How we are perceived: Cincinnati & Lousiville

We continue our series with comments from fans of Cincinnati and Louisville. These former CUSA members should be a bit more familiar with Ole Miss as we have had recent "touches" with both universities.

Cincinnati:

(1) What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Ole Miss?

(Tie) Mannings and the Confederate Flag Controversy.-wacodavid

The Grove (John Grisham second)-BCSBearcats

The first thing I now think of is Andy Kennedy. I wish him and you
University success in the future.- ginsid007

National Center for Physical Acoustics - one of the best, over the years, acoustics programs / labs in the world - has produced some great research and talent-BearcatOldTimer

Two things - James Meredith being the first black admitted to the university, but not until 1962. The great writers - Faulkner et al - who have come out of Oxford.-coloradobuck

A public school that thinks its a private school.... for better and for worse. Marked by traditions, mostly good ones. The Egg Bowl, a little like being at a beauty pagent in the stands.... with a warlike football game on the field. If you ever want to see women in an all out beauty battle it is Mississippi State and Ole Miss. The Grove. Hate to say it, but an athletic department that thought firing David Cutcliffe was a good idea.... and also thought that Ed "Mumbles" Ogeron was also a good idea.-bearcatvol

Money, Money, Money,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Money-SoonerChad11

Andy Kennedy- bearcat

SEC-chefjon

(2) What are your feelings about Ole Miss?

Don't know very much about the school, but I'm sure graduate and undergraduate students receive a great education in Oxford.-wacodavid

I feel that Ole Miss would be a very fun University to attend.-BCSBearcats

Neither positive or negative. I am sure you have recruiting issues recruiting against the flag but I have NO problem with the tradition of the south-ginsid007

Have never visited, but would like to - supposed to be a beautiful campus. I kind of like boiled peanuts - the south keeps all the best peanuts for itself so I get them in some form whenever I can hit a non-tourist place down there.-BearcatOldTimer

Beautiful campus, great college town, and a university that has come a long way since 1962.-coloradobuck

Easily the World Champions of tailgating. LSU fans are wilder.... Ole Miss tailgates define class. Mostly good. Lovely ladies, great fraternities. Superb tradition, awsome campus. Warm resectful greetings to visitors. The stadium has been improved nicely.Not far from Tunica. One pet peve, way too many of the Ole Miss people I have met keep thinkng John Vaught is coming back. They have no grasp that it isn't 1963, and the rest of the league's powers have past them by. They truly don't understand it. Unlike say a South Carolina, Kentucky or even dare I say a Mississippi State fan who knows what they are in the SEC. Basically that the planets would have to line up perfectly for them to have a chance to win the SEC ever again. But none of the Rebel fans I know seem to understand why and are truly stuned when the season goes badly.-bearcatvol

Great academics, culture and Oxford is beautiful. Money-SoonerChad11

Andy Kennedy - bearcat

Middle of the pack (football & basketball) consistantly ....IMO-chefjon

(3) Would you like to play us in football or basketball in the future?

Absolutely, would love to play Ole Miss in a football series.-wacodavid

100% Yes. -BCSBearcats

Yes-ginsid007

Would love to play Ole Miss in both football and basketball. Would be a great road trip.-BearcatOldTimer

Ole Miss would be a helluva lot of fun to play.-coloradobuck

Sure would. I think the football series would be a lot of fun. Anytime we could get an SEC team to play us other than Kentucky and Vandy it helps us raise the bar. Most UC fans love Andy Kennedy. He would be greeted back by most very warmly..... perhaps that is why our athletic department would ever let that happen.-bearcatvol

Boy would I. Last time you kicked a late field goal to beat us, and I lost a hundy to my little brother who graduated from Ole Miss. Watched it in a bar in Memphis, with lil bro and also got stuck with the tab. Money!-SoonerChad11
S
ure. Whatever. But don't get used to it. Maybe for a bowl.- bearcat

Football yes, basketball....who cares........IMO -chefjon

(4)What do you think about the SEC in general?

SEC is the best football conference in the United States.-wacodavid

SEC is the best football conference, great fans, and the best ladies.-BCSBearcats

Great athletes. Football is king. Basketball is improving-ginsid007

SEC is a great conference but, in general, has a reputation for skirting the boundaries of ethics and fairness. And this is a polite statement.-BearcatOldTimer

Best fans in football, solid bourbon drinkers (after my own heart), but a conference that often looks the other way in terms of athletes' academics and conduct.-coloradobuck

The most passionate fans hands down. Absolutely no question. Most people here can't really grasp that UGA will send 20-thousand plus fans 2,000 miles to Tempe, AZ to see the Bulldogs play there. Or that nearly that many Tennessee fans will travel to Los Angeles for the opener at UCLA. Is the league a bit out of control especially in football??? Yes?? but at the same time it is part of what makes it what it is. Basketball in the SEC is on the rise, ironically with the two powers Kentucky and Arkansas taking a step back. Florida, Tennessee, and MSU and Ole Miss look to be heading in a good direction. -bearcatvol

Love it. Best fans, traditions and football conference in the land. -SoonerChad11

Too far south. - bearcat

Love their football-chefjon

(5) Have you ever visited Oxford on game day? If yes, what was your experience? If no, what have you heard about our gameday experience?

No. But I've heard it's one heck of a party-wacodavid

Yes, for an LSU - Ole Miss game weekend in 1998'. The experience was fantastic. I could not find a hotel anywhere close so I called the local chapter of my Fraternity and they offered me a private room (The Colonel Bill Room) with a full bathroom. I had a relative attending Ole Miss at that time. I have never had so many very attractive girls all over me, being so nice.-BCSBearcats

I have never been to Oxford. I understand that game day is special. Very civil! Many fans wear ties and sport coats to the game.-ginsid007

Have never visited Oxford on game day but probably would if the Bearcats were to make the trip for football. I hear it is very fun. One of my former bosses went Miss State and he commented how this game in particular is just about as much fun as a barrel of snakes.-BearcatOldTimer

Classic setting, from what I understand. The genteel old south meets raucous SEC football.-coloradobuck

Yes, I touched on it above. It's not the biggest SEC venue. But as a gameday experience it truly is special among SEC schools. They have taken pregame celebrations and turned them into an artform. -bearcatvol

Yep. Honestly, I could not believe it coming from Oklahoma. (note to Bearcat fans coming to Norman, there will be no silver at the tailgates and if you encounter a shrimp coctail, don't eat it) White linen, Full Silver sets, the Grove, Makers Mark and my Jim Beam. Blue Blazers in the heat, and dresses, high heels and hats, at least I think some had hats. Got to go down on the sidelines during the game. LSU fans in one end zone completely over powered the entire stadium. (note to self, got to make one of those death valley at night games) Chicken on a stick before the Grove. Band coming through the grove and the walk into the stadium. Back to the familiar confines of

Beal Street for the after game festivities. All in all, great time. -SoonerChad11

You gotta be kidding. Mississippi? Oxford, Ohio, maybe. No offense, but, uh, ... hmm. How do I put this? I'm a northern kinda guy. But I'm sure the atmosphere is very collegian.- bearcat

No, have not heard one way or the other, however it is the SEC-chefjon (Louisville fan on Cincinnati board)

Posters from:
Bearcat Insider (Scout)
Cincinnati Big East Board

Louisville:

(1) What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Ole Miss?

I've heard they were very good, back in the day(50's-60's?), Eli Manning played there, as did his father, though that was before my time.-Crimsonelf

I have heard the tailgating is a much different environment for the middle aged group. From what I have heard / read it is more "sophisticated" celebration for the wine & cheese crowd. -villun

Eli Manning and an always struggling football team in a tough conference, not to many good memories....sorry.-dgrace4cards

First thing that I think of are the soroity girls in their dresses and pearls and the guys in their ties at the football games. For some reason I like it. It's cool seeing a hot girl in a dress and heels jumping up and down during a football game.-OutkastCard

Unfortunately, I think of the "Rebels" nickname, rebel mascot and logo, rebel flag, the way things were in "ole"-time Mississippi, etc...things tied to slavery, the Civil War, mistreatment of minorities (one in particular) - things that are not good and not related to athletics.-GoCardsGoKrogering

Rebel Flag-ninetyproof

Manning, Southern tradition.-DemonSpawn

The nickname "Ole Miss" is not, contrary to popular belief, derived from "Old Mississippi." The name "Ole Miss" was historically the nickname of the mistress on a plantation. The students at the University of Mississippi selected the nickname in the late 1800s. That, coupled with the mascot "The Rebels" (adopted in 1935), always makes me think about Mississippi's resistance to racial equality and the civil rights movement.-cardfistacuffs

The women, of course-sargecard

The Grove-BrothaCard

Didn't you guys think you were going to steal our coach a couple years ago? also - Eli and Archie played there...-BPSUL

Which one are they?-RoscoPCardtrane

Great Coach in Houston Nutt, and I love his "balls" to roll out of Arkansas right after the big bowl win, and go to Ole Miss and have a Press Conference, before the ink from the bowl win dried.... Too cool! Great Coach in Andy Kennedy, and I can't believe that idiot woman AD at Cinci, has let Huggins AND Kennedy slip away. Congrats on Kennedy winning the C of The Year, 1st year in the SEC too.-Louvil...dinals

My thoughts -- Dickie Scruggs getting five years. Otherwise, who cares a wit about Ole Miss on this board unless you beat Kentucky.-billyjeff

Why don't your fans call the school Mississippi instead of something a bullfighter does????-CardTopper

Why are you and your other, MSU afraid of Southern Miss?(and yes you are)-MtCardinal

Honestly, pretty girls is the only thing that comes to mind at Ole miss or Eli Manning.-shootsix77

Hot women-RFSCard

The Colonel logo; Red and Blue (great color combo) and Confederate Flags (banned but still present)-WildCard

I don't live too far from Ole Miss, and here are my thoughts. Loud mouth, blow hard alumni-cardfaninmemphis

(2) What are your feelings about Ole Miss?
Neutral - haven't had much contact with Ole Miss, to my recollection.-Crimsonelf

Good tradition, bad coach currently on the sidelines. -villun

Neutral, no beef with you guys, probably because we don't have much going on with you in fball,bball,baseball, and we aren't THAT close to you.-dgrace4cards

No beef with Ole Miss. I think they have some good fans. -OutkastCard

Ole Miss seems to sit not only near the bottom of the SEC when it comes to major athletics (which I mostly mean football and basketball), but also behind Miss St in their own state. They are not the conference doormat, however, and seem to have a lot of potential if they can make the right hire. They do have some football legacy (thanks largely to Archie and a little more recently with Eli and Duece).-GoCardsGoKrogering

No feelings one way or the other. I take that back. Are they really scared of USM?-ninetyproof

Don't have any whatsoever. -DemonSpawn

Neutral-sargecard

The Grove is full of fine looking women, dressed very well-BrothaCard

Im your biggest fan whenever you play uk.-BPSUL

I like you, but only as a friend.-RoscoPCardtrane

Football and Basketball are on the rise, with 2 great coaches in place now.-Louvil...dinals

bullfighting is cruel-CardTopper

Kinda like you guys, not blowhards like the Alabama schools.-MtCardinal

Hottest women in the country-RFSCard

Academically, neutral. Football, living in the past (i.e., Johnnie Vaught days)-WildCard

A party school with the elitist attitude that you can find at an Ivy League school, but without the bother of academics. Check the Princeton Review, and you will find that Ole Miss students spent the least amount of time studying of all students. They were also rated the #2 party school in the nation. So, it represents some aspects of the South well: the old-boy network in which smart doesn't count for much. And the women are really hot.-cardfaninmemphis

(3) Would you like to play us in football in the future?

Sure.-Crimsonelf

Yes, home & home. -villun

Sure, but only in an even home and home series (1/1 or 2/2)-dgrace4cards

Yes, I'd love to have a home and home. Oxford sounds like a great football atmosphere.-OutkastCard

I would not mind having Ole Miss on the schedule at all...not as our primary non-conf foe, but as 2nd or 3rd fiddle.-GoCardsGoKrogering

Why not. I know that you guys Memphis and its regional, but i don't see why we couldn't play home and home when/if opportunity presents itself.-ninetyproof

Only if you were ranked. We would have nothing to gain playing a poor SEC team, and everything to gain playing an SEC power.-DemonSpawn

Yes. I'd love to see a home-and-home.-cardfistacuffs

Yes-sargecard

Sure- BrothaCard

yes absolutely - I would welcome non conf games against any SEC team-BPSUL

Football? Definitely, could use the schedule bump. Basketball? Sure, always up for kickin some SEC ass.-RoscoPCardtrane

We play you this year in basketball, and I would not even consider playing you in football, while
Steve Kragthorpe is here.-Louvil...dinals

Couldn't care less-CardTopper

In football, home and home, do you even have a basketball program?-MtCardinal

Yes, so I can travel down there and see those hot women-RFSCard

Love to play in football; no strong feeling about b-ball-WildCard

Sure. Anytime we can play another BCS league team in football, lets go for it. It beats playing Middle TN State. Basketball: why not? Can we play the game at the Fed Ex forum so I don't have to drive so far to watch the Cardinals play?-cardfaninmemphis

(4)What do you think about the SEC in general?
Best fball conf. top to bottom (the BEast is the SEC of bball conferences).-Crimsonelf

strong conference-villun

Very good conference in most sports, situated itself with 95% state schools, which is the best possible setup a conference could have, throw in all in the southern warm weather, and there is your recipe for success.-dgrace4cards

I have mixed feelings. Some of their fans are knowledgeable and respectful to others. Some think that they are god's gift to college athletics. I respect the fans from Ole Miss, Arkansas, Auburn, Vandy, and Miss State. Fans from UGA, UT, LSU, UF, and especially UK are just unbearable. They think that the game of football only exists in the SEC. UK has been riding the coattails of powers such as UT, UF, and LSU forever.-OutkastCard

The SEC is great for fan enthusiasm, large stadiums, small college towns where everything shuts down for the game, etc. It is clearly a premiere athletic conference no matter how you slice it, but it is tarnished by a history of programs loose with rules and education.-GoCardsGoKrogering

Large Stadiums. Sunny and 80degrees. Due to location, best sports conference.-ninetyproof

Usually the best conference in the county, although the PAC 10, Big Ten, and Big 12 sometimes gives it a run for its money. -DemonSpawn

Best football conference. But I resent that that results in SEC schools turning their noses up at other BCS conference programs. Especially when it's a school like UK, Miss, Miss St., or Vandy, who basically coattail on the success of the SEC heavyweights.-cardfistacuffs

Elitest Attitude-sargecard

Best overall conference, though the bottom dwellers are as bad as any conference's bottom dwellers-BrothaCard

random thoughts: most crooked conference overall, best football conference overall, sick of hearing about it (from uk fans) overrated basketball (yes I know FLA won two consecutive natl titles) awesome awesome awesome football game day experience (the SEC sets the standard) Florida rocks alabama is for rednecks, USC will never get over the hump, miss state hired the first black coach in the SEC props to them, ole miss is the rebels (only in the deep south could a school still be getting away with that one lol ) vandy helps keep the conference GPA up to par, UT phill is fat and has lost it, UGA I have respect for them, LSU not much to say, arkansas if they keep petrino for 3 years they will play in the conf champ game, who did I miss? oh yea, uk sucks.-BPSUL

Football - Toughest conference, bar none. Basketball - Did I mention it's a great football conference?-RoscoPCardtrane

Most powerful football conference EVER and ALWAYS, and SEC basketball is REALLY on the upswing, though the SEC will be down a bit this year in basketball, compared the the last 3 years.-Louvil...dinals

Corrupt - You have to cheat to win because everyone, except Vandy, gets caught for cheating every few years.-CardTopper

Because of yeekay fans, I hate $ez football. They have lived off the $ez football teat for 100 years. They used to rag us for going to the Liberty Bowl, yet they think the HeeHaw bowl is just short of the BCS. The $ez gets waaaaayyyy to many teams in the basketball tournament. You NEVER deserve more than 5 EVER. The $ez is a basketball joke! In football it is the best football conference, no thanks to yeekay, and the Mississippi teams. (you asked) The $ez is the most corrupt conference in America, bar none. The only reason one of your teams doesn't get the death penalty, see the old Southwest Conference. Oh,and they make the NCAA a boatload of money!-MtCardinal

Love the football tradition and hot women-RFSCard

Best football conference in America, but...if you ain't cheatin'; you ain't tryin'.-WildCard

SEC knows how to play football and how to keep the status quo in football. They keep emerging in basketball, and given the money that they have, they should be farther ahead. But, change, even change for the better, never comes easy in the South.-cardfaninmemphis

(5) Have you ever visited Oxford on game day? If yes, what was your experience? If no, what have you heard about our gameday experience?

No, but I believe I read an article about how the young ladies wear dresses and the young men wear coats and ties, sounds classy and stylish, a nice tradition if so.-Crimsonelf

No-villun

No, I've also heard about the dresses and shirt/ties. While the picture of the southern babes in dresses sounds great, I think its a little much these days and comes across a little snobby. That maybe my ignorance of the history and it may not be that all, but when I see the guys at Auburn
Georgia, and those other places dressed up, I think of the young, snobby rich kid at school-dgrace4cards

No I have not, but I want too. Autumn is my favorite month and Oxford looks gorgeous in the fall. It would be great to go there.-OutkastCard

I have never been to Oxford on a game day or otherwise, but I have heard wonderful things about the place and would like to be there someday for a game.-GoCardsGoKrogering

Never been to Oxford. How far is that from Tunica?-ninetyproof

Nope. I haven't really heard anything about the gameday experience in Oxford. Honestly, Ole Miss is one of those so-called "mystery" SEC schools. -DemonSpawn

Never been. Heard about the formality---white tablecloths, fine silver, candelabra, formal gowns, coats and ties, etc. Sounds like quite a sight to behold, although the formality coupled with the history at Univ. of Miss (see #s 1-2 above) leaves me with the impression that the old guard at Univ. of Mississippi look back on the old days of segregation with some kind of wistful nostalgia. I don't think this is necessarily true, but that's what I think of when I think of all of this stuff together at "Ole Miss". And this is coming from a Kentuckian, so I'm in no way suggesting that my home state was beyond reproach in its own history with respect to race.-cardfistacuffs

No, but I've heard it is great-sargecard

Yes, had a hell of a time. Great tail gate, great atmosphere with a lot of nice ladies, great college campus -BrothaCard

No - but see above - im sure its fantastic - I wish we could pull off what the average SEC school does week in and week out...-BPSUL

I have never visited Oxford, and I have no idea of your game day experience.-Louvil...dinals

nada-CardTopper

No, heard it's a great place to watch a game!-MtCardinal

Visited Oxford on game day vs. Alabama in the late 90s. The Grove was tremendous and it was an overall great experience. Did I mention the hot women?-RFSCard

No; I've heard it's great. Get a series set up and I'll be there!-WildCard

I have, unfortunately never been to Oxford for a football game. My wife would probably not speak to me for a week if I did: I would be very distracted by the scenery, if you get my drift.-cardfaninmemphis

Posters from:
Cardinal Sports (Rivals)
Inside the Ville (Scout)