(04-26-2012 10:22 AM)kyucat Wrote: (04-26-2012 09:35 AM)bearcatmill Wrote: Should be played this year b/c UC fans/admin know how to behave. However, after this year might be time to consider cancelling the game, well until the culture of thuggery changes on the Parkway.
I am not in favor of playing this game. UC gains nothing from this game. Oh wait they gain hatred by Xavier fans everywhere which only fuels a reputation UC is trying to get rid of. Why would you play someone who hates you and can't stand it when you win or calls you names or spread nasty lies about your program and school. Xavier fans are relentless in making sure the thug image of UC continues. This hurts recruiting and many teams will not play UC because of its unfair reputation.
Other teams that play X don't get that treatment. DON'T PLAY THE GAME
I hate xavier more than anyone I know but I disagree that we gain nothing from playing them. It's a sold out game every year and we desperately need more of those, it's a nationally broadcasted game, it's a good out of conference game, and as much as I hate to say it beating them gives us a quality win and losing to them doesn't hurt our RPI.
People complain about the out of conference schedule, taking this game away will only hurt it more. One of the big factors involved in scheduling quality out of conference opponents is money and we aren't going to find a better deal than playing x.
As far as xavier fans giving UC a bad reputation, lets remember just how small their fan base is. Who cares what 20,000 or so people think in the big scheme of things. Nationally, our reputation will be decided based on what we do not what those clowns across town think. The fight is a perfect example. All the xavier fans will say "oh thats typical UC" and other bull**** like that. However, nationally we came out looking better than they did. Mick gained an incredible amount of respect while x was mocked by many national analysts as the "zip em up" phrase became a joke for the rest of the season.
Fights happen in every sport, no one wants to see them but when they happen you have to show that you have the ability to be the bigger person and move on. Canceling this series to me says both programs don't have confidence in their ability to control their players.
I hope to God this series continues because it truly is one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports and it would be a shame to stop something with so much history.