Looking at it, I'm not so sure I agree with the assessment:

 

UC has tough schedule

Enquirer staff and wire reports

 

The Bearcats will play the 12th-most difficult schedule in 2005, according to rankings compiled by Dennis Dodd at www.cbssportsline.com.  The Big East Conference has the toughest strength-of-schedule rating. The conference ratings were achieved by compiling the overall winning percentage of the conferences, based on their 2005 memberships, with points added for 2004 bowl teams and games against opponents that won at least 10 games last season.

 

The Big East has the No. 1-rated strength of schedule overall because six of its eight members went to bowl games last season, according to Dodd. North Carolina and Georgia Tech tied for No. 1 in strength-of-schedule ratings.

 

Seven Big East football members ranked among the Top 12 as West Virginia and Rutgers tied for No. 3, Syracuse was No. 7, South Florida No. 8, Connecticut and Pittsburgh tied for No. 10 and UC was No. 12. Louisville, at No. 28, rounds out the Big East rankings.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050608/SPT0101/506080370/-1/rss

I can't believe that Cincy has the 12th most difficult schedule. The only games they should definately lose are those to Louisville, and West Virginia.

I like the schedule, but I'm not such a fan of the I-AA scheduling.  Those games hurt when the bowls come around.  Anyway, from the 6/24/05 Enquirer:

 

UC football will start series against two new teams

By Bill Koch Enquirer staff writer

 

The University of Cincinnati announced today that it's beginning two new football series with Virginia Tech and North Carolina St. in addition to a series with Division I-AA Eastern Kentucky.  UC also announced dates for the two remaining games on its contract with Ohio State. The Bearcats were already scheduled to play at Ohio State on Sept. 15, 2006. OSU will return to Cincinnati on Sept. 8, 2012 and UC will play at Ohio State on Sept. 6, 2014.

 

The Virginia Tech series is for two games, beginning with a game on Sept. 23, 2006 in Blacksburg, Va., and culminating with a game at Nippert Stadium on Sept. 3 or Sept. 5, 2009.  The Bearcats, who have never played North Carolina St. in football, will play the Wolfpack in Raleigh on Sept. 4, 2010, with N.C. St. returning the game at Nippert on Sept. 3 or Sept. 5, 2011.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050623/SPT0101/506240356/-1/rss

W00t.  The Bucks play the Bearcats on my 31st birthday!

Sounds like a good pick up to me!

 

Withrow grad joins UC

Jamar Howard originally signed with Minnesota

BY BILL KOCH | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

Sometimes it pays to hold open a few scholarships.  That's what the University of Cincinnati football program did last February and it has paid off - first with the April signing of Beaver Falls, Pa., wide receiver Lance Jeter and now with the addition of Withrow High School wide receiver Jamar Howard.

 

Howard, 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, originally signed with Minnesota of the Big Ten. He met the NCAA's academic requirements for freshman eligibility but learned in June that the school's admissions office would not accept him.  "Jamar was a late qualifier," said Withrow coach Doc Gamble. "He spent his senior year getting himself recruitable academically. He did everything he's supposed to do, but their admissions people up there decided not to let him in."

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060502/SPT0101/605020396/1078/

sound like a good prospect, I wonder how long it will take Dantonio to turn the program around.

all you football fans...root on all of your Cincinnati football teams!! . . . I'm even going to OSU to watch my 2 favorite college teams play...come down to Nippert and see the cats take on Pittsburgh, the Cuse or how about see who is going to win the Victory bell when UC take on Miami in the oldest rivalry west of the Allegheny mountains!...were not just a basketball school anymore

 

edited: i'm dumb

Willie Anderson rules!!

Willie Anderson rules!!

 

WTF does that mean?!?!?!!?

TV exposure or not, having a Friday night football game in this town was a bad idea.  I think they drew somewhere near 20,000.

 

^I was at the game...it was decently attended game, but this is definately a HS football town.  No one.....and I mean NO ONE cares about Bearcat football.  In Ohio the only thing that matters for college football is OSU  :|  I do feel that the Bcats will eventually sell out every home game at Nippert (35,000).  We must put together a Big East title run though.

While most people were clutching to the teets of OSU...I went to cheer on MY team.  GO BEARCATS!!!!!

 

From the look of the stadium, you could have brought another 10,000 people with you and there still would have been empty seats...that was really pretty embarassing...of course, I wasn't there myself, but then I've never really been a big Bearcat guy...

 

^I'm not sure what you mean...but the stadium actually appeared quite full (except upper deck).  There were about 28,000 in attendance, but they were very noisy and made a big difference.  Without question though this game should have been a sellout (about 35,000).

^I'm not sure what you mean...but the stadium actually appeared quite full (except upper deck).  There were about 28,000 in attendance, but they were very noisy and made a big difference.  Without question though this game should have been a sellout (about 35,000).

 

The attendence was 27,400. Max capacity it 35,100(est.) The biggest crowd Nippert has seen in recent times was probably the Purdue game where there was 36,500 (and thats prob. more Purdue people than UC). I'd say we had a very good showing considering most of the 27,400 were UC fans.

 

BTW-I am in the UC Band...been in the band for 3 years and this was THE best game ever...even better than the 2 OSU games I've seen and the Bowl Game I went to in Fort Worth.

From the TV, it looked half empty.  In the fourth quarter, the announcers even commented on it, and the camera did a big panning shot of the stands, and it really did look half empty.

 

From the TV, it looked half empty.  In the fourth quarter, the announcers even commented on it, and the camera did a big panning shot of the stands, and it really did look half empty.

 

 

During the Fourth Quarter...are you talking about the pan that showed the upper deck? If so, the reason it looked empty is because hundreds of people moved to the lower deck. They all were getting ready to charge the field at like 10:00. The student section was completly packed though. It looked (from where the band sits) awesome.

I'm talking about all throughout the game.  The pan shot was at the end, though, so I'm sure people moving down just made it look bad.  But it looked worst during the first quarter - we were guessing folks were watching the end of the OSU game, because it seemed less barren as the game went on - but it still looked awfully bad.

 

Except for the game - that was great!

 

That is the one thing that irritates me about bearcat fans (except that they don't always come to games). They don't show up until. like half-way through the first quarter. I am at every home game and it is the same thing everytime. Irritating, mostly because, for the band's pregame-I want people there to see us!! That's what we're there for.

Dantonio: 'We belong'

BY BILL KOCH | November 20, 2006

 

It’s one thing to be a member of a BCS conference, another thing to be considered a bona fide BCS program.  By virtue of its 30-11 upset Saturday of then-No. 7 and previously unbeaten Rutgers before a national television audience and a crowd of 27,804 at Nippert Stadium, the Cincinnati football program made a huge statement that the Bearcats really do belong in the BCS.

 

As one long-time observer of the program said at halftime, with Mark Dantonio running the program and with UC now playing in the Big East Conference, there is finally real hope for the program to succeed at a high level.  “It made a statement that we belong in the Big East Conference, that we can compete in this conference,” Dantonio said. “Because the conference has an automatic BCS bid, it means that those things are possible.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061119/SPT0101/311190013/1062/SPT

I was excited to here about UC's victory against Rutgers when I was in Chicago this weekend.  Instead of creating another thread, I decided to share this photo I found on SI.com.  Was anyone at that game?  Any photos?

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0611/campus.superfans.week12/content.19.html

 

 

 

Dantonio, 50, has always preached that the crowds will come when UC wins consistently, and there was evidence that he might be right when 27,804 fans showed up at Nippert Stadium on Saturday for the Rutgers game.

 

I have no doubt of that.  If UC puts something on the field worth getting excited about, the fans will pack that place solid.  I'd bet if the Connecticut game were at home that you'd see big crowds, and I'd expect sell-outs next year if they keep playing well...

 

I took my family to the UC-Pittsburgh game at Nippert this season which was pretty much a blow out. 

^^Jesus, you want a BCS bid now. I think the computers will always rank Cincy too low for a BCS bid due to Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever" being blasted over the loudspeakers before home games. Or was that one time event for Rutgers? ;)

^ Oh please tell me it isn't so.  Ted Nugent sucks...  I have to agree with AmrapinVA, if "Cat Scratch Fever" is played during every game, the Bearcats don't deserve a BCS bid in the future.

Who gives a crap what they play on the loud speakers...they could play "pussy cat, pussy cat, I love you..." for all I care!  Just as long as they win games...its all about winning!!!  They finished with a 7-5 record this year...I don't think a 10 win season is too far off (ps..they have been scheduling tough lately, in the coming years there will be OSU, VT, and maybe Georgia)

 

WATCH OUT BIG EAST....HEEEERRREE COOMMMEEE THE CATS!!!!!!

^ Oh please tell me it isn't so.  Ted Nugent sucks...  I have to agree with AmrapinVA, if "Cat Scratch Fever" is played during every game, the Bearcats don't deserve a BCS bid in the future.

 

Well, I am one of the Drum Majors with the band, so during the FB games, I am in contact with the AD and have a game script. What they want to do is:

 

After we score, the band will play the fight song. Then on the video board, they have some graphic and they play Cat Scratch Fever.

 

So far....they haven't tried doing that with the Bball games, but I wouldn't put it past them....live pep and marching bands are on the way out due to push button technology of house music.

Ted Nugent is a redneck from Michigan, maybe UC should rethink their playlists ;)

Let's hold off on our BCS talk, because it appears we've probably lost our coach.  Rumors are that Dantonio will be going to Michigan St.

 

Just when he's built the program up to a respectable level, now they may have to start all over again.

 

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061127/NEWS99/611270410

 

MSU hires Dantonio as coach

Former Spartan assistant will leave Cincinnati to succeed John L. Smith

 

BY SHANNON SHELTON

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

 

November 27, 2006

 

University of Cincinnati head coach Mark Dantonio will be introduced as Michigan State's new head football coach.

 

The Michigan State Board of Trustees unanimously approved a recommendation to hire Dantonio at a special meeting Monday. The five-year contract guarantees Dantonio about $1.1 million a year. It also has a $200,000 signing bonus and incentives that could boost his income.

R.I.P. UC Football

so should I be happy If i were a michigan State fan?

Michigan State fans should never be happy.

Dantonio's stay at UC was a short one... MSU could have some brighter days ahead of them now that he is taking over the helm.  I'm sure Tressel V Dantonio will be played up by the media in the future for years to come.  Who will take over UC now?

Thanks Dantonio...I now know all that stuff you said to me and other loyal UC fans was a bunch of bullshit!!!  You don't care about the program, the university, the fans, or the city!  Thanks for selling out...oh and good luck trying to win a conference championship at MSU...much less a national championship appearence!!!

Rando, I can't help but laugh. Setting aside the issue of whether there's any such thing as loyalty in sports, you're taking this far too personally.

 

Just because he took another job doesn't mean he doesn't care about UC. It means he cares about MSU more. Do you really think taking a better job is selling out?

 

MSU has 6 Big Ten Conference Championships since joining. I think they've won 3 national championships. 75,000 people go to their games, even though they've sucked lately. I like his odds at MSU much more than at UC.

I'm sorry but if you want to play in the Big 10 and contend for a national championship you would choose OSU, MU, Minn, Wis, Iowa...all before MSU!!!  Its all about winning...you will see UC win a Big East Championship before you will see MSU win a Big 10 title (even without Danschmonio)!

 

All in all...."Don't pee on my leg, and tell me its raining!"

Well, I'd imagine he sees MSU as another stepping stone.  Not many people have a true shot at being an elite NCAA coach, and possibly even moving into the NFL some day - and Dantonio probably doesn't either - but man, if you love the game, you've gotta take that shot.  How can you not?

 

Now, if he preached loyalty above personal gain to UC students and fans (and I have no idea if he did or not), then there's definitely room to criticize his hypocrisy - and I would never dream of telling a UC fan not to be pissed off when someone ditches them - I mean, that's part of being a fan.  But honestly, if you've got the skills he's got, and you're handed the opportunity, you simply must take that shot.

 

Thanks Dantonio...I now know all that stuff you said to me and other loyal UC fans was a bunch of bullshit!!!  You don't care about the program, the university, the fans, or the city!  Thanks for selling out...oh and good luck trying to win a conference championship at MSU...much less a national championship appearence!!!

 

You know, your heart wouldn't be broken as much if you were an OSU fan instead.

Rando, I can't help but laugh. Setting aside the issue of whether there's any such thing as loyalty in sports, you're taking this far too personally.

 

Just because he took another job doesn't mean he doesn't care about UC. It means he cares about MSU more. Do you really think taking a better job is selling out?

 

MSU has 6 Big Ten Conference Championships since joining. I think they've won 3 national championships. 75,000 people go to their games, even though they've sucked lately. I like his odds at MSU much more than at UC.

 

You might be quoting their basketball numbers.

MSU has 0 national championships in football, and between 2-4 Big Ten titles.

And yes MSU is a stepping stone.  Just ask Nick Saban.

Dantonio challenges UC fans

'Take ownership of team,' coach says after leaving for Michigan State

BY BILL KOCH | November 27, 2006

 

UC fans should be encouraged that president Nancy Zimpher and athletic director Mike Thomas did their best to keep Mark Dantonio by offering him a financial package that approached the $1.1 million that Michigan State offered.  But the fact that he chose to leave anyway is disturbing because it means this wasn’t solely about money, but about the perception of the program and its potential.

 

Dantonio didn’t complain publicly about the lack of fan support for the UC football program, but it wore on him just as it wore on past UC coaches.  “I hope the people understand that I love UC and I love my players,” Dantonio said Monday. “But the people of Cincinnati need to take ownership of their football team.

 

“There were very sparse crowds there at times. That equates to capital gains for the athletic department. That equates to excitement. They need to create the environment that was created at the Rutgers game for every game.”

 

UC drew 27,804 fans for its victory over No. 7 Rutgers on Nov. 18. That was easily the largest crowd of the season, but it still fell far short of a sellout for a game against a team that had become the talk of the nation after its victory Louisville the previous week.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061127/SPT0101/611270346

He said that whether he chose to go to MSU or stay at UC he was determined to make that the last stop of his coaching career.

 

Ouch.  If that's true, then just ignore everything I wrote above...he gave UC the big fuck-off, because he wanted to be at MSU, not because it was a stepping stone...though who knows, maybe he's not being wholly truthful here...

 

Ouch.  If that's true, then just ignore everything I wrote above...he gave UC the big fuck-off, because he wanted to be at MSU, not because it was a stepping stone...though who knows, maybe he's not being wholly truthful here...

 

You hit the nail right on the head...I have heard him speak (while at RallyCats meetings...student spirit group), and he led us to believe that he was here to establish the program and that he believed in the city, university, and program....in the article he pretty much said that UC was a mess and that it was a bad decision....well

 

F#CK YOU TOO!!!!!!

You might be quoting their basketball numbers.

MSU has 0 national championships in football, and between 2-4 Big Ten titles.

And yes MSU is a stepping stone.  Just ask Nick Saban.

 

Michigan State Football has 6 National Titles and 6 Big Ten Titles (though some of the national championships were not unanimous among the many polls from back in the day)

So basically, MSU > UC.

 

Gotcha.

Or....

 

Shit > Dantonio

I, along with everyone else, thought that Dantonio would be respectful when/if he left UC. He always said that he was here to build a program, 3 years isn't long enough bud. Who we thought was an honest guy was actually flying to Lansing, MI after UC victory at UConn. Come 7 a.m. this morning at the meeting with the players, Dantonio gave his speech and the team captains pretty much refocused the team on the bowl game and told Dantonio to "Get the Fuck Out". Leaving on good terms with the players that he cared for, ya right. Have fun coaching at MSU for 3-4 just to get booted because you'll fail there too. (Source is several friends on UC football team).

^damn straight...thats a cold blooded move on dansmonio's part!!!!  He really does need to GET THE FU$K OUT OF CINCY!!!!

Hey I love my city too but come on, he said some truthful things and maybe it gets people thinking...  Cincinnati doesn't fill the stadium.  I went to the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati game at the beginning of the season and was surprised by the many empty seats. 

^ Oh please tell me it isn't so.  Ted Nugent sucks...  I have to agree with AmrapinVA, if "Cat Scratch Fever" is played during every game, the Bearcats don't deserve a BCS bid in the future.

 

I also heard some similar music being played during the Louisville/WV game a few weeks back. Big name schools would never play such crap. It takes away from the college football atmosphere and makes it XFL-esque.  Oh, Rockne would roll over in his grave if ND ever played music like.

Hey I love my city too but come on, he said some truthful things and maybe it gets people thinking...  Cincinnati doesn't fill the stadium.  I went to the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati game at the beginning of the season and was surprised by the many empty seats.

 

Well in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh their football allegiences are with their NFL teams.  This is a common situation all over the country...however, you can buck the trend if you are willing to put in the work to compete with an NFL team in their market...obviously Danschmonio was not up for the challenge.