Ode to the Minter/Murphy Bearcats

 

Back in the days before BK

Many great Bearcats used to play

So, here’s an ode to all those guys

That kicked so much ass before our eyes.

 

When I was barely four feet tall

At Nippert Stadium, I’d yell “Give it to Small!”

For David Small would juke and spin

And carry the offense for a win

 

Nearly 3000 yards at 6.7 a pop

Small played big, a bitch to stop

Finished his career with 31 Tds

Took UC from one and ten to eight and three.

 

And then in 1994

A new receiver blew through the door.

Quick as hell, his hands were great

That man’s name was Robert Tate

 

Holy shit, just look at 1995.

Tate’s yards per catch, 19.5

After one game he signed my hat

That young boy will always remember that.

 

But to pursue the NFL you see

Tate needed to convert to DB

Drafted by the Vikings in round 6

Covered NFL receivers until 2006

 

On the defensive side at that same time

Artrell Hawkins was in his prime

Covering receivers and returning kicks

Offensives struggled to move the sticks

 

And in 1997, low and behold

A 47-year bowl drought ends at the Humanitarian Bowl

With Brad Jackson out there giving heck

And four punt return TDs by Tinker Keck

 

Brad Jackson played for Huggs, a different sport

Making tackles on the field and on the court

392 career tackles, third most in UC history

Playing next to Phillip Curry

 

Curry prowled the field with fury

487 career tackles, yeah offenses worried

A brutal defense, great special teams

Keck’s punt returns and ints

 

And anchoring the offensive line, another great you see

Three time all-conference, Jason Fabini.

A fourth round Jets Pick in 1998

His NFL career turned out so great. 

 

The next year a freshman stormed on the scene

Demarco McCleskey, a running machine

Rushed for nearly 3500 yards, good for 2^nd at UC

No shortage of touchdowns, he had 43

 

How about a receiver, catching everything in sight

LaDaris Vann, a small man with big fight. 

Caught 204 passes in his Bearcat career

While breaking tackles, alluding, leaving defenders in the rear

 

With Vann in the slot, always on the go

The Bearcats could look down the field to Jonny O.

Olinger was a stud, want to feel alive?

Go watch his incredible game winning 2001 Memphis drive

 

But you need a QB, to throw these guys passes

And Gino did that, kicking so many asses

Starting as a freshman, an incredible career

11,453 yards, making defenses fear

 

78 TDs, and so many comeback wins to his name

See TCU, Southern Miss, Memphis, so many great games

And poor one out for the Buckeye near miss

Two balls on the spot, close to sweet upset bliss

 

But no UC defender more havoc did wreak.

Than the fast and powerful force, Antwan Peek

27 career sacks and I promise you this

No UC lineman made more Offensive tackles miss.

 

And I’ll tell you this, though it may seem quite bold

Peek had at least as many sacks, denied by a hold

A singular Bearcat force, like none other. 

Many great lineman, but Peek, there will never be another

 

Of course, Peek was followed by Frasier and Cole

Starting a dline tradition that is still on a roll

And that line also included Mike Wright

Those offensive lines were in for such a fright. 

 

If UC football is relatively new to you

I’m glad you came here, for this history review

I hope you enjoyed this ode to those guys

Those Bearcats, who kicked so much ass in front of our eyes.