The GCHA is supporting the University of Cincinnati football team, during the 2013 season, by inviting greater Cincinnati handball players to come together at Nippert Stadium on November 9th to cheer the team on to victory over Southern Methodist University (SMU). The university will provide, at a special rate, a block of stadium seats, and a covered canopied space – on campus - for grilling.
The goal is to get at least 30 players, including members of the UC handball team, to come together for an afternoon and/or evening of food, fun, and camaraderie; while supporting the football team and the university. This is a great opportunity to connect with old handball friends, as well as, meet with members of the UC handball club. In addition, it is a chance to watch a game in Nippert Stadium before it is renovated in 2015. The team will probably play the 2014 season in Paul Brown Stadium.
The University of Cincinnati has shared in the Big East championship title in four of the last five years and participated in two BCS bowls. In 2013 the university begins its first year in the new American Athletic Conference (AAC), and has a chance to win the conference title while gaining another BCS Bowl bid.
The 2013 team has a solid combination of veteran, freshman and junior college players, with one of the top college coaches in the country, Tommy Tuberville. Coach Tuberville’s background includes assistant coaching experience for the Miami Hurricanes National Championship teams, head coaching experience at the University of Mississippi and Auburn University in the SEC, and head coaching experience at Texas Tech in the BIG 12. The coach had a previous working relationship with UC’s current athletic director, Whit Babcock, at Auburn University; and because his wife’s family lives in Switzerland County, only about 20 minutes from UC, he is already familiar with, and a fan of, the Greater Cincinnati area.
UC’s opponent, Southern Methodist University, was featured in USA Today’s sports section (June 2, 2013) titled “Mixing of Offensive Minds”, introducing Hal Mumme as the new offensive coordinator. The article discussed the mix of head coach June Jones’s “Run and Shoot” type of offence with the “Air Raid” style of Coach Mumme. Both coaches have been successful with their individual styles – Coach Jones in college and the NFL - and Coach Mumme in college, particularly at the University of Kentucky in the SEC. Their goal is to throw the ball 75% of the time. This should be an interesting game, since Coach Tuberville is use to a high scoring, quick strike type of offence played in the Big 12 – but, plans a more balanced attack from the Bearcats.
The Vision of the GCHA is to organize and promote the joy of the game of handball in the Greater Cincinnati area. This is the type of event which incorporates that Vision. The plan in simple. We meet under the canopy, eat some burgers and dogs, drink some beer, and go watch the bearcats at the Nip. The cost will probably be around $45 – $50 for the ticket, food, and drinks – more details should be available in a couple of weeks.