CLNS Media
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • A List Podcast
    • Almost Shameless
    • Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast
    • Bruins Beat
    • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
    • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
    • Celtics Beat
    • Celtics Lab
    • Celtics Stuff Live
    • Celtics Postgame Live
    • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
    • The Garden Report
    • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
    • Patriots Beat
    • Patriots Postgame Show
    • Patriots Roundtable
    • Patriots Press Pass
    • Poke the Bear
    • Red Sox Beat
    • Winning Plays
    • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
CLNS Media
Join The Network Subscribe
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • podcast
      • A List Podcast
      • Almost Shameless
      • Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast
      • Bruins Beat
      • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
      • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
      • Celtics Beat
    • podcast
      • Celtics Lab
      • Celtics Postgame Live
      • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
      • The Garden Report
      • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
      • Patriots Beat
    • podcast
      • Patriots Postgame Show
      • Pats Interference
      • Poke the Bear
      • Red Sox Beat
      • Winning Plays
      • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
CLNS Media
Home » Bearcats Beat: With Another AAC Title In Reach, Why It’s Right To Buy Into Ben Bryant
All Sports

Bearcats Beat: With Another AAC Title In Reach, Why It’s Right To Buy Into Ben Bryant

Quarterback blocks out boos to lead Bearcats in clutch win.
Mike PetragliaBy Mike Petraglia11/12/20225 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Ben Bryant is hoping an AAC title is in his sights. (University of Cincinnati)
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

CINCINNATI – When you follow a legend, impressing a demanding fan base is not going to be easy.

Just ask Ben Bryant.

The Bearcats quarterback heard the boos Friday night early and often during a 27-25 win over East Carolina that keeps UC right in the mix for a third straight AAC championship bid.

By his own admission, Bryant struggled early Friday, leading an offense that totaled minus-10 yards on its first two possessions. After getting sacked to end the first series, he didn’t see an inside pressure on the second possession and held onto the ball too long along his own goal line, a critical mistake that was punished by a sack for a safety.

Bryant, who returned from Eastern Michigan to try and fill the shoes of Desmond Ridder for his senior season, finished 14-of-30 for 244 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s win.

“I definitely wasn’t the sharpest. I recognize that. I’m my own sharpest critic. I’m definitely not happy about that. You can’t turn a win into a loss. I’m happy we won. I’m happy we fought it out but yeah, there’s definitely some things to improve on for next week (at Temple).”

Trending
Celtics Blow Out Nets 139-96 for 10th Straight Win Over Brooklyn

The Bearcats defense picked him up to a degree, allowing just a field goal. And when he did have time, which was most of the night, he overthrew receivers several times, including twice on go routes that were easy touchdowns if not for misfires by Bryant.

But say this for Bryant, he was resilient. After missing Tyler Scott on a wide-open route for six in the second quarter, he came back on the next play and hit Tre Tucker on a wide receiver tunnel screen for a 55-yard touchdown.

Tyler Scott taking his turn to show off his speed!!??#AmericanFB x @GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/MAj8r7jiQY

— American Football (@American_FB) November 12, 2022

He missed a wide-open Jadon Thompson down the left sideline for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Bearcats settled for a field goal and a 24-12 halftime lead.

Even when he put the ball on the spot, like a perfect pass to Will Pauling in the end zone in the fourth, Bryant couldn’t catch a break. Bryant led the Bearcats to the game-winning drive. And that’s really what Luke Fickell was looking for Friday, a player to step up when the team had blown a 21-5 lead and needed a drive.

No rafters? No problem.

Had to get @CoachFick to hit that ECU victory celebration one last time.#Bearcats pic.twitter.com/nEZ6IiOuCo

— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) November 12, 2022

Bryant’s attitude and work ethic is what earns him the respect of his teammates and head coach. Leaders are made when they’re not performing well and still find a way to impact a game and lead the team to victory.

“I usually grab a few guys after a game like that or after a victory, and sometimes it’s those guys that have phenomenal games, and then sometimes it’s a guy that is playing his butt off and doing so much that I want them to be up in front of those guys,” Fickell said. “He takes some criticism, he takes some flack, you heard them out there tonight and you know what, to me, it just shows the care. I can promise you five years ago there was you couldn’t hear a boo in the crowd.

“So, in some ways, I know it’s hard. I know it’s hard on him. But to me that’s what we kind of want to get him up there for us to make sure he understood how much we appreciate what is he does and how hard he fights for us.”

And that is what makes Bryant so popular in the locker room.

“I just told them how much I appreciate them,” said Bryant. “They have all have my back. Coaches, players. I’ve put a lot of work into this program. They all know that. It’s just really fun to be back here, playing with these guys, grinding out wins with them. I just told them how much I appreciate them and (I’m) excited to keep this rolling.”

Think about what Bryant was asked to do. He took over for the most accomplished quarterback in school history at a program that was coming off a 13-0 regular season before a CFP national semifinal loss to Alabama. He’s led them to an 8-2 mark overall and a 5-1 record in a highly competitive American Athletic Conference.

Luke Fickell praised Ben Bryant to the team after Bearcats win when Bryant wasn’t at his best, something Bryant acknowledged after. pic.twitter.com/TfqnLk17kd

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 12, 2022

And if they keep this rolling next week in Philadelphia and the following Black Friday at home against Tulane, Fickell will gladly remind them that November isn’t about quarterback rating or passing records. Just look at the track record of Friday night’s guest at Nippert – Desmond Ridder – for a reminder of that.

“November is for champions and November is for championship teams,” head coach Luke Fickell said. “You want to be playing for something in November. We could all say we are always playing for things, but what you do in January and what you do in that offseason is really meant for November.

“We talked about playing your best ball at the end of the year and a lot of things go into that but it’s the way I was brought up. Coach (Jim) Tressel, former Ohio State football head coach, instilled and pounded that into my head for 10 years about what it means to play in November and what you have to do. We try to continue to pound that in. That’s a big philosophy of how we do things and what we want to do.”

And, in good times and bad, Ben Bryant has completely bought into that philosophy.

AAC Ben Bryant Cincinnati Bearcats East Carolina football Jadon Thompson Navy Tre Tucker Tyler Scott UC
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

Mike Petraglia

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Joined CLNS Media in 2017. Covered Boston sports as a radio broadcaster, reporter, columnist and TV and video talent since 1993. Covered Boston Red Sox for MLB.com from 2000-2007 and the New England Patriots for ESPN Radio, WBZ-AM, SiriusXM, WEEI, WEEI.com and CLNS since 1993. Featured columnist for the Boston Celtics on CelticsBlog.

Related Posts

Joe Burrow ‘Feels Great’ About Direction Of Bengals, Even After Gut-Punching AFC Title Loss To Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

01/30/2023

Celtics Trade on the Horizon + Kyrie Irving Seek Contract Extension

01/27/2023

CLNS Exclusive: Celtics’ Derrick White Details Neck Injury Versus Hornets

01/16/2023

Joe Mazzulla Sees Growth in Celtics’ Comeback Win Against Hornets

01/15/2023

Patriots-Dolphins preview and 2023 coaching changes with Doug Kyed

12/30/2022

Coaching is killing the Patriots season, Jerod Mayo’s future and Dolphins sneak peek

12/27/2022

Comments are closed.

Follow Us
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
Featured Videos
Featured Videos

Are You Worried About Jayson Tatum?

By Tim Sheils02/04/2023

On Friday night, the Boston Celtics were aiming for their third straight win against the…

Q&A: Shrine Bowl, Senior Bowl, + More Patriots Talk

02/02/2023

Report: Celtics and Heat Interested in a Kelly Olynyk Trade

02/02/2023

Is the Celtics Juggernaut Offense Back?

02/02/2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • View All Podcasts
  • About
  • Privacy Policy

2022 North Station Media. Designed by J&R Marketing.


At North Station Media, we don’t just celebrate diversity, we live it. North Station Media is an equal opportunity employer that commits itself everyday creating the most inclusive environment for all its employees and hiring the best and most qualified individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Cleantalk Pixel