Cincinnati Bearcats looking to get RB Ford more involved
University of Cincinnati running back Jerome Ford said he was “impressed” by the environment fans created during the Bearcats’ 52-3 win over Temple on Friday night at Nippert Stadium.
Ford responded to his first “Nipp at Night” experience by having the best game of his career. The Alabama transfer rushed for a personal-best 149 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
The effort led Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell to name Ford the team’s Offensive Player of the Game and earned Ford the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor. Now, will it earn Ford more carries?
Fickell said Tuesday he would love to see Ford carry more of the load, but the defensive-minded head coach added he isn’t a part of the offensive play-calling.
“They don’t always listen to me,” Fickell said with a laugh.
But he also said his staff is always looking for ways to get Ford more involved, particularly early in games.
Ford has 516 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season. He had 483 yards and eight touchdowns all of last season. Those eight rushing scores this year are tied for second in the AAC.
Ford is averaging 6.3 yards per carry, which ranks third in the conference among players with at least 55 carries. Ford has 82 rushing attempts this season. Ford’s career high in carries in a single game is 20. That came on Sept. 18 at Indiana.
CFP National Championship Trophy will be at Nippert Stadium
When No. 3 ranked Cincinnati (5-0) hosts AAC rival UCF Saturday, the Bearcats will do it in front of college football’s ultimate prize.
The College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy will be on the sideline for the sold-out, nationally televised showdown (noon on ABC).
Ridder said he’s not going to touch the trophy or even acknowledge it until it’s truly his.
“I’m sure it’s going to look pretty and going to look shiny and everything, but we still have a long way to go till we get there,” he said. “Hopefully one day we can hold that, and it will be ours.”
The trophy’s presence is a bit of a consolation prize for Cincinnati, which was a finalist to host Saturday’s “College Gameday” broadcast on ESPN. Instead, Gameday will be in Athens, Georgia, for the Southeastern Conference clash between No. 11 Kentucky and top-ranked Georgia.