Former UC coach let go in Buffalo

On Monday afternoon I sat in the video office at UC and happened to have some time to look back at some of my older blog posts. In May I wrote about Joe Tresey, former UC defensive coordinator, who at the time ad just secured a job in the UFL with the Omaha Nighthawks. I mentioned that coach Tresey was, “My favorite Bearcat assistant coach of all time.”

In my four years here, he definitely was near the top of the list. But after giving it a few minutes’ thought, I’d have to say my favorite assistant coach I’ve had the opportunity to work with here in Cincinnati was former UC quarterbacks coach Greg Forest.

Forest (pictured here next to Zach Collaros before the Syracuse game in 2009) was UC's quarterbacks coach from 2007 to 2009. He left Cincinnati for Buffalo in 2010.

He was friendly, approachable, and often would go out to lunch with us (the video staff). He especially endeared himself to yours truly with his love of NASCAR, and often times we’d sit in the office and discuss NASCAR, leaving my co-workers shaking their heads.

In July of 2009, we spent an hour on pit road at Kentucky Speedway during ARCA qualifying chatting about everything under the sun. Football didn’t matter at that time; NASCAR did. It didn’t matter to Forest that we, the video staff, were usually ignored by everyone. He made us feel like we truly were a part of the team.

So, I was shocked when I found out—ironically enough via Twitter—that Forest, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo, was fired by head coach Jeff Quinn. Quinn also fired wide receivers coach Juan Taylor.

“It’s never easy in this business to make changes to your coaching staff, but at this time I feel like we needed a change of direction in these areas,” Quinn said in a statement released by the school. “I’d like to thank Greg and Juan for their contributions to UB football and wish them nothing but success in the future.”

A week ago I wrote that college football was turning into a, “What have you done for me lately?” world. Apparently, in Buffalo, Forest’s first year as offensive coordinator wasn’t good enough for first-year head man Jeff Quinn.

Quinn and Forest have coached together since the early 1990s under Brian Kelly at Grand Valley State. Quinn and Forest followed Kelly to Central Michigan and Cincinnati, but were snubbed when Kelly made to move to South Bend last year.

Forest tweeted last night, “I want to thank all the people that are giving me support. I appreciate all that everyone has done for me.”

Given all the coaching openings and transitions occurring right now in college football, I have a great feeling that the man we called “G Money” will land somewhere. I wish we had an opening at UC. I’d love to have him back.

There is a NASCAR race in Kentucky in July. I guarantee “G Money” would love to join me in Sparta…again.

Week 5 in the Big East: Tune Up Week

Only five Big East teams are in action on week five of the college season, and the two-time defending champs have the week off. So this will be light on the UC coverage, but my thoughts on this week are definitely satiated with some UC flavor.

Week five features a bye on the schedule for Syracuse as well as Cincinnati and West Virginia. Here’s a peek at week five for the Big East member schools

Week 5 Big East Schedule
Sat Oct 2-Rutgers vs Tulane
Oct 2-USF vs Florida Atlantic
Oct 2-Louisville at Arkansas State
Oct 2-Connectict vs Vanderbilt
Oct 2-Pittsburgh vs Florida International
**Oct 2-Buffalo at Bowling Green (MAC)**

AN: This week, Jake has to take an approved break to work on school projects, so I get to talk about Pitt and one more game, all by my lonesome.

But, before we get to head coach Mario Cristobal and his Florida International Panthers (and sophomore linebacker Larvez “Pooh Bear” Mars) into Heinz Field for a little gridiron matchup, ESPN.com Big East blogger Brian Bennett leaves us with this comment.

“You can’t call Week 5 “Showdown Saturday” or “Monster Saturday” or anything like that in the Big East,” he wrote. “It’s more like, “Tune-Up Saturday”

So, conventional wisdom tells me Pitt should roll, as well as Rutgers, USF and Louisville. But conventional wisdom has been wrong this year for fans of the Big East. Two-time defending Big East champ Cincinnati is 1-3, Pittsburgh looked bad last week on national TV against Miami, and Rutgers has had a stagnant offense this season.

Dave Wannstedt told the media yesterday in Pittsburgh that shuffling the offensive line came after some big time meetings with his players. “We’ve had some serious heart-to-heart conversations with some players. Let’s watch the tape: who is producing? Who is getting the job done when the lights come on? That’s the point that we’re at right now with everyone. We have to be very honest about it and play the best players that will give us the chance to win at this point.”

I have a feeling that the FIU game will give Wannstedt and the Panthers to get their feet under them and let their “new look” O-line get some time to jell on the field.

As I mentioned in our last preview, Buffalo actually might as well be a Big East team. Look at the coaching staff former UC offensive coordinator, and now Buffalo Head Coach, Jeff Quinn has put together in upstate N.Y.—his offensive coordinator is former UC quarterbacks coach Greg Forest, and his defensive coordinator is William Inge, former UC linebackers coach.

Former graduate assistants Marty Spieler and Mike Daniels now coach tight ends and running backs respectively. Adam Shorter, who was a GA under Quinn in 2007 and also played for UC, is coaching the o-line, and Ernest Jones, who once coached the running backs at UC, is coaching defensive backs.

Got all that?

Well, even if you don’t just keep in mind that Buffalo’s coaching staff is full of former UC assistants. With the UC bye week, I was hoping to have the time to travel to Bowling Green, Ohio to watch the Bulls take on the Falcons. Unfortunately, with a Saturday morning practice, it seems that I won’t be able to get to see the Bulls in person.

That doesn’t change the fact that I’m certainly a Buffalo Bulls fan this season, and as long as Quinn and Forest, et al, are running the show in Buffalo.

And, I picked that game because, with no offense to any of the Big East teams, this week is rather bland on scheduling. But, as Bennett said, the Big East needs a tune up, and what better way to tune up than with some bland opponents.

I hope you enjoy the fifth week of college football, and keep your eyes and ears pinned here for the week six preview coming up in the next seven days. Thanks for reading.

UC players discuss Sugar Bowl loss

After going 12-0 and capturing their second straight Big East title the UC Bearcats headed to New Orleans to play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Awaiting them was SEC runner-up Florida and all-everything quarterback Tim Tebow, playing his final collegiate game.

“We made Tim Tebow look great,” said junior tight end Ben Guidugli after practice on Tuesday. The loss was called “humbling” by numerous players who all told the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Bill Koch yesterday that the outside situation played on the team’s mindset before the game.

“It was just weird,” Guidugli told Koch, “with the coaches not knowing where they were going and the (returning) players not knowing what to expect after that game. Everybody wasn’t on the same page for that game. We made it that far and then to have everybody just kind of go their own way at the end was unfortunate, really.”

Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame less than a week after the Bearcats clinched the spot in the Sugar Bowl. Kelly stood on the stage at the team’s banquet, accepted the invitation from the Sugar Bowl representative there, and twelve hours later was standing in front of reporters in South Bend, Ind., proclaiming that Notre Dame was his team.

So UC picked up the pieces and named Jeff Quinn, offensive coordinator, as the interim head coach for the Sugar Bowl. Less than one week later, Butch Jones was hired away from Central Michigan (where he took over for Kelly when Kelly came to Cincinnati) but decided to not coach the Sugar Bowl, citing that he wanted to stay in the background, out of the way.

Jones at his introductory press conference stressed that he preaches "family" (Cincinnati Enquirer)

So Quinn went and applied for the vacant Buffalo head coaching job, and was hired before the Sugar Bowl, but Quinn announced he wasn’t leaving Cincinnati.

Quinn jokes with reporters outside a pre-Sugar Bowl press conference in UC's Lindner Center (Cincinnati Enquirer)

All in all, it made for some very tense situations. No one knew of anyone’s plans heading into the game, just as Guidugli suggested. Coaches were either going to Notre Dame or Buffalo, and some even might not have any idea what their futures were. Players didn’t know what to expect from the new regime, and everything showed in the 51-24 loss to Florida.

“It was a humbling experience,” said wide receiver Armon Binns—who hauled in the game winning touchdown pass in Pittsburgh. “It showed us that we can't let the situation of what was going on around us bring us apart. We have to come together in times of turmoil and stay close-knit, like we are now.

“I feel like we could have played with them,” he continued. “It wasn’t that they were that much better than us. Our heads just weren’t in it. There was a lot going on.”

And he’s right. It was one of the most awkward situations we’d ever faced in the video room. Coaches we’d grown to know over the past few seasons were packing up their offices, starting to put plans together to move out. It seemed to us like no one cared, as Binns pointed out.

This season, players and coaches have made it a goal to win the BCS game, if the Bearcats make it back there. Binns feels this team has the tools necessary to compete. “I think this team can be better than last year,” Binns said. “We’ve got the right guys. Guys are older. Guys are more experienced. I feel like this coaching staff is going to instill a certain kind of toughness in us that we might not have had last year.”

Cincinnati native JK Schaffer said, “We’re tired of going through the whole season winning and then ending on a bad note. We’re ready to step up to the next level and get to those BCS games and win them. It definitely gives us a little bit of motivation.”

With twelve practices left this spring the motivation is high for the two-time defending Big East champs. I’m sure we’ll find more storylines as spring progresses here in Cincinnati. Until then check out http://www.gobearcats.com/ for coverage and videos.

UC bye week news and notes

The 10-0 Cincinnati Bearcats will take one week off from football this week, at least from playing a game. For the first time in school history (a phrase that has been used a lot the past three seasons in the Queen City) the ‘Cats won their first ten games. Ranked #5 in all three major polls (AP, Coaches, BCS) the Bearcats are now positioning themselves for an important showdown with Pittsburgh on December 5th.

But, next Friday the ‘Cats take on the Illinois Fighting Illini at noon. Enjoy your turkey and NFL on Thursday, wake up insanely early and get your Christmas shopping done on Friday, and then come home and enjoy some real good football from Nippert Stadium.

Here’s some other news and notes on the UC football team and program as we move through the bye week.

1. UC committed to Kelly? Yes…
The University of Cincinnati’s board of trustees yesterday announced that the university would be borrowing money for the Jefferson Avenue Athletic Complex. According to yesterday’s Cincinnati Enquirer report, “Under the financial plan prepared for trustees, UC would borrow $9.7 million and raise $2.1 million to build the fields this year. The bulk of the fund-raising would happen in 2012-13, when it would receive $5.2 million, and the entire project would be paid off by 2015.”

So this means that the indoor “bubble” will be ready to go for next season. It’ll keep me covered when it rains and when it gets cold. Oh, and make no bones about it, this move was more than just an initiative to help the school. The Cincinnati Enquirer also stated later on that, “the fields are a critical factor in UC’s strategy to retain football coach Brian Kelly.”

With sold-out games and a growing fanbase, UC is attempting to capitalize and build something that will keep Brian Kelly in Cincinnati

Notre Dame already has an indoor facility. Brian Kelly’s name has come up as a prime candidate for the Notre Dame job if much beleaguered head man Charlie Weis was to get fired this season

2. So what does BK think about Notre Dame?
Kelly says he’s flattered that he’s being considered for the job, but it doesn’t change how his team prepares week to week day to day. “As far as the rumors go, our kids really don't pay much attention to them, because I don’t” Kelly said. “I don't get distracted. We're humbled that our name is being associated with programs, but we don't really spend much time thinking about it. Our kids have become immune to it, as I have.”

Will Brian Kelly be leading UC next season? That's the million dollar question right now

It’s gotten to the point that I should just wear a shirt that says, “I don’t know,” on it and every time someone asks me about Kelly to ND, I should point at the shirt. Here’s an interesting thought about the Notre Dame job…What about Jim Harbaugh from Stanford? He can beat USC (as evidenced this past Saturday). I’m just suggesting it.

3. Running game needs to pick up steam
This week the UC offensive staff is working on beefing up the running game, which was a staple of the offense (in fact some would consider it was the only offense) under former Head Coach Mark Dantonio. Since Kelly has gotten to UC he has often talked about getting better on the ground. In the spring of 2008 he focused on short yardage situations. This spring he did the same. Now, with a bye week, Kelly and Offensive Coordinator/Offensive line coach Jeff Quinn are scheming ways to get the Bearcats to be more proficient on the ground.

“We’re spending quite a bit of time on some of the things we need to continue to work on, especially running the football,” Kelly said. “That’s going to be the secret to success in November and December. We still have some things to iron out.”

Isaiah Pead racked up 175 yards against West Virginia on Friday night

Kelly talked more about his practice schedule. Take note of what he says. “It’s so important that you really emphasize relative to practice that it’s quality not quantity,” Kelly said. “We’ve backed off our practices quite a bit. We’ve talked to the kids about giving us 1½ hours of locked-in focus. The word we’ve used is purposeful. You’ve got to have a purpose when you go out to practice.”

So far this year the Bearcats have produced quality and quantity on gamedays. Practice really does make perfect.

4. The UC defense should work hard on defending run
It’s no secret that UC has had a tough time defending the power running attack over the past few weeks. Both UConn and West Virginia ran for over 200 yards a piece on the Bearcats defense—which up to this point in the season had been quite strong. UC held prominent Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rogers to 73 yards rushing in game three.

UC's defense has had no trouble sacking quarterbacks. Here, Ricardo Matthews sacks West Virginia's Jarret Brown. UC is 5th in the nation in sacks, tied with USC

But, UConn’s Jordan Todman ran for 162 and West Virginia ran for 202 yards as a team against the ‘Cats last Friday evening. The more lingering problem for UC is that Pittsburgh is a power running team. They will line up, “Big Ten style”, as I call it, and pound it up the middle with freshman sensation Dion Lewis.

Lewis has run for 1291 yards this season, with an average of 5.8 yards per rush, and 13 touchdowns. Did I mention the kid is a true freshman? Only three times this season Lewis has been held to under 100 yards rushing (Navy, NC State, and Louisville). Perhaps those games hold the keys to stopping the best runner in the Big East this season.

Now, some will argue that the nation’s leading rusher, Ryan Matthews of Fresno State, also had a great day against the UC defense. Those are the same people who would forget that UC’s plan that day was to limit the big play ability of Matthews. Kelly’s plan that day was to play a lot of cover two, as he stated after the game, to give Marcus Barnett (the wideout turned cornerback for that game) some help in pass defense.

5. Big East replay catching grief for “questionable calls”
On Friday night in the West Virginia-UC game, the Bearcats faced first and goal from the one yard line. Zach Collaros turned and handed the ball off to Isaiah Pead, who dove forward for the endzone. He lost the ball, West Virginia recovered it, and the play was, of course, reviewed by the video replay booth.

It was determined by the booth that Pead stretched the ball across the goal line and therefore scored before he lost the ball. (This picture below, courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, is as close a view as I could get my hands on…for now)

Let’s not forget that John McDaid and crew were officiating this game. McDaid might be the worst official in the Big East conference, and maybe the nation. Every time we get him, I cringe. McDaid had the UC/USF showdown in mid-October, the Pittsburgh loss (their only one this year) at NC State, and last season he had the Backyard Brawl between Pitt and WVU, plus the UC game one week later in Hawaii (one of the worst officiated games I’ve ever witnessed).

Maybe the Big East shouldn’t be worrying about their replay booth, and be more worried about who the man is on the field making the calls.

West Virginia fans note that they “lost the game” on this call. Brian Bennett, Big East blogger for ESPN.com, who was in attendance at the game, wrote, “Did those calls decide the game? No. I generally believe that one call, unless it's at the very end, should not be blamed for a loss. Teams have many opportunities to make up for such calls, and indeed, West Virginia got stopped on a fourth down deep in Cincinnati territory in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers should only point fingers at themselves.”

But he wasn’t done there. Later on he wrote, “As to whether the Mountaineers would have won, my feeling is: score more points. West Virginia would have had the ball on its own 1. Who knows if Cincinnati makes a stop, gets the ball back and scores before halftime? Or maybe not. In the end, the Mountaineers had the ball inside the 30 and got stopped on fourth down. They lost by three. So they had plenty of chances after the call to win the game.”

Not too much to argue there folks. A lot of football left and WVU just couldn’t get it done in the second half. Call me myopic, but I agree with Bennett, and not just because it went for my team.
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Hope you’ve enjoyed some insight. I’ve gotta get back to homework, but later this week I hope to post a few thoughts on one of the most influential teachers I’ve had at UC, and possibly a little piece on why I love NASCAR so very much.

Have a good Wednesday all.