CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Sunday ranking announcements extend Bearcat fans weekend fun
We'd gotten accustomed to UC basketball teams taking up season-long residence in the Associated Press top 25 ranking during Bob Huggins' tour of duty in Clifton.
They once achieved a #1 ranking, in fact, only to run afoul of Xavier's Musketeers in the 1999 Crosstown Shootout.
But to see the Bearcats football team nudging toward number one in the rankings is a bit of a culture shock for long-time UC followers.
To see them clustered at #4 in the AP rundown this week, just behind Florida, Texas and Alabama – and 5th in the BCS standings – is the stuff that legends are made of. And points up what is possible when you have a person at the top, who believes and won't suffer those who don't.
And Brian Kelly's next man in philosophy has served him and everyone on the roster well.
When Tony Pike went down in the South Florida game October 15th with a broken left arm, there was no “woe is us.” Zach Collaros, the next man in, took his first third and long situation, 75 yards for the clinching touchdown and hasn't looked back since. Other than perhaps to see if Tony Pike's arm is healed. Which it isn't just yet.
Zach was superb again Saturday, throwing four touchdown passes at Syracuse, to earn Big East Honor Roll mention for the second week in a row.
The Sunday release of the AP Poll, the BCS rundown and the USA Today Coaches rankings, extends the weekend's enjoyment for many Bearcats fans.
The NCAA issues its weekly stats on Sunday, too, and there is one this week that stands out. Even more than Tony Pike's current standing as the 7th rated passer in division one.
The one headed "NCAA FBS Team Turnover Margin" is eye-popping. The UC Bearcats have forced 17 turnovers by opponents in eight games.
Cincinnati by contrast has turned the ball over four times. All interceptions, three by Pike, one by Collaros.
Meaning no UC ball carrier has lost a fumble this season. Not one.
That is a standard of ball security that has been crucial to their success so far and which bodes well for them in their quest of a perfect season.
Numbers don't lie. These Bearcats are the best ever. With more to come.
