Bob
Duckens Jr
Bearcats
Class of 97
Nose
Tackle (1990-1993)
Bob
Duckens, Jr. is a former four-year starter for the University of Cincinnati
Bearcats. During his career he
played nose tackle for Tim Murphy from 1990-1993. During Bob’s senior season the Bearcats
enjoyed one of the most memorable years in UC history posting an 8-3 mark which
still stands as one of the best records in over 20 years of UC
football.
In
1997 Bob returned to UC and finished his degree in Social Sciences while also
serving as a student assistant coach for the football team. In 1998 he became a graduate assistant
under head coach Rich Minter responsible for helping with the defensive line and
special teams unit. In 2000, Bob
returned to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio to accept a position working for his
father, Bob Duckens, Sr. who is a Pastor and also the CEO of Diversified
Community Services, a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center. He currently holds the position of
Director of Operations and enjoys helping people beat their addictions to drugs
and alcohol.
Bob
is a graduate of Independence High School in Columbus where three current
Bearcats came from. DeAngelo Smith,
Torry Cornett and Jacob Ramsey also came from the Columbus
school.
Bob
enjoys talking with kids about college and the goals they have in life, while
trying to motivate those who have the ability to better themselves. He’s been married for three years to his
lovely wife Carmen and the couple have a 1-year old daughter named
Christian.
Bob
had the following to say about his joining the #1 independent website covering
the Bearcats.
“I’m
very happy and proud to be part of the Bearcat family. I’ve been a member of Bearcat Insider
for some time and have come to respect the coverage Tim, Doug and Dave have
provided the many Bearcat fans out there looking for the best team information.
I look forward to working with Bearcat Insider and bringing UC fans a different
look at what happens on and off the field at the college level.”
Bearcat
Insider founder Dave Berk explains the addition of Bob Duckens and what it means
to BearcatInsider.com members.
“Since
starting Bearcat Insider in January, 2005, I’ve also strived to bring our
members an “Insiders” look at UC football on and off the field. Bob Duckens Jr. brings this and
more. As a former player he’s been
in the trenches, locker rooms and in the huddle when it counted most. Bob will bring both a fans and former
player’s perspective to his articles and our team looks forward to working with
Bob for many years to come.”
Here
is Bob’s first article for Bearcat Insider
2007 Bearcats Are Very
Special
By:
Bob Duckens Jr.
Isn't
winning beautiful?
As
a matter of fact, it's contagious!
This
season for the Bearcats has the makings of being very magical and you better
hold on because this is going to be a wild ride. Never in UC fans wildest dreams
would you have ever believed in a 4-0 start to begin the season, you might have
thought about it but you dismissed it quickly after.
But
I believed that the Cats could start fast this year, why you say? Maybe because
this team reminds me so much of the 8-3 squad I was privileged to be of in 1993.
Let's flashback and compare how these two teams are
similar.
The
offenses were similar; in '93 we had a QB that transferred in from South Carolina named Lance Harp, who was from the Ohio Area sort of like Ben Mauk. We
had a stable of running backs including David Small and Craedel Kimbrough who
were experienced sort of like the current Cats running backs of Butler Benton,
Greg Moore and Bradley Glatthaar.
The
wideouts were fast and good but there was no star receiver in the bunch,
ironically we had just lost our best receiver from the previous season, Marlon
Pierce after being kicked off the team, sort of like this year’s squad losing
Derrick Stewart.
The
offense could score points in bunches and was effective on the ground and in the
air just like the current UC squad. Am I getting warmer? You need more proof?
How about this one.
On
defense, we had a lot of veterans returning. The majority of the defense had
played together for three years much like the current squad. We had two
ball-hawking corners, a playmaking safety, a fast and big defensive line that
caused major havoc, and linebackers that could cover and make plays all over the
field.
Teams
found it very hard to run on us and we gave up field goals not touchdowns. With
this defense, we finished ranked #13 in the nation in total defense and as a
result we finished 8-3, closing the year with 5 straight wins. Hmmm, sounds like
this years' unit right?
Just
thinking of the comparisons between the two squads is very scary but I would
have to say overall that the '07 squad could possibly be better. Why you say?
The
'93 squad never started out 4-0 and our defense never shut down teams the way
this team does. Add in Top 25 rankings, the Big East, Coach Kelly, and a
consistently sold out Nippert Stadium, and you can see why this team has the
potential to contend for the Big East title and play in a major bowl
game.
Now
I know what you're thinking. You are probably saying that because I'm a former
Bearcat player I have to say this team is good, but this is far from the truth.
This team is good because of the confidence and trust they have in each other.
They know that on every play, they can count on the man next to him to do their
job and if they make a mistake come back and correct it. You can see that in the
way that they play together. That is what separates a great team from a losing
one, the '93 team had it and the '07 squad has it as well. Winning is beautiful
and for this team, this university, this city and to the many former players who
are still part of it. In fact, it's
becoming contagious.