Miami Ohio University Athletics
"Marx On Miami"
10/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | General
Looking ahead to UC: Country's oldest non-conference rivalry not dead
Miami University hasn't defeated the University of Cincinnati since the 2005 season, but that doesn't mean the country's oldest non-conference rivalry is dead.
There has been speculation in the past, especially under former Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, that if the RedHawks weren't interested in playing a game at Nippert Stadium every other year, the rivalry might come to an end.
But for now, the game, which has been played for over 100 years, will continue and that's a good thing.
"What makes college football very, very special are the rivalries that have existed over a long period of time," UC coach Butch Jones said during Monday's Big East football teleconference. "In the age of conference realignment and with all the things that are surrounding college football, those are some of the things that are being taken away from the pageantry and the history and traditions of college football."
Jones continued, "This is the longest standing rivalry of non-conference in the country and this will be the 117th game, so I do think it's important. Rivalries are important to your fans, to your alumni base and to your players. I do think it's important to keep this rivalry going."
While most of the games between the two regional foes have been lopsided in favor of the now 23rd-ranked Bearcats, last year's contest was a lot closer than the 27-0 final score. Miami trailed UC by only six points at the half, before the Bearcats scored three third quarter touchdowns. Former UC running back Isaiah Pead ran for two scores and former linebacker J.K. Schaffer ran back a 17-yard fumble for another.
"Even though we have beaten them six years in a row, each year is a new game, but if you really look at the games, most of them have been very, very close up until the fourth quarter," Jones said. "We were in a fight last year down at their place and what separated the game was three or four plays, some big momentum plays, that really changed the outcome of the game."
Jones continued, "They're going to come in here knowing that they can play with us and it means something to those seniors just like it means something to our seniors and we know that we are going to get their best and get their 'A' game."
The RedHawks are going for their third-straight victory. Miami (3-2 overall, 2-0 MAC) is coming off conference wins over UMass and Akron.
The Bearcats (3-0) are coming off of a big victory of their own; a 27-24 last minute road win over Virginia Tech.
Cincinnati's defense will be a stiff test for Dysert and the Miami offense, as it has given up only 13.7 points per game, which ranks 16th best in the nation. But by no means are the Bearcats taking Miami lightly.
"I'm Zac Dysert's biggest fan," Jones said. "We tried recruiting him when we were at Central Michigan. We thought he was a program changer. He's an NFL caliber quarterback. Anything and everything is possible, so it's going to be a great challenge and great test to our defense."
