Oct 19, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Connecticut Huskies quarterback Tim Boyle (14) throws an interception to Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback Deven Drane (not pictured) during the 2nd quarter of the game at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports
Remember to like Cincy on the Prowl on Facebook and follow Cincy on the Prowl on Twitter.
#10: ADRIAN WITTY PICK 6 AGAINST PURDUE
#9: MIKE TYSON’S TOUCHDOWN NON-TOUCHDOWN
The Cincinnati Bearcats whooped all kinds of UConn Husky ass in their meeting on the gridiron this past season. In a sense that’s what a lot of us expected when an 0-5 Connecticut team with an interim head coach limped into Nippert Stadium that October afternoon to face the 4-2 Bearcats. With the implementation of pro-style schemes offensive coordinator Eddie Gran brought over with him from Florida State, UC stumbled a few games prior to this one despite stomping Purdue to begin the season. The team just wasn’t “getting it” and it showed in losses to Illinois and South Florida as well as the too-close-to-call win over the Miami Redhawks.
But after Cincinnati’s dumpster fire of a game against USF in which UC hurt itself more than the Bulls did, Gran scrapped his plans in favor of the spread schemes that we all know and love. It resulted in a resurgence on offense. Temple was the first victim, losing to the Bearcats 38-20 at Nippert and UConn would be the next. The Huskies had no answer for Brendon Kay and Cincinnati’s passing attack and the defense did an excellent job stifling Connecticut quarterback Tim Boyle.
The UConn signal caller threw for over 300 yards but zero touchdowns and three interceptions. His QBR was just 11.6 when it was all said and done. Perhaps the most exciting play of the day came on one of those interceptions.
With the Huskies down by basically a million in the middle of the third quarter, Boyle tried to get his team back in the game on a 3rd and forever play. UConn was sitting at Cincinnati’s 25 yard line and needed a touchdown to elevate the contest from a laugher to a beat down. Boyle, with several UC linemen applying heavy pressure, threw an imbalanced pass to his left into double coverage. UC freshman safety Mike Tyson (All-Name Team) snagged the ball out of the air and raced down the sidelines. With several blockers ahead of him and with a few nifty moves, he was off to the races en route to a pick 6. But he didn’t account for the speed of UConn wide receiver Deshon Foxx, who chased him down from behind and popped the ball out eight yards away from paydirt.
FUMBLE!!!
The ball tumbled end-over-end through the North endzone as several Bearcats tripped over themselves trying to save the ball from rolling out the back. They couldn’t and play was ruled a touchback for the Huskies. That’s right, 95 yards later Mike Tyson’s interception for a touchdown wound up right back in the hands of UConn at their 20 yard line. A mix of confusion, exhaustion, and disbelief fell over the players. We as fans watching the game live empathized with their pain and admittedly I felt the same thing watching the replay several months later.
While this moment definitely didn’t turn out well for the Bearcats it earns a spot in the top 10 because of its memorability. UC fans for years to come will talk about the time Mike Tyson picked off a ball and ran it back 95 yards only to fumble it a few yards short of the endzone. Believe you me, if the safety actually crossed the goal line this would be a sure-fire top 5 moment. But it sits at #9.