CINCINNATI (AP) — Offensive linemen rarely receive much promotion or have preseason marketing campaigns built around them. However, with three NFL draft candidates, the University of Cincinnati is trying to change that. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Left guard Evan Tengesdahl, left tackle Joe Cotton and center Taran Tyo aim to turn Nippert Stadium into the Football House of Pancakes. The trio anchors an offensive line that was among the best in the nation last season.
The linemen have been featured on billboards throughout Cincinnati, along with television and radio advertisements, ahead of Saturday’s game against Boston College.
“They deserve the promotion. They were one of the top offensive line units in the country last year, and you’ve got a bunch of them back,” coach Scott Satterfield said. “Most of the time, you don’t give O-linemen much love. They never get to score, they don’t get to make catches or carry the ball. They get their joy in seeing running backs score or blocking for the quarterback.”
Linemen also get their joy by driving a defender to the turf and leaving them flat like a pancake.
Cincinnati launched the “Pancake with Us” promotional blitz during Big 12 media days in early July. Tengesdahl, Cotton and Tyo were photographed in chef’s outfits cooking pancakes. Pancake-making sets and syrup bottles featuring the trio were distributed.
The university’s athletic department then hosted a pancake breakfast before a morning practice last month, which drew more than 1,000 fans.
Cincinnati has good reason to put the spotlight on its offensive line after it allowed the fewest sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (43) among Power Four teams last year.
It also showed the program was moving on after quarterback Brendan Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech. The NCAA this spring ruled Sorsby permanently ineligible.