Tommy Tuberville Rutgers Week Press Conference Notes
By Chris Bains
Nov 9, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Tommy Tuberville on the sidelines during the first quarter of the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports
This Saturday will be Tuberville’s first trip to New Jersey. Well.. leading a football team to the Garden State, anyways, as he hopes to buck a trend of Bearcats futility against the Scarlet Knights. Since annihilating Rutgers 69-38 in 2010, Cincinnati hasn’t scored a touchdown on them in the last two years. In fact, UC hasn’t scored more than six points combined against the Jersey boys since that game in 2010. Yikes. Hopefully Tuberville gets things turned around. Let’s see what he has to say about Cincinnati’s next opponent.
- Chris Burrell and Trenier Orr, who had knee surgery eight weeks ago, will be back for Rutgers and will have a chance to play.
- The Scarlet Knights are “very similar to us” on both sides of the ball, schematically and from a personnel standpoint.
- The Bearcats ran it in the second half last week quite a bit, which allowed them to hold onto the ball for 22 of the final 30 minutes of the game. That was huge to keeping SMU’s dangerous offense off the field.
- Like me, Tuberville is surprised to learn the Bearcats are leading the AAC in rushing yards this year.
- Speaks highly of Kay’s confidence in Cincinnati’s slot receivers Shaq Washington and Anthony McClung. Have truly helped the Bearcats’ offense in recent weeks as well as the quarterback’s numbers.
- Still calls him “Brandon”.
- Tuberville is perfectly aware that Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova is a turnover machine, not just interceptions.
- Too many turnovers on UC’s offense and lack of turnovers from UC’s defense has hindered the team this season.
- Like any sane person, Tuberville doesn’t look at yardage the defense gives up. Points matter, and Cincinnati is currently ranked 18th in points allowed.