New-Look Bearcats Ready For Fenway Bowl Against Louisville

Kerry Coombs and Evan Prater met with the media before heading to Boston.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Dec 13, 2022 10:50 AM EST

In this story:

CINCINNATI — The 2022 Fenway Bowl is just a few days away as interim head coach Kerry Coombs prepares his team. It'll be a thinner roster with a thin coaching staff, but Coombs is prepared for the challenge.

“It’s about the kids and these coaches. I’m really proud of them. I am happy every day that I’m in this building and I get to go to work with them,” Coombs said to the media on Monday. “They have been warriors, and they have been special. This town, this university, everybody should be incredibly proud of them.”

The Bearcats are leaning on Coombs now and moving forward as he returns to Scott Satterfield's staff as special teams coordinator and secondary coach.

“Incredibly excited. For me, I choose here. And I choose here specifically because of those kids [on the field] right there,” Coombs declared. “I know the tradition, I know what they’re like, I know who they are. I choose here because of them."

One of those players is quarterback Evan Prater, who now has full control of the Bearcats offense that's reportedly being called by tight ends coach Nate Letton as Gino Guidugli bows out of coordinator duties.

“I wouldn’t say I have more on my plate, just enhancing the routine I already have,” Prater said on Monday about getting ready for Louisville. “We have a lot of great players. Some of them might not have gotten as much time (earlier) this year, but this is an opportunity to show up and put some film together."

Prater showed why he never quite pushed ahead of Ben Bryant for the starting job in his poor performance against Tulane. Prater finished 10-of-26 for 102 yards and 1 INT. He missed multiple open receivers and never saw even more.

Going up against one of the 20 best scoring defenses in the nation (Louisville 19th in PPG allowed), Prater has to be much better this weekend.

The Bearcats rekindle the Keg of Nails rivalry against Louisville on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN. The game is available via fuboTV—start your free trial here.

Make sure you bookmark All Bearcats for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more.

You May Also Like the following:

Recruiting Roundup: UC Offers High Four-Star Athlete, Multiple Football Visitors Salute Campus Experience

UC Tight End Leonard Taylor Opts Out Of Fenway Bowl

UC's Ivan Pace Jr., Mason Fletcher, Dontay Corleone Named AP All-Americans

UC Lands Commitment From Three-Star 2023 Safety Jaydin Davis

Three Man Weave: Xavier Tops UC 80-77 In Wild Crosstown Shootout

Look: Bearcats Legend Kenyon Martin Attends 2022 Crosstown Shootout

UC Announces Kerry Coombs Is Staying On Football Staff

Look: Former UC Head Coach Luke Fickell Writes Thank-You Letter To Cincinnati

UC Tight End Josh Whyle Opting Out Of Fenway Bowl

Watch: UC Guard David DeJulius Speaks With Media Before His Final Crosstown Shootout