The Blackcats defense is here to stay
The Bearcats enter the season with Bryan Brown leading a new look defense than what people have seen in recent years under previous Coach Luke Fickell. “This defense is a complete 180 from recent years,” Briggs said. “This defense likes to get up field and attack and hit those seams and play target practice on the quarterback.”
The Bearcats defensive line unit consists of nearly 14 years of college football between Dontay Corleone, Malik Vann and Jowon Briggs, which just happens to be one of the most experienced defensive lines within the country that will cause some havoc for opposing Big 12 teams this season after the additions of Jordan Young (Florida) and Daniel Grzesiak (Utah State) this often via transfer portal, both who are expected to have huge roles for the Bearcats this fall. “Daniel Grzesiak and Jordan Young are both really good football players. Grzesiak is going to be a big-time leader for us, despite getting to campus in January,” Satterfield said. “Our strength is the defensive line, but adding those two guys in that group, has me very excited.”
Whose first on the Conference schedule for the Bearcats?
The Bearcats will welcome the Oklahoma Sooners to Nippert Stadium for their first ever Big 12 conference game. The last time the Sooners came to Cincinnati, it dates all the way back to September 25th, 2010, where the Sooners defeated the Bearcats 31-29 at then Paul Brown Stadium. However, many people know that is a tough matchup to kick off the Big 12 season, but Scott Satterfield and the Bearcats are looking to embrace that opportunity, and the chance to do make history later this fall.
As Big 12 media days wrapped up this week, Oklahoma Head Coach Brett Venables is really looking forward to the opportunity to come to Nippert Stadium later this fall. “Coach Fickell did a tremendous job at developing a program and taking it to that next level,” said Oklahoma head coach Brett Venables. “Obviously, two years ago they were in the college football playoffs. Coach Satterfield is a tremendous coach and he will have those guys ready. At the end of the day, it’s going to be a great test for us.”
What are other coaches saying about Cincinnati joining the Big 12.
“Cincinnati obviously has been a very strong program, you look at the success of the coaches who have been there going back to Brian Kelly, everyone who has been at Cincinnati has won, so it tells you a lot about the program,” said TCU Head Coach Sonny Dykes. “Cincinnati has strong infrastructure, great fan support, and a tradition of winning. Everything you look for they have, I expect them to be a really good addition to the Big 12.”
“Cincinnati brings great value to the Big 12 Conference,” Kansas State head coach Chris Kleiman said. “We don’t get the opportunity to play them this year, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for what they have done. I’m very excited for them.”
The Bearcats will kick off the season September 2nd vs EKU, but they will get the chance to renew a rivalry that dates back to the programs time in the Big East when they travel to Morgantown, West Virginia later this year to take on West Virginia. “I think for our fans it’s important because it is the only drivable game on the schedule,” West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said. “This rivalry is very important and has a lot of history being in the same conference together. I think for our fanbase this rivalry makes a lot of sense.”
A friendly reunion locked in on October 14th.
Scott Satterfield will get the opportunity to share the field with lifelong friend and current Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell, whose relationship dates back to their time spent together at Toledo back in 2009.” You always want to play against great people, and I think the world of Scott Satterfield,” said Campbell. “He is going to do great things with that program at Cincinnati.” You could sense how much Matt Campbell means to Satterfield when we asked about his relationship with Iowa States Matt Campbell this afternoon. “I have tremendous respect for Matt Campbell and the way he does things as a coach. He does things the right way,” Said Satterfield.
