I have bitten my tongue long enough and feel the need to unload. A little background?despite the commute between Huntington and Cincinnati, I have been a long time supporter and season ticket holder for more than 25 years. Gave up basketball tickets last year, and will be non renewing football next year. My wife and I attended 2 games this year and gave away the rest of our tickets.
Admittedly, part of this decision is most likely age related ( I am the same age as our current head basketball coach), and I lack the energy, passion and interest to continue the commute. This NIL and transfer portal garbage sickens me and causes me to question the damage being done to college athletics. The three year contract extension given to our aging and mediocre basketball coach has been the final straw. Even Coach K realized when it was time to step aside.
In the last year, I attended two men?s basketball games?MU at Miami last year, and the game last night. Travis Steele had just taken over the Miami program after getting fired at Xavier. He inherited a depleted roster and got thumped by our guys in that early season matchup. Known as a really good recruiter, Steele hit the road and grabbed some steals adding 7 freshmen to his roster. Two of them (both Cincinnati kids) combined for 33 points last night. Freshman Evan Isparo #2 effectively ran their offense at point guard while scoring 16. Talking about athletic movement of the basketball, our guys might want to study that tape.
The often repeated excuse that our roster is still young didn?t hold up last night. We were schooled by a roster full of youngsters and a coaching staff superior to ours. Yet, the power brokers feel obligated to continue on because DD has had a love affair with Marshall for 50+ years. How many actual sightings of him gracing our campus actually occurred during those years? I don?t know the answer to that question, but until his introductory press conference ten years ago, I don?t ever remember seeing him.
I was attending my granddaughter?s college graduation the day of the Coaches Tour stop in Cincinnati this past spring. Upon returning, I was told DD was not in attendance, and when contacted that day, HE FORGOT!
Needless to say, after last night, I have seen my last in person game this year. And I don?t feel the least bit bad about it. Over the years, I have given time and probably more of my treasure than I should have. Now it?s time for those in authority to shove the politics aside and listen to a loyal fanbase that is quickly crumbling!