CINCINNATI — What an upset it could have been. Fifteen years ago this week, the University of Cincinnati’s football team nearly defeated Ohio State before a record crowd at Paul Brown Stadium — but two dropped touchdown passes in the final minute and a game-ending interception cemented OSU’s 23-19 victory. The teams’ trajectories separated after that outing. Jim Tressel’s national championship Buckeyes went on to claim a Big Ten co-championship, beat Miami in double-overtime in the Fiesta Bowl and finish 14-0. Rick Minter’s Bearcats went 7-7 with a Conference USA co-championship and a loss to North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl. Minter, now a Florida Tech defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, still remembers the Sept. 21, 2002 game against Ohio State as if it were yesterday. University of Cincinnati coach Rick Minter in 2002 vs. Ohio State. “We didn’t know how good we could be nor how good…
Continue Reading: Sports Vault: In 2002, UC's football team nearly beat the OSU Buckeyes at Paul Brown Stadium
