The Cincinnati Bearcats have played football games on baseball fields in the past, but will make local history Saturday, Sept. 19, when they walk on the soccer pitch at TQL Stadium in full gear to tangle with the Miami RedHawks.
The rivalry began in 1888, and the 129th version will be where FC Cincinnati plays its home games in the West End of Cincinnati.
Connecting dots for UC Bearcats vs. Miami RedHawks at TQL Stadium
- FC Cincinnatibegan their run playing at Nippert Stadiumbetween April 2016 and Oct. 2020.
- The two schools pulled out of home-and-away arrangements in 2024.
- The last "neutral" game at Paycor Stadium, home of the Bengals, drew 30,109 in a venue that seats almost 66,000.
- FC Cincinnati Co-CEO Jeff Berding is a Miami University gradmarketing a smaller facility that's looking for business.
- Stir all of the above up, and you get a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at TQL Stadium on Sept. 19. FC Cincinnati plays that night, but in Houston. Their next home game is Oct. 14 vs. New England.
Some UC Bearcats will get kick out of playing on soccer pitch
UC's 6-foot-6 punter Max Fletcher is happy to brag about his football skills as he has an eight-yard reception in the books from the Bearcats' opening victory over Boston College.
However, athletes in Australia, much like the kangaroos, grow up kicking objects. Before attending the Pro Kick Academy
in Melbourne, where UC also landed his brother, Mason, Max Fletcher played soccer, rugby and Australian rules football. His father, Dustin, is an Australian rules football legend who played for 23 years and won a pair of championships.
The fifth-year punter is looking forward to a game on grass.
"I'm a big soccer fan," Fletcher said. "I've been to TQL many times. I've watched a lot of their games and they've been very enjoyable. The atmosphere there is really cool. It's very compact, so it gets loud. I'm really excited for the fans to be there."
Max Fletcher played two seasons at Arkansas before coming to the Bearcats in 2024 and sitting a season so he could replace his older brother Mason. As such, he didn't play in the last UC vs. Miami game and is about to make his debut.
Though he'd liked to "pull the sword" from the stone, as is FC Cincinnati tradition, he'll settle for some Victory Bell ringing with a win over the RedHawks.
"The rivalry runs deep," Fletcher said. "The first game was in 1888. The last time we played, we won. We've got to win and bring it back. I'm really excited to play."
UC Bearcats 6-foot-6, 320-pound tackle grew up playing soccer
After a practice the week of the "Battle for the Victory Bell" to be played at TQL Stadium, a soccer ball was brought onto the Nippert turf for some video fun by UC's creative team.
Not surprisingly, Australian Fletcher had skills, but one surprise was the footwork of Bearcats' starting left tackle, Joe Cotton.
Before Cotton joined UC's "pancake crew" of offensive linemen, he was weaving through defenders on the fields of South Dakota. As he began to add weight to his frame, he was slowly moved from striker to defense.
"It was the first sport I played growing up," Cotton said. "My dad played soccer, my brother played soccer, everyone in my family played soccer. I played it for probably 10 years. I kind of got too big. Everyone else was skinny, and I got bigger."
When he began to finish last in conditioning drills, he traded in the soccer kit for shoulder pads. Now, he's part of UC's notorious offensive line, gaining preseason accolades with All-American Evan Tengesdahl and Taran Tyo and gaining a pound or two without shame.
Like, Fletcher, he's been to TQL for a match and he's also been to games in Minneapolis. He recently accompanied Fletcher to Nashville to watchhis favorite club, Liverpool.
UC Bearcats tackle Joe Cotton on Victory Bell
Since Miami was not on the schedule last season, Cotton, like Fletcher, has not experienced the rivalry. But in two years, he's picked up the importance of the game to fans and the campus.
"Yeah, I'm not from here and might not understand all the nuances of the rivalry," Cotton said. "I've been talking with guys on the team and getting more of an understanding of how fierce of a rivalry this is. We're going to do everything we can to play for the past, present and future and get the win for the Bearcats."
Should that take place, Cotton, Tengesdahl, Tyo and company may be needed to hoist the Victory Bell. It carries a lot of weight, along with a lot of weight off of the shoulders of coaches and players.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcats looking forward to playing Miami University at TQL soccer pitch
