The day has officially come for the University of Cincinnati, a day that comes just almost two years in the making, their Big 12 home opener. As the University of Cincinnati looked to kick off conference play for their inaugural game as members of the Big 12, they also welcomed in Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff for the first time ever.
You could sense the energy all week around campus, as to what this weekend would have to offer for the Bearcats fans. It all started on Thursday, as the Big 12 homecoming tour kicked off, as the Big 12 conference partnered with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit as part of there Be You Womans Empowerment Tour. The event included multiple panel discussions on the importance of mental health awareness that featured current and former Bearcat student athletes, along with Bearcats Womans basketball head coach Katrina Merriweather. While the second panel featured Sports illustrated 2022 SI Swim Co-Rookie of the year Christen Harper, and 2023 SI Swim rookies Sixtine Rouyre and Ellie Thurmann.
The University of Cincinnati also welcomed in Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff for the first time in program history ahead of their first Big 12 conference game. Just like in 2021, fans were lined up all night to secure a spot in the pit for the weekly pregame show. The first 500 fans in the pit received LED Cowboy hats, while the Fox team gave away prizes, and more.
I myself, was a student at the University of Cincinnati back in 2021 when College Gameday came to campus for the first time ever and remember that memory to this day. I remember that night vividly, sitting on the cold sidewalks in the middle of November all night as students rallied around with excitement for what was yet to come in the short hours later. You could simply sense the energy, and that was something that many Bearcats haven’t felt since the College Football Playoff back in 2021.
A few Saturday’s ago, felt just like it did back on December 31st, 2021, when the Bearcats played Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. Fans were out all night to secure their spots in line for the pit of the kickoff show, with fans starting to tailgate as early as 6:30 am as they proved to many people, they were ready for the Big 12.
For myself, I was joined by At Large Bid beat writer Ryan Roberts and photographer Ryan Luster as we checked out the Bearcats faithful who braved the storm to show their support for the Bearcats on national television. We arrived on campus, at roughly 7 am, as we checked out the scene, and talked to Bearcat fans who were excited to finally have a seat in the “Power 5” conference. Fans were rolling up to the pregame show, with their big signs (some more appropriate than others), cases of Cincy Light as they started to celebrate the Bearcats first game in the Big 12 conference.
