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As UC readies for UCLA rematch, optimism for Bearcats football has replaced doubt

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Cincinnati Bearcats' linebacker Bryan Wright discusses the season-opener against UCLA. Fletcher Page, fpage@enquirer..com

For Cincinnati football, what a difference a year makes.

This time last year, the Bearcats headed to the West Coast as 14-point underdogs for coach Chip Kelly's UCLA Bruins' debut, on the verge of relying on a redshirt freshman quarterback with no experience and a defense that had given up at least 30 points eight times during a 4-8 campaign the season before.

To twist the knife, coach Luke Fickell often reminds people: "We really should have won one game that first year," he says, a nod to two victories by one point each and another by just four.