And they saw it developing Saturday against Miami.
An 80-yard punt return for a touchdown by Ryne Robinson had cut UC's 14-point halftime lead to seven and the RedHawks had pushed their way to the UC 40 early in the fourth quarter in search of the tying touchdown.
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Moments later, Bowie picked off a Daniel Raudabaugh pass at the 30-yard line to snuff out the RedHawks' threat and help preserve UC's 24-10 victory over before 21,248 fans at Nippert Stadium.
The victory snapped a string of six straight losses to Division I-A teams for UC, which improved to 2-3, and returned the Victory Bell to the Bearcats after a one-year absence. It was the second win in three tries against Miami for UC head coach Mark Dantonio.
Miami, playing without quarterback Mike Kokal, who was held out as a precaution because of chronic headaches, fell to 0-5 for the first time since 1989, when the RedHawks finished 2-8-1.
The sideline pass from Raudabaugh, a redshirt freshman who was making his first career start at quarterback, was tipped by a Miami receiver before Bowie grabbed it and returned it to the Miami 46.
"That was big," Bowie said.
"It stopped their momentum."
The UC offense needed only six plays to turn the turnover into a touchdown when quarterback Dustin Grutza connected with Derrick Stewart in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown with 11:15 left in the game. It was Stewart's first touchdown reception of his career.
UC prevailed despite committing three turnovers and surrendering the Robinson punt return. The Bearcats, who also forced three Miami turnovers, compensated with a running attack that the RedHawks were helpless to stop, at least in the first half.
With junior Greg Moore leading the way, the Bearcats gained 253 of their 296 yards on the ground.
Moore finished with a career-high 119 yards on 20 carries, including a 55-yard run, UC's longest play from scrimmage this season.
Butler Benton added 68 yards and a 37-yard touchdown, and Bradley Glatthaar gained 43 yards on a Miami defense that entered the game allowing 164.5 rushing yards per outing.
UC turned the ball over twice in the first quarter on fumbles, but Miami didn't take advantage of the miscues.
The RedHawks failed on a fake field goal attempt and then settled for a field goal after taking over at the UC 22.
"Our defense did a good job of getting two turnovers back to back," said Miami coach Shane Montgomery.
"We had a chance to get some points, but we only came away with three."
The UC defense limited Miami to 226 yards, just 36 on the ground.
"We needed it to boost our confidence," Benton said, "after coming close the last two weeks and then not winning, it was pretty much a must-win game.
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MiO -FG Cook 49, 3:27.
Cin -Benton 37 run (Lovell kick), 2:46.
Cin -Moore 2 run (Lovell kick), :17.
Cin -FG Lovell 47, 1:00.
MiO -Ry.Robinson 80 punt return (Cook kick), 7:15.
Cin -D.Stewart 20 pass from Grutza (Lovell kick), 11:15.
RUSHING -Miami, Murphy 13-59, Sykes 2-1, Raudabaugh 10-(minus 24).
Cincinnati, Moore 20-119, Benton 8-68, Glatthaar 9-43, Grutza 4-24, Team 1-(minus 1).
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