TicketsOct. 26, 2006
As the Bearcats prepare to square off this weekend against Big East Conference rival Syracuse, there are some in the Cincinnati organization that might have a little bit of extra motivation for success.
For instance, if you are to look in the Syracuse record books, you will find the name of current Bearcat quarterbacks coach Dave Warner. Warner is not only an alumnus of Syracuse University; he also was a quarterback who is recognized in some individual passing records. Coach Warner is ranked 10th in Syracuse all time career completions (209). This is a significant accomplishment considering that current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donavon McNabb is ranked second in career completions for Syracuse (548). Not only is Warner ranked in career completions, he is also listed 10th for most yards in the air for a Syracuse quarterback (2,593). As well as Warner, Cincinnati Deputy Director of Athletics, Bob Arkeilpane was also a three year starter at Syracuse.
During his career at Syracuse, Coach Warner played under quarterbacks coach Jim Tressel, who is currently the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Not only was Warner a quarterback under Tressel, after graduating Dave Warner came back and was a student assistant and graduate assistant to Coach Tressel helping coach the quarterbacks and skill position players at Syracuse.
Warner stressed that it was an honor to play for Syracuse and then-head coach Dick MacPherson. MacPherson was also an assistant coach for the Bearcats from 1961-1965 and is the current radio commentator for the Orange.
According to Warner, "I was honored to be able to play and coach at Syracuse, the contacts and the people who I worked with have had a big influence on my current career." Coach Warner also said that he stays in close contact with the individuals that he played and coached with at Syracuse.
As Warner looks ahead to this week's game against his alma mater, he stressed that to him it is just another big game. When questioned if there is any extra motivation for success for this weeks game, Warner replied that there really is no extra motivation to beat his alma mater.
"I have always been a big fan of my alma mater, but this game is just another big step towards achieving our goal of getting to a bowl game. I am just approaching it in the same way as I do any other game."
When asked if any of his current players knew about his career at Syracuse he replied, "My guys know that I used to play at Syracuse, but it was a long time ago. They like to give me a hard time about my former school."
He also stressed that he has an incredible amount of respect for the staff and school although it has been over 20 years since he graduated. "I don't have a whole lot of ties to Syracuse right now, just a ton of respect for the people there and the university." It will be interesting to see how this Big East rivalry game against the former alma mater of Coach Dave Warner plays out.
Dave Warner is not the only current UC Athletics staff member who has significant ties to Syracuse Football. While Dave Warner was recording record numbers on the field, current Bearcat play-by-play announcer Dan Hoard was a freshman at Syracuse. A 1985 graduate, with a degree in broadcast journalism, Hoard went to Syracuse because of the school's long tradition of producing successful sportscasters. Similar to Dave Warner, after graduation, Hoard stayed at Syracuse and worked as a sportscaster for a local Syracuse television station for 10 years.
When asked how he decides who to root for he explained "I root for Syracuse every time except when they play the Bearcats." When this weekend's game comes around, he will be on the side of the Bearcats.
This weekend's homecoming game highlights many interesting ties between the University of Cincinnati and Syracuse. For Coach Dave Warner, it is just another big game. For Dan Hoard, it will also just be another week of doing what he loves. However, any time an individual gets a chance to compete against his an alma mater, it is sure to be exciting.