Know Thy Enemy

[Rocko]

We're playing these guys on the 25th of September so here's a good preview of what they've got!

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/news/story?id=5340032&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf %2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d5340032

[bluesmagoo]

Well, let's hope he loses on 25th of Sept.

[Big Red Ron]

Butch Jones understands that when you take over a team that has won two consecutive conference championships, there are some expectations. Big expectations.

"Everybody in the Big East conference is looking to beat Cincinnati every day," he said. "I tell the team, 'We're not defending anything. We're working toward a championship.'"

This isn't new territory for Jones, who takes over at UC for Brian Kelly, the new coach at Notre Dame. It was Jones who followed Kelly at Central Michigan after the departing Chippewas coach turned the perennial mediocre program into a Mid-American Conference champion. There were expectations at CMU, too. But, like Cincinnati, that program was not firmly entrenched in the winner's circle. It would have been a quick step down for Central Michigan had Jones not built upon what Kelly started.

Now, he's in the same position, following Kelly and charged with keeping a program that is hardly college football royalty in its newly established loft, while grappling with inherent issues like a small, old stadium and a roster that has yet to develop the kind of depth that sustains high levels of success. Jones understands what has come before him and is grateful to Kelly and Mark Dantonio for the foundations they have laid. But there is still much to do.

"Things are never good enough," Jones said. "The first thing we did when we came in here was check the [players'] classes to see if they were doing well enough. It set the tone academically. Every coaching staff has expectations. We stepped up the strength and conditioning program and the way we practice."

The key for Jones -- and what he and his staff repeated throughout the winter and spring -- is that winning may be contagious and success can gather momentum, but each season, each team, is different. If there is no leadership or camaraderie, there can be no winning. If there are no young players who step into more important roles and thrive, championships are not won. "This is a new year, and every team has its own personality," Jones said.

The good news for Jones is that Cincinnati is matching his commitment to improvement with some cash. The school has broken ground on the $15.5 million Jefferson Avenue Sports Complex, which will contain practice fields (one of which can be covered for indoor work), offices, locker room facilities and conditioning rooms.

For a school that just a decade ago was wondering how it could possibly compete on a national scale, it's a big step forward and one that was necessary, considering the growing competition in the Big East and the coming conference realignment. Cincinnati needs to be able to handle its business now and position itself for the future, in the event the conference merry-go-round starts spinning.

"The Sports Complex is such a great venue in terms of development of the players and the program," Jones said. "The practice facility will be great in the winter and for when we are preparing for a bowl."

The Bearcats will probably be getting ready for postseason play again this year, but it's debatable whether the bowl game to which they are invited will be of a BCS caliber. Only 13 starters, including specialists, return and depth is a concern. When discussing his team, Jones used the word "durable" more than once when describing important traits of his better players. In other words, if the Bearcats regulars go down with injuries, there could be trouble.

The good news is that Jones has been here before. He knows what to do and how important it is to make each season an individual entity. He and his staff will put their imprint on the 2010 Cincinnati season and beyond -- and take nothing for granted.

Except for the expectations.

Head Coach: Butch Jones (Ferris State '90)
Record at school: First year
Career record: 27-13 (3 years)

Assistants:
• Kerry Coombs (Dayton '83) Associate Head Coach/Defensive Backs
• Steve Stripling (Colorado '76) Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line
• Mike Bajakian (Williams '96) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
• Tim Banks (Central Michigan '95) Co-Defensive Coordinator
• John Jancek (Grand Valley State '91) Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
• Jahmile Addae (West Virginia '05) Running Backs
• Mark Elder (Case Western Reserve '00) Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
• Don Mahoney (West Virginia State '93) Offensive Line
• T.J. Weist (Alabama '88) Wide Receivers

[Big Red Ron]

Sept. 4 -- @Fresno State
11 -- Indiana State
16 -- @NC State
25 -- Oklahoma
Oct. 9 -- Miami (Ohio)
15 -- @Louisville
22 -- South Florida
30 -- Syracuse
Nov. 13 -- @West Virginia
20 -- Rutgers
27 -- @Connecticut
Dec. 4 -- Pittsburgh

[Big Red Ron]

I see 5 losses on that schedule.

[Mad Dog Madsen]

I see 3 losses... OU, West V, and Pitt.

[Big Red Ron]

Pitt, Conn., and S. Fla will not be easy.

[IronHorseSooner]

I agree, I see them losing to us, WVU, UCONN,Pitt, and maybe USF. You never know which USF team will show- the one who beat FSU in Tallahassee, or the one that tanked down the stretch. Fresno out there is never a gimme game, The Ville should be better with Charlie Strong, and Rutgers has been a consistently good team. So, I say, for sure, four losses, and maybe six. It's a rebuilding year for them.

In fact, we get a few name teams that are in transition, rebuilding, or are replacing a lot of key people this year- FSU, USAFA, Cincy, *, Tech, and OSU.

I disagree with some who say that the team that scares them the most is FSU, or even *. The team that scares me the most is A&M. They are solid at QB, RB, and WR on that side, and they have an All American candidate with Von Miller along with a good new D-COORD. He was the same guy that who led USAFA to the best pass defense last year, and who frustrated Houston last year in their bowl game. Roll that into the fact that every time we have played down there in the Stoops Era without a guy named Bradford, the games have been scary close (2000- narrow win; 2002- loss; 2004- narrow win; 2006- narrow win that included a 4th Down conversion inside our 50 in the 4th quarter). We have more all around talent than them, but that is a scary place to play. BTW, I wouldn't be shocked if they go into @$$tin next year and beat *.

[crabshack]

wow. texas preview that really gets after them!

http://widerightandnattylight.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/know-your-enemy-part-8-texas/