RE: Mr. Pot meet Mr. Kettle.....

From: Shinkle, Randy
Date: 12 Aug 2003 - 02:19 PM EST

I respectfully disagree. Let's try a few comparisons. In a list of top rivals that they really want to play and beat:
- where would Louisville fans rank Kentucky?
- where would Memphis fans rank Tennessee?
- where would Pittsburgh fans rank Penn State?
- where would Houston fans rank Texas?
- etc.
A major state school makes for a powerful regional rival. I admit that the intensity wanes a bit when the state school is relatively weak in a given sport (such as Penn State in basketball) but it's still there.

I'm also not inclined to believe that the "newness" would wear off after a while (see again UofL vs. UK), but if that's a real concern, perhaps this idea (from a post of mine after last year's OSU football game) would be more acceptable ....

I can't imagine anyone who was at the game Saturday, from either side,
thinking that it would be a bad idea to bring this game back to PBS. IMO,
the answer is obvious: UC and Ohio State agree to return in 2008, per the
reported option in the current contract, and every 4 years thereafter. In
the other even-numbered years, UC plays at Ohio State. Both schools can
tell every recruit that they'll play in PBS during their eligibility, and
UC recruits can also expect to play at OSU while they're at UC.

I think UC can play another game at PBS sometime during the years between
OSU games, but it needs to be one that generates similar excitement. To do
that, it has to be a school that sees value in giving up a home game to
bring their team to the Cincinnati market and will bring lots of their
fans, who will look at UC as at least a potential rival. Very few schools
fit that description; in fact, IMO, only one. I don't think Michigan,
Notre Dame or Tennessee would come here, and the only school that could
generate enough "buzz" (assuming they start winning more) is UK.

There's a bigger picture here. UC has two local rivals: Miami in football
and Xavier in basketball. They also have a great nearby conference rival
in Louisville. What UC doesn't have are a couple of big regional rivals to
add to the interest level. Enter OSU and UK, in both football *and*
basketball. Imagine the following:

2006: UC at OSU (football) -- UK at UC (basketball)
2007: OSU at UC (basketball) -- UC at UK (football)
2008: UC vs. OSU at PBS (football) -- UC at UK (basketball)
2009: UC at OSU (basketball) -- UC vs. UK at PBS (football)
2010: (repeat the cycle)

Sure, it would be great to play both UK and OSU every year in basketball,
but I'd be OK with the above, at least to get something started. I'd even
agree to play the UC home basketball games at US Bank Arena and let the UK
and OSU fans have a few thousand seats. Building these regional rivalries
would be worth it, IMO.

Now that UC and OSU have played competitive football games, and given that
UK has also played UC recently and likes to bring their basketball team to
Cincinnati, I don't see why this couldn't be sold to each schools' athletic
departments. What is the down side for anyone?

This is not to say that I wouldn't like to see Indiana or Notre Dame (or several others) on UC's schedule, but I don't think any of them carry quite the clout of OSU, regardless of won-lost records (within reason).

Randy '78

-----Original Message-----
From: Brett Pappas [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 1:36 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Mr. Pot meet Mr. Kettle.....

I just don't get the need by UC fans to play OSU in basketball.. How
does this help UC?? Beating a team that is rarely ranked in the polls?

Seriously, the only interest would be the fact that they
haven't played
each other in so long. After a few home and home games, who
would really
care about this game?

Personally, I would rate Ohio State below a number of other local
schools I would like to see:

1. Kentucky
2. Xavier
3. Indiana
4. Louisville
5. Notre Dame

I guess I would base my criteria on local fan support for
these schools,
success over the last 5-10 years and proximity. I can't say
that I know
of many OSU basketball fans around here.

--Brett

Keith Wedinger wrote:

Excellent points. Trust me, there is no shortage of bad

blood between

UC and OSU basketball fans. It all started back when UC

knocked off OSU

in '61 and '62 for back-2-back national championships. It flared up
again when UC supposedly turned in OSU on recruiting violations
committed during the recruitment of Damon Flint who ended up at UC.
This is just another chapter in the story.

The one thing that bugs me is Ohio State's continued refusal

to play UC

in basketball. There is absolutely no reason why these two

teams should

not play every year. This would be a guaranteed sellout and

probably a

guaranteed national TV game. I know OSU likes to refer to itself as
"The" Ohio State University so maybe, OSU does not want to

take a chance

on playing 2nd fiddle to the 2nd biggest state university in Ohio.

J. Keith Wedinger
Bearcatnews.com
Sciotofootball.com

-----Original Message-----
From: address@hidden [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 1:02 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: [UC Basketball] Mr. Pot meet Mr. Kettle.....

When UC fans bash Ohio State because of what a recruit said

about their

school aren't you doing the same thing? We can bad mouth OSU all we
want over the Clarrett ordeal, but I think we should be

carefull what we

say first.
Cincinnat players are by no means "saints" and when an

Athletic Director

goes on record as saying "misdemeanor means nothing to me

anymore" that

speaks volumes about what a person has had to tolerate and deal with
since he has been there. I am not bashing Cincinnati, but I

don't think

this should give UC fans a chance to take shots at Ohio State. Jamar
has said those things not Jim O'brien or Jim Tressel. If your upset
because OSU continued to recruit the kid after said he was

coming to UC

fine, but like Mike Ryan said it isn't official until they sign in
November. Jamar should not have committed that early

anyway, but I can

understand why you are bitter believe me. The same thing

just happened

to us in February with two recruits in football and it's not a good
feeling.-joey

Follow Ups:
: Re: Mr. Pot meet Mr. Kettle....., Christopher Dague

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