Cincinnati is reportedly choosing to eliminate all of its culture from the college basketball program to appease rich donors. The Bearcats essentially issued a ban on fun because someone with money decided to yell at a cloud.
Look no further than this new regulation if the environment at Fifth Third Arena becomes even more dead than it already is in the coming days, weeks and months!
Although the University of Cincinnati may not be considered a “blue blood” or “historic,” its college basketball program was founded in 1901 and the Bearcats won two national championships. There is a lot of passion for basketball in the Queen City. The fans care deeply for their program.
Unfortunately, it sounds like the university cares more about the older generation of boosters than the rest of its fanbase. Especially the students. Justin Hiles and Steve Maurer of the Viva La Cats podcast were the first to report about ludicrous bans on behavior and tradition.
Cincinnati is spoiling its own identity.
When Cincinnati plays Kansas tomorrow, it will be playing with a lack of identity on the court and in the stands.
— VIVA LA CATS 🐻❄️🐈⬛‼️ (@VivaLaCatsPod) January 10, 2025
We’ve been told that students are no longer allowed to throw newspaper confetti and many other things that “ruin the experience” for boosters. pic.twitter.com/9cf1fveFwE
Prior to Saturday, every person in the student section was provided with a copy of the News Record, the student-run school newspaper. They were encouraged to rip it up and throw the newspaper confetti into the air after the first field goal. It started in 1996. It will no longer be allowed moving forward.
In addition to the ban on confetti, the Bearcats supposedly shut down the use of things like fat heads or cardboard cutouts to distract opposing players. Organized cheers are also a thing of the past.
Cincinnati’s band used to bang the bass drum after made free throws. That doesn’t happen anymore either.
The weird, wacky and unusual is a large part of what makes college basketball so much fun. Students are a big part of the environment and environment can directly impact an outcome. To eliminate all of these things because a few rich old guys complained is a real shame.