Tuberville: Gunner Kiel Close To 100% Healthy

The Cincinnati Bearcats host the East Carolina Pirates on Thursday night and the most notable point Tommy Tuberville made today was on the health front.

Starting quarterback Gunner Kiel is apparently as close to 100% healthy as he has been in weeks. Having 13 days off will certainly provide that benefit. Still, Tuberville mentioned that both Kiel and Munchie Legaux will play against ECU. If I had to guess, I’d bet #11 starts and Legaux will come in to provide an extra wrinkle in the offense. But if Kiel’s back/rib soreness flares up on Thursday, don’t be surprised if Eddie Gran hands the duties over to Munchie.

Stray Observations

• Tommy Sniffles: 3
• Among other players who were on the mend but are back are starting left guard Kevin Schloemer, who practiced for the last two days, and rotational defensive end Jerrell Jordan.
• Tuberville mentioned that the cold weather on Thursday won’t necessarily provide Cincinnati an advantage because the team has been practicing in the controlled (“warm”) environment of the Sheakley Athletics Center bubble. Still, on the whole the UC players are more adept at playing in chillier temperatures than the Pirates.
• The reason for the coaches starting Gunner Kiel, who came up grasping his back after his first and only pass against Tulane, was because they wanted to see how far he could push himself. I’m not sure I get that.
• Still, Tuberville speaks with confidence about the kind of authority Kiel has displayed in practice and how well his back is holding up.
• For a moment Tuberville forgot about the South Florida game. We have a hard time remembering the Bulls have a real football program too, coach.
• Overall, the Bearcats’ big man kept it short. Today’s presser ran just about 13 and a half minutes.