While Kosciusko County is covered in ice, 2006 Warsaw Community High School graduate Jake Rogers is in a slightly better climate.
As the starting kicker on the 12th-ranked University of Cincinnati (11-2) football team, Rogers and his teammates are living it up in Miami, Fla., prepping for their Jan. 1 matchup with the 21st-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies (9-4) in the Orange Bowl.
Last week, the Cincinnati Bearcats were hard at practice, allowing the guys to spend this week with their families. Leaving Warsaw on Christmas night, Rogers planned to get back to Cincinnati in time to catch the team's 9 a.m. flight Friday morning.
"Once we get to Florida, our whole week is pretty much planned out to the hour," Rogers said. "But I'm sure we'll have some free time."
The Bearcats earned their spot in the Bowl Championship Series game by winning the Big East Conference, setting up the matchup with the Atlantic Coast Conference's top squad.
Entering the season as one of the favorites to win the Big East, along with Pittsburgh, Rutgers and West Virginia.
However, early in their conference season, the Bearcats were dominated by the University of Connecticut, 40-16.
That loss may have left a doubt about the team's chances in some people's minds, including Rogers'.
"After the UConn loss, I really did not see us winning the Big East," he said. "It was tough after that blowout, but after we beat South Florida (24-10), I thought we had a chance. And we really started believing after we beat West Virginia (26-23 in overtime), then beat Pittsburgh (28-21)."
Cincinnati's run of five-straight conference wins put them in a position to win the Big East with a 6-1 mark, putting the Bearcats in their first-ever "major" bowl.
"It's so exciting to be a part of it," Rogers said about the team's first major bowl game. "When you're growing up, you always watch the bowls and always want to be in one."
Last year, Rogers kicked a 22-yard field goal and four extra points in a 31-21 win over Southern Mississippi in the PapaJohns.com Bowl, but this one seems to carry a little more significance. Most notably, that game was played on Dec. 22 and this one is going to be played on New Year's Day.
With as well as things are going for Rogers now, the season got off to a bit of a rocky start.
Despite beating Eastern Kentucky 40-7 in the season opener, the redshirt sophomore failed on two extra points, resulting in senior Brandon Yingling taking over the place kicking duties in a Week 2 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners.
"After that first game, I had the first major blow to my confidence," Rogers said. "After sitting out against Oklahoma, I went to the coach's office and asked him what I could do to get my job back. I'm not the type of person who wants to sit on the bench. I got another chance, and had an awesome year. I was really pleased with how I did."
Qualifying as one of 20 semifinalists for the nation's top place-kicking honor, the Lou Groza Award, Rogers made 16 of 22 field goals, including 3 of 4 beyond 50 yards. He also went perfect on extra points after the first game misses.
Rogers' regained confidence seems to be a trend among Cincinnati, who's not at all concerned about their lack of big-bowl experience.
"I don't think confidence will be a factor," Rogers said about competing against a team going to its consecutive Orange Bowl. "Coach (Brian Kelly) told us, '10-15 years from now, people will know you played in the Orange Bowl. When they ask about it, if you lose, the conversation is done right then.'."
In order to keep that conversation going, Cincinnati is aware special teams will be vital to the game.
Over the years, the Hokies' have affectionately been known to play Beamer Ball, for coach Frank Beamer's ability to get his guys to play outstanding special teams - namely, blocking kicks.
With this knowledge, Cincinnati special teams coach Mike Elston confronted his guys.
"He said, 'Listen up. All you hear about is how good Virginia Tech's special teams are.'," Rogers said. "Then he listed special team categories, and on 9 out of 10 of those, we had the edge."
Even with inexperience, the Bearcats are entering the game as favorites, making the guys hopeful that 15 years from now, when they recant the game - it will be a positive story. Much like the one Rogers was telling his friends during his Christmas break in Warsaw.
"Everyone is excited for me," Rogers said. "They all want to know how it feels, and I always have the same answer. It's always, 'Awesome.'."
