The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(02-22-2023 11:37 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Also, why the hell does Kroger need to advertise in the market where its HQ is located?

Maybe if more people in Cincinnati went to other grocery outlets and not everyone went "Krogering", then Kroger would invest more in the city?

Though I do enjoy the in store sushi places.

Sounds like we need to lobby Giant Eagle to move to Cincinnati and sponsor Bearcat athletics.

(02-22-2023 02:53 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Sounds like we need to lobby Giant Eagle to move to Cincinnati and sponsor Bearcat athletics.

I stopped "Krogering" about three years ago and never looked back. As the dominant chain in Cincinnati the stores always seemed packed, the parking lots were a mess and people were lined up to get a dime off a gallon of gas at the pumps, not realizing they'd just spent that dime and more in the store to obtain the discount. Smart marketing perhaps but I drive right by now and shop at Meijer.

No idea what Kroger spends on UC Athletics, but it doesn't appear to be much. Didn't they buy naming rights for Fickell's headset? Bet that cost a bundle.

If Kroger did more for the Bearcats, such as in-store merchandise displays or tailgating food/beverage specials (with Pepsi?) would I be more inclined to return to shopping there? You bet.

(02-22-2023 04:39 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-22-2023 02:53 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Sounds like we need to lobby Giant Eagle to move to Cincinnati and sponsor Bearcat athletics.

I stopped "Krogering" about three years ago and never looked back. As the dominant chain in Cincinnati the stores always seemed packed, the parking lots were a mess and people were lined up to get a dime off a gallon of gas at the pumps, not realizing they'd just spent that dime and more in the store to obtain the discount. Smart marketing perhaps but I drive right by now and shop at Meijer.

No idea what Kroger spends on UC Athletics, but it doesn't appear to be much. Didn't they buy naming rights for Fickell's headset? Bet that cost a bundle.

If Kroger did more for the Bearcats, such as in-store merchandise displays or tailgating food/beverage specials (with Pepsi?) would I be more inclined to return to shopping there? You bet.

In fairness they had the “Sacks for Cash” thing at the games this year where they would donate so many bags of groceries for each time the defense sacked the opposing QB (Ivan Pace fed a lot of people this year). Also, for the first time I noticed Kroger was one of the sponsor’s on the scoreboard so they must have kicked the donation up a bit.

They are putting up the new scoreboard at the baseball field and putting in new turf before the first home game. I don’t think anyone has bought naming rights yet to the stadium but I would not be surprised to see some sponsors on the new scoreboard.

(02-22-2023 05:15 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(02-22-2023 04:39 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-22-2023 02:53 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Sounds like we need to lobby Giant Eagle to move to Cincinnati and sponsor Bearcat athletics.

I stopped "Krogering" about three years ago and never looked back. As the dominant chain in Cincinnati the stores always seemed packed, the parking lots were a mess and people were lined up to get a dime off a gallon of gas at the pumps, not realizing they'd just spent that dime and more in the store to obtain the discount. Smart marketing perhaps but I drive right by now and shop at Meijer.

No idea what Kroger spends on UC Athletics, but it doesn't appear to be much. Didn't they buy naming rights for Fickell's headset? Bet that cost a bundle.

If Kroger did more for the Bearcats, such as in-store merchandise displays or tailgating food/beverage specials (with Pepsi?) would I be more inclined to return to shopping there? You bet.

In fairness they had the “Sacks for Cash” thing at the games this year where they would donate so many bags of groceries for each time the defense sacked the opposing QB (Ivan Pace fed a lot of people this year). Also, for the first time I noticed Kroger was one of the sponsor’s on the scoreboard so they must have kicked the donation up a bit.

They are putting up the new scoreboard at the baseball field and putting in new turf before the first home game. I don’t think anyone has bought naming rights yet to the stadium but I would not be surprised to see some sponsors on the new scoreboard.

Hey, I'll give credit where credit is due and I somehow missed "Sacks for Cash" and the scoreboard sign--perhaps because that Kroger logo is ubiquitous in the Tri-state. And that's part of the reason that Kroger doesn't need to do more, strictly from the standpoint of creating more consumer impressions in this market.

(02-22-2023 06:56 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-22-2023 05:15 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(02-22-2023 04:39 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-22-2023 02:53 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Sounds like we need to lobby Giant Eagle to move to Cincinnati and sponsor Bearcat athletics.

I stopped "Krogering" about three years ago and never looked back. As the dominant chain in Cincinnati the stores always seemed packed, the parking lots were a mess and people were lined up to get a dime off a gallon of gas at the pumps, not realizing they'd just spent that dime and more in the store to obtain the discount. Smart marketing perhaps but I drive right by now and shop at Meijer.

No idea what Kroger spends on UC Athletics, but it doesn't appear to be much. Didn't they buy naming rights for Fickell's headset? Bet that cost a bundle.

If Kroger did more for the Bearcats, such as in-store merchandise displays or tailgating food/beverage specials (with Pepsi?) would I be more inclined to return to shopping there? You bet.

In fairness they had the “Sacks for Cash” thing at the games this year where they would donate so many bags of groceries for each time the defense sacked the opposing QB (Ivan Pace fed a lot of people this year). Also, for the first time I noticed Kroger was one of the sponsor’s on the scoreboard so they must have kicked the donation up a bit.

They are putting up the new scoreboard at the baseball field and putting in new turf before the first home game. I don’t think anyone has bought naming rights yet to the stadium but I would not be surprised to see some sponsors on the new scoreboard.

Hey, I'll give credit where credit is due and I somehow missed "Sacks for Cash" and the scoreboard sign--perhaps because that Kroger logo is ubiquitous in the Tri-state. And that's part of the reason that Kroger doesn't need to do more, strictly from the standpoint of creating more consumer impressions in this market.

Yep, and there are far better ways for them to impact the Cincinnati community than put their logo on a scoreboard as some suggest.

Just curious...this upcoming weekend series @ Florida is listed at gobearcats.com with an SEC/ESPN + logo. As an ESPN+ subscriber, will we see these, or does it require a different subscription to an SEC-based streaming service?

(02-23-2023 08:38 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Just curious...this upcoming weekend series @ Florida is listed at gobearcats.com with an SEC/ESPN + logo. As an ESPN+ subscriber, will we see these, or does it require a different subscription to an SEC-based streaming service?

Yep, you should be able to watch them, that just means it could be on SEC Network+, which is an ESPN+ subordinate function.

UC lost game one 13-6. They had some defensive miscues that contributed to Florida's 13 runs.

https://gobearcats.com/news/2023/2/24/ba...orida.aspx

(02-25-2023 09:52 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  UC lost game one 13-6. They had some defensive miscues that contributed to Florida's 13 runs.

https://gobearcats.com/news/2023/2/24/ba...orida.aspx

Giving up 13 runs a game for three consecutive games this past weekend, even against a powerhouse Florida team, is discouraging. While former Bearcat Griffin Merritt hit a 422 foot bomb for Tennessee already, one has to wonder whether this year's Bearcat squad has the firepower or pitching to right the ship.

(02-27-2023 09:00 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-25-2023 09:52 AM)bearcatfan Wrote:  UC lost game one 13-6. They had some defensive miscues that contributed to Florida's 13 runs.

https://gobearcats.com/news/2023/2/24/ba...orida.aspx

Giving up 13 runs a game for three consecutive games this past weekend, even against a powerhouse Florida team, is discouraging. While former Bearcat Griffin Merritt hit a 422 foot bomb for Tennessee already, one has to wonder whether this year's Bearcat squad has the firepower or pitching to right the ship.

I think the bats are fine, the problem is and always has been our pitching depth. We have consistently had one or two good starters, but the pen has always been inconsistent at best and putrid at worst.

The bats may be ok, but they have to stop striking out so much. In seven games UC batters have struck out 88 times - over 12 a game.

Also the team batting average is currently .210, with just three players hitting .250 or better. Opponents are batting .324 against UC pitching. That's not going to get many wins.

It's what we do every February.

(02-27-2023 11:23 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  It's what we do every February.

Yeah, like clockwork.

I don't think there has been a year in the past two decades where we've had a record better than 8 games below .500 before the conference season.

A little off-topic ( I saw this on WLWT this morning) , but an NKU player from Mason did this yesterday against Western Michigan -

Liam McFadden-Ackman: 5-for-6, 2 home runs (2 grand slams), 10 RBI, 4 runs, 1 triple, 1 double (Hit For Cycle*)

His 2 grand slams both came in the first inning!

From their website - McFadden-Ackman's performance today was one for the record books. Not only did the junior crush two first inning grand slam home runs, but he capped off the already nearly impossible day by hitting for the cycle with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

I thought our coaching hire was good when Bohn stole Googins away from X. Then on his watch, UC destroyed UCONN to win the AAC, and moved on to defeat defending national champ Oregon State in the NCAA. A high water mark for sure during my years of watching UC baseball.

Unfortunately, there's not been a lot to cheer about since then other than the occasional wins over regional, non-conference rivals. I have to believe this is a critical year in his tenure. We're all familiar with the challenges of college baseball in the Midwest, but Indiana and Louisville have enjoyed success, albeit in P5 conferences. And the best of the AAC is tough.

I don't expect UC to challenge Florida or other elite southern and western teams. But I was hopeful that we'd see some progression after the NCAA run which now appears to have been an aberration. I'm supporting the team and our coach with a season pass each year and by attending as many games as possible. But the road only gets harder next season in the B12.

I've always gotten the impression this staff doesn't put much stock at all in the non conference schedule. They know we aren't getting an at-large bid. Might as well use it as an exhibition season try out to see who can do what and who can't do what in hopes of improving enough to make noise in the conference season.

The roster is limited. Not going to out talent many squads.

After a 2.5 hr rain delay, the home opener vs Miami is about to restart, you can watch on ESPN+

Top of 7, Bearcats up on the redhawks 12-10.

Was at the game earlier, good crowd before the rain, over 2,500 people per the broadcasts

For those counting, UC's pitchers have given up 50 runs in their first 4 games...yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes.

And they lost again. This time to an 0-7 team 15-12 final.
That's 54 runs given up in the last 4 games