CNATI: Cincinnati OH Sports Journalism

On the way from New Orleans back to Cincinnati, every rest stop, gas station and Subway had at least two Bearcats fans in it. We passed numerous cars still with their flags flying as they buzzed up I-65.

Very few smiles.

In retrospect this was one of the great trips for alumni in its recent athletic history, if it wasn't for that one three-hour period getting in the way, it would have been perfect.

Here are some of the most important observations, numbers and leftover quotes I have from Friday's embarrasment for UC fans.

-- The UC fan base was incredible this week. They were out in bigger number and more vocal than one of the most passionate bases in college football. That is saying something for a program the couldn't sell out The Nip not that long ago.

Even when the team was down and most of them would rather watch reruns of Judge Joe Brown, UC fans were still cheering every postive play loudly.

-- Even Brian Kelly wouldn't have been able to stop this. A few people mentioned this to me in discussing the game and, sure, Kelly maybe could have put together a few extra plays here and there. Let's even be kind and allow him a two-touchdown difference, this problem in this game, as it was all season was the defense. UF set more Sugar Bowl records than UC scored touchdowns. Seriously.

Nobody expected UC to win this game 13-10, they needed to win 52-50. It's almost pointless to discuss this because not Brian Kelly, Marvin Lewis, the Hoodie or Gene Hackman in The Replacements could have changed this game. 

-- I was impressed at how quickly seniors Andre Revels and Tony Pike jumped to the defense of Jeff Quinn and the coaching staff. They made a specific point to say this didn't have anythign to do with them and the situation was handled as well as possible. Great show of appreciation from two class acts.

-- Florida writers and media slurp up everything Tim Tebow says. When he took the stage, they all started smiling like I do when the Marine Biologist episode of Seinfeld comes on TV.

Here is an actual question from the press conference.

" Q.  Tim, I want to say you've inspired a lot of people.  People follow you, wear the bracelets, that's inspiring.  What kind of message do you have that you want to last for you as your last kind of message going on?"

From this point forward, whenever I ask a question, I am going to start it with a random compliment.

"Coach Cronin, first off, I want to say that you have very shiny shoes. How do you think the shine on your shoes will affect the team's attitude during the game?" 

-- Butch Jones' job just got a lot tougher.

-- Bobby Petrino built Louisville up to a national power out of the Big East not that long ago. Petrino went 12-1 in 2006, beat Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl then bolted for greener pastures. He was 40-9 during his tenure.

Steve Kraghtorpe tried to keep it rolling and, well, 15 wins and 21 losses later, he is no longer at Louisville.

That very, very easily could be UC.

-- In college football, there are about 15 programs predetermined to be in the hunt every year, the system certainly isn't perfect, but that's the way it is. If you aren't on that list you can't miss opportunities to make a splash on that stage. Failure can be crippling.

Perception in the eyes of recruits is the name of the game in breaking into those 15. Last night, a lot of great 16-year-old football players just pitched letters from UC into the trash.  

-- I like Marcus Waugh. And I am happy he scored his first touchdown and the linebacker got a reception in the Sugar Bowl, but when you cut the lead to 27 you should probably tone down the TD celebration to somewhere below "Won the lottery" and above "You have a cavity."

-- Urban Meyer is biased...and he is wrong. I can't wait to see all the Jaguars fans complaining about how the team loses because Tebow isn't starting over David Garrard.

In the NFL you need more accuracy and arm strength than he does. "Want to", "leadership" and "grit" can get you by in college. Not in the league. At least, not for quarterbacks.  

Here's Meyer on Tebow's NFL draft status changing after this game:

"31 of 35, 482 yards, three touchdowns, one of the most efficient quarterbacks ever to play the game.  A part of two national championships.  He's a winner, and unless the job description changes at some other level of football, he's a winner and he'll win at the next level, too (applause).  That's the way I feel about it."

Jamarcus Russell made himself a No. 1 overall pick after one great Sugar Bowl game against a bad defense. I think the NFL will learn from that.

-- Tony Pike's draft status, on the other hand, wasn't helped by this showing. Todd McShay said to me before the game that where PIke is drafted will depend more on how he does at the combine in the breakdown room with coaches than any on the field. After watching him fail to find openings through tight spots in the Gators defense, what he does on the chalkboard at the combine may be a moot point. 

-- To be fair, this probably shouldn't overshadow all UC accomplished this season. They won a Big East title and gave its fan base one of the most memorable three months in history. For the same reason Brian Kelly left is the same reason UC fans need to be OK with what happened on Friday.

Know who you are. Cincinnati and the Big East just aren't there yet. Not in recruiting, not in facilities, not in fan bases.

And that is OK. Neither are most colleges in the country compared with the SEC. Even those that are "there" aren't on that level. Just ask Ohio State.