2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football Cincinnati University Bearcats textlogo.svg 250 Big East Conference Big East 9 8 12–1 7–0 Brian Kelly 3rd regular season Jeff Quinn bowl game Jeff Quinn 3rd Multiple Bob Diaco 1st 4–3 Nippert Stadium Big East champion Sugar Bowl L 24–51 vs. Florida The 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team, coached by Brian Kelly, played its home games in Nippert Stadium. They won their second consecutive Big East Conference championship and played in their second consecutive Bowl Championship Series game, the Sugar Bowl vs Florida. It was also the second BCS bowl appearance in school history. The Bearcats finished third in the 2009 Bowl Championship Series rankings. The Bearcats became the first team from a BCS conference to finish the regular season unbeaten and be left out of the BCS Championship Game since Auburn in 2004. However, had Texas lost the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game, the Bearcats would have had a realistic shot at playing in the BCS National Championship Game, since they would have been one of only two undefeated teams left from an AQ conference. Head coach Brian Kelly resigned at the end of the regular season to take the head coaching job at Notre Dame. Offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn coached the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl. Butch Jones began coaching the team in 2010. The Bearcats were defeated by Florida 51–24 in the Sugar Bowl to end their undefeated season. An element of the 2009 team was their adoption of Mitch Stone, a 12-year-old cancer patient, called "a key to this special season".Thamel Pete Pete Thamel Resurgent Cincinnati Inspired by Bond With Young Cancer Patient https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/sports/ncaafootball/15cincy.html January 30, 2021 The New York Times October 14, 2009 Schedule 2009 AP Eastern September 7 4:00 pm w y Rutgers Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ ESPN 47–15 53,737 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292500164 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100320140156/http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292500164 March 20, 2010 live September 12 7:30 pm w y 23 Southeast Missouri State Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH FSN Ohio 70–3 30,421 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292552132 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 September 19 6:45 pm w y y 17 Oregon State Reser Stadium Corvallis, OR FSN 28–18 41,909 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292620204 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Oregon State Beavers Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 September 26 12:00 pm w y 14 Fresno State Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH Whiteout Game ESPN+ 28–20 32,910 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292692132 Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Cincinnati Bearcuts Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100315124526/http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292692132 March 15, 2010 live October 3 1:00 pm w y y 10 Miami (OH) Yager Stadium Oxford, OH Victory Bell ESPN360 37–13 23,493 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292760193 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Miami (OH) RedHawks Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 October 15 7:30 pm w y 8 South Florida 21 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL ESPN 34–17 63,976 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292880058 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. South Florida Bulls Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 October 24 3:30 pm w y 5 Louisville Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH Keg of Nails ESPNU 41–10 35,099 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292972132 Louisville Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Box Score ESPN October 24, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091028211130/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292972132 October 28, 2009 live October 31 12:00 pm w y 5 Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY ESPNU 28–7 33,802 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293040183 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Syracuse Orange Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 November 7 8:00 pm w 4 Connecticut Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH ABC Blackout Game 47–45 35,100 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293112132 Connecticut Huskies vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 November 13 8:00 pm w 5 West Virginia Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH Ring of Red Game ESPN2 24–21 35,105 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293172132 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 November 27 12:00 pm w y 5 Illinois Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH ABC 49–36 35,106 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293312132 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 December 5 12:00 pm w y 5 Pittsburgh 14 Heinz Field Pittsburgh, PA River City Rivalry ABC 45–44 63,387 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293390221 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 January 1 8:30 pm l y 4 Florida 5 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl FOX 24–51 65,207 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=300010057 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Florida Gators Box Score ESPN.com March 30, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100320131303/http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=300010057 March 20, 2010 live Rankings 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings 15 - 23 17 14 10 8 8 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 4 8 - 23 21 15 11 10 9 6 7 7 5 5 5 5 4 9 4 10 9 8 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 7 5 8 5 5 5 5 5 3 Game summaries Cincinnati successfully defended its Big East title with a thrilling come from behind in win in Pittsburgh. While the game was the regular season finale for both teams it was seen as a de facto conference title game as the winner would have either the best outright conference record (Cincinnati) or the head to head tiebreaker (Pittsburgh) and be award the BCS bowl game slot in the Sugar Bowl. The 15th ranked Panthers started strong taking the opening kickoff and driving right down field to score with Dion Lewis scoring from 4 yards out. The Bearcats responded with a quick touchdown drive to tie the game, Jacob Ramsey bulling in from 2 yards out. The teams ended the first quarter tied at 7. The Panthers pounded the Bearcats with 24 second quarter points as they utilized the pinpoint passing of Bill Stull to score seemingly at will. Stull found Jon Baldwin twice for scores, Dan Hutchins added a 33-yard field goal and Stull run a QB sneak in from 3 yards out and the Panthers were up 31-10 and looking to put the game out of reach but on the ensuing kickoff after the Stull TD run. Mardy Gilyard took the kickoff at the one found a crease and raced 99 yards for a touchdown. That score seemed to stunt the Panthers title hopes. Though the Bearcats would only score once in the 3rd quarter on another long Gilyard score, this time on a 68-yard pass from Tony Pike, the Bearcats held the Panthers scoreless in the 3rd and would head to the decisive 4th down only 31–24. The deficit ballooned back to 14 on another scoring run from Lewis, the Bearcats got yet another long kick return from Gilyard and DJ Woods snagged an 8-yard touchdown pass from Pike. The extra point missed and the Bearcats trailed 38-30 The Bearcats tied the game on a short run by Isaiah Pead and a successful 2 point conversion and the Bearcats had fought back to level the game at 38. The Panthers were not done, though. Driving 67 yards in 4:10, Dion Lewis scored his 3rd touchdown of the game. Hutchins missed the extra point but the Panthers had a 44–38 lead with 1:36 left and dreams of crashing the Bearcats Big East title and BCS hopes in the snowy afternoon. But Pike and the Bearcats had other ideas. Racing back down field in just 63 seconds, the Bearcats were at the Panther 29. Pike dropped back to pass and found Armon Binns streaking down the sideline. His perfectly lobbed pass found a tumbling Binns in the end zone for the Bearcats first lead of the day with a scant 33 seconds left. The Panthers could do nothing with the time they had left and the Bearcats would celebrate its 2nd consecutive Big East Title and BCS Bowl berth. The Bearcats would finish the regular season with unbeaten for the first time in school history and its 12 wins would be a school record. The Bearcats would head to the bowl without Brian Kelly as it was announced just days after the game that he had accepted the head coaching position at Notre Dame. Jeff Quinn would coach the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl and then he too would depart as he had accepted the head coaching position at Buffalo. Pittsburgh #fff #eee background-color:#000; color:#fff collapsed Pittsburgh December 5 12:00 p.m. Cincinnati 7 10 7 21 Pittsburgh 7 24 0 13 Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 63,387 Flurries, 30 F Gerard McGinn ABC Sean McDonough (Play-by-play), Matt Millen (Color) & Holly Rowe (Sideline) https://archive.today/20120710041813/http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=293390221 Recap Passing Tony Pike 22/44, 302 yards, 3 INT Rushing Isaiah Pead 9-76, Jacob Rogers 1-3, Jacob Ramsey 2-2, Zach Collaros 1-0, Tony Pike 4-(-11) Receiving Mardy Gilyard 5-118, Armon Binns 5-104, DJ Woods 7-61, Ben Guidugli 3-17, Isaiah Pead 2-2 Defense Aaron Webster 9 tackles, 2 Forced Fum, INT, JK Schaffer 9 tackles, 1.0 sack, Derek Wolfe 1.0 sack, Dominique Battle INT, Alex Daniels 1.0 sack Cincinnati Pittsburgh collapsed 1 7:27 Pittsburgh 56 6:29 RushTD Dion Lewis 4 good Dan Hutchins 0 7 1 5:17 Cincinnati 66 2:10 RushTD Jacob Ramsey 2 good Jacob Rogers 7 7 2 14:13 Pittsburgh 68 6:04 RecTD Jon Baldwin Bill Stull 22 good Dan Hutchins 7 14 2 11:12 Cincinnati 76 3:01 FG 20 Jacob Rogers 10 14 2 10:28 Pittsburgh 63 :44 RecTD Jon Baldwin Bill Stull 40 good Dan Hutchins 10 21 2 4:53 Pittsburgh 33 4:32 FG 33 Dan Hutchins 10 24 2 1:26 Pittsburgh 5 1:23 RushTD Bill Stull 3 good Dan Hutchins 10 31 2 1:10 Cincinnati Other Mardy Gilyard 99 yard kickoff return, Jacob Rogers kick good 17 31 3 8:12 Cincinnati 78 1:38 RecTD Mardy Gilyard Tony Pike 68 good Jacob Rogers 24 31 4 12:26 Pittsburgh 32 1:51 RushTD Dion Lewis 15 good Dan Hutchins 24 38 4 11:09 Cincinnati 23 1:17 RecTD DJ Woods Tony Pike 8 failed Jacob Rogers 30 38 4 5:46 Cincinnati 68 3:08 RushTD Isaiah Pead 1 pass good 38 38 4 1:36 Pittsburgh 67 4:10 RushTD Dion Lewis 5 run failed 38 44 4 :33 Cincinnati 61 1:03 RecTD Armon Binns Tony Pike 29 good Jacob Rogers 45 44 45 44 Roster 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats f 14 Jr Chazz Anderson yes QB 86 Fr Blake Annen yes TE y 80 Jr Armon Binns WR y 1 Sr Mardy Gilyard WR y 60 Jr Jason Kelce C y 18 Fr Travis Kelce TE y 71 Sr Jeff Linkenbach T y 23 So Isaiah Pead RB y 15 Sr Tony Pike QB y 88 So Adrien Robinson TE y 40 So John Hughes John Hughes (American football) DT y 90 Sr Ricardo Mathews DE y 37 So J. K. Schaffer LB y 78 So Derek Wolfe DT y 27 So Jeremy Matthews LB n 93 Sr Mike Windt LS y https://web.archive.org/web/20110101144951/http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/cinn-m-footbl-mtt-09.html *Brian Kelly Bill Ennis-Inge – Linebackers Awards and milestones All-Americans Mardy Gilyard, WR Andre Revels, LB 3rd Team Sporting News All American Post-season finalists and winners Home Depot Coach of the Year Award - Brian Kelly Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award - Brian Kelly (finalist) Paul "Bear" Bryant Award - Brian Kelly (finalist) Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award - Brian Kelly (finalist) George Munger Award - Brian Kelly (finalist) Big East Conference honors Special Teams Player of the Year: Mardy Gilyard Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly Offensive player of the week Week 1: Tony Pike Week 4: Mardy Gilyard Week 9: Zach Collaros Week 12: Tony Pike Week 13: Tony Pike Special teams player of the week Week 2: Mardy Gilyard Week 6: Jacob Rodgers Week 9: Jacob Rodgers Week 13: Mardy Gilyard Big East Conference All-Conference First Team Mardy Gilyard, WR Chris Jurek, OL Tony Pike, QB Mardy Gilyard, KR Aaron Webster, DB https://gobearcats.com/documents/2011/9/2/11FB_Supplement.pdf 2011 Cincinnati Media Guide University of Cincinnati Athletics December 22, 2018 December 23, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181223073649/https://gobearcats.com/documents/2011/9/2/11FB_Supplement.pdf dead Big East Conference All-Conference Second Team Armon Binns, WR Jason Kelce, OL Alex Hoffman, OL Jeff Linkenbach, OL Ben Guidugli, TE Ricardo Mathews, DL Players in the 2010 NFL draft 2010 NFL draft 2 Cincinnati Bearcats Player Position Round Pick NFL club Mardy Gilyard WR 4 99 St. Louis Rams Tony Pike QB 6 204 Carolina Panthers Ricardo Mathews DT 7 238 Indianapolis Colts References Cincinnati Category:Cincinnati Bearcats football seasons Category:Big East Conference football champion seasons Cincinnati Bearcats football