The University of Cincinnati football team has high hopes for the 2021-22 season. After an unusual year, students will finally be returning to campus and cannot wait to support their hometown Bearcats.
Head Coach Luke Fickell bleeds Cincinnati through and through, which is apparent considering all the work he does in the community. Simply listening to him talk about the city is enough to get any local excited to have him as their head coach.
We sat down with Coach Fickell to discuss the new season, UC athletics and all-things Cincy.
What are you most excited about when it comes to football games and events returning to UC?
We missed that atmosphere of having fans in Nippert Stadium last season. There’s just a different energy and it’s a special place on game day. We are really excited to get our edge back in the venue.
What is your favorite part of UC game days?
When it’s over. (Laughs). Game days tend to be really long for the head coach but once the game starts it starts to feel pretty normal and you can just focus on what’s going on in front of you. But the best part is celebrating victories with our team in the locker room. The energy is awesome to see after a long day.
Do you have a favorite Uptown business?
I love them all equally! We are huge fans of the local businesses around campus. Mio’s has been incredibly supportive of our program recently and we appreciate them for all they do.
What is your favorite thing about being in Uptown?
You can get everything you need just by walking across the street from campus. It’s where we spend a lot of time. Our players live in Uptown and it’s where we bring recruits to try and sell them on coming to the University of Cincinnati. Having a vibrant, dynamic and exciting neighborhood next door to your campus where you can do a lot of things is a huge benefit to the program and University.
Can you describe the impact UC athletics has had on the neighborhood?
I am probably the wrong person to ask that question as I am so focused on getting our team ready for the season. Whatever the impact athletics has had is returned 10-fold by the neighborhood. This is an immediate circle of our fan base and some of the people impact our program the most by being involved and being around our student-athletes. You’ve got to win at home first and build outward from there and it’s critically important to have a great level of support in the immediate areas around campus.
Can you provide a general update on UC’s plans for athletic events coming up now that things are returning to normal?
We are really excited to have recently announced Nippert Stadium will be back to full capacity this fall. We open the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 4 against Miami (OH) and if you don’t have your season tickets, you should call 1-877-CATS-TIX or visit GoBEARCATS.com today before you miss seeing some really special players who have sacrificed a lot to play for the Bearcats.
What has been the biggest challenge with athletics during the pandemic?
Being away from each other. Our team and everyone around our program are part of one big family. And we spent more time away from each other, stuck at home in a lot of cases, during a time when coaches would be on the road recruiting and families would be on vacation. You miss just being around the team and those bonds which are created from spending a lot of time together. It was tough on all of us.
How did you overcome this challenge?
We had to go back to school in a lot of ways. Learning how to have meetings and recruit via Zoom. Asking a lot of questions about how we can adapt what we do to accomplish our daily objectives.
Is there anything you would like to say directly to UC fans about the upcoming season?
We appreciate our fans, the local business community, donors and everyone who supports us. We look forward to seeing everyone screaming their heads off wearing black in Nippert Stadium this fall.
Cincinnati opens the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 4, against Miami (OH) in the 125th Battle for the Victory Bell at 3:30 p.m. ET inside Nippert Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and fans are encouraged to sign up for the digital platform online.
If you want to go to Nippert Stadium to show your support, visit the football tickets page to reserve your season tickets now!
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati finished 9-1 in 2020, winning the American Athletic Conference Championship and playing in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a New Year's Six Bowl. The Bearcats return 16 starters from last season's squad, including 2020 AAC Player of the Year Desmond Ridder and seven-time All-America selection Ahmad Gardner along with All-AAC selections Darrian Beavers, Marcus Brown, Coby Bryant, Myjai Sanders, Tre Tucker, Josh Whyle and Michael Young Jr. The 2021 roster projects to have nearly 40 local players who grew up and played high-school football in the tri-state area.