Former University of Cincinnnati star wideout Mardy Gilyard was robbed at gunpoint near the UC campus Monday night, according to a report.
Multiple gunmen approached Gilyard and another friend and took about $300 in cash and at least $1,000 in jewelry, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
No one was injured, but the alleged victims were able to describe one of the thieves as being a black man wearing black clothing, about 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, according to the newspaper.
Gilyard helped the Bearcats to their finest season in school history last fall, leading the high-octane UC offense with 87 receptions for 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Gilyard came up huge when UC needed him most in the Bearcats' season finale at Pittsburgh on Dec. 5. His team trailing, 31-10, late in the first half of a game that would determine the Big East championship and the league's BCS bowl invitee, Gilyard returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, igniting the comeback for what would be a 45-44 victory in college football's most exciting game of the season.
Gilyard finished the day with 263 total return yards, 118 yards receiving, two touchdowns and a huge two-point conversion reception in the fourth quarter, cementing Cincinnati's 12-0 perfect regular season.
And after the post-game celebration, Gilyard was the last one still on the field, taking questions from reporters and offering up some colorful answers, which you can see in the video below:
The St. Louis Rams selected Gilyard in the fourth round of last month's NFL draft.
Known for his outspoken nature, Gilyard lashed out at Brian Kelly for taking the Notre Dame job before Cincinnati played Florida in the Sugar Bowl. But he later took back his remarks and voiced support for his former coach.
PITTSBURGH --Typically I like to hustle home after a game and load up some still pictures. I'll try to get to those before the end of the day today, but I wanted to give you a look first at what it was like to be on the field as Cincinnati celebrated its second straight Big East Championship after the Bearcats claimed a thrilling victory at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field on Saturday. Enjoy the six video clips below:
Two Cincinnati players rejoice on the sideline and sprint onto the field after the Bearcats claimed a thrilling 45-44 victory at Pittsburgh, locking up a 12-0 season, the Big East championship and the league's automatic BCS bowl bid.
Binns, Bearcats Storm The Field
UC hero Armon Binns and the Bearcats claim temporary ownership of Heinz Field moments after earning permanent ownership of the 2009 Big East championship in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Cincinnati Players Join Fans To Celebrate Big East Title
It didn't take long for the Cincinnati players to want to rush over to the corner of Heinz Field where their red-clad supporters were stationed, road-weary but ready to celebrate their squad's second straight Big East championship, won Saturday in thrilling fashion over Pittsburgh, 45-44.
Cincinnati Teammates Congratulate Pike On Heroic Effort
Pay attention to the end of this video, where you'll see a quick flash of the game ball jammed in Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike's helmet. He and Mardy Gilyard teamed up to lead the Bearcats to a thrilling victory Saturday at Pittsburgh to win the Big East championship.
Cincinnati Coach Brian Kelly Emotional During Postgame Celebration
Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly shared an emotional embrace with one of his players, then walked off Heinz Field with a finger in the air, U2 blaring on the sound system and on a couple of occasions lifts a towel to his misty eye.
PITTSBURGH -- I lost a job in July and had no idea what I was going to do next. Then I revived a project I'd thought about 15 years ago, hit the road in late August, and 14 Saturdays later, spent a snowy afternoon in Pittsburgh watching through a camera's viewfinder on the sideline as my alma mater finished off its most successful season in school history.
And the Cincinnati Bearcats did it by beating Big East-rival Pittsburgh in the most exciting college football game of the season at frigid Heinz Field.
The Panthers couldn't hold on to a 31-10 second-quarter lead, and allowed three touchdowns in the final 11 minutes as the Bearcats claimed a thrilling 45-44 victory.
Mardy Gilyard wasn't the X factor for the visitors. He was the A-Z factor, repeatedly breathing life into an unusually tame Cincinnati attack. After Pittsburgh built that 21-point cushion late in the first half, Gilyard returned a kickoff down the left sideline and into the end zone right in front of 1,000 or so screaming red sweaters who made the drive from Cincinnati.
The play pulled the Bearcats to 31-17 just before the break.
The second half featured several momentum swings, big plays, a few key mistakes and even a couple of questionable calls by officials.
Senior quarterback Tony Pike connected with Gilyard on a 68-yard touchdown for the only points of the third quarter.
Pitt's talented freshman Dion Lewis scored the first of his two fourth-quarter touchdowns -- he also had one in the opening period -- to give the home team a 38-24 advantage, but Pike and D.J. Woods teamed up on an 8-yard scoring strike just 77 seconds later. Jake Rogers's point-after attempt hit the upright, leaving Cincinnati with an 8-point deficit.
More than five minutes passed before Isaiah Pead bulled his way to a 1-yard touchdown, and Gilyard's leaping grab of a Pike pass for the two-point conversion made the score 38-38.
Then the fun started.
Pitt took more than four minutes on a drive that ended with Lewis' 5-yard touchdown run at the 1:36 mark. Panthers holder Andrew Janocko couldn't corral the snap, however, so Pitt's lead was 44-38.
You had the feeling that it wasn't just those in the red sweaters behind the far end zone who knew that PAT failure was going to be relevant a short time later.
Pike, who completed his final 11 passes, got UC into what anyone else would call its two-minute offense. For the Bearcats, it's called Saturday.
UC marched easily down the field, and tied the game when Pike found a diving Armon Binns a half step beyond his man. The 29-yard touchdown pass tied the game at 44 with 33 seconds left. Rogers's PAT was good this time, and the celebration was on.
Cincinnati players stormed the field, donning brand new red, white and blue caps, the first symbols of a second straight Big East championship.
Pike, Gilyard and all their sweaty, grass-stained friends exchanged hugs, high-fives and hell-yeahs; a few even ran around with tears streaming down their faces.
The two stars were among the last Bearcats to leave the field and join the locker-room party. Pike signed autographs, shook hands with fans and even took some weak trash talk from bitter Pitt students who hung around near the UC tunnel, at least 20 minutes after the game had ended.
Meanwhile, Gilyard enjoyed a few minutes in front of the cameras, covering such topics as his support for Nebraska, Cincinnati-style chili and the future of Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly. You can watch that below, and come on back for more celebration video Sunday morning.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 12:32PM 