Heading into this weekend’s Fenway Bowl and interesting statistic to hit on is the Cardinals are the only program in all of college football this season to have five wins against teams with seven or more wins on the season, so the Bearcats know the challenge at hand as the Cardinals have wins over ranked UCF and NC State, but also fell just short to No. 12 ranked Clemson back on November 12th.
For Coombs he is looking to lead the Bearcats to victory come Saturday morning and is taking the challenge one day at a time. Coombs, knows the circumstances are rather unique heading into this one, but he is embracing the opportunity and is looking forward to leading the Bearcats to victory during this unusual time. Coombs, a guy that makes a lot of people want to run a brick wall, due to his tenacious energy at all times of the day, is someone players have looked up to for many years during his coaching career, as Coombs is in his second stop here at the University of Cincinnati after joining Luke Fickell’s staff before the season. Coombs was also on Brian Kelly’s staff from 2007-2009 before departing for the Ohio State University where he coached some of the biggest stars in all of college football as well as the NFL.
“I count it as one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life to stand here and in front of these kids every day,” said Coombs. “Every chance I get, I don’t know how many more I’ll get but I got them right now, so I am going to take full advantage of it. I love those kids, it’s a highlight for me right now. It really is. I love being able to talk to them every day.”
The Fenway Bowl is a very unique bowl game as it is played at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. For those who haven’t noticed the end zones go from the outfield wall all the way to the wall right behind home plate as the team’s benches are facing the stands. Fenway Park is known for the historical Green Monster, the outfield wall however for this case the teams’ benches will be on that side of the wall to provide a better view of the game come Saturday, as Fenway Park is one of the most historical venues in all of professional sports. This is the first time the Fenway Bowl has been played since 2020 as the last two were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m excited about this opportunity because it is different, it’s unique and cool,” said Coombs. “I keep looking at the field as I think one corner of the end zone about runs into the stands, both teams on the same sidelines is something unique.”
The Cardinals and Bearcats will share the same sidelines that will run across the left field grass and with all the stuff going on surrounding both teams I think it could get a little interesting on Saturday as the energy will be high due to all the noise surrounding both programs as you take two schools that are just 90 miles apart, and take them 12 hours up the road to Boston to play a game in a unordinary stadium with temperatures around 30 degrees for kickoff come Saturday morning.
The Cardinals and Bearcats on the other hand will be without some key players due to the NFL Draft and such, but it is still something unique as many know both teams typically never share a sideline for a football game. This is something to keep an eye on for many reasons, as tensions are high due to the situation of one team coach leaving to go to what just happens to be their next opponent. Tensions will be high especially on the Cardinals side, but when it comes down to it, that is part of the business in college athletics is coaching changes, just most of the time it doesn’t occur to a school 90 miles away from the other University, that just so happens to be matched up in a bowl game.
“I have never been on the same sideline as an opponent. To be honest its weird as hell,” said Bearcats defensive lineman Jabari Taylor. “I am very interested and excited to see how this goes down.”
The Bearcats will look to get back in the win column after suffering a 27-24 to Tulane back on November 25th. Bearcats quarterback Evan Prater is looking to lead the Bearcats to victory in his second career start, after quarterback Ben Bryant went down with a foot injury earlier in the season.
For Prater, it’s an opportunity to join Cincinnati Native Kerry Coombs as they look to lead the Bearcats to victory and bring the Keg of Nails trophy back to Cincinnati come Saturday. Prater will be without offensive weapons Tre Tucker, Josh Whyle, Lenny Taylor and Tyler Scott on the offensive end as all four have decided to opt out of the Fenway Bowl and declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. Coombs, a guy that has coached on all levels of football including the NFL will look to guide the Bearcats to victory in his first game as head coach since 2007 when he coached at Colerain High School.
