By Hunter Tickel | Senior Reporter
Following consecutive BCS appearances the past two seasons, the Cincinnati Bearcats became bowl ineligible Saturday after a 38-17 loss to Connecticut at a sold-out Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
"[Missing a bowl is] very disappointing, it's one of our program goals," said head coach Butch Jones. "We have to keep building. There are a lot of kids that hurt. We all hurt."
The loss dropped the Bearcats to 4-7, clinching a losing season and ensuring an end to Cincinnati's streak of four-straight bowl appearances.
Turnovers — after plaguing UC all season — were fatale again as the Bearcats committed five against UConn, including four interceptions of Zach Collaros.
Collaros had an opportunity to pull the Cats to within four points before halftime inside Connecticut's 10-yard line, but his pass took a costly bounce after being tipped by UConn's Kendall Reyes. The interception gave the Huskies possession inside the Cincinnati red zone.
UConn running back John Todman put his team ahead18 points with a one-yard touchdown run just seconds before halftime.
The Bearcats orchestrated an 88-yard drive — capped with a three-yard touchdown scamper by Collaros — to pull within a one possession with less than nine minutes to play.
But five snaps later, Todman ceased the Bearcats' comeback with the second of his game-high three touchdowns.
With nine receptions for 107 yards against the Huskies, Cincinnati wide receiver Armon Binns surpassed 1,000 yards for the season. The wide out became the ninth receiver in school history to reach the milestone.
"He has had a great senior season," Jones said. "He's played like a senior should play. He's provided great leadership. He's created a model for our younger players at the receiver position for years to come."
The Bearcats will take the field for the final time in 2010 on Senior Day at noon Saturday against Pittsburgh at Nippert Stadium.
"It's [about] going off as winners, sending our seniors off as winners," Jones said. "[Having] momentum going off into the winter and into our strength and conditioning program. For our younger kids, they have to continue to learn about critical plays and get back to work tomorrow."
