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

Interesting tidbit: we know UC has won 17 straight going back to 2005, but the last time Miami won at Nippert was a 31-26 back and forth game in 2002.

Was talking to a few buddies about this game and one brought up an interesting wrinkle. This has now become a situation where the Miami players, by and large, are going to be guys who Cincinnati didn't look at or give a shot to whereas it used to be a game where people made the choice to go play for Miami or Cincinnati...could mean they'll be playing with an even more significant chip given just how many are from the Tri-State, Michigan, and northern Ohio.

Random additional detail, Brady Lichtenberg's brother Blake is on Miami's roster as a walk-on.

(09-13-2023 10:37 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Was talking to a few buddies about this game and one brought up an interesting wrinkle. This has now become a situation where the Miami players, by and large, are going to be guys who Cincinnati didn't look at or give a shot to whereas it used to be a game where people made the choice to go play for Miami or Cincinnati...could mean they'll be playing with an even more significant chip given just how many are from the Tri-State, Michigan, and northern Ohio.

Random additional detail, Brady Lichtenberg's brother Blake is on Miami's roster as a walk-on.

Good catch and I do expect a competitive game. What I don't know is if UC has reached a point where superior size and athleticism could provide a victory against a better than average MAC team, even on a night when offense or defense isn't clicking at full potential for the Bearcats.

(09-13-2023 10:50 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(09-13-2023 10:37 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Was talking to a few buddies about this game and one brought up an interesting wrinkle. This has now become a situation where the Miami players, by and large, are going to be guys who Cincinnati didn't look at or give a shot to whereas it used to be a game where people made the choice to go play for Miami or Cincinnati...could mean they'll be playing with an even more significant chip given just how many are from the Tri-State, Michigan, and northern Ohio.

Random additional detail, Brady Lichtenberg's brother Blake is on Miami's roster as a walk-on.

Good catch and I do expect a competitive game. What I don't know is if UC has reached a point where superior size and athleticism could provide a victory against a better than average MAC team, even on a night when offense or defense isn't clicking at full potential for the Bearcats.

I think our DL alone will cause enough issues to probably make it exceptionally hard for Miami to be consistently effective on offense, but as they say, on any given night any team can win.

Still stunning that after 17 wins the series is tied? Am I remembering that right? We must have royally sucked compared to them for a long time before.

(09-13-2023 11:46 AM)Fubar2 Wrote:  Still stunning that after 17 wins the series is tied? Am I remembering that right? We must have royally sucked compared to them for a long time before.

UC is now one ahead. But yes, pre 1980 Miami was a very good program and took a big lead on us over the decades. They were especially good in the 1950s, 60s and 1970s when they were coached by the likes of Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, John Pont, Bo Schembechler, Bill Mallory and Dick Crum- guys who all went to do bigger and better things at places like Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame.

In the 80s and 90s the two programs were on more even footing, even though Miami had an 8-11-1 lead over those two decades.

Major changes took place at years over the past sixty years and major change has occurred in CFB shifting the series to where we are today.

(09-13-2023 11:46 AM)Fubar2 Wrote:  Still stunning that after 17 wins the series is tied? Am I remembering that right? We must have royally sucked compared to them for a long time before.

UC only won four games between 1960 and 1980. That was the difference.

(09-13-2023 10:32 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Interesting tidbit: we know UC has won 17 straight going back to 2005, but the last time Miami won at Nippert was a 31-26 back and forth game in 2002.

I was there for that game and I don't remember a lot of "Back and forth." I remember Ben Rothlessberger taking our defense apart...

(09-13-2023 10:37 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Was talking to a few buddies about this game and one brought up an interesting wrinkle. This has now become a situation where the Miami players, by and large, are going to be guys who Cincinnati didn't look at or give a shot to whereas it used to be a game where people made the choice to go play for Miami or Cincinnati...could mean they'll be playing with an even more significant chip given just how many are from the Tri-State, Michigan, and northern Ohio.

Random additional detail, Brady Lichtenberg's brother Blake is on Miami's roster as a walk-on.

Those Miami players could also be looking at it as an opportunity to showcase themselves for a possible transfer up to UC a’la Ivan Pace.
Does anyone realistically think that Ivan Pace would be a contributor on an NFL roster today if he had stayed at Miami?

(09-13-2023 12:41 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(09-13-2023 10:32 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Interesting tidbit: we know UC has won 17 straight going back to 2005, but the last time Miami won at Nippert was a 31-26 back and forth game in 2002.

I was there for that game and I don't remember a lot of "Back and forth." I remember Ben Rothlessberger taking our defense apart...

It was 31-26. The game was close the whole way, Gino threw for 350 yards. We were in scoring position but Guidugli threw an interception in the end zone in the closing seconds.

(09-13-2023 11:56 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-13-2023 11:46 AM)Fubar2 Wrote:  Still stunning that after 17 wins the series is tied? Am I remembering that right? We must have royally sucked compared to them for a long time before.

UC is now one ahead. But yes, pre 1980 Miami was a very good program and took a big lead on us over the decades. They were especially good in the 1950s, 60s and 1970s when they were coached by the likes of Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, John Pont, Bo Schembechler, Bill Mallory and Dick Crum- guys who all went to do bigger and better things at places like Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame.

In the 80s and 90s the two programs were on more even footing, even though Miami had an 8-11-1 lead over those two decades.

Major changes took place at years over the past sixty years and major change has occurred in CFB shifting the series to where we are today.

Bolded, all true. "The Cradle of Coaches" enjoyed a reputation at that time for excellence--winning the MAC, drawing "power" teams in bowls (often defeating them), and occasionally knocking some off in the regular season too.

UC's program has moved light years from those days. Nippert was in a state of decay after years of neglect and the student section was nearly empty on game days. Meanwhile, Miami was filling its small stadium with polo and cardigan clad alums and students and polishing its "public ivy" image.

I feel badly for our diehard fans that didn't live long enough to see the tables turned. I would also argue that the bloom is off the rose a bit academically for Miami too. UC's size, urban setting, research bona fides, and international enrollment are yielding record enrollment and earning a worldwide reputation in many fields. If Miami is mentioned nationally these days, it's the one in Florida.

(09-13-2023 09:50 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(09-13-2023 08:57 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-13-2023 08:08 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(09-12-2023 08:53 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  It confuses me why Miami and most of the MAC are still in the FBS division.

As institutions, the MAC looks a lot more like an FBS conference than the Sun Belt or Conference USA.

And while the MAC isn't as good at football, top-to-bottom their athletic departments are similar to C-USA and superior to the Sun Belt.

Institutionally the MAC schools are hurting. Ohio, Akron and NIU have ~50% of the enrollment they had a decade ago. They have had to cut a lot of programs. Toledo and BGSU have had issues in this area but not to the same extent.

The MAC may be better better overall athletically because of women’s sports, men’s soccer, etc; but I think they are about to be lapped by the SBC and CUSA given the growth in those schools and regions as a whole.

The MAC schools, with the exception of Buffalo, look more like Grand Valleys, Wayne States, Wright States, and Daytons of the world than FBS schools at this point. I've long been a proponent of them moving down, because they have LOST the money game, they're not even playing at this point, outside of each school who is already cash strapped pumping $15m-$25m that they don't have into their ADs.

I've thought that since I showed up to campus in Oxford as a freshman wearing my UC gear.

(09-13-2023 01:50 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-13-2023 12:41 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(09-13-2023 10:32 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Interesting tidbit: we know UC has won 17 straight going back to 2005, but the last time Miami won at Nippert was a 31-26 back and forth game in 2002.

I was there for that game and I don't remember a lot of "Back and forth." I remember Ben Rothlessberger taking our defense apart...

It was 31-26. The game was close the whole way, Gino threw for 350 yards. We were in scoring position but Guidugli threw an interception in the end zone in the closing seconds.

Bwahahahah!

Gino is over 40 and it's the last time Miami won.

They should have a Miami 2005 team reunion to celebrate the last time they touched the Victory Bell. Have AARP sponsor it.

VICTORY BELL 2002

Sounds like an exciting game, i wish i could watch it. Both teams held 1st and 2nd half leads. 7 total sacks. Over 600 yards total passing. Gino out passed Ben by 113 yards! The 4th quarter started with a 10 point deficit. A quick field goal, 3 plays later a safety to make it a 5 point game with 10 minutes left had to be so exciting! Followed by a missed FG. Defense forces a 3 and out and we get the ball back midfield. 3 straight int's and game not decided until 26 seconds left. Man so many missed opportunities, maybe im glad i cant watch it and get frustrated lol

(09-14-2023 07:46 AM)cincy7718 Wrote:  VICTORY BELL 2002

Sounds like an exciting game, i wish i could watch it. Both teams held 1st and 2nd half leads. 7 total sacks. Over 600 yards total passing. Gino out passed Ben by 113 yards! The 4th quarter started with a 10 point deficit. A quick field goal, 3 plays later a safety to make it a 5 point game with 10 minutes left had to be so exciting! Followed by a missed FG. Defense forces a 3 and out and we get the ball back midfield. 3 straight int's and game not decided until 26 seconds left. Man so many missed opportunities, maybe im glad i cant watch it and get frustrated lol

The next year was even more painful at Yager. Miami was absolutely kicking the crap out of UC. Rapelsburger couldn't be stopped.

UC fell behind 28-0 then 42-17 (in the 4th quarter). Bearcats got a TD, then ran back a blocked fg for another TD to make it 42-30. Then scored a TD with 1:51 to go. They forced a 3 and out and were about to get the ball back. I was so sure they were going to somehow pull it off...then they muffed the punt and Miami recovered to end it.

Only favored by 14. That seems closer than expected to me. Don't need to take this one lightly.

(09-12-2023 12:11 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(09-12-2023 11:50 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I don't hold a road win at UMass in as high regard as some.

UC didn't take EKU lightly. They'll be ready to stomp Izod U.

Love it...although looking at their latest admission rate, I'd go with JCrew Factory U.

Public Divey

While our local TV news operations have stepped up their games in terms of covering UC, especially since the CFP season, it's now Thursday and this Miami "rivalry" game isn't being covered. Anecdotal information I know, from my random sampling of three different local newscasts the last two evenings. Even the weather graphics that were placing a UC helmet on gameday forecasts have gone away as they obsess over weather for Friday high school football, Octoberfest, and the Bengals on Sunday.

From my studies in journalism (long ago) it's newsworthy having the 13th straight sellout at Nippert for a game between two local schools with a combined 65,000 students and more than 200,000 tri-state alumni. Our Bearcats are 2-0 to usher in the inaugural season in our highest profile football conference ever, the Big 12. These all seem like worthy storylines locally. Yet, Burrow's haircut was the most newsworthy sports story yesterday.

Local 12 did have the UC-Miami game graphics on the weather report this morning.

(09-14-2023 10:24 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  While our local TV news operations have stepped up their games in terms of covering UC, especially since the CFP season, it's now Thursday and this Miami "rivalry" game isn't being covered. Anecdotal information I know, from my random sampling of three different local newscasts the last two evenings. Even the weather graphics that were placing a UC helmet on gameday forecasts have gone away as they obsess over weather for Friday high school football, Octoberfest, and the Bengals on Sunday.

From my studies in journalism (long ago) it's newsworthy having the 13th straight sellout at Nippert for a game between two local schools with a combined 65,000 students and more than 200,000 tri-state alumni. Our Bearcats are 2-0 to usher in the inaugural season in our highest profile football conference ever, the Big 12. These all seem like worthy storylines locally. Yet, Burrow's haircut was the most newsworthy sports story yesterday.

I've long given up on local media giving a damn about UC athletics. That includes all of the basic cable networks and 700 WLW. I truly believe no catalyst short of the Reds and Bengals being sold to another city will cause them to move UC up the pecking order in terms of regular coverage.

Thankfully we have excellent coverage via the Athletic and BCJ.