A pair of Cincinnatians lead Bearcats into Fenway Bowl game with Louisville
Kerry Coombs is excited to be in Boston to see the Green Monster of Fenway Park.
As a teen, he remembers Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk waving the home run fair to left as Boston evened the 1975 World Series with a dramatic comeback in game six.
He also remembers the thrill of the Cincinnati Reds winning game seven to earn the big trophy.
Now as the University of Cincinnati's interim head football coach, he looks forward to gridiron success near the Monster and jumping up and down as Cesar Geronimo once did after catching the final out over 47 years ago.
In college football's most peculiar twist, the Bearcats play Louisville in Fenway with both teams situated on one sideline competing in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl; football in one of baseball's most famous parks.
"We wanted to walk off the field Monday feeling we were ready to play," Coombs said before heading east. "We'll get to Boston and sharpen the sword. They have worked very hard to make that happen. They're ready to go. I love the way they've prepared."
He's also noted where the Bearcats will enter the field as he was shown by video.
"When you think of all the great baseball players that have come out on that tunnel and onto that field, it ain't all bad!" Coombs said.
Keg of Nails rivalryCincinnati will face old foe Louisville in Fenway Bowl
Cincinnati vs. Louisville matchup has an odd feel to it
Well, the bowl matchup was made and then UC Director of Athletics John Cunningham hired the coach of the opposing team, Scott Satterfield, to replace the departed Luke Fickell. Satterfield made it clear he would not be at the game given the unique circumstances. That opened the door for Coombs, who has coached college bowl games since joining Brian Kelly's UC staff in late 2006 for the International Bowl. A master motivator with UC, Ohio State and the NFL Tennessee Titans and a LaRosa's Hall of Fame high school coach at Colerain, Coombs is in his element.
"I count it as one of the great honors and privileges of my life to be able to stand in front of those kids every day," Coombs said. "You don't know how many more (chances) you get right? But right now, I've got'em! I'm going to take full advantage of it. I love those kids. It's a highlight for me right now, it really is!"
Reviving the Keg of Nails rivalry
The former rivals haven't played since 2013 and the Bearcats haven't won since 2011. And for the record, the Keg of Nails weighs less than a common lawn chair as there's nary a nail to be found in the barrel.
Tommy Tuberville coached in the last battle with Louisville winning 31-24 in overtime. Dominique Brown, a Winton Woods product that was flipped to Louisville by then-coach Charlie Strong scored the winning touchdown. Louisville and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater were then off to greener pastures at the Orange Bowl and the ACC while UC was left to toil in the new American Athletic Conference after the implosion of the football Big East.
UC's last triumph over Louisville came in 2011 under Butch Jones as Isaiah Pead ran for 151 yards leading to the popular chant at the time, "You got Pead on!'.
Said Coombs, "It (the Keg) is another cool piece to what is an otherwise really weird environment, right? A little icing on the cake. There's a Keg of Nails at the end of the rainbow."
3 keys to returning the Keg of Nails to the Lindner Center
Focus on the present, not the past
Both teams will be playing with depleted rosters. From the beginning of the season to now, Louisville has had a dozen players either transfer or opt-out of the bowl game. Louisville's notable missing include quarterback Malik Cunningham who threw for 1,568 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 565 and 12 more.
Cunningham has declared for the NFL Draft as have UC tight ends Josh Whyle and Leonard Taylor as well as receivers Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott. Louisville is also down running back Tiyon Evans, receiver Tyler Hudson (69 catches, 1,034 yards) and cornerback Kei'Trel Clark. Bearcat receivers Nick Mardner and Jadon Thompson are in the transfer portal. Thursday, defensive back J.Q. Hardaway announced he is going to Kentucky. Another defensive back, Ja'Quan Sheppard is heading to Maryland.
Coombs hopes to finish his interim run much like assistant Steve Stripling did for UC in the 2012 Belk Bowl before joining Butch Jones at Tennessee. Stripling is 1-0 at the helm of the red and black.
"We're going up there to win the game," Coombs said. "We're going to play the guys that help us win the game. This has been a great experience for our young players. They're getting a lot of great work right now. Some of them have demonstrated that they're going to help us win the game, so they'll play."
Coombs pointed out that this wasn't a spring practice or spring game situation where many players could be on display. Deion Branch is Louisville's interim coach with Satterfield now recruiting Bearcats. He'll step aside for new Louisville coach Jeff Brohm after the game.
"We're going up there with every intention of putting our best foot forward in every way," Coombs said. "I talked to those veteran kids. Why else would they be here to play this game? They're not coming to watch some young guy play. They're coming to honor the Cincinnati Bearcats with their efforts in how they play and honor the past few years."
2. Evan Prater must get back in the saddle and erase any memories of the loss to Tulane
"There was really no reason to sulk or be down on yourself," Prater said of the season-ending loss to Tulane in which he started. "We've got a great opportunity ahead of us right now. You put that in the past and focus on what we have moving forward."
The pressure is somewhat down on Prater as he's the No. 1 with Ben Bryant having season-ending surgery. The backup is sophomore Brady Lichtenberg a former 2020 Ohio Division II First Team selection out of Toledo. Redshirt senior Bryant has also been around bowl practice for support after season-ending surgery on his leg.
Prater was the 2019 Ohio Mr. Football from Wyoming a year before UC running back Corey Kiner won the 2020 honor at Roger Bacon.
He's a great leader, the kids love him," Coombs said of Prater. "I know this, Evan Prater's going to give us every single thing he has in that game Saturday."
3. Run the ball successfully while stopping the run on defense
In UC's three losses, they twice allowed a 100-plus yard rusher or were dramatically outgained on the ground. At Arkansas, Raheim Sanders ran for 117 and in the Tulane streak-ending defeat at Nippert, Tyjae Spears ran for 181. In the loss at UCF, the Knights outrushed the Bearcats 271-35. Even in relatively tight wins over Navy and East Carolina, UC was outrushed.
When they have a 100-yard rusher, UC is 5-0: (Miles Montgomery 104 vs. Kennesaw State, Corey Kiner 106 vs. Tulsa, Charles McClelland 101 vs. Miami (OH), 179 vs. USF and 129 vs. SMU).
How to watch the Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Kickoff time: 11 a.m. at Fenway Park
TV: ESPN with Chris Cotter on play-by-play, former New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich on color and sideline reporter Kelsey Riggs
Radio: 700WLW has Dan Hoard on play-by-play with former Bearcat receiver Jim Kelly on color. Game host Mo Egger will stay in town for UC's basketball game call with Terry Nelson later that afternoon at 2 p.m. vs. La Salle.
Betting line: Louisville is a 2-point favorite and the over/under point total is 40, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
Series history: UC leads 30-22-1 with Louisville winning their last meeting in 2013.
How has the team recovered from Luke Fickell leaving and Scott Satterfield taking over?
"At first it was hectic for everybody," Prater said. "Especially losing a guy like Coach Fick but Coach Coombs has done a phenomenal job of keeping everyone together. I'll go up in his office and we'll talk. He's just proud to be from Cincinnati and he wants to make the most of his opportunity. He tells us every day, 'Let's go get this Keg of Nails!'. He was here before so it means a little bit more to him you can tell."
Prater also says he has met with new coach Satterfield and the new quarterback coach Pete Thomas. While Satterfield was at Louisville the Cardinals offered Prater.
What's it like playing for Kerry Coombs?
"If you sit down and you listen to him for two or three minutes, you're ready to run through a brick wall," Prater said. "Having him talk to us in practice at team meetings and after practice, it just fires everybody up."
Why Kerry Coombs elected to stay with Scott Satterfield at UC
"I'm incredibly excited!" Coombs said. "For me, I choose here. I choose here specifically because of those kids that are under me right there (pointing). I know the tradition. I know what they're like. I know who they are. I choose here because of them. In my life journey, you get choices. For me, I'm really excited to have the opportunity to continue with them."
The pick?
Coombs and Prater know this is their moment as do the rest of the Bearcats who could finish with 10 wins for the third time in four seasons. Given the personnel changes, a sluggish game is to be expected from both. It could end with a clank off the crossbar or an unsung hero seizing the moment. If they used the manual scoreboard in the outfield for this one, it probably wouldn't be a Fenway frenzy. UC 17-16.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC interim coach Kerry Coombs: 'We're going up there to win the game!'
