Ohio is Buckeyes territory, that goes without saying. But in one small section of the state, there is there is a place where the Buckeyes don't rule the roost anymore.
That area is Cincinnati.
With coach Brian Kelly and his Bearcats coming off a 10-3 record in 2007, he has some strong words for Jim Tressel and his Buckeyes.
Is it the fact that Kelly was born and raised in Michigan? Most Ohio State fans would point that out, but I believe that it is Kelly wanting to change the fact that everyone in Ohio is a Buckeyes fan, and the Bearcats are an afterthought when it comes to college football in the state of Ohio.
The idea was started when Ohio State wanted to back out of a game in Cincinnati in 2010, paying the Bearcats a reported $1 million to play in Columbus. Kelly was then asked by the media about Ohio State's backing out of the game in Cincinnati.
Kelly said, "We're going to work very hard on this end to make sure we play Ohio State," Kelly said. "I want to play them annually."
Later in the interview Kelly said he didn't care where he played Ohio State, even if it was in a parking lot in Xenia. Kelly apparently wants to start up a rivalry with the Buckeyes, and is showing that he and his players aren't afraid of the big bad Buckeyes.
At UC's game in 2007 against UConn, the score of the Ohio State-Illinois game was announced by the PA announcer, and I heard something I didn't think I would ever hear; a large roar of 35,000 people in the state of Ohio cheering an Ohio State loss.
So in Cincinnati, there is some bad blood against the Buckeyes. As Kelly begins to steal key recruits from Tressel and the Buckeyes, more and more tension will build up, and a rivalry may emerge that Tressel and the Buckeyes don't really want.
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about 1 month ago
LOL!!!
BK Broiler loves to talk that shit, doesn't he? Problem is, UC isn't on our level and we have no use for them. There's absolutely nothing in it for us. So I doubt OSU will be doing UC any favors anytime soon.
Ohio State is still more relevant in Cincinnati than UC football, and it will likely continue to be that way for a very long time. It's just something he's going to have to accept and deal with - or leave Cincinnati for a better job, like Dantonio did. He's not going to get his way with Ohio State.
UC stealing key recruits from Ohio State....LOL!!!
about 1 month ago
From someone who doesn't have a dog in this fight (UM fan), Ohio will always be a Buckeye state. UC can really do nothing about that. They don't have the history, tradition or prestige to be in the same league with Ohio State. (wow that hurt to say)
about 1 month ago
I think Justin should stick to cutting grass (Justin...I'm a Landscape Horticulture student at Cincy State)
and Kelly should just try to win a Big Least title before opening his big mouth and challenging the only college footbal power in OHIO.. When did Kelley steal a recruit? He may get leftovers or kids that couldn;t cut it at OSU or Mich and transfer in.. that's about it.
about 1 month ago
Which of our 5 star recruits did Cincinnati steal? CU or UC whichever it is is a joke!
about 1 month ago
Grow a pair and schedule UC annually in both basketball and football. It would end up being good for your program, if UC has a few more good years in football, OSU will be meaningless in Cincy, which is one of the more fertile recruiting grounds in the state, if not the most. There is a huge growing feeling of disrespect here in Cincinnati, and personally I love it. OSU makes me sick.
about 1 month ago
wait a few years Mike, it will happen.
about 1 month ago
Pick a fight with somebody across the border. Maybe Indiana. Ohio State needs to focus on the national scene for the time being. We need to play fewer, not more Ohio teams.
You came awfully close in the national championship year, though. Not sure how that might have changed your history - but it sure would have changed ours.
about 1 month ago
Yeah, everybody across the nation wants OSU to play Cincy! We need to schedule Florida, Okie, Texas, USC, Georgia, LSU, etc... OSU has nothing to prove by beating Cincy every year so that the Bearcats can have a real payday. Become a true football power and then you can lobby fo OSU. Until then you are no more important than any MAC school and less popular.
about 1 month ago
Then schedule us in bball, cant wait to see this excuse...you have had 1 good year in that sport...but I'm sure Ohio State has the better program............Please, if your going to use that logic, use it in both sports, but at the same time 61 and 62, you guys were still better, and you won the national championship.
And for the record, playing UC would help. UC's defense is built like an SEC defense, you know, that conference you can't solve, I'm not saying the defense is as good, but Cincy's defensive speed is faster than 90% of the country. That might have helped you prepare for LSU, but I'm sure you'll disagree.
from about 1 month ago
I am pretty sure that Ohio State would see ten times more defensive speed at their practice that they would playing the Cincinnasty
about 1 month ago
Last time I checked, UC basketball is terrible. UC football is improving, but that's only relative to the Big East. That article is nothing but wind from the mouth of a coach, who probably won't be there long enough to find an opening on Ohio State's football schedule (filled through ~2013)
At this point in time, Ohio State football AND Ohio State Basketball would kill Cincinnati. Ohio State football is at it's highest level in decades and UC basketball is at it's lowest point in decades, this makes UC's football improvements imperceptible in relation and your basketball school status a joke.
From what I’ve seen good Ohio HS football players who can’t get into Ohio State don’t go to Cincinnati. They go to PSU and Illinois. . .even though Cincinnati would be a much closer trip. Tell me, Coach Kelly, why is that? Why don’t you wait and see where you are after all of Dantonio’s players have moved on from the program, hmmm? because I follow college football recruiting and not only are you not making waves in Ohio football recruiting, you aren’t even making ripples.
about 1 month ago
An intermural flag football team from Ohio Northern University wants a piece of the Buckeyes. They are calling Jim Tressel out. Their captain, a senior video graphics major, wants a game with them every semester. He'll assemble his guys and he wants Ohio State football on the line each semester to show who the best in Ohio is. So what's it going to be Jim Tressel? Are you going to schedule them or run and hide? FEAR THE FLAG. (We'd take you in chess too).
from about 1 month ago
Exactly. If OSU had to play every little irrelevant school that challenged them, they'd be playing football games every day of their life.
Sorry UC - enjoy the PapaJohns Pizza Bowl against Conference USA
about 1 month ago
No no Tom. . .Cincinnati is going somewhere much nice than Papa John Stadium this December. They scheduled in a little trip to Hawaii for their last game of the season. Bowls? Who needs bowls when schools are willing to give Hawaii a home game without the need to reciprocate an appearance on the main-land. Brillant, coach Kelly!!. . . but it doesn't exactly exude the confidence that he's trying to blind Ohio State with.
about 1 month ago
Pat sounds like he must be from Kentucky! We are not the enemy Pat.... You will have to look at Meetchicken, Kentucky & Tennessee, they are taking all of the recruits who are not joining true scarlet & gray bleeding prep-Ohioans in Columbus.
about 1 month ago
Not surprised Kelly wants to play the Bucks. Most UC fans hate Ohio State with a passion.
Does that mean there aren't Buckeye fans in Cincinnati? Hell no (I was one of 'em until I moved).
Oddly enough, OSU-Cincinnati tends to be an interesting game every once in a while (2002 OSU vs. UC at Paul Brown Stadium comes to mind, the Buckeyes barely won that game)
about 1 month ago
I had no idea that there was a number of people from Cincinnati that dislike the Ohio State. I am kind of shocked, especially since there are a lot of players from that area that choose to play for the Buckeyes.
I think playing an Ohio team from the Big East would look make their schedule look better than playing an Ohio team from the MAC. However, I think Tressel is giving back to the state of Ohio and keeping the money in-state and at the same time, giving hundreds of players that grew up watching the Buckeyes, the opportunity to play in the Horseshoe.
However, the main reason has to be because Ohio State would lose a home game every 2 years and that means the loss of millions and millions of dollars for the university and the city of Columbus. At the same time, Ohio State knows that the MAC teams will gladly come to play in Columbus every year.
It is sad that in college football money determines who plays who and where they play (Bowl games as well). I am just glad Ohio State has been able to schedule all of these home and home games with USC, Miami, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, and Tennessee.
from about 1 month ago
If anything, Tressel and his coaches just need to up the recruiting and maintain a bigger presence in Greater Cincinnati. With Elder, St. X, Colerain and others, its one of the biggest (if not the biggest) high school football powerhouse regions in the state and an embarassment of riches for potential college players.
Most UC fans I know hold Bearcat football in very low regard given the team's mediocrity in past seasons, but if Kelly shows a commitment to improving the program and actually stays in Cincinnati instead of jumping ship (looking at you, Mark Dantonio), logic dictates that you'll probably start seeing more and more Greater Cincinnati high school players seriously considering UC over OSU, which wouldn't bode well for Tressel's in-state recruiting.
As for the diehard UC people who hate Ohio State, I have no idea where that stems from, or why. Jealousy, maybe? Cincinnati's kind of in its own little world and would probably secede from the state of Ohio if given the opportunity.
about 1 month ago
Cincy is never going to be a two way rivalry with OSU. It's the same way the Bengals think they are the Browns top rival and not the Steelers. Wishes don't come true without the genie's lamp.
The coach talks a good game. Do something in the Little Conference that can't and then talk trash.
from about 1 month ago
Granted this is a college board... but Bengal fans thinkn the Steelers are their top rival not the Browns.
As much as I hate to admit it the Steelers represent excelence. The Browns... not so much.
from about 1 month ago
I gotta agree with Eric for now: The Steelers are definitely a bigger rival to the Bengals than the Browns at this point in time, primarily because of Kimo Von Kneebreaker diving into Carson Palmer on the second Bengals offensive play in their first playoff game in 15 years.
Now, does that mean the "Battle of Ohio" is no longer relevant? Of course not, at least, from a historic standpoint. With Cleveland's revamped offense, we'll probably see them beat the Bungles more often than not, at least, until Mikey Boy dies or unruly fans storm the front office at PBS and run the team the way a professional sports organization is supposed to be run...
Then again, we're talking about the Bengals, who haven't been relevant in the NFL since the 1988 season.
about 1 month ago
All these Ohio State fans keep saying Cincinnati is small and unimportant. No threat to the Buckeyes. Then why not play UC every year and pick up an easy win? Its not like Ohio State has't mastered the art of putting together a powder puff schedule. Its simple, because your coaching staff is much smarter than you are. They obviously want no part of a rising power in their back yard.
from about 1 month ago
Eric,
You're utterly clueless and equally retarded.
Powder puff schedules, huh? Tell that to Texas, USC, Oklahoma, Cal, Miami, Va. Tech, and Tennessee - these are all OSU non-conference opponents (twice each) from 2005-2019. Oh, I get it - you're using 2007's weak schedule and implying that OSU's schedule looks like that all the time - how clever! Did I mention that you're a complete jackass?
OSU "wants no part" of Cincinnati? Yet they are scheduling opponents like USC every year...you're putting UC on an awfully high pedestal by implying that OSU is in any way "afraid" of playing the Bearcats. Are you sure you want to be doing that, considering UC's history as a football program?
Cincinnati strives to be a "big time" football program. It is not in OSU's best interest to assist them in doing so. Appearing on Cincinnati's schedule every year helps Cincinnati and does nothing for Ohio State. Is this difficult for you to follow?
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