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The 2009 Pitt Game was awesome, but since that was already discussed I will throw in the time leading up to the 2010 Sugar Bowl (obviously the game itself was painful).

I got there the day before the game and UC fans had taken over New Orleans. It was awesome walking into the French Quarter seeing so many people wearing the Red and Black. At the game, witnessing an estimated 25K fill up the SuperDome and chant Down the Drive prior to the game was just an experience I'll never forget. I got a huge lump in my throat and I began to tear up. I was a student during the Tim Murphy era, and never did I think UC would be in a game like this with so much support.

(04-29-2019 01:05 PM)colohank Wrote:  Air Force came to Nippert in the early 1960s, and at halftime they put on a customary aerial demonstration with their mascot -- a gyrfalcon. Partway through the routine, the hawk suddenly abandoned its handler and landed on the front rail of the Shank Pavilion. An announcer reminded folks that the bird could be dangerous, and I remember seeing the crowd in the pavilion shrink back from the front rail. Meanwhile, a cadet was sent to retrieve the errant hawk. He descended the steps of the pavilion, poked the bird with what appeared to be the antenna of a walky-talky, and the hawk took flight again, eventually landing on the roof of the old gym building at the head of the stadium. By this time, the teams were coming back on the field, and since there were pigeons flying around the gym, I figured the bird had found new home and meal ticket and was a lost cause.

Midway through the third quarter, though, a cadet came running down the stadium steps grasping the gyrfalcon, and the crowd erupted in applause.

A decade later, I was working with the National Park Service in North Dakota and was assigned to guide a newly appointed Assistant US Attorney on a tour of Theodore Roosevelt NP. When I found out he was an Air Force grad, I related this story to him. He said he remembered it too. He was on their football team and played that day.

I also recall a time when someone decided that UC needed a card section. It was a pretty sorry endeavor, totally lacking any coordination and involving too few people to make effective displays. Meanwhile, on the other side of the stadium, our opponents (XU) put together an impromptu card section of their own, holding up sheets of newspaper or whatever else they could find. I hate to admit it, but theirs was a lot better than ours.

And finally, UC was to be featured on ABC's game of the week when Tulsa (and QB Jerry Rhome) came to town in the early 1960s. Since the grass on the field had already cured to an uneven tan, somebody decided it needed to be dyed green to look better on color TV. Then, a day or so before the game, it rained, and all of the green dye drained off the field and onto the cinder track, where it formed a bunch of dark green puddles.

We beat them but we tied for the MVC title. Guess who got the bowl invite? Not UC. Screwed!

(04-29-2019 04:52 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  The 2009 Pitt Game was awesome, but since that was already discussed I will throw in the time leading up to the 2010 Sugar Bowl (obviously the game itself was painful).

I got there the day before the game and UC fans had taken over New Orleans. It was awesome walking into the French Quarter seeing so many people wearing the Red and Black. At the game, witnessing an estimated 25K fill up the SuperDome and chant Down the Drive prior to the game was just an experience I'll never forget. I got a huge lump in my throat and I began to tear up. I was a student during the Tim Murphy era, and never did I think UC would be in a game like this with so much support.

Bravo, Clifton. Down the Drive on Bourbon Street was truly a once in a lifetime event.

Sorry guys, I have many...and shocking all positive.

My dorm floor buddy and still good friend Myron Hughes punching some Xavier stiff as they ran down the court behind the officials of course. Tony Wilson making a half court shot at Riverfront Coliseum to defeat nationally ranked UAB. Joe Stiffend also made a last second shot to beat Xavier one year. I sat on press row working for the News Record that game. All journalistic decorum left me as I jumped the press table and rushed the court. Sanders to open the Shoe was tops until Pike to Binns.

Carrying the Bearcat flags onto the field for a football game in Happy Valley where we scared the hell out of Penn State. That unbelievable early snowfall vs Memphis for homecoming. Over a foot of snow had to fall during the game. Super drunk on snake bites teasing the Miami Hurricanes placekicker during a downpour at Riverfront Stadium while his teammates laughed at him. And that was Vinny's Hurricanes.

Watching the Cats run out onto the field at the Orange Bowl was like a dream that I never thought was possible. The entire Liberty Bowl experience was a blast - even this years Military Bowl was noteworthy albeit very wet.

One of my favorite UC basketball stories was during our run to the Final Four. The Great Midwest tourney was held at the old Chicago Stadium that year. Our charter bus picked us up from the team hotel and got lost in a very bad part of Chicago. He pulled into a gas station that had bars on the windows and doors. Jim Kelly, Sr was our athletic department guide and he got out of the bus to ask for directions - of course no GPS back then. My wife pushes me out of my seat and tells me to go with him. Two older teenage local boys run up to us asking what's in the bus - starting to give us some grief. The gas station owner comes running out screaming at the two boys and looks me straight in the eye and says, "Get that old man and your ass back on the bus and get the f- out of here - NOW!" I said we need directions to Chicago Stadium, he replies what is that. I said its where the Bulls play. Then he hastily told us directions and again said get the f- out of here. We complied.....lol

Who the hell had time for sports when this Temple of The Flesh was called home for a frosh during the 1986/87 academic year.





Booze, beer, drugs, rock-n-roll, chicks, fire alarms at 3 AM, endless euchre games (bid and turn-up), roommate pranks, canned ravioli, bathrooms from hell, hangovers from hell, and 17 year cicadas. We didn't have a Graduate Resident Adviser (RA) on our floor for the second half of the year. We did manage to get some academics done. All-in-all what a time it was for 18 and 19 year olds away from home.

(04-29-2019 07:06 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Who the hell had time for sports when this Temple of The Flesh was called home for a frosh during the 1986/87 academic year.





Booze, beer, drugs, rock-n-roll, chicks, fire alarms at 3 AM, endless euchre games (bid and turn-up), roommate pranks, canned ravioli, bathrooms from hell, hangovers from hell, and 17 year cicadas. We didn't have a Graduate Resident Adviser (RA) on our floor for the second half of the year. We did manage to get some academics done. All-in-all what a time it was for 18 and 19 year olds away from home.

Cockroaches on the top floor ate the part of the wall during break. Dirty bathrooms, broken elevators, and more. Circa 2000, Daniels Hall was holding up well.

(04-29-2019 04:52 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  The 2009 Pitt Game was awesome, but since that was already discussed I will throw in the time leading up to the 2010 Sugar Bowl (obviously the game itself was painful).

I got there the day before the game and UC fans had taken over New Orleans. It was awesome walking into the French Quarter seeing so many people wearing the Red and Black. At the game, witnessing an estimated 25K fill up the SuperDome and chant Down the Drive prior to the game was just an experience I'll never forget. I got a huge lump in my throat and I began to tear up. I was a student during the Tim Murphy era, and never did I think UC would be in a game like this with so much support.

We went and had a number of NOLA people ask if anyone was left in Cincinnati since there were so many fans. Great experience...well except for the game itself.

Have a lot of great memories. I sat behind the basket on the Mel Levitt spinning dunk that is on the usual UC highlight reel.

Loved the Orange Bowl and seeing MY TEAM on a stage I never thought I see them play.

One of the best is a simple one though...not sure the year maybe year two of Dantonio. I know UC was playing Marshall, we entered Nippert and saw the student section was full and rocking. It was the first time I had really seen UC student come out en masse for football. I actually teared up a litle...sort of the "they care...they finally really care."

(04-29-2019 08:16 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  Have a lot of great memories. I sat behind the basket on the Mel Levitt spinning dunk that is on the usual UC highlight reel.

Loved the Orange Bowl and seeing MY TEAM on a stage I never thought I see them play.

One of the best is a simple one though...not sure the year maybe year two of Dantonio. I know UC was playing Marshall, we entered Nippert and saw the student section was full and rocking. It was the first time I had really seen UC student come out en masse for football. I actually teared up a litle...sort of the "they care...they finally really care."

Year 1 bk. 2007

(04-29-2019 08:21 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(04-29-2019 08:16 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  Have a lot of great memories. I sat behind the basket on the Mel Levitt spinning dunk that is on the usual UC highlight reel.

Loved the Orange Bowl and seeing MY TEAM on a stage I never thought I see them play.

One of the best is a simple one though...not sure the year maybe year two of Dantonio. I know UC was playing Marshall, we entered Nippert and saw the student section was full and rocking. It was the first time I had really seen UC student come out en masse for football. I actually teared up a litle...sort of the "they care...they finally really care."

Year 1 bk. 2007

Yeah. That sounds about right. Was thinking 2006 or 2007. Was definitely Marshall.

(04-29-2019 08:06 PM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  Cockroaches on the top floor ate the part of the wall during break. Dirty bathrooms, broken elevators, and more. Circa 2000, Daniels Hall was holding up well.

Yes, there is a nuclear war with devastation en masse, and then there is the cockroach. I remember seeing a few of 'em that would make the Jurassic period proud. You could put a collar and leash on some. Still, nothing beat the experience of the campus cicada outbreak during the spring of '87. I mean, hearing screams of girls trying to get inside of buildings and students carrying badminton/tennis rackets/umbrellas to class was something man.

Daniels Hall in 86/87. Looking back that was quite a year with the Cicadas and the April snow that dropped 8 inches. I despised the fire alarms.

I also saw Testeverde at both Nippert and the following year at Riverfront. Saw many other good football players like Bret Farve and Jeff Brohm and Ted washington. All these games were played at Riverfront. I always believed that Bearcat basketball had begun to turn the corner when Levertis and Lou were able to beat Louisville. Someone noted earlier that the Bearcats always had a seven start and this was absolutely true. My friends and I would always hit Woody's at 12 and watch football, drink, have the Reuben platter until seven. we would walk over and watch the game at that point. Saw steve smith of Michigan state beat us on a last second shot. Later that week saw Michigan State get dismantled by later national champion UNLV. Felt pride when Judd Heathcoat said that little known UC would have gave UNLV a better game due to our athletes. Watched us destroy Georgia tech in the sweet sixteen at Rupp only to get to the game late and watch us never catch up against Mississippi State. We were at the bar inside Rupp and did not realize the game started. Stayed up till 2 in the morning infuriated about the Rick Minter Hawaii game. Went on for days about how we were cheated. Was ticked off 10 years later when we agreed to return to play Hawaii in Hawaii. I knew who Ben Rothisberger was prior to the Steelers. Saw the Rutgers game on television but did not understand the gravity of the game until people at work were talking about it the next day. This is just a few of my memories. One memory that really stands out was at the old Dayton arena. They had a section of seats for some reason did not give us access to the scoreboard. We had a big lumbering guy in our party that would hobble down to the lower section and announce the score and time. Our section would erupt every time. There are many memories like this but does not necessarily translate well.

(04-29-2019 08:30 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  

(04-29-2019 08:21 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(04-29-2019 08:16 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  Have a lot of great memories. I sat behind the basket on the Mel Levitt spinning dunk that is on the usual UC highlight reel.

Loved the Orange Bowl and seeing MY TEAM on a stage I never thought I see them play.

One of the best is a simple one though...not sure the year maybe year two of Dantonio. I know UC was playing Marshall, we entered Nippert and saw the student section was full and rocking. It was the first time I had really seen UC student come out en masse for football. I actually teared up a litle...sort of the "they care...they finally really care."

Year 1 bk. 2007

Yeah. That sounds about right. Was thinking 2006 or 2007. Was definitely Marshall.

I still contend that was the largest attendance for a game at Nippert. That was when you could still just walk up, and get in with your student ID...had to have been at least 12,000 students, every aisle was full top to bottom and rocking like crazy, and the rest of the stadium was basically full as well. That was the game right after we beat the piss out of Oregon State and people could start feeling something special...after the Marshall game they started passing out tickets to students because the FD said it was unsafe to have the amount of people we did. I remember I was with a few other guys on the soccer team who had never been to an American Football game before...they were hooked from the start.

News anchor Diane Sawyer was the commencement speaker in '92. I don't remember a thing she said but it was pretty cool she was there.

Homecoming, maybe 1988 I still can't remember her name.

Eating my first square piece of Adriaticos pie as a frosh. One of the best ever.

(04-29-2019 07:06 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Booze, beer, drugs, rock-n-roll, chicks, fire alarms at 3 AM, endless euchre games (bid and turn-up),

Wait, someone was playing bid euchre on campus? I could only ever find games of turn-up (straight) euchre, which was SO unchallenging once you played bid euchre.

Were the bid euchre players from Auglaize and/or Shelby counties?

Drinking at Burgandies and then walking home.

Xavier girls are still ugly

(04-29-2019 08:06 PM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  

(04-29-2019 07:06 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Who the hell had time for sports when this Temple of The Flesh was called home for a frosh during the 1986/87 academic year.





Booze, beer, drugs, rock-n-roll, chicks, fire alarms at 3 AM, endless euchre games (bid and turn-up), roommate pranks, canned ravioli, bathrooms from hell, hangovers from hell, and 17 year cicadas. We didn't have a Graduate Resident Adviser (RA) on our floor for the second half of the year. We did manage to get some academics done. All-in-all what a time it was for 18 and 19 year olds away from home.

Cockroaches on the top floor ate the part of the wall during break. Dirty bathrooms, broken elevators, and more. Circa 2000, Daniels Hall was holding up well.

My niece was in Daniels this past year. I dropped some stuff off to her after she moved in and I can tell you I couldn't find one thing that had changed since I was in there in 2001. It's like time had stood stiil. Made me nostalgic yet chuckle at the price all those kids are paying to stay there.

(04-29-2019 08:41 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-29-2019 08:30 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  

(04-29-2019 08:21 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(04-29-2019 08:16 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  Have a lot of great memories. I sat behind the basket on the Mel Levitt spinning dunk that is on the usual UC highlight reel.

Loved the Orange Bowl and seeing MY TEAM on a stage I never thought I see them play.

One of the best is a simple one though...not sure the year maybe year two of Dantonio. I know UC was playing Marshall, we entered Nippert and saw the student section was full and rocking. It was the first time I had really seen UC student come out en masse for football. I actually teared up a litle...sort of the "they care...they finally really care."

Year 1 bk. 2007

Yeah. That sounds about right. Was thinking 2006 or 2007. Was definitely Marshall.

I still contend that was the largest attendance for a game at Nippert. That was when you could still just walk up, and get in with your student ID...had to have been at least 12,000 students, every aisle was full top to bottom and rocking like crazy, and the rest of the stadium was basically full as well. That was the game right after we beat the piss out of Oregon State and people could start feeling something special...after the Marshall game they started passing out tickets to students because the FD said it was unsafe to have the amount of people we did. I remember I was with a few other guys on the soccer team who had never been to an American Football game before...they were hooked from the start.

No doubt. I forget which game it was in 07 or 08 but I swore at the time there was 45,000 people there. Students were so packed they were standing sideways in twice as many rows as the stadium-builders intended (standing on the metal bleachers and the concrete). Every single stair in the student sectdion was packed full.

I also vividly remember watching the 2007 Oregon State game at a bar in Portland, Maine. Most of the bar was Nebraska fans watching them squeak by Wake Forest. It was really satisfying watching the jealous Huskers fans who watched us as we celebrated beating the tar out of the Beavers. Looking back, that was when people nationally started taking UC football seriously. We were no longer just the 1-hit wonder that took down an overrated Rutgers team.