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Sugar steals shine from '09
By Paul Dehner Jr., CNATI.com Posted January 2, 2010 3:09 AM ET
NEW ORLEANS -- The University of Cincinnati spent all of 2009 proving it belonged among the best college football programs in the country.
It took one day into 2010 to see that image -- along with the team's perfect 12-0 season -- unravel in the national spotlight.
More appropriately, it took 30 minutes.
With each Sugar Bowl and BCS Bowl game record Florida quarterback Tim Tebow posted, another layer of the prestige the Bearcats built during their run to two consecutive Big East titles wilted away.
By the time Tebow exited in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation and 51-24 Sugar Bowl victory as one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the college game, the Bearcats bowed into the locker room needing to defend the credibility that led them to New Orleans.
"The Cincinnati Bearcats this year have been counted out 13 times," linebacker Andre Revels said. "Twelve of those times we came away with the victory. One time, one time, you guys got it right. That's today. But don't take anything away from our credibility. Our record speaks for itself."
For the second consecutive season, when given an invitation to be mentioned with the elite, the Bearcats were left explaining how it all went wrong. Interim coach Jeff Quinn spoke earlier this week about how arriving at this level is no longer enough for this program. The next step for UC football was to put a signature postseason win on its resume.
Not only did UC lose, as with last year's 20-7 defeat against Virginia Tech, this time they were the punchline of jokes by halftime.
Lineman Alex Daniels sat upright at his locker after the game and spoke with the ferocity of an animal backed into a corner. His voice raised in anger with every sentence that defended the accomplishments of his Bearcats.
"No matter what nobody says about this team, this is the greatest team in Cincinnati history and the greatest team that is ever going to be assembled here," he said. "That is how I feel. Everyone in this locker room right now, we feel the same way. We are kind of disappointed we lost, but we got to keep our heads high going forward."
To do so, they should probably avoid the replay.
From the moment the Bearcats burst onto the Superdome turf with an all-white uniform from head to toe, the game took on a different look than any other this season. But this was not about uniforms.
Where during wins against Rutgers and Fresno State the Bearcats offense scored on command and without resistance, UC went its first four possession with 16 yards of offense and two first downs.
Where during wins against Connecticut and Illinois Cincinnati overcame defensive deficiencies to find a way to survive and advance, Tebow never relented as the Gators didn't punt through the first three quarters.
Where during a season-defining win against Pittsburgh Mardy Gilyard provided the kick return that would ignite fight in this team, he was tracked by speedy Gators special teamers without once crossing midfield.
Where in wins against West Virginia and Fresno State, Brian Kelly's savvy countered teams who slowed the Bearcats, Kelly was...well, everyone knows that story.
When the group that did nothing but rise for the past three years was asked to take one final step, it was exposed into a 30-3 halftime hole by a program that held court on the college football throne all decade.
"You know, you certainly don't gain credibility by losing a game 51-24, from that standpoint," said Quinn, who now leaves the program to assume his role as head coach at the University of Buffalo. "Certainly I didn't expect that many points and certainly not be able to move the ball in the first half to put points on to keep things in a closer matchup. But they are a great team. And you've got to give credit to Florida. They've been the national champs two times. We're working towards that."
The box score told the tale of how far UC has to go.
Tebow finished 31 of 35 for 482 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air. He had another 51 yards on the ground to total 533 yards of total offense.
Florida outgained Cincinnati 659-246. Their total tied a BCS record.
Florida's 51 points were the second-most in BCS history only to their 52 points scored against Maryland in the 2002 Orange Bowl.
Cincinnati came in averaging 39.2 points a game, but only tallied 10 through three quarters and Tony Pike was sacked four times.
"We didn't play Bearcat football," said Gilyard, who became the team's all-time receptions leader but was limited to 41 yards on seven receptions. "We didn't execute. There were plays that needed to be made and we just didn't make them. We needed to score and we couldn't get rolling on offense and couldn't stop them on defense. That shows how great Florida is."
And how far UC still has to go. Now a program that proved everyone wrong the past three years has another set of questions to answer as it goes forward under new leadership.
"Nobody can take away from what we've done this season," sophomore JK Schaffer said. "These seniors have taken this program to new heights and us young guys will continue their legacy. They have set the bar high. Next season we're going to start with a chip on our shoulder."
Categories: College, Featured Stories, Football, News, University of Cincinnati Bearcats
Tags: Andre Revels, Bearcats, Mardy Gilyard, Sugar Bowl, Tony Pike
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