when you look through all the media outlets, see all the college kids getting in trouble ( academic and law ) and you DO NOT see Cincinnati's name mentioned like we used to. What an excellent job the coaches of all our major programs have done turning this around. CONGRATS.

Well, you can never predict what might happen with any particular individual, but I agree that UC definitely seems to promote a policy of being on the up and up and working within the rules. When our people graduate, I think they have earned legitimate degrees ( unlike some other places, ahem, like UNC...)

Agreed. People like to pretend like all athleted are just pampered children that are programed to play football. But the vast majority of student athletes (all levels) are there to get an education.

Good observation, CincyBro. Finally the school has shaken that unfair "thug" branding.

Aside from a few minor issues, our football program has managed to say out of trouble with the law and have done fairly well in the classroom. The biggest change for us has been the change with our basketball program. Yes it is very nice to have shake that image.

Not that the "thug" image was completely deserved before, but it is, nonetheless, refreshing to have shaken that.

(08-18-2014 05:34 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  Not that the "thug" image was completely deserved before, but it is, nonetheless, refreshing to have shaken that.

It wasn't deserved at all. The media needed their black hat in the early 90's and ran with it. When UC basketball faded for a few years, they moved on to UConn and others. I'm waiting for Duke's turn.

Every single program will have legal and/or academic issues from time to time. It happens when you're dealing with young guys. For a decent chunk of these athletes, college is really about maturing and figuring out what it takes to be a man.

(08-18-2014 06:42 AM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  

(08-18-2014 05:34 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  Not that the "thug" image was completely deserved before, but it is, nonetheless, refreshing to have shaken that.

It wasn't deserved at all. The media needed their black hat in the early 90's and ran with it. When UC basketball faded for a few years, they moved on to UConn and others. I'm waiting for Duke's turn.

Every single program will have legal and/or academic issues from time to time. It happens when you're dealing with young guys. For a decent chunk of these athletes, college is really about maturing and figuring out what it takes to be a man.

I agree and I remember the local and national media portraying us as the bad guys at the 1992 Final 4. When Michigan's Fab 5 was the best team money could buy!

(08-18-2014 12:04 PM)SW UC Wrote:  

(08-18-2014 06:42 AM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  

(08-18-2014 05:34 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  Not that the "thug" image was completely deserved before, but it is, nonetheless, refreshing to have shaken that.

It wasn't deserved at all. The media needed their black hat in the early 90's and ran with it. When UC basketball faded for a few years, they moved on to UConn and others. I'm waiting for Duke's turn.

Every single program will have legal and/or academic issues from time to time. It happens when you're dealing with young guys. For a decent chunk of these athletes, college is really about maturing and figuring out what it takes to be a man.

I agree and I remember the local and national media portraying us as the bad guys at the 1992 Final 4. When Michigan's Fab 5 was the best team money could buy!

And Michigan ultimately paid the price, having to vacate that Final Four appearance as I recall.

UC has done a fine job with academics and player conduct this past decade. Sadly, perception often trails reality. When I hear UNLV I still have a visceral reaction that they're an outlaw program. Too many observers don't let the facts get in the way of a good argument. UC is doing it the right way but likely will be judged more harshly if and when another incident occurs because of baggage from the past.

The funny thing about it is that when I was in school, the bigger issues were not with the basketball players but with the football players. Minter did not have control of them and they would show up at parties and start fights all the time.

The only fight involving a basketball player that I ever witnessed was Donald Little at Inn the Wood. I know that there are 85 football players and 12 basketball players, but during the off season I swear there was a fight every weekend that involved a football player.

(08-18-2014 12:51 PM)mlb Wrote:  The funny thing about it is that when I was in school, the bigger issues were not with the basketball players but with the football players. Minter did not have control of them and they would show up at parties and start fights all the time.

The only fight involving a basketball player that I ever witnessed was Donald Little at Inn the Wood. I know that there are 85 football players and 12 basketball players, but during the off season I swear there was a fight every weekend that involved a football player.

Amen! If Gino Guidugl showed up at a party I was leaving - only trouble followed.

But he was great to watch on the field! Except that last play of the OSU game.....This is the year for revenge!

Coop, you obviously know this, but I'll say it anyway. You'll be waiting a LOOOOONG time for Duke to get their share of the media treatment

Always glad when UC kids are doing things the right way, but never cared at all about much of the undeserved trashing of the many great guys who came through this program previously. Outside perception for issues like that has never been a priority for me.

(08-19-2014 09:26 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Always glad when UC kids are doing things the right way, but never cared at all about much of the undeserved trashing of the many great guys who came through this program previously. Outside perception for issues like that has never been a priority for me.

yup...I'll never forget when Gillen commented to the media that he wouldn't want to run into some of the UC players in a dark alley. That is just a low class thing to say in the media...true or not. It was that type of thing that didn't help the situation.