By Tom Gelehrter
FOX Sports Ohio
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
CINCINNATI - With his first 200-yard game on Saturday, Isaiah Pead joined former Bearcats running back Richard Hall in a variety of categories. For Cincinnati, it was the first 200-yard performance by a UC running back since Hall had the honor on September 11, 2004 when he tallied 238 yards via the ground against Miami (OH). Pead is also the first UC player to rush more than 30 times (31 vs. Rutgers) in a game since Hall had 30 carries against Army on October 25, 2003. Thanks to his 213 yards versus the Scarlet Knights, Pead has amassed 909 yards on the season, leaving him 91 yards away from his first 1,000 yard season. If he can reach that milestone, he would be the first to do so since Hall eclipsed the mark during the 2002 season. Bearcats head coach Butch Jones said he was very excited about Pead's work load, "It just comes back to durability and he was available the entire night. He got into a great rhythm. He was in a zone Saturday night."
WORK DONE ON & OFF THE FIELD: While the Bearcats got it done off the field on Saturday night, they are once again among the top BCS Conference schools in the recently released NCAA Graduation Success Rate numbers. Cincinnati achieved a GSR of 81 for the class entering in 2003, which is well above the federal standard of 61 for all college students who started school in 2003 as well as above the overall GSR of 79 for all student-athletes entering school in 2003. Among football playing BCS Conference schools, Cincinnati currently ranks 11th.
UNFRIENDLY FIELD: The Bearcats have only made two previous trips to East Hartford, CT to play at Rentschler Field, winning one and losing the other. In 2006, Cincinnati won 26-23 thanks to a late comeback led by back-up quarterback Nick Davila and a last second field goal by Kevin Lovell. Two years ago, the Bearcats fell 40-16 on a cold, gray day in Connecticut in which Tony Pike was injured and Chazz Anderson struggled in his place. Saturday will be the seventh meeting between the Bearcats and Huskies with UC leading the all-time series 5-1.
THANKSGIVING SCHEDULE: With Thanksgiving on Thursday, Jones has adjusted the Bearcats practice schedule slightly in-order to allow his team and staff to spend time with their families. Instead of practicing late afternoon, the 'Cats will practice in the morning before being dismissed for the rest of the day. The team will then report back to campus Friday morning for their flight to Hartford.
