Last Updated on December 2, 2009 10:31 am by drew
Defacto Big East Final
Pittsburgh,
But little of that discussion has anything to do with his undefeated Cincinnati team preparing for perhaps the biggest game in the program’s history.
As rumors of Kelly’s future swirl, his fifth-ranked Bearcats put their unbeaten record on the line Saturday at Heinz Field against No. 14 Pittsburgh, with the winner earning the Big East’s Bowl Championship Series berth – and in Cincinnati’s case, potentially much more.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made
In three years, Kelly has elevated the Bearcats (11-0, 6-0) from a mediocre program to a perennial Big East contender.
"I wouldn’t say it was easy to get to 11-0, but 11-0 is not going to matter if we lose to Pittsburgh, and the guys know this,” said senior Mardy Gilyard, who caught two touchdown passes and ran back a kickoff for a score. "If we take care of business, the rest is up to the voters and the computers whatever else is out there, to figure out what we do with the postseason.”
In any other season, beating the Panthers (9-2, 5-1) to wind up 12-0 might guarantee the Bearcats a spot in the national championship game, but with five other unbeatens, it might only be enough to send them back to the Orange Bowl. Should 21st-ranked
"It’s championship week,” Kelly said at his Tuesday press conference. "As a coach, it doesn’t get any better than this, when you’re playing for a championship. There’s nothing that gets you more excited than being in this kind of environment, with a championship this week.”
Little of Kelly’s press conference was spent discussing
In recent years, Kelly’s name was linked with vacancies at
"It’s not comfortable for me," Kelly said. "It’s not comfortable for those that are involved in it, but it’s the reality of it. The only thing I can control is the message every day, and the message to our football players is about how we can become champions and how we can win football games."
While the Bearcats head in on a high note after Pike looked like his normal self in his first start since Oct. 15, the Panthers will are coming off a heartbreaking loss. Trailing bitter rival
"At the beginning of the season, we talked about winning the Big East championship," coach Dave Wannstedt said. "We can accomplish that next week, so we’ll turn the page on this week fast.”
Aside from getting beaten by its chief rival, the loss didn’t mean all that much to
The loser, meanwhile, may be relegated to the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
"We told everyone that we’re coming in and we’re going to get going on
Pitt has won one Big East title, when it finished in a four-way tie in 2004 and was routed by
Stull has been mostly solid in his senior year, throwing 19 touchdowns and six interceptions and posting a 153.0 passer rating that’s second in the conference behind Pike’s 162.2.
His worst game, however, came in the loss to the Mountaineers, when he threw two critical interceptions.
Despite allowing
The Bearcats have allowed 190.7 yards rushing and 442.7 total yards in their past three victories.
Posted: 12/2/09 10:31AM ET