Tony Pike threw a few crisp passes to Mardy Gilyard on a cold, sunny afternoon. The defense started getting ready to try to stop Tim Tebow in the biggest bowl game in Cincinnatis history.

After a tumultuous week, it all felt good.

The Bearcats (12-0) began practice for the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, one week after coach Brian Kelly told his players at their annual football banquet that he was headed for Notre Dame. The past seven days have been filled with anger, rumors and a lot of uncertainty.

Finally, they got back to football on Thursday, working out in front of Nippert Stadiums empty seats.

“This was kind of therapy for all of us – the kids included – to get back out here and do what they love, said offensive coordinator and interim coach Jeff Quinn.

Mentally, they were aching for it.

No BCS bowl team had a worse week than Cincinnati. After taking final exams, the players got together for their awards banquet at a downtown hotel while hearing rumors that Kelly was leaving for Notre Dame. At the end of the evening, he told them the rumors were true.

Some of the players had tears, others wore angry expressions when the left their meeting with Kelly, who was introduced in South Bend, Ind., the next day. Cincinnati immediately started a search for his replacement, causing more rumors to fly.

On Wednesday, Central Michigan head coach Butch Jones agreed to a five-year contract, came to Cincinnati and met with the players before being publicly introduced as Kellys replacement. Then he went back to Michigan, leaving it up to Quinn to start getting the team ready for its first Sugar Bowl appearance against fifth-ranked Florida on Jan. 1.

Jones plans to stay in the background leading up to the bowl, letting the players and coaches carry on the way they have throughout the best season in school history. Quinn, who was announced as interim coach the day that Kelly left, addressed the team after practice Thursday at the 30-yard line, nodding his head and pointing his finger to emphasize his points during his speech.

“It was just about getting back out here and putting everything that happened last week away, Pike said. “It kind of stinks that the media gets surrounded with coach Kelly and the coaching stuff, and at the same time we just finished a 12-0 season and you dont hear much about that. It was about being able to get back to football and letting the business part of it go.

Their focus isnt completely sharp yet. Senior offensive tackle Jeff Linkenbach acknowledged that the past seven days still seemed like a blur.

“A little bit, yeah, he said. “And last week was finals week on top of that. So it was a little rough with that. Then we had some time off, time to refocus and clear your mind.

“Its a rough situation, but were ready to move on and try to get ready to play Florida. Anytime you have change, it takes some time to get used to it. I think weve accomplished that in the week we had off.

The Bearcats will practice through next Tuesday, take off for Christmas, then fly to New Orleans on Dec. 26 to get ready for the game.

Pike said the first practice without Kelly was sharp, an indication that the time off worked.

“I think guys had to get away for a few days, Pike said. “The level of focus is where it was the last week of the season. From what I saw today, guys are locked in and ready to buy into what these coaches are saying.

Posted on December 18th, 2009 by admin
Filed under: College football news, NCAA college football