Watch: Luke Fickell Discusses Cotton Bowl Lessons, 2022 QB Battle Before Start of Spring Practice

The Bearcats are trying to reload and win their third-straight AAC Championship.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Mar 1, 2022 12:28 PM EST

CINCINNATI — We are less than a week away from the start of spring practice for Cincinnati Bearcats football and the voice of UC sports, Dan Hoard, caught up with head coach Luke Fickell to discuss everything surrounding the program.

Fickell said he has poured over the Cotton Bowl film plenty of times already, unlike his approach to the Peach Bowl.

"This year was different," Fickell said. "I think maybe in the first week or so [he watched the game ack]. I've watched it three or four times. Offense, defense, all the way through. I don't know exactly why. What was the difference? Maybe the fact that there were just some questions I had. You know, worried about maybe them [Alabama] running the football some things against us defensively.

"I'm glad I did because I saw little things that I thought could've made a bigger difference. It's not like I was worried about did we actually get overpowered or manhandled...There's a lot I learned, but I think, in particular, I truly do believe we were right there, and it might not show it, but I think as you really breakdown the film, I look at myself and don't think I did a good enough job of preparing these guys for the moment. And I mean that like in the first two series, I just don't think were dialed in. The stage and some of those things maybe had us off-kilter of what we would normally do.

Fickell also commented on the position battle at quarterback every Bearcats fan is following.

"I think it was everything," Fickell said about the importance of having competition at the game's most important position. "We never really knew how it was going to work out. Not saying it wouldn't have been competition if Ben [Bryant] didn't come back. I think the greatest thing I learned from what Desmond Ridder was is he was best when there was competition...Nothing was going to be handed to Evan [Prater] if Ben wasn't here, but for them guys to have an incredible competition, how they handle it, how they go about it will show a lot to our entire program."

Check out the full interview with Fickell as he prepares for the start of the spring practice window on Saturday.

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