The Girl Next Door and The Hometown Kid: Our Local Obsession

Florida is much different than Ohio

Just ask anybody from Cincinnati to Dayton to Columbus.

For four years, Mardy Gilyard was a force to reckon with inside of the tundra of what is called a home stadium.  The reality is that Nippert Stadium sits inside of the center— at the lowest point— of a campus which is neither easily accessible nor complimentary to a division one program.

With the first pick of the fourth round— number ninety-nine if you are following— Mardy Gilyard became a St. Louis Ram.

As such, Bengal fans either were on one pole of being elated or the other of wanting to invoke a form of passive martial law familiar to Bengal nation— neo- Mike Brown hating.

Yet, with the sense of control and objective evaluation one is left to question from both perspectives:  Would the University of Cincinnati prospect— who burned a runner-up for the national championship for 365 all-purpose yards and one that already had the expectations and emotions of a professional franchises city firmly established be better suited for the psychological challenges and pressures— which could motivate said individual to achieve beyond his "pro-day" evaluation?  Or would science and statistics be a better— obviously, more objective— source?

With Mr. Gilyard, the Bengals will never know— well not this year at least...

After ninety-nine options, Mardy was the best option for a franchise in decline - and maybe a better option for the second round.  While Cincinnati passed up on Tony Pike's favorite option— one has to remember— Florida is Mr. Gilyard's home state— not Ohio...