March 2015
The Original Bearcat
Legacy of Teddy Baehr
Evolution of the Bearcat
Barecat: Naked Cowboy
Nippert Stadium renewed
Past Issues
Browse our archive of UC Magazine past issues.
Each time I receive the UC Magazine, I want to express my appreciation and admiration for the wonders you have accomplished, turning it into a marvelous exhibition of the university.
Every issue makes all alums proud of what UC has become and is becoming. Thanks to you and your staff.
Dick Bauer, A&S ‘52
UC Foundation, retired
Congratulations on the magazine. This issue I think is especially excellent.
Dan Lucas, Med ‘83
Scottsdale, Ariz.
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Editor’s note: We challenged our readers to help us identify the subjects in this On Campus Yesterday classic image from last issue.
Although the female in the photo looks familiar, I can’t give you a name. I’m pretty sure the gentleman is Jeff Miller. He is a 1969 grad of Woodward High School in Cincinnati (my classmate) and was on the cover of the May 16, 1969, edition of Life magazine when they did an article about our high school. The photo in UC magazine had to be from the early ‘70s.
Ellen Gerber Illig, Ed ‘74, M (Ed) ‘75
The male model was me, Jeff Miller. Ann Firestone who was mentioned in the article went to school with me at Shroder Junior High School. At the time I was living at French Hall on campus. I believe the female model was actually the student designer. I could be wrong since it’s been over 40 years ago.
Jeff Miller
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Editor’s note: In the July 2014 issue, UC President Santa Ono shared his thoughts in “This I Believe” and invited others to do the same.
I believe that unquestioned beliefs should not render facts and truth transparent. Truth is difficult to find but, when found, opens up new frontiers in understanding, behavior and perspective. Therein lies the value of higher education.
I believe the joy of learning has an eternal and intrinsic value that trumps a frantic search for ego satisfaction resulting, often- times, in the fleeting comfort of celebrity.
I believe kindness, generosity and love --coupled with knowledge and a keen awareness of the needs of others --are irreplaceable sources of power and are critical catalysts for eternally significant actions toward a better world.
I believe that the paths for self-fulfillment and the efforts to meet aspirations are not dependent on race, birth, financial status or elitist pretensions.
Finally, I believe that human potential is limitless and is enhanced by caring words and actions for all people at all levels of society.
Dale C. Stapleton, Eng ‘58
Grand Junction, Colo.
It has been a few years since I provided the footage of the UC 1960-61 basketball championship [team’s] return to the Fieldhouse with our first NCAA trophy. I was happy to see in the [July 2014 issue] of UC Magazine that you provided a link to that video in the sports story. Enjoyed this issue.
Mike Simpson, Bus ‘63
Frisco, Texas
Editor’s note: Knowing there would be much debate about our article capturing the 10 greatest moments in Bearcats history, we challenged readers to offer their own. What follows is your two cents.
This iconic and award-winning image (above) of Oscar Robertson was captured during the 1959 Midwest Regional in Lawrence, Kan. The Bearcats won the game and advanced to the Final Four (the first of five straight appearances), where they lost to California. The image became the inspiration for sculptor Harry Weber, who created the trophy (right) given to the College Player of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. The Big O employed this rebound kick to clear opponents from the ball, and one of those opponents (No. 30 from Kansas State) was Bob Boozer. Little did these two All-Americans know when this shot was taken in ‘59 that they would go on to play together on the 1960 gold-medal winning Olympic team, the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks, where they won the NBA championship together in 1971.
Four years with the Big O -- all his home games in the Armory Fieldhouse -- I was a Bear Kitten with the UC Band. What an inspiration Oscar is -- from the shy freshman in 1956 to the national hero in 2014. We share a great friendship! I knew in those days I was watching history in the making.
Haldane Dosher Higgins, Bus ‘58, Ed ‘60
Milford, Ohio
I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing in person UC winning the NCAA championship at Freedom Hall in Louisville [in 1962] with a 71-59 win over the big school up north. I attended with two other UC buddies. I shall never forget the experience --without a doubt one of the top moments in Bearcats sports history.
Dick Gose, Bus ‘65
St. James Plantation, N.C.
It was the annual Thanksgiving football rivalry between UC and Miami. Both teams had great quarterbacks: Brig Owens for UC and Ernie Kellerman for Miami.
They fought back and forth the entire game until Miami led by only one or two points with only a few seconds to go in the game. Jimmy O’Brien (he was later the star placekicker for the Baltimore Colts) not only had a strong game receiving passes from Owens, but he kicked a very long field goal to win the game for UC.
Interestingly, both quarterbacks were drafted into the NFL and became All-Pro defensive backs, Owens for the Redskins and Kellerman for the Browns. It was the most exciting game and finish I ever witnessed at the Thanksgiving classics.
Tom Fulks, Eng ‘58
Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
There is a glaring and totally baffling omission in the listing of the Top 10 UC sports moments. It should certainly be included among the top five.
If there was a single history-making, breakthrough moment that vaulted UC thereafter into the top tier of college football, it occurred on Sept. 15, 1946. On that day, in their season opener, the unheralded Bearcats took on Indiana, then-reigning undefeated 1945 Big Nine champion. Under coach Ray Nolting, they accomplished a monumental upset, defeating the Hoosiers in Bloomington, 15-6. That headline-making game, and the remainder of the season that followed it, led to UC’s first bowl game in the Sun Bowl on New Year’s Day, where they defeated Virginia Tech, 18-6.
The GoBearcats website says it all: “The 1946 season remains as one of the most magical in Cincinnati history.”
Stan Cohen, A&S ‘50
Newport Beach, Calif.
While I was present in Pitt for No. 5 [Bearcat football ‘09 season win], an argument can be made that the 1999 victory over Wisconsin put UC football back on the map. It ended up being Wisconsin’s only loss and cost them a shot at the national championship.
Similarly, the 2002 game against Ohio State was an instant classic. In hindsight, seeing that OSU ended up being national champions, UC almost duplicated crushing a Big Ten team’s title hopes.
Charles Albertone, Eng ‘02
Cleveland, Ohio
I played French horn in the Bearcat Band. We didn’t play at basketball games very often, but we played at least once in ‘61. As we ended the Cincinnati fight song, in my enthusiasm, I concluded the song with a trill. The band director, Robert Hornyak, gave me a look as if to say, “What the $#& are you doing?”
Daniel Driscoll, Eng ‘61
Knox, N.Y.
Coach Ed Jucker and the ‘61 Bearcats hoist UC’s first trophy.
I was there for No. 1 and No. 2 [back-to-back national champions in basketball in ‘61 and ‘62] as an undergraduate electrical engineer co-op student from September 1959 through June 1964. These were great unexpected years. I also remember competing against Tom Thacker (at a rival high school), while I attended Covington Catholic High. Also great years.
Larry Emark, Eng ‘64
Pittsburgh, Pa.
I always appreciate my editions of the UC Magazine. The Top 10 moments in Bearcats sports history was phenomenal. I couldn’t have come up with a better list. However, I did want to point out a correction. At No. 5, when our Bearcats came from behind in football to stun Pittsburgh, our following game was against the Florida Gators in the Sugar Bowl --not the Miami Hurricanes. Most people remember that game as Tim Tebow’s last college game. I remember it more fondly since I was there with my wife, son (freshman at UC this year) and daughter. The players, coaches and UC staff were great with my family and the other alumni there that week.
Matthew Miller, Ed ‘93, M (Ed) ‘99
Mentor, Ohio
Editor’s note: Thank you for the correction Matthew. We were thoroughly reminded of our error.
Nov. 25, 1989, was the school’s first game under Bob Huggins in their new arena [Shoemaker]. Steve Sanders, a walk-on football player, hit the buzzer-beating 3-pointer to defeat the No. 20 Minnesota Gophers.
Dennis Back, UC fan
Cincinnati, Ohio
I was a student during the reign of UC basketball. In 1961, nobody, especially the Cincinnati police, expected us to win. So they were not prepared for the post-championship celebration, which was very mild compared to what happened at Maryland, about 20 miles from my home, whenever it is lucky enough to beat Duke.
In the week prior to the ‘62 Final Four, Sports Illustrated wrote, “Ohio State all the Way.” One of our classmate’s father was a top executive at a local hospitality workers union, and the father gave Friday-night tickets to his son, so we had three tickets behind the UCLA bench [for the semifinal game]. The hotels in Louisville, Ky., were pretty bad and jammed, so my friends and I stayed at a flop house along with others who could not find better accommodations. I think it was $1.10, plus tax and a real eye-opener for me.
Anyway, on Friday we had about an 18-point lead (remember that was 50-plus years ago and before the UCLA domination of the later years). In the second half, UCLA started firing like machine guns from all over the court, and I think we won by 2 or so. As for tickets for the championship game, this was the age of innocence when tickets were reasonably priced, so we bought three tickets scattered around Freedom Hall. In most cases, the seller simply had tickets he/she wanted to dump and could be bought below cost. Think of that, below cost! As for the game itself, the great Jerry Lucas had hurt his knee in Friday’s game, and so we had an easy time. A couple of side notes: The NIT was the tournament! The NCAA was not even televised nationally until 1963. I watched the rerun on Sunday afternoon back at my rooming house.
It was a great disappointment in 1963 when UC lost to Loyola of Chicago. We had a big lead and then to lose by playing stall ball. [UC] president Langsam said if we won he would close the school on Monday, so I drove back home to Youngstown to watch the game. But Sunday morning the car was headed back to Cincinnati.
David Diser, Bus ‘65
Catonsville, Md.
The 1962 basketball team cuts down the nets again.
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Tom Thacker shoots inside UC’s Armory Fieldhouse in 1962
