I have to believe that the growing football program, which is how the Bearcats can remain in the Big East long term and hopefully compete again in basketball somewhere down the road, will benefit with fan support from people starved for something positive with Bearcat sports. I know that I will be coming into town to watch them play West Virginia.
bcatwilly Wrote:I have to believe that the growing football program, which is how the Bearcats can remain in the Big East long term and hopefully compete again in basketball somewhere down the road, will benefit with fan support from people starved for something positive with Bearcat sports. I know that I will be coming into town to watch them play West Virginia.
Willy--it's a nice thought, but UC never has been a football school...for a multitude of reasons--one of which is their history as a football program..
converrl Wrote:bcatwilly Wrote:I have to believe that the growing football program, which is how the Bearcats can remain in the Big East long term and hopefully compete again in basketball somewhere down the road, will benefit with fan support from people starved for something positive with Bearcat sports. I know that I will be coming into town to watch them play West Virginia.
Willy--it's a nice thought, but UC never has been a football school...for a multitude of reasons--one of which is their history as a football program..
Their history as a football program has nothing to do with the program as it stands. They are now in a BCS conference and have an aggressive winner at coach. Louisville didn't have much history as a football school, and look where they are now. Cincinnati is a football town, and if they win, UC will be a football school...
Football is looking real good. Last years and the 2007 class are good and the depth chart looks good. More bowl games on the horizon.
SuperFlyBCat Wrote:More bowl games on the horizon.
Bigger and better bowl games on the horizon. BCS within the next two years.
GameTime_21 Wrote:Their history as a football program has nothing to do with the program as it stands. They are now in a BCS conference and have an aggressive winner at coach. Louisville didn't have much history as a football school, and look where they are now. Cincinnati is a football town, and if they win, UC will be a football school...
Wrong--a program's history is one of it's primary recruiting tools...That's why there are so many DI football programs that have remained consistent winners for decades. The proof is in the data....
converrl Wrote:GameTime_21 Wrote:Their history as a football program has nothing to do with the program as it stands. They are now in a BCS conference and have an aggressive winner at coach. Louisville didn't have much history as a football school, and look where they are now. Cincinnati is a football town, and if they win, UC will be a football school...
Wrong--a program's history is one of it's primary recruiting tools...That's why there are so many DI football programs that have remained consistent winners for decades. The proof is in the data....
I'm not wrong on this. Sorry to bust your bubble. The Louisville example is a perfect analogy. Louisville is a football town, and once they started keeping their stars at home the program exploded. So the task at hand for Brian Kelly is to recruit the hell out of Cincinnati and take advantage of being a BCS school. You are the one that is dead wrong on this one...
Hate to straddle the fence but your both right. A long winning tradition is a big advantage. But you don't need it as Miami showed 25 years ago and UL has shown the last 5 years.
I'm trying to remember if UC ever had a great football program....even a very good one. It's going to take time to get the fans interested again. I hope it happens in my lifetime.
GameTime_21 Wrote:converrl Wrote:GameTime_21 Wrote:Their history as a football program has nothing to do with the program as it stands. They are now in a BCS conference and have an aggressive winner at coach. Louisville didn't have much history as a football school, and look where they are now. Cincinnati is a football town, and if they win, UC will be a football school...
Wrong--a program's history is one of it's primary recruiting tools...That's why there are so many DI football programs that have remained consistent winners for decades. The proof is in the data....
I'm not wrong on this. Sorry to bust your bubble. The Louisville example is a perfect analogy. Louisville is a football town, and once they started keeping their stars at home the program exploded. So the task at hand for Brian Kelly is to recruit the hell out of Cincinnati and take advantage of being a BCS school. You are the one that is dead wrong on this one...
Also, where was Miami-Fla before 1980? As I recall, they were at one point about to drop their football program.
Add to that this is one of the biggest fair weather towns in America. There is no doubt in my mind that winning in a BCS conference will fill the seats, and in turn make it much more attractive for the elite talent raised in this town to look at staying home. Is there still a ton of work left to do? No doubt about it. But we are well on our way...
Best thing about Bearcat Basketball Right Now..........
it can't get any worse???
RealDeal Wrote:Hate to straddle the fence but your both right. A long winning tradition is a big advantage. But you don't need it as Miami showed 25 years ago and UL has shown the last 5 years.
You can "burst through"....but...let's take UM as an example: They QUICKLY
built their program from nothing...but they did it by cheating. So that example is certainly applicable, but I don't think UC wants to cheat to build up the program like they did in the late 70's/early 80's when they almost got a death penalty.
I'm always suspicious of programs that "come out of nowhere" to consistent national prominence...unless it's the result of hiring a legendary coach. I don't see UC hiring a legendary coach unless they come up with boatloads of money from nowhere.
Don't get me wrong....I wish UC football well, but I've lived in Cincy since I was 3, and UC never had a program of national note on a regular basis during that time...Greg Cook's teams were the closest they got, but once Sid Gillman left, that was it.
Most blue chip kids want to play for a major program. UC is not a major program...as a result they will have to get the job done either with sub-par talent OR by cheating...I don't like either of those methods..
I wish the program well, but I don't see it happening...not as a top 25 club anyway....
converrl Wrote:I wish the program well, but I don't see it happening...not as a top 25 club anyway....
Anon, I have this feeling that you don't understand how close they were at the end of the season of being at this level. I guess you don't realize how young this team is either. Better get on board soon!
NatiGirl Wrote:Best thing about Bearcat Basketball Right Now..........
it can't get any worse???
Oh... hate to tell you...but it can...& it has (in my experience)....In the 80's, they struggled to beat technical colleges & DII programs. I sat in crowds of under 1000 people at the Gardens some nights to watch those games...It was REALLY quiet. A nice place to study...I wonder if it will go back to that level again. We could re-name Shoemaker the "Nancy Zimpher Study facility & Intramural Sports Complex"...Just don't make too much noise during the game so you don't disturb the people who are here to read...
;-)
It's a sad state of affairs to realize that our beloved UC basketball has reached the status of the Reds, playing out the string and waiting for the season to end.
GameTime_21 Wrote:converrl Wrote:bcatwilly Wrote:I have to believe that the growing football program, which is how the Bearcats can remain in the Big East long term and hopefully compete again in basketball somewhere down the road, will benefit with fan support from people starved for something positive with Bearcat sports. I know that I will be coming into town to watch them play West Virginia.
Willy--it's a nice thought, but UC never has been a football school...for a multitude of reasons--one of which is their history as a football program..
Their history as a football program has nothing to do with the program as it stands. They are now in a BCS conference and have an aggressive winner at coach. Louisville didn't have much history as a football school, and look where they are now. Cincinnati is a football town, and if they win, UC will be a football school...
Great post 21, I agree completely!
As far as I'm concerned, UC already is a football school and a basketball school.
Football happens to be rising. Basketball is down but Cronin will get things started on the upswing next year.
converrl Wrote:bcatwilly Wrote:I have to believe that the growing football program, which is how the Bearcats can remain in the Big East long term and hopefully compete again in basketball somewhere down the road, will benefit with fan support from people starved for something positive with Bearcat sports. I know that I will be coming into town to watch them play West Virginia.
Willy--it's a nice thought, but UC never has been a football school...for a multitude of reasons--one of which is their history as a football program..
never has been doesn't matter now.....Va Tech at one time would have said the same thing, now look at them.
What UC really needs is to have a coach that's good stay long term (turn down other offers, the whole nine yards). Being in a BCS conference now is going to help. I've been impressed with some of the recruits that are starting to trickle in....a long term coach would really help this. I hope Kelly is that man but somehow I don't think it's going to work that way.