Cincinnati Bearcats Finish Year Ranked in AP and Coaches Polls
By Chris Bains
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A bowl win doesn’t just come with a trophy, tons of swag, and a double-digit win season. With the 2011 college football season official over, Cincinnati’s win over Vanderbilt in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl jettisoned the Bearcats to 25th in the Associated Press Poll and 21st in the Coaches Poll. The Coaches Poll makes up a third of the BCS rankings so when those are released it’s very likely that the Bearcats will be ranked in there, as well. UC appeared in both polls and even the BCS rankings near the middle of the season. But two straight losses with the injury to Zach Collaros dropped them out of the rankings. Near the end of the year, however, two straight wins put Cincinnati on the cusp of being ranked and would have ultimately the final Big East standings and the conferences bowl bid. Now with the bowl win, the Bearcats will be able to show off those crooked numbers for the next 9 months until the 2012 season starts up.
Other Final Stats of Note:
– Cincinnati finished the season 2nd in sacks, just behind Texas A&M. The defensive unit got after it this season.
– Cincinnati finished 6th against the run allowing only 95 yards per game on the ground.
– Despite giving up tons of yards through the air, Cincinnati finished T-18th with 16 interceptions this year. Ball hawking!
– Isaiah Pead, despite running in the spread, finished the season 21st with 1,259 rushing yards.
– Derek Wolfe finished the year with 21.5 tackles for loss, good for 5th in the nation.
– Cincinnati ranked 16th in punting with 44 yards per punt. Pat O’Donnell’s a beast, in case you didn’t know.