Satterday’s at Nippert Stadium are officially here for Scott Satterfield and the Bearcats as they are just three days away from their home opener against Eastern Kentucky University. The Bearcats are looking to prove the doubters wrong after being picked to finish 13th in the Big 12 preseason media polls, as they are currently 97% favorites according to ESPN’s matchup predictor.
Scott Satterfield enters his first season as head coach of the Bearcats after signing a six-year deal back in December following Luke Fickell’s departure to Wisconsin. However, for Satterfield this is the most excitement he’s every felt surrounding a first game to the season, especially with everything that has happened at the University of Cincinnati in the last year.
“I’m excited as I’ve ever been for the first game as a head coach,” Satterfield said. “To come out and coach in this environment and stadium, man it’s going to be awesome. I love everything about it. I love the size of the stadium, you know it’s not a 100,000-seat stadium, but man the fans are right on top of you, opponents will feel smothered and make it very difficult to get going. I know our players will feed off the atmosphere and excitement. its inspirational to those guys, more than anything you don’t want to let those people down that have paid good money to come see us play. Let’s go give them a show and something to cheer about.”
As Satterfield and the Bearcats get ready for this weekend’s matchup vs Eastern Kentucky, quarterback Emory Jones is looking to prove the doubters wrong heading into his 6th season of college football. Jones started his career at Florida, before transferring to Arizona State last season, where things ultimately didn’t go as planned after head coach Herm Edwards was fired in just the third weeks of the season.
“This is a different feeling now, going into my third season as a starter, the preparation aspect, what to expect, how to prepare, I have been through it three times now,” Jones said. ” I think right now, I’m the most comfortable I have ever been. This time around just feels different. I’m going to go out there and do what I’m supposed to do and have fun. I feel like that’s something I haven’t done the last few years playing QB.”
Jones, was named a team captain earlier this week by his teammates and staff, despite arriving on campus back in January. “It’s an amazing feeling,” Jones said. “I was a captain last season at Arizona State, so I knew how to come in and approach this situation, making sure I earn the trust of everyone in the building. To have that honor to be named captain, there’s no better feeling. Just knowing the guys have your respect and trust you and look to you to be your best at all times.”
None of this is a preview. This is an interview. There’s no preview of the game here.
second page is the preview, gives a breakdown of the players on offense EKU has