Answers taking shape for Bearcats
Transfer Mauk likely starter at quarterback
By Josh Katzowitz
Post staff reporter
Quarterback Ben Mauk will spend his senior season at
UC after transferring from Wake Forest.
WEST HARRISON, Ind. - As the University of Cincinnati finished its final practice of the season at Higher Ground Retreat Center Wednesday, team managers began the task of loading the tractor trailer truck for the 25-mile ride home to campus.
In went the tackling dummies as the clock counting down the practice times was disassembled. Players wiggled out of their shoulder pads, and there was a sense of joy that they, after 11 days of practice here, were coming home.
A week from today, the Bearcats will take the Nippert Stadium field for the first time this season, playing host to Southeast Missouri State.
With that in mind - and as the pads and uniforms and other incidentals are being shipped home - here are five questions UC will face before and during coach Brian Kelly's first season. An educated guess follows.
Who will earn the starting quarterback spot?
Ben Mauk with Tony Pike and Dustin Grutza following him. Kelly said earlier this week that it's possible a starting quarterback might not emerge through the non-conference schedule, but it's doubtful that will happen.
Although Grutza started fall camp as the No. 1 and although Kelly said Grutza hasn't regressed, Mauk and Pike have caught him in the race.
The 6-foot-6 Pike is tall and accurate.
Mauk, a senior, is experienced with a strong arm, and as UC has practiced, his arm strength has begun to return. Plus, it's not like Mauk transferred from Wake Forest to be the backup quarterback.
Look for Mauk, Pike and Grutza to play in the Southeast Missouri game, and after Mauk gets acclimated to contact again, he could take over the top spot officially in time for the Oregon State game.
Who will win the rest of the key position battles being waged?
On the defensive side of the ball, senior Anthony Williams, a converted linebacker, and junior Cedric Tolbert are competing for the free safety spot, while sophomore Andre Revels and junior Ryan Manalac are fighting for starting middle linebacker.
Williams and Revels, both of whom have had impressive camps, have practiced with the first team the past few days, but defensive coordinator Joe Tresey said it's not important which players start because all four will need to play.
"It's not who's starting and who isn't," Tresey said. "When you're on the field, it's your time to perform and make plays. Our philosophy is the next man in. The next man in better have his helmet strapped and be ready to go."
Kelly says the same about the center (Jason Kelce vs. Chris Jurek) and right tackle positions (Khalil El-Amin vs. Jeff Linkenbach) on the offensive line. All four, Kelly said, must be ready to perform.
Is the offense catching up to the defense?
It didn't look like it at Saturday's scrimmage. Of course, that's to be expected because the defense is experienced and talented. While offensive tackle Digger Bujnoch said the offense is making progress, that unit still has more to learn.
But facing a defense that includes Terrill Byrd, Angelo Craig and a host of impressive defensive backs should help accelerate the offense's learning curve.
"Byrd was All-Big East," Bujnoch said. "I'm going against Anthony Hoke and Angelo Craig, and those are two of the best pass rushers to go against. Constantly, I'm getting good work. Across the board, it's evident the defense is amazing."
It's also evident the defense will carry the team - at least early in the season.
Will UC enter Big East play undefeated?
Probably not. It's hard to expect UC, with its new coaching staff and new system of play, to perform like a top-25 team. Oregon State could be favored when the Beavers play at Nippert Stadium, and though UC probably should beat San Diego State, that game on the road won't be easy.
Kelly, though, isn't thinking about an early-season undefeated streak.
"I'm more interested in preparing this football team to get better as we get to the Big East schedule," he said. "To me, it's the Big East schedule. Yeah, Oregon State, neat, got to have them, because you can't get fans to come out and watch Southeast Missouri on back-to-back weeks. That game is an important game, but to me, it's about getting ready for the Big East schedule."
Will the buzz surrounding Kelly translate into a full (or relatively full) Nippert Stadium?
Yes, the evidence of this already is mounting. UC has zoomed past last year's season ticket total, and the West Virginia and Louisville games could sell out. The Marshall and Oregon State contests also could surpass last year's season-high attendance of 27,804.
Bujnoch certainly feels the buzz.
"More when I'm out at family events, people will come up and say, 'Oh, I got season tickets this year. Can't wait. Can't wait to watch the offense,'" Bujnoch said. "It's definitely more than the previous four years I've been here. People are coming up and talking Bearcat football."
