By Bill Koch
Enquirer staff writer

Mark Dantonio knew long before he accepted the job as the University of Cincinnati's head football coach that the program had a perception problem.

He could see that rather clearly while serving as secondary coach and associate head coach at Michigan State from 1995-2000.

"I recruited down here for six years with Michigan State," Dantonio said. "Never once when I was at Michigan State did anybody that I was recruiting say that they were thinking about UC, never once."

Dantonio, 48, begins his first season as UC's 36th head football coach when the players report for fall practice today. The Bearcats open their season Sept. 4 at Ohio State, where he worked for the previous three years as defensive coordinator for Jim Tressel.

He replaces Rick Minter, who was fired last year after going 53-63 in 10 seasons.

Minter left with the school records for wins and losses, as well as the longest coaching tenure in school history. He won one Conference USA co-championship and led the Bearcats to four bowl games.

But he was never able to change the perception that UC football is a second-tier sports entity in a town that loves the Reds, Bengals, college basketball and high school football, a perception that has sent most of the area's blue-chip players out of town to pursue their college careers.

Now it's Dantonio's turn to try to convince local sports fans that UC football is a big-time endeavor worthy of their passion. It's his turn to try to fill Nippert Stadium, which has been sold out only once since it was expanded to 35,000 seats in 1992.

The Bearcats finished last in attendance in C-USA last season, averaging 21,827 fans.

Dantonio said the new Varsity Village facilities currently under construction on campus will help, as will the Bearcats' move into the Big East Conference next season.

"The Big East is going to make a tremendous statement," Dantonio said. "If we win the Big East Conference, which is not out of the question, you are going to play in the Orange Bowl. I would think the city of Cincinnati would get excited about that."

Ultimately, though, Dantonio says Cincinnati must decide how badly it wants big-time college football.

It's his job to recruit players who can win in the Big East, to make sure the program is infused with discipline and that the players are active in the community.

But if the perception of the UC program is going to change, the city must embrace the football Bearcats the way they embrace the basketball Bearcats.

Dantonio calls it "taking ownership."

"Our goal here is not to have people come to the games," Dantonio said.

"Our goal is to have fans because I know a fan will always come to the game, not just now and then."

Dantonio says he would like to see the Bearcats football program gain the same kind of following the city's top high school football programs have.

"I hate to sit here and say that, but I don't hate to say that because I have respect for those programs," Dantonio said.

"They have a great following and a great love for their team. I really think that's here in this town from the UC alumni, but it's got to be cultivated and obviously we've got to put a good product on the field, but you have to envision it, too."

Dantonio, who begins his UC tenure with a five-year contract, says he's not looking at this as a stepping-stone job, that he's here for the long haul.

"We can attract people, but people have to take ownership," he said. "They have to get off the fence. If they want a great college football program, then the perception has to change. Otherwise, you become a Temple."

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E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com