The University of Cincinnati football program went from shunned to stunned when it was announced that Tommy Tuberville would be its new head football coach, less than 48 hours after Butch Jones departed for Tennessee.
The news drew cheers from Bearcat nation and reactions of shock and surprise in Lubbock, Texas, and across the country. The former Texas Tech coach was introduced as UC’s head coach on Dec. 8 before an estimated 1,200 fans in Fifth Third Arena.
“I’m proud to be a Bearcat!” Tuberville said, pumping his fist in the air at a raucous public press conference.
Tuberville’s hiring concluded a tumultuous week for UC that began with Jones interviewing at Purdue and Colorado before ultimately agreeing to a six-year, $18 million contract at Tennessee. It was quite the emotional swing for Bearcats fans who learned Jones had turned down an offer from Colorado amid speculation he’d remain at UC, only to learn early the next day that Jones was headed to Knoxville.
UC athletic director Whit Babcock, who knew Tuberville from his days at Auburn, said he wasn’t sure how the former Associated Press coach of the year would react to an offer. An agreement in principle on a five-year deal was made by phone with financial details to be ironed out later. One possible factor in Tuberville’s decision to leave Lubbock for Cincinnati was that his wife, Suzanne, is from Guilford, Ind., which is around 30 miles from UC’s campus.
Tuberville, 58, said he will not coach the Bearcats (9-3) when they face Duke (6-6) in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27 in Charlotte. UC defensive line coach Steve Stripling will coach the team, as announced following Jones’ departure. UC is hoping to reach 10 victories for the fifth time in the past six seasons.
With a career record of 130-77 including an undefeated season at Auburn in 2004, Tuberville is the most accomplished head coach to be hired at Cincinnati. It was speculated that Tuberville was unhappy in Lubbock and would not return after his contract was up. But Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt said conversations following the regular season focused on the future of the Red Raiders program and Tuberville gave no indication that he was leaving.
On the surface, UC would seem to be an odd choice for Tuberville despite family ties to the Cincinnati area. The Big East Conference is in disarray following the departures of Louisville to the Atlantic Coast Conference and Rutgers to the Big Ten. UC has plans in place to renovate Nippert Stadium but dirt is a long way from being turned on that project.
Tuberville, who said he would focus his recruiting on the football fertile Cincinnati area while not ignoring talent-laden states such as Texas, California and Florida, said he came to UC to “do something special.” Although Tuberville will not be on the sidelines when the Bearcats kick off at the Belk Bowl, the enthusiasm resulting from his hiring should be evident on the field and in the stands on Dec. 27. Said UC president Santa Ono to Tuberville at the public news conference: “We expect greatness from you, but we will be firmly behind you.”
–Former Cincinnati coach Butch Jones had spoken often about how tough it is to win 10 games a college football season.
Despite injuries, bitter defeats and a quarterback controversy, the Bearcats are on the brink of accomplishing exactly that.
Cincinnati (9-3) will face Duke (6-6) in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27 in Charlotte with a chance to notch its 10th win for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon and Virginia Tech are the only schools to win 10 games the last five seasons.
The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium.
The Bearcats, who finished in a four-way tie for the Big East Conference championship with Louisville, Rutgers and Syracuse, are bowl eligible for the sixth time in seven years.
Cincinnati lost its top pass rusher, senior defensive end Walter Stewart, because of a career-threatening spine injury.
The Bearcats adjusted to a quarterback change with five weeks remaining in the season and the Big East title still in flux. They went 7-3 in a stretch of 10 consecutive games without a bye, with three losses coming by a combined 16 points.
The switch to Brendon Kay at quarterback in the third quarter on Nov. 3 against Syracuse provided a much-needed spark for the Bearcats, who went 3-1 with him as the starter.
Kay’s ability to throw the deep ball provided an added dimension for the Bearcats. But Cincinnati still uses its running game to jumpstart the offense, led by George Winn, who has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
The Belk Bowl, which pits the third choice from the Big East vs. the fifth choice from the ACC, is the Bearcats’ sixth bowl trip in seven years, including Orange and Sugar Bowl berths under Brian Kelly.
Duke is playing in a bowl game despite finishing the season with four straight losses by an average of 25.5 points per game. The Blue Devils allowed an average of 35 points per game this season, but also scored 31.3 points per game.
Quarterback Sean Renfree of the Blue Devils has passed for 2,755 yards and 18 touchdowns. Jamison Crowder is his top target with 12 catches for 1,025 yards and eight touchdowns.