The University of Cincinnati football team remains a candidate for two bowl games, with the UC men's basketball program a potential factor toward reaching one.
UC is on the short lists for the Sports Humanitarian Bowl (Dec. 29 in Boise, Idaho) and the Ford Motor City Bowl (Dec. 26 in Pontiac, Mich.), but is a much stronger candidate for the Boise game. And the Bearcats, who last went to a bowl in 1950, are lobbying hard.
''To them, it's the Rose Bowl,'' said Steve Schmader, president of the Sports Humanitarian Bowl. ''The fact that they haven't been to a bowl for a while, they'd really bring the enthusiasm factor.''
They might also bring the basketball factor. UC Athletic Director Bob Goin said that if the Boise bowl selects the Bearcats, he would be willing to play a home-and-home series in men's basketball someday with Boise State University. Goin said UC basketball coach Bob Huggins supports the idea.
''It hasn't gotten that far, and I haven't given it that much thought,'' Goin said. ''But they said they would love to have our basketball team. Of course, that would be down the road.''
Schmader said a UC-Boise State basketball game could be scheduled about the same date as the football bowl game. ''That way, our local fans could see a quality team such as Cincinnati, whereas that possibility usually would not happen,'' he said.
UC is among several at-large candidates for two bowls:
For the Humanitarian Bowl, UC is one of several candidates who could face Big West champion Utah State. Top candidates, Schmader said, are Oregon, Utah, and UC, but several more teams could become available after games this weekend. Most notably, national power Washington could become available and would be a natural geographic fit.
For the Motor City, UC is a much longer shot. Michigan State, Iowa, Notre Dame, North Carolina State, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State are at-large possibles to face the Mid-American Conference champ, which will be Marshall or Toledo. The bowl has its at-large offer on the table to Michigan State, according to Ken Hoffmann, assistant executive director of the bowl.
''Cincinnati is not at the top of our list, but they're not out of it,'' Hoffmann said. ''We've told them where we stand, but they've done a great job promoting their program.''
UC, which finished a 7-4 season two weeks ago, has been aided by Conference USA in pursuing a bid. And Goin, who once oversaw the Florida State program, said he will pursue all avenues.
Goin has told bowl officials that UC, despite its small fan base of just more than 20,000 per game, would guarantee high ticket sales or reimburse the difference out of the $750,000 payout that both the Boise and Motor City bowls offer.
''The Humanitarian Bowl seems like our best bet,'' Goin said. ''We don't want it to cost the university anything, but you have to look at the hump it would put us over. It would be great exposure.''
UC went to the Sun Bowl in 1950, its last postseason appearance. Most bowl slots will be decided this weekend, although some may not announce pairings until early next week.
NINE BEARCATS ALL-CONFERENCE
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