Thursday, December 07, 2000
Miami seeks return of UC series
Money has interfered with longtime rivalry
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Miami's Julius Johnson is pressured by Dayton's Sean Finn.
(Mike Simons photos)
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OXFORD — Miami University coach Charlie Coles has gone out of his way this season to thank Xavier and Dayton for continuing their annual series with Miami. Miami would love the same arrangement with Cincinnati.
But the Bearcats, citing financial reasons, ended their Miami series in 1993.
“I think it will come back someday,” Miami athletic director Joel Maturi said. “But no talks are going on right now.”
UC doesn't want to come to Oxford. The Bearcats make more money playing a home game against a lesser foe or playing a television game against a “name” opponent.
Money is a factor in a lot of decisions in college athletics.
“That's the way it is,” Maturi said. “I was reading about Toledo not making a bowl (in football). They're 10-1 and are rated higher than 25 teams going to bowls.”
Miami went 10-1 in football three years ago and also was shut out of a bowl.
UC and Miami had played 137 times when their basketball rivalry was discontinued. They've met once since, in a midnight ESPN game at the Shoemaker Center in January 1997.
Maturi thinks a one-shot deal like that is possible. UC, for instance, plays Toledo in the Rock-n-Roll Shootout in Cleveland on Dec.30.
CROWDED HOUSE: Miami drew 8,212 Wednesday night, a week after getting 8,295 for Temple.
“What a wonderful place this has been ...” Coles said. “I walked out and wanted to go back to the locker room and cry. That (kind of atmosphere) hasn't happened since I've been here. I hope we play well enough to keep 'em coming out.”
Miami's best home crowd last season was 5,427 for Notre Dame.
STREAK LIVES: Miami made a 3-point shot Wednesday for the 365th consecutive game.
The RedHawks made only one. It didn't come until Jason Grunkemeyer hit a 3 with 6:07 left.
UP NEXT: Miami goes to South Bend to play Notre Dame Saturday. The game is on Channel 12.
The No.10 rated Irish were upset 86-78 by Indiana Tuesday.
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Miami seeks return of UC series