Brian Kelly took the University of Cincinnati football program to heights that it had never seen before. During Kelly’s three seasons he led the Bearcats to back-to-back Big East Championships, sold-out Nippert Stadium (a feat that was previously thought to be unimaginable), and upgraded the caliber of recruits UC was signing. He was wildly popular amongst students and the community until Notre Dame came calling in need of a new head coach and a new direction for their program, Kelly took the money and the higher profile job and bolted for South Bend.

It is never easy replacing a wildly successful coach. Most people would say that UC men’s head basketball coach Mick Cronin still hasn’t been able to break out from the enormous shadow of former Bearcat basketball head coach Bob Huggins. You will always be compared to the former coach you replaced, and when you do lose games or fail you will hear comments such as “this never would have happened if we still had (insert old coaches name)”.

That is why I can understand why new Cincinnati head football coach Butch Jones has gone to great lengths in his short time at UC to make a splash and put his own unique stamp on the program. He let UC fans who were in attendance at last Saturday’s spring game call plays and has been hands on with the local media letting people know who he is and what he plans to do. All this is great, it builds excitement, and gives people a better feel for who this new coach is that is taking over the suddenly buzz worthy Cincinnati football program. Coach Jones recently did something thought that threw me for a loop and I didn’t anticipate.

A little while back head coach Butch Jones had his equipment manager kick a co-ed runner out of Nippert Stadium while the Bearcats were practicing. If you are not familiar with Nippert Stadium, it is tucked right in the middle of the University of Cincinnati campus and it is not uncommon for students to sit in the stands or run stadium steps while the Bearcat football team is practicing. The woman was not kicked out because she was being a nuisance or hassling the players for autographs and pictures. Instead she was asked to leave because she was wearing a t-shirt with the word “Indiana” on it and was indeed Indiana Hoosier merchandise. Butch asked the manager to talk to the woman and had a suggestion for her.

“You’re on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. You wear Bearcat stuff,’’ Jones explained.

Coach Jones had his equipment manager direct the young woman to the campus bookstore which is filled with Bearcat merchandise.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard about this unorthodox move. Coach Jones is sending a message loud and clear that the University of Cincinnati is a place for Bearcat fans. He will not have to worry about being perceived as bland or uninteresting with moves like this. Butch Jones will truly be evaluated on how his teams perform on Saturday’s in the upcoming fall but for now no one will confuse him with Brian Kelly.

Was kicking the runner out of practice a smart move by Butch Jones or was it an overreaction and uncalled for?

Thoughts Comments, Opinions