Category: Bearcat Pros

From the Bearcats to the Tiger-Cats – Collaros and McClung Look to Connect in the CFL

April 26, 2016

Reunited and it feels so good…

Last week, the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed former UC star wide-out Anthony McClung. Zach Collaros found a nice home with the Tiger-Cats. Last year Collaros threw for 3,376 yards, 25 TDs, and had a passer rating of 113.1. Now the two can live it up like their days at Nippert.

McClung is currently 24 years old. He spent time with the Houston Texans in 2014 and the Toronto Argonauts in 2015. During his days at UC, he racked-up 177 receptions, 2,378 yards and 15 TDs in 47 games.

It’s always nice to see former Bearcats receive opportunities to not only play, but play together, at the next level.

By Andy Smith

Sean Kilpatrick Summer League Bound for the Bucks

July 3, 2015

Bearcat basketball legend #23 Sean Kilpatrick has signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the NBA Summer League, which takes place July 10th through the 20th.  This is great news for the tremendously hard-working Kilpatrick, who went undrafted coming out of college and has been overlooked his entire career.

SK averaged 5.5 points and 1.5 boards in 4 games with the Minnesota Timberwolves last year. He also played with the Delaware 87ers in the NBA D League, where he averaged 16 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 22 games.

By Andy Smith

Former Bearcats News – K-Mart’s Texas-Sized Mansion Up For Grabs

June 30, 2015

One of the most talented and successful college athletes to ever grace the University of Cincinnati’s campus is Kenyon Martin.  You cannot make a montage of UC basketball highlights without at least one K-Mart block or drunk.  He has had a fantastic professional basketball career after being drafted #1 overall in 2000, playing for the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA, and even the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of China. Word on the street is he’s made nearly $111 million since 2000 in salary alone.

If you are not in the market for Coach Tubs’ Alabama summer home, maybe Mr. Martin’s Texas-sized palace is more your style.  I was quite disappointed to learn MTV Cribs is no longer “a thing,” but if it was, this $5 million, 15,000 square-foot home on 8.4 acres would be sure to garner some air time.  With a $500,000 down payment and a 30-year fixed mortgage, monthly payments would only run around $23,500 for this Dalworthington, Texas, home.  Everything really is bigger in Texas.

K-Mart didn’t take any shortcuts in designing this behemoth:

  • A full-sized basketball court and gym so you can stay in shape to pay the mortgage
  • 4-lane bowling alley
  • White marble floors and white walls throughout
  • 7 bathrooms
  • 6 fireplaces
  • 5 bedrooms
  • A master bedroom that’s bigger than your current house
  • 10-car garage to store all of your cars
  • A PECAN ORCHARD?!

Oh, and there is this lake/pool with 2 water slides and 2 matching dolphin fountains sure to entertain any reasonably minded guests you may have over.

By Andy Smith

Bearcats Hodgepodge – UA on the Way, the Helicopter, and Born Ready

June 17, 2015

We are now just over 2 months away from the start of the college football season.  Here are a few tidbits from around Clifton:

  • Adidas “Fire” Sale: In less than 2 weeks we begin the Under Armour era. In light of this it is time for everyone to clear out all of the Adidas leftovers. Be sure to stop by the clearance sale this Saturday, June 20th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT at Fifth Third Arena. It is unclear exactly what all will be on sale, but it looks like anything with an Adidas logo is up for grabs, including “equipment, cleated and non-cleated shoes, logoed team apparel and jerseys.” This could be a great chance to accumulate some UC swag at a great price.
  • New Local Coach: Former UC basketball standout Melvin “the Helicopter” Levett is the new Colerain basketball coach. Levett finished his UC playing career ranked 25th all-time in scoring with 1,119 points.  You may remember this guy for jumping over golf carts and dunking the ball during the Huggins era or this ridiculous highlight. Colerain was 0-23 overall last year, so he has his work cut out for him.
  • Lance Stephenson Trade: The Los Angeles Clippers have acquired guard Lance Stephenson from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for both Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes. Stephenson has 2 years left on his contract, but the 2016-17 season is a team option of $9.4 million. The Clippers will be committed to paying him $9 million owed this season, and could then let him go if things don’t work out. This is a high risk high reward trade. Will Lance blow in Kobe’s ear?

UC’s Ian Happ is a Cub and a Very Rich Man

June 16, 2015

Former Bearcat baseball outfielder, Ian Happ, was picked 9th overall in the MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs.  He has now inked his name on a contract, including a bonus of $3,000,000.00.   Not too bad for the former UC standout.

At 6 foot and 205 lbs., Happ batted .338 (194-for-574) with 120 runs, 44 doubles, 2 triples, 25 home runs, and 107 RBIs in 3 seasons in Clifton.

There’s some debate on whether Happ will eventually play in the outfield grass or on the infield dirt.  Regardless, his future at bat looks bright.

By Andy Smith

Sean Kilpatrick Rocking Out the D-League

March 7, 2015

Delaware 87ers guard SK has been putting up huge numbers lately.  Kilpatrick is shooting 43.9% from the field and averaging 13.3 points per game this year.

 

Last week he put up 30 on the Canton Charge on 10/16 shooting and 6/7 from 3.  Last week against the Sioux Falls Skyforce he put up 33 points on a ridiculous 13/14 shooting and 5/5 from 3.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGcaDgfW99g

SK, Barwin, Kelce: Bearcats Star Power Will Be on Full Display Tonight for Temple Game

February 10, 2015

As far as Bearcats alumni star power is concerned, tonight will certainly pack a punch.  For the Temple game, which tips tonight at 7:35 PM, the guest list in Philly is rumored to include:

1) Sean Kilpatrick

In case you’ve been under a rock and have failed to follow me on twitter (@bearcatsradio, tiss tiss) or read this blog, Kilpatrick has transitioned to play for the NBA D-League Delaware 87ers.  His new hometown is but a hop, skip, and a jump from Temple’s campus in Philadelphia.

Star Power

2) Connor Barwin

Barwin strolled onto UC’s campus a tight end, and left one of the fiercest defensive ends the Bearcats program has ever seen.  Now he spends his winters playing OLB for the Philadelphia Eagles.  What’s more, Barwin also played a little roundball at UC, playing as a back-up forward.  How’s that for athleticism?

3) Jason Kelce

Jason Kelce, not to be confused with his brother Travis, plays center for the Philadelphia Eagles.  Jason is a beast of a human, and has developed quite a reputation throwing around NFL D-linemen.  Last February Jason inked a 6-year, $37.5 million dollar extension, with $13 million guaranteed.  That’s a lot of cold, hard cash.  Wonder if he’s been contacted by the fundraising powers that be at UC.

UC’s Eric Lefeld Left Out of NFL Combine

February 10, 2015

UC senior offensive tackle #71 Eric Lefeld earned first-team All-AAC honors for the third time in his career this year.  He was the only player among this year’s award winners to do so.  He is also a great kid, earning the football team’s C-Club Strothman Award for Academic Excellence, academic All-AAC honors, as well as his undergraduate degree in marketing in April 2014.

You would think this would be good enough to get a shot at the NFL draft, right?  I guess not.  At 6’ 6” and 310 lbs., Lefeld is a great candidate for an NFL offensive lineman spot, and he was arguably the best at the position in UC history.  He has the size to play the position at the next level with a quick, effortless kickslide off the snap. Lefeld also sees the field well with proper awareness and the effort to finish each block.  He will just have to prove it without the aid of the combine, just like Jeff Luc.

Lefeld is projected as a 6th to 7th round pick, 19th at his position, and 235th player overall.

The March 11th UC Pro Day is shaping up to be very important for UC’s senior class.

By Andy Smith

All AAC Linebacker #1 Jeff Luc Snubbed Out of NFL Combine?

February 5, 2015

According to Jeff Luc, he did not receive an invite to the official NFL combine. Per his Twitter:

This makes zero sense. The former #1 linebacker in the country out of high school is not even going to have a chance to prove himself in front of NFL scouts at the combine. Admittedly, Luc did not have a great game during the Senior Bowl, but he had an exceptional week of workouts and drills.

Let’s review his senior year by the numbers.  He led the Cats with 121 tackles on the regular season, including 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 4 pass break ups and 4 QB hurries. He is ranked 3rd in the AAC in tackles. His 6 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries are tied for 1st in the country.

He is listed as 6-foot-1, 256 lbs., with a 4.72 40 time. He reportedly benched 345 lbs. and a squat of 700 lbs. in high school. If you have seen him in a game or around Clifton, he is a human bowling ball with 0% body fat. Luc is a monster and will certainly be a future NFL player somewhere, somehow.

Another UC player gets snubbed. What else is new? This makes UC’s Pro Day on March 11th all the more important for Luc and the rest of the senior prospects.

By Andy Smith