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	Tuesday, September 5 Bearcat fans talking bowling instead of basketball
	By Eric Crawford Special to ESPN.com Cincinnati Bearcats 1999 record: 3-8 (0-6 C-USA) Coach: Rick Minter Returning starters: 18 (10 offense, 8 defense) Outlook They still spent all summer at Cincinnati talking about basketball, but they aren't dreading football season. Actually, they're looking forward to it with senior QB Deontey Kenner set to lead an offense that returns 10 starters. Kenner established himself as one of C-USA's most exciting players when he passed for 14 touchdowns and ran for six last season. He'll have to show better judgment this season, however, after throwing 15 interceptions a year ago. The lone starter lost on offense was an important one -- RB Robert Cooper. Four players are vying to replace him, with no clear leader yet. Great depth on the line and at wide receiver, however, ensures that the Bearcats will have one of the league's most potent offenses. How much the defense improves may dictate how many games the Bearcats improve. They gave up 177.5 yards per game on the ground last season and averaged just one sack per game. CB Blue Adams returns from a knee injury to help shore up the secondary and T Mario Monds is solid on the line, but those two need help. Bearcats coach Rick Minter thinks his secondary may be much improved, but he's relying on some unproven players. Special teams also are a concern after Cincinnati missed 13 of 20 field goals and five extra points last season. K Jonathon Ruffin is back, but he's being challenged by junior college transfer Victor DiMauro. The big upset opportunities this season will come when Syracuse visits on Sept. 16 and when the Bearcats visit Wisconsin a week later. With their offensive firepower, the Bearcats could be poised to snatch one of C-USA's four bowl bids. Keep an eye on ... QB Deontey Kenner. He got national attention when he engineered the Bearcats' upset of Wisconsin last season and again when he passed for 343 yards to threw a scare into Ohio State. This year, all the pieces are in place for him to put up even bigger numbers. It's a good season if ... The Bearcats can reach the seven-win mark. Depending on how they fare at Louisville and Memphis, they could have a shot at their first bowl appearance since the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl.		AROUND CONFERENCE USA Army Cincinnati East Carolina Houston Louisville Memphis Southern Miss Tulane UAB ALSO SEE C-USA not happy with just being good