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Cincinnati Inside Slant

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Updated Dec 8, 2009 4:40 PM ET
     
 
The Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day at the Louisiana Superdome will feature two teams with contrasting histories. Cincinnati is a relative newcomer to national prominence while defending national champion Florida is one of college football's powers.

But despite having played just once in their history, the Gators and Bearcats are quite familiar with each other.

"Our players eyes are wide open when you say Florida Gators as your matchup," said UC coach Brian Kelly. "Florida football is synonymous with success. They are the benchmark that we try to emulate."

The fourth-ranked Bearcats finished the regular season 12-0 for the first time in school history, clinching the Big East Conference championship with a thrilling 45-44 come-from-behind victory over Pittsburgh at Heinz Field.

How long Kelly will be with the program he's helped lift to marquee status is uncertain. Reports Dec. 8, two days after Cincy accepted its bowl bid, identified Kelly as the clear frontrunner for the Notre Dame job. Kelly did not immediately comment on that report.

Cincinnati finished third in the Bowl Championship Series standings but narrowly missed a chance to play for a national championship when Texas defeated Nebraska on a last-second field goal in the Big 12 championship game.

Kelly stopped short of saying the Bearcats were out to make a statement in the Sugar Bowl against the fifth-ranked Gators.

"We've proven a lot of things the past couple years," Kelly said. "I don't know that we have to prove anything. We just have to play very well against a very good football team."

Florida coach Urban Meyer, who played defensive back for the Bearcats in the 1980s, is a friend to Kelly and running backs coach Tim Hinton. Meyer's sister is employed at the University of Cincinnati.

Meyer visited a Bearcats practice a couple of years ago and came away impressed.

"That's a SEC caliber team," Meyer said. "Which tells you the respect I have for the players and the way they're coached. I'm somewhat of a Bearcats fan. I never miss a game when they're on."

Despite missing a chance to play for a second consecutive national title by losing to Alabama in the SEC championship game, Meyer said he's not concerned about his team's mindset in preparation for the Sugar Bowl, especially considering its opponent.

"As soon as we see the Bearcats film, it'll be game on," Meyer said. "It'd be a little different deal if we were facing a team we didn't respect. Our guys talk about Cincinnati. They watch them play. We'll be highly motivated to play in this game."
Tagged: Cincinnati

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