#HireFickell
UC started slowly but gradually overpowered FCS team Austin Peay, as the Bearcats won 26-14 in perfect football weather (79 degrees, low humidity). Announced attendance was 30,831.
The 44-year-old Fickell, a longtime Ohio State assistant, replaced Tommy Tuberville as UC coach after the Bearcats went 4-8 last year. Some of Thursday's game bore an eerie resemblance to 2016, with sluggish offense and a defense occasionally gashed for significant yardage. In the end, a win was a win, the coach was smiling and the players were happily relieved.
