Crosstown Classic
UC, XU find perspective after melee
ESPN
CINCINNATI -- There was too much hype and importance placed on the Xavier-Cincinnati game last season.
The tension was thick, and there was a sense that something was about to happen. "We all got caught up in the game, making it a larger-than-life entity,'' Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski said. "If everybody is being honest, it got one notch beyond a healthy level.''
Bengals
Future is now for these young Bengals
ESPN
Sunday's game at Heinz Field has more on the line than a history lesson. This is about the future of these young Bengals and the balance of power in the AFC North.
ProFootballFocus.com: Defensive Tackle Geno Atkins has a pressure on one in every 6.3 pass rushes. The next best for a tackle is one in every 8.4.
ESPN: AJ Green leads AFC North in drops
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Crosstown Classic
From brawl to ball
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News
The two teams are so much different than they were a year ago. It is intriguing that of the eight players suspended for their roles in the brawl, only three remain, and only Cincinnati center Cheikh Mbodj is a starter. Cincinnati’s Yancy Gates and Xavier’s Kenny Frease and Tu Holloway were seniors last season. Xavier guard Mark Lyons transferred to Arizona. Xavier forward Dez Wells was dismissed from school and Cincinnati reserve Octavius Ellis was dismissed from the program, both over disciplinary issues.
Cincinnati-Xavier: Anatomy of a rivalry
USA Today
"That rivalry is so heated and so intense and guys overflowing with testosterone, that fight could have happened any time," said former Cincinnati All-American Nick Van Exel, now a player development instructor for the Atlanta Hawks. "Really, it's the city that makes it a rivalry. The players coming into it, like I said, I knew nothing about it. It's the city. It's the people who go to the two different schools that really pump this thing up."
Did you miss them?
Hour 1 of Sports Talk: Reds 3B Jack Hannahan (7:05), Leonard Stokes (7:20), Steve Wolf (7:35).
Hour 2 of Sports Talk: Byron Larkin (8:05), Terry Nelson (8:35), Ralph Lee (8:45)
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Big fan of Pat Kelsey
Current Winthrop coach, played at Elder and Xavier, was an assistant at Wake Forest and Xavier. His team played at Ohio State last night:
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Stuff
27-11-11: A triple-double for former Musketeer Jordan Crawford
Most popular college football coaches on Twitter
USA Today
1. Les Miles, LSU (@LSUCoachMiles): 87,448
2. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame (@CoachBrianKelly): 81,857
3. Mark Richt, Georgia (@MarkRicht): 55,205
4. Butch Jones, Tennessee(@UTCoachJones): 52,579
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Reds
NL Central teams keep low profile
St Louis Post Dispatch
Here is a mid-December look at the NL Central teams as they prepare for 2013. The division, long criticized — correctly in some instances — for being weak is the only one in the majors which has had four different teams win it in the last five seasons.
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Holy cupcakes Batman!
I stumbled upon Gigi's Cupcakes of Kenwood yesterday. It is across the street from the station. I was a huge hit with my family when I got home last night. I would highly recommend the Blackberry Cobbler cupcake.
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Minor league baseball
Rose Jr named manager of White Sox advanced rookie ball affiliate
KRTV
The Great Falls Voyagers (Great Falls, Montana), the advance rookie affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, announced that Pete Rose Jr. will lead the 2013 Voyagers team.
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Bengals
Steelers notebook: Taylor still sidelined; Lewis expected to play
The Bengals are now offering a special Club Seat package for the final stretch of the 2012 season. By securing Club Seats for the 2013 season with a 50 percent deposit, Bengals fans can purchase Club Seats for the final home game on December 30 against the Baltimore Ravens and lock in the same location for any potential 2012 home playoff games.
Club Seats offer some of the best views of the action on the field, wider and padded seats, in-seat food and beverage service, and access to the 40,000 square foot climate controlled Club Lounges.
To purchase this Club Seat package, fans may call the Bengals Ticket Hotline at 866-621-TDTD (8383).
For more information on Club Seats, fans can visit www.bengals.com, the team’s official web site.
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UC announces plans to renovate Nippert Stadium
From GoBearcats.com
Check out the Photo Gallery of plans...press conference quotes
From Whit Babcock news conference today Video
Cost: $60-$70 million
Should take 12-18 months
Capacity: 40,000 is a nice round number that they like, a lot of it will depend on what will fit in the footprint. Can't get to 50 or 60,000. (Averaged 29,138 this year). Currently 35,097.
Will involve opening up concourses and improving traffic flows, restrooms, concessions and making Nippert more fan friendly
Add on will be one story taller than current structure
Four levels, approximately one story taller and about 2-3 times the length of current press box.
The top level will be a camera deck.
The third floor will be for press facilities like radio booths, coaches’ booths, etc.
The second level will be all suites.
First level will be an extensive club level and will have comfortable outdoor seating and indoor seating to come back into and then some loge box seating.
Will take place on west side of stadium.
All expansion will be premium seating: Club, loge, suites
No start date, but construction won't begin for 2013 season
Why done? To change current financial model of athletic department
Name will remain Nippert Stadium
Won't leave Nippert during renovation
Since '92 when Nippert press box was renovated, 71 of 76 BCS football programs have renovated their football stadium
Fan/student survey's showed "overwhelming" loud and clear support for Nippert
Not anti-PBS...open to occasional game at PBS
If at PBS can't control ticket revenue, concessions, parking suites, sponsorship opportunities, etc. Lost money for West Virginia/Louisville games last year.
Renovation built only on revenue generated by athletic department, with no use of general funds or student fees
Why needed?: TV contract, debt Varsity Village, Nippert Revenue, corporate engagement.
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