October 31, 2024 • 8 mins
UC Director of Athletics John Cunningham joined us on ESPN1530.
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Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
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Instagram too: @MoEgger
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
A lot of excitement for what these teams can be
this year. Obviously, the UC football team is entering it's
bye week, it's second bye week. Two more home games
to go, including the noon kickoff against West Virginia a
week from Saturday. The director of Athletics and by the way,
there's a new unit of UC athletics today as well,
since the Sports Partners, which I think is kind of
interesting so to kind of cover a whole bunch of
(00:22):
stuff with us. Is the director of Athletics at the
University of Cincinnati, Our guy, John Cunningham. Busy time of
year for you, John, what's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It is? Well good, good to hear from you. And yeah,
I always thoughting happened in over at Clifton for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
How pumped are you for basketball?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
You know, I agree with you, just just in terms
of the fervor and where our fan base is that
I'm right there with them. You know. Obviously it's going
to be a really fun year with the teams that
we got coming in. I mean we saw that last
year in the Big Twelve, but this year, you know,
you feel like we've got a more talented team that
can go toe to toe with any team in this
(01:01):
league and it's some of the best teams in the country.
And then I'm excited on our women's side as well.
I never want to not mention what Katrina Merriweather's building
and what she's got going on. So it's just gonna
be a fun winter basketball season for us.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
And I feel like in both instances. Look, I think
both programs more than held their own in the Big Twelve.
But there's something about having that experience of a year
behind you and now you kind of know, you know
what it's going to be like, what the roller coaster
is going to be like, and for both the men
and women, that makes it a little bit easier just
to prepare for the season. Not to mention the talent
brought in from outside.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
We talk all the time about you've got to learn
to win in this league and at this level, and
I think there's it, just it's gonna take time. I mean,
I mean, the fact is, when you you're in the
American Conference, it's not the same level of competition night
in and night out, and so there's a different mentality,
a different mindset you have to have at the Big
(02:03):
twelve level, at the power flour level, and so we've
seen it grow, We've seen people start to get it.
But you got to make You got to learn to
win and make winning plays at the right time. And
we were so close in so many games last year
that if we just would have made one play here
or one free throw here, we get to win. And
that's what we're learning to do. So I think that's
(02:23):
the step that all of our programs take here this
year and into the future.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
I think we all wish we were talking about a
different result in Colorado, and yet four games to go.
Ball eligibility is still a very realistic goal. A winning
season is a very very realistic goal. We're two thirds
of the way through. Give me an assessment of football
at the stage of the year.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I like the team. I like how hard they play. Obviously,
I think they're more talented than they were last year,
and starting to understand the system and starting to understand
a new defensive ordinator system that started this year. We've
seen we've seen our defense get better and better. You know,
we still have mistakes that are made that, like I said,
(03:09):
those winning plays that we've got to fix. And I'm
looking for into this season to be some of our
best games of the year coming down the stretch. Love
the leadership of this team, love the vibe of this team,
how they kind of rally around each other, win or lose,
And so I expect us to play really well coming
down the stretch. And four very difficult games again when
(03:31):
you're in the Big Twelve, no week off. West Virginia
good team at home, Kansas State, Iowa Stay two of
the best teams in the in the Big Twelve on
the road, and then TFU at home right there after
Thanksgiving to end the year. So we've got to play
well all four games.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I want to ask you something. This might be a
stupid question. I am a big fan of noon kickoffs
because I route for me, fans want nip at night.
We haven't had one this year. You're obviously at the
mercy of the league and its television partners. But what
do you say to the fan who wants to know
why we can't get a game one of the lights
at home.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
It's it's television driven, is what I say. And we've
got to you know, and sometimes you know. It was funny.
I was in Colorado and talking to Rick George, their
ad they're upset because all they've had is night games.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah, what you what you really want?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
I think everybody what they want is a mix. You know,
you want a couple, maybe a new game at two,
you want some three thirties, and then you want some
night games and that that's the season that you want.
But again, these decisions are driven outside of the university,
and you know, the better we play sometimes the better
we'll get in terms of time of games. And so
(04:42):
there's a chance that you know, we win a couple
and then we get a night game later on. So
we just have to we just have to be patient
with those things. I like a mix of games because
I think it allows our fans to do different things
on Saturday. Selfishly, like you, I don't mind the new
game getting here and and uh getting get and go
on it for the day. But I get it. I
(05:02):
get where our fans are coming to.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Do you get to I mean, you can't make a demand,
but do you get to make a request and go, hey, look,
you know we've played at noon these three days. We'd
really like to play at night one of our last
two home games. And if so, does are you just
at the mercy of that falling or not falling on
deaf ears.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Probably the latter. I mean, we can certainly make requests,
but at the end of the day, you know, we
have decisions being made by television executives that are making
it based on their metrics and their numbers, and sometimes
they really believe that the best time slot to get
the most eyes is at New and you've seen that
that's a really big time slot for Fox for example,
(05:43):
with the big New and kickoff in those says. So
so you just don't know. You can certainly make those requests,
but it's really decisions typically outside of the university.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
John Cunningham, the director of Athletics at the University of
Cincinnati with us I get a press release today about
a new initiative, a new sports unit within the within
the athletics department at the University of Cincinnati. Since E
Sports Partners, this is multifaceted. I see there's a student
athlete nil component. Can you tell my audience what since
E Sports Partners is.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, very simply, We've always sold our sponsorship rights, so
all the stadium signings that you see has been sold
to a third party. And that's what college athletics has
done for a long time. And you get a guarantee check,
but you don't own your rights, and then you pay
a premium to someone else to sell all of your
advertising inventory. We've decided to bring that in house. So
(06:36):
we're taking it back. That's the pro model for example,
that's what the That's what the Bengals do, right They
own all of their inventory, they sell it themselves. They're
not giving any of their profits over to somebody else,
and so that's what we've decided to do. That's what
since the Sports partners is allows us to bring our partners,
our brand partners, closer to us. I think it's the
(06:56):
right time flexibility right now is that a premium with
everything that's going on, be able to be a little
bit more nimble, a little bit more flexible, really push
individual NIL for our young people, that true business to
student NIL. That that's going to be important moving forward.
So all those things together right time to be bold
and make a move. I think we're the fourth school
(07:17):
in the country to do this, to bring it in house.
It's the right thing. We're going to generate more revenue
and and make sure we have a great experience for
our student athletes.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I've asked this of coaches about the landscape that we're
in college sports, which continues to evolve. It's it's dramatically
different than when you started in college athletics. But is
this way of doing things? Has it become normal?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Yes? I think it has and and it's just gonna
You're gonna have to kind of ride out the discomfort
and some of the unknowns that are taking place right
now and eventually, and I think soon we'll get to
a point where everything level sets. We know and this
has been the tricky part.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Of NIL for me.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
We just want to know the game that we're playing.
We want to know the numbers that people are spending.
And I think that's all going to happen with this
house settlement if you read about that. But I think
it's going to become transparent. I think you're going to
know what every team in the Big twelve is spending
on their NIL and then you can decide where your
institution is going.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
To fit within that.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
And I think there's going to be some parameters in
sort of a salary cap type of feel to college sports.
It's going to happen. It's going to take a little
time to get done. It's going to be rocky to
get there. But once we get there, you know, I
think everything level sets and we can get back to
competing against anybody in the country.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Yeah, it's interesting to follow. I don't like following house resolutions,
and I've had to do that as a college sports fan,
so I prefer to not have to do that. So
hopefully things get settled. I know you have a lot
going on. I cannot thank you enough for your time,
not just today, but anytime we ask. Thank you so
much always, Mom, thank you
A lot of excitement for what these teams can be
this year. Obviously, the UC football team is entering it's
bye week, it's second bye week. Two more home games
to go, including the noon kickoff against West Virginia a
week from Saturday. The director of Athletics and by the way,
there's a new unit of UC athletics today as well,
since the Sports Partners, which I think is kind of
interesting so to kind of cover a whole bunch of
(00:22):
stuff with us. Is the director of Athletics at the
University of Cincinnati, Our guy, John Cunningham. Busy time of
year for you, John, what's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It is? Well good, good to hear from you. And yeah,
I always thoughting happened in over at Clifton for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
How pumped are you for basketball?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
You know, I agree with you, just just in terms
of the fervor and where our fan base is that
I'm right there with them. You know. Obviously it's going
to be a really fun year with the teams that
we got coming in. I mean we saw that last
year in the Big Twelve, but this year, you know,
you feel like we've got a more talented team that
can go toe to toe with any team in this
(01:01):
league and it's some of the best teams in the country.
And then I'm excited on our women's side as well.
I never want to not mention what Katrina Merriweather's building
and what she's got going on. So it's just gonna
be a fun winter basketball season for us.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
And I feel like in both instances. Look, I think
both programs more than held their own in the Big Twelve.
But there's something about having that experience of a year
behind you and now you kind of know, you know
what it's going to be like, what the roller coaster
is going to be like, and for both the men
and women, that makes it a little bit easier just
to prepare for the season. Not to mention the talent
brought in from outside.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
We talk all the time about you've got to learn
to win in this league and at this level, and
I think there's it, just it's gonna take time. I mean,
I mean, the fact is, when you you're in the
American Conference, it's not the same level of competition night
in and night out, and so there's a different mentality,
a different mindset you have to have at the Big
(02:03):
twelve level, at the power flour level, and so we've
seen it grow, We've seen people start to get it.
But you got to make You got to learn to
win and make winning plays at the right time. And
we were so close in so many games last year
that if we just would have made one play here
or one free throw here, we get to win. And
that's what we're learning to do. So I think that's
(02:23):
the step that all of our programs take here this
year and into the future.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
I think we all wish we were talking about a
different result in Colorado, and yet four games to go.
Ball eligibility is still a very realistic goal. A winning
season is a very very realistic goal. We're two thirds
of the way through. Give me an assessment of football
at the stage of the year.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I like the team. I like how hard they play. Obviously,
I think they're more talented than they were last year,
and starting to understand the system and starting to understand
a new defensive ordinator system that started this year. We've
seen we've seen our defense get better and better. You know,
we still have mistakes that are made that, like I said,
(03:09):
those winning plays that we've got to fix. And I'm
looking for into this season to be some of our
best games of the year coming down the stretch. Love
the leadership of this team, love the vibe of this team,
how they kind of rally around each other, win or lose,
And so I expect us to play really well coming
down the stretch. And four very difficult games again when
(03:31):
you're in the Big Twelve, no week off. West Virginia
good team at home, Kansas State, Iowa Stay two of
the best teams in the in the Big Twelve on
the road, and then TFU at home right there after
Thanksgiving to end the year. So we've got to play
well all four games.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I want to ask you something. This might be a
stupid question. I am a big fan of noon kickoffs
because I route for me, fans want nip at night.
We haven't had one this year. You're obviously at the
mercy of the league and its television partners. But what
do you say to the fan who wants to know
why we can't get a game one of the lights
at home.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
It's it's television driven, is what I say. And we've
got to you know, and sometimes you know. It was funny.
I was in Colorado and talking to Rick George, their
ad they're upset because all they've had is night games.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah, what you what you really want?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
I think everybody what they want is a mix. You know,
you want a couple, maybe a new game at two,
you want some three thirties, and then you want some
night games and that that's the season that you want.
But again, these decisions are driven outside of the university,
and you know, the better we play sometimes the better
we'll get in terms of time of games. And so
(04:42):
there's a chance that you know, we win a couple
and then we get a night game later on. So
we just have to we just have to be patient
with those things. I like a mix of games because
I think it allows our fans to do different things
on Saturday. Selfishly, like you, I don't mind the new
game getting here and and uh getting get and go
on it for the day. But I get it. I
(05:02):
get where our fans are coming to.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Do you get to I mean, you can't make a demand,
but do you get to make a request and go, hey, look,
you know we've played at noon these three days. We'd
really like to play at night one of our last
two home games. And if so, does are you just
at the mercy of that falling or not falling on
deaf ears.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Probably the latter. I mean, we can certainly make requests,
but at the end of the day, you know, we
have decisions being made by television executives that are making
it based on their metrics and their numbers, and sometimes
they really believe that the best time slot to get
the most eyes is at New and you've seen that
that's a really big time slot for Fox for example,
(05:43):
with the big New and kickoff in those says. So
so you just don't know. You can certainly make those requests,
but it's really decisions typically outside of the university.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
John Cunningham, the director of Athletics at the University of
Cincinnati with us I get a press release today about
a new initiative, a new sports unit within the within
the athletics department at the University of Cincinnati. Since E
Sports Partners, this is multifaceted. I see there's a student
athlete nil component. Can you tell my audience what since
E Sports Partners is.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, very simply, We've always sold our sponsorship rights, so
all the stadium signings that you see has been sold
to a third party. And that's what college athletics has
done for a long time. And you get a guarantee check,
but you don't own your rights, and then you pay
a premium to someone else to sell all of your
advertising inventory. We've decided to bring that in house. So
(06:36):
we're taking it back. That's the pro model for example,
that's what the That's what the Bengals do, right They
own all of their inventory, they sell it themselves. They're
not giving any of their profits over to somebody else,
and so that's what we've decided to do. That's what
since the Sports partners is allows us to bring our partners,
our brand partners, closer to us. I think it's the
(06:56):
right time flexibility right now is that a premium with
everything that's going on, be able to be a little
bit more nimble, a little bit more flexible, really push
individual NIL for our young people, that true business to
student NIL. That that's going to be important moving forward.
So all those things together right time to be bold
and make a move. I think we're the fourth school
(07:17):
in the country to do this, to bring it in house.
It's the right thing. We're going to generate more revenue
and and make sure we have a great experience for
our student athletes.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I've asked this of coaches about the landscape that we're
in college sports, which continues to evolve. It's it's dramatically
different than when you started in college athletics. But is
this way of doing things? Has it become normal?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Yes? I think it has and and it's just gonna
You're gonna have to kind of ride out the discomfort
and some of the unknowns that are taking place right
now and eventually, and I think soon we'll get to
a point where everything level sets. We know and this
has been the tricky part.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Of NIL for me.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
We just want to know the game that we're playing.
We want to know the numbers that people are spending.
And I think that's all going to happen with this
house settlement if you read about that. But I think
it's going to become transparent. I think you're going to
know what every team in the Big twelve is spending
on their NIL and then you can decide where your
institution is going.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
To fit within that.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
And I think there's going to be some parameters in
sort of a salary cap type of feel to college sports.
It's going to happen. It's going to take a little
time to get done. It's going to be rocky to
get there. But once we get there, you know, I
think everything level sets and we can get back to
competing against anybody in the country.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Yeah, it's interesting to follow. I don't like following house resolutions,
and I've had to do that as a college sports fan,
so I prefer to not have to do that. So
hopefully things get settled. I know you have a lot
going on. I cannot thank you enough for your time,
not just today, but anytime we ask. Thank you so
much always, Mom, thank you
Mo Egger News
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