The Cincinnati Bearcats: Boise's Team.
UC football coach Rick Minter is trying to push that idea on the Humanitarian Bowl host city this weekend, as the Bearcats arrived Thursday night to prepare for next Monday's game.
Minter said he has been told that John L. Smith, coach of UC's opponent Utah State, is not a fan favorite in Boise.
Smith, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, once coached the University of Idaho. Whenever he beat rival Boise State, he reportedly talked it up. And he has gotten under Minter's skin with some remarks about UC.
''We want to appeal to the city of Boise to adopt us as their favorite child,'' Minter said. ''I think we have a chance to do that, because John L. Smith is not well-liked out there. They respect the guy, but he's been known to alienate a few people.''
When Utah State, the Big West champion, learned that UC would be its at-large opponent, Smith was relieved.
''I'm glad it's Cincinnati,'' Smith told the Idaho Statesman. ''Their league is a lot better fit than say the Pac-10 or the SEC. Look at Conference USA and their caliber of players, it's similar to our league. . . . They're down a little bit like us.''
Minter, seeking an edge, has made those comments known to his players. Although UC (7-4) is a 2 1/2-point favorite over Utah State (6-5), Minter is playing up the underdog bit.
''They're the home team, as the Big West champion,'' he said. ''It should be to their advantage to play there. But we're gonna try to win over the people of Boise.''
UC will try to do that in several ways, including its appearance at the Mayor's Humanitarian Luncheon on Saturday plus a Bearcat pep rally on Sunday night in Boise.
For the game, UC hopes capitalize on some inner turmoil at Utah State. Smith is a lame-duck coach, having resigned in November to take the Louisville job. But he stayed on for this game, splitting his work weeks between Utah State coaching and Louisville recruiting.
About a half-dozen Utah State players, mostly freshmen, said they did not want Smith coaching this game. School president George Emert spoke with team captains, who said most players support Smith. Minter said he has been told that Utah State has rallied from the initial chaos of Smith's resignation.
''Once they get out there on the field, they'll play for the guy,'' Minter said.
First look at blue turf
Humanitarian Bowl web site
Utah State web site
