enjoy the experience, but he also has been working them hard in practices. ''Keep in mind, our No. 1 goal is to win this thing,'' he said.
It is a one-shot deal for UC's 18 seniors, who hope to set the stage for an annual tradition.
''It was a lifelong goal of mine to play college football and play in a bowl game,'' said senior guard Joel Dolinski. ''I thought I was at a school that would never go to one, but now our last game is a bowl game. And we plan to win it.''
Weather should not be a factor. The forecast is for temperatures in the low 40s and cloudy skies.
Notebook: Freshman QB could play a half
Scouting report
Bowl reports - Season in stories
Humanitarian Bowl web site
Utah State web site
