The University of Cincinnati is represented by the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Big East Conference since July 1, 2005. Previous to that date the team has joined other conferences. But when the program was created, the team played as an independent one. That was from 1885 to 1909. In those 25 years they have seven years of fewer wins than losses, three years with wins equaling losses and fourteen years in which they scored more wins. In 1907, the team did not play

The Cincinnati Bearcats participated in the Ohio Conference in 1910 until 1924. In that space of time their records show fifteen years with more losses. After that stint, the team joined the Buckeye Conference. Their stint there was from 1925 to 1935. In that span of time three years reflected losses. They became independent again in 1936 and remained so until 1946. The record for those eleven years also show three years of losses.

The team participated in the Mid-American conference starting 1947 until 1952. Their record shows only one losing year. From 1953 until 1956, the team became independent again and recorded two winning years in that period. From 1957 to 1969 their losing years were five. Following that term, they became independent again. This was from 1970 to 1995. They recorded fourteen losing years in that time. With Conference USA, with whom they played from 1996 to 2004 their record shows three losing years.

They have won 11 conference titles since 1933 up to the present. Since 1947, they have played in 12 Bowl Games, 6 of which they won. They have also played in NCAA tournaments where they emerged three times in third place and twice as champions. Their championship trophies were for 1961 and 1962, their coach was Ed Jucker.

The team thrives with rivalry. At present it is yearly engaging in contests for rivalry trophies. One of these trophies is the Keg of Nails which they play for against the Louisville Cardinals. The second is the river City rivalry trophy which they contend with the Pittsburgh Panthers for. A third rivalry trophy is the Victory Bell Trophy which they struggle with the Miami RedHawks to get.

The team owes its name to one of their 1914 fullbacks names Leonard Baehr. In that game they were playing against the UK Wildcats. One of the cheer leaders rallied the team by shouting that if the enemy had a Wildcat, they had a Baehrcat. In time the spelling became ‘Bearcat.’

The Bearcats have a newly inducted coach. Butch Jones comes as a replacement for the last coach under whose guidance the team didn’t do as well as expected. Jones seems to have come up to a good start and many fans are praying that he will revive some of the teams former glory. Hopes have also been pinned on some important players, notably, Armon Binns, DJ Woods and Vidal Hazelton. Given the drive of the new coach, their hopes may just come true.

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