The Bearcats are arguably coming into the biggest game in program History this weekend when they travel to South Bend to take on No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Bearcats are looking to prove why they are one of the top teams in all of college football and why they shouldn’t be doubted after coming off of a season like they had in 2020.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish coaching staff is filled with a lot of familiar faces to Bearcat fans. Brian Kelly who was the head coach for the Bearcats from 2006-2009 led the Bearcats to a Big East Championship where they defeated Pittsburgh in the final seconds to later secure a spot in the Sugar Bowl. The Fighting Irish also have former Bearcats defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman on the staff, who left the program after the Bearcats incredible run in 2020. Freeman had a lot of interest this spring after developing the Bearcats defense into one of the tops in the nation. Former Bearcats cornerbacks coach Mick Mickens also joined Freeman on Brian Kelly’s staff the previous offseason, Mickens played a huge success in the development of guys like Coby Bryant and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner.
It will be very interesting to see how the Bearcats change up some looks on both sides of the ball as Mickens and Freeman both know this team very well. It’s a big matchup that players and coaches are excited about. Coach Fickell gave a lot of praise to the Notre Dame football program this week ahead of this weekends Top 10 match up.
“Anytime you get to play Notre Dame, its a big game. Notre Dame is obviously a Top 5 football program. It’s a year we are both ranked high, we have to stay focused, it’s two Top 10 teams playing. ”
