Williams: How Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Ben Bryant brushes off ongoing criticism
The Cincinnati Bearcats get the weekly predictions column all to themselves with the Bengals on a bye. UC still has an outside shot to make its third consecutive New Year's Six bowl. The Bearcats must win out. East Carolina will be the toughest team to come to Nippert Stadium so far this season. Here is my prediction:
College football prediction: Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2, 4-1 AAC) vs. East Carolina Pirates (6-3, 3-2), 8 p.m., Friday, ESPN2
This season is really experiencing what it’s like to be a big-time college football program.
Fan scrutiny on the Bearcats’ quarterback position has been intense, perhaps more so than any other season since the program started in 1885. It comes with the high expectations of an unprecedented two-year run, highlighted by last season’s College Football Playoff appearance.
Top programs do a good job of internally handling quarterback scrutiny. In that sense, the Bearcats are thriving.
Quarterback Ben Bryant and coach Luke Fickell have admirably handled seasonlong calls from a small (but loud) faction of the fanbase to bench the senior.
Bryant hasn’t shown signs of being rattled by the criticism, helping to lead UC to a 7-2 record and positioning them to contend for another American Athletic Conference title.
For his part, Fickell has steadfastly backed his quarterback. After the Oct. 29 loss at Central Florida snapped UC’s 19-game conference winning streak, Fickell asked Bryant for the first time this season if he’s OK.
“After last week, I did feel like, ‘Oh, maybe I need to pay attention a little bit more, make sure I understand what our guys are going through,’ ” Fickell said. “I paid a little bit more attention. I grabbed Ben. I just made sure he – not that he needed it – knows how much we appreciate what it is that he does; how much we count on him; how great of a job I think he’s doing. He’s very mature and confident in what he’s doing.”
Bryant, in his fifth year, knew what he was walking into when he transferred from Eastern Michigan. He’s the guy who replaced The Guy, being in the unenviable position of following beloved, four-year starting quarterback Desmond Ridder. UC went to unprecedented heights with Ridder, who led the Bearcats 44 wins the last four seasons.
It’s not worth debating whether the criticism of Bryant is fair. Every major program has its critics. And criticism of college athletes is probably going to get worse as players ditch schools for the transfer portal and become more like pro athletes by entering name, image and likeness deals.
It’s still not an excuse to lose perspective.
Scouting report:Scouting report: A look at Cincinnati's next opponent, the East Carolina Pirates
UC’s two-year run of undefeated regular seasons was bound to end this year after losing a school-record nine NFL draft picks, including Ridder. Bryant has been serviceable. He gives the Bearcats their best chance to win, despite constant calls from Twitter to start former Wyoming High School star Evan Prater.
Bryant has gone three straight games without an interception. He completed a season-best 71.4% of his passes in last Saturday’s win over Navy. Bryant isn’t flashy. He’s not outspoken. He’s respected by his teammates for being a steady hand. He said criticism is "just words," and he's never been bothered by it during his high school and college playing career.
“I have pretty thick skin,” Bryant said. “That stuff doesn’t really get to me. I’m just focused on this team, this season. And all I really care about is what the people in the locker room and the coaches say about me. I don’t really care about what anyone else says about me. I’m just focused on getting better for this team and winning games.”
Look for Bryant to step up in primetime.
Prediction: Bearcats win, 28-23
Last week: UC defeated Navy, 20-10. I predicted the Bearcats would win, 31-20.
My season record: 8-0 (the predictions column didn’t start until after UC’s season-opening loss at Arkansas)
Contact sports columnist Jason Williams by email at jwilliams@enquirer.com and on Twitter @jwilliamscincy.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. East Carolina college football prediction
