TicketsCINCINNATI -- University of Cincinnati director of athletics John Cunningham met with members of the media Monday afternoon to discuss the Bearcats' 2023 entry to the Big 12, as well as a recap of the successful 2021-22 athletics season.
While the football team's second-straight undefeated season and first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff carried the banner, the department had many other worthy accomplishments. The 3.369 GPA marked the ninth-straight semester above a 3.30, featuring five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans so far. Earlier this morning, UC announced its first-ever football season-ticket sellout with 23,500.
The full presser can also be found here, with some excerpts below.
Opening Statement
"Obviously, there was a big announcement last week with the accelerated timeline to get into the Big 12 in 2023. I feel like it was the completion of a very special year for the Bearcats. Everything we went through and all the things we were able to accomplish, it made a lot of sense for us to move into the Big 12 in 2023. I'm thankful we were able to get that done, and it's going to move our program forward, and it's really important. I want to thank Dr. Pinto and Lori Ross of our General Counsel who helped negotiate this deal. They worked really hard to get this done, and I appreciate them for that. I also want to thank Commissioner Mike Aresco from the American Conference. He negotiated well throughout this and amicably. It was good the way we were able to get this done, and the way he has treated the Bearcats, even after this announcement in the fall. I also want to thank Commissioner Bob Bowlsby at the Big 12. They have been remarkable in the way they have accepted the new schools. They have graciously included us in conference-based discussions and meetings, and that's really important in this transition time."
On spending elements ahead of the move
We've had a lot of discussions about that over the last several months. We know travel-wise there will be some additional expenses. We know we will have to step up in certain areas, and we're starting to build that out in 3, 5, and 7-year time frames. Our goal is to compete on Day One, and that's what we keep talking about in the campaign we launched. We will have to step up our fundraising, facilities and the indoor performance center we're also building. It makes us look at what our coaches' salaries are and that what we're offering our student-athletes is on par with the Power Five.
On the buzz of the news breaking last Friday
"I was out of town, which is the way it always happens when news breaks, but I knew it was coming and that it was close. I had a chance to text our coaches and administrators. I certainly felt the buzz from donors texting me and coaches' responses to the news that they all wanted it to happen. They wanted to get out there publicly and tell their recruits we would be in the Big 12 in 2023 and that we were ready to go. It had that vibe that it was a completion to a really special year, and the momentum we have right now is special."
While the football team's second-straight undefeated season and first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff carried the banner, the department had many other worthy accomplishments. The 3.369 GPA marked the ninth-straight semester above a 3.30, featuring five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans so far. Earlier this morning, UC announced its first-ever football season-ticket sellout with 23,500.
The full presser can also be found here, with some excerpts below.
Opening Statement
"Obviously, there was a big announcement last week with the accelerated timeline to get into the Big 12 in 2023. I feel like it was the completion of a very special year for the Bearcats. Everything we went through and all the things we were able to accomplish, it made a lot of sense for us to move into the Big 12 in 2023. I'm thankful we were able to get that done, and it's going to move our program forward, and it's really important. I want to thank Dr. Pinto and Lori Ross of our General Counsel who helped negotiate this deal. They worked really hard to get this done, and I appreciate them for that. I also want to thank Commissioner Mike Aresco from the American Conference. He negotiated well throughout this and amicably. It was good the way we were able to get this done, and the way he has treated the Bearcats, even after this announcement in the fall. I also want to thank Commissioner Bob Bowlsby at the Big 12. They have been remarkable in the way they have accepted the new schools. They have graciously included us in conference-based discussions and meetings, and that's really important in this transition time."
On spending elements ahead of the move
We've had a lot of discussions about that over the last several months. We know travel-wise there will be some additional expenses. We know we will have to step up in certain areas, and we're starting to build that out in 3, 5, and 7-year time frames. Our goal is to compete on Day One, and that's what we keep talking about in the campaign we launched. We will have to step up our fundraising, facilities and the indoor performance center we're also building. It makes us look at what our coaches' salaries are and that what we're offering our student-athletes is on par with the Power Five.
On the buzz of the news breaking last Friday
"I was out of town, which is the way it always happens when news breaks, but I knew it was coming and that it was close. I had a chance to text our coaches and administrators. I certainly felt the buzz from donors texting me and coaches' responses to the news that they all wanted it to happen. They wanted to get out there publicly and tell their recruits we would be in the Big 12 in 2023 and that we were ready to go. It had that vibe that it was a completion to a really special year, and the momentum we have right now is special."