BearcatReport.com - Like Father Like Son

November 12, 2009

Scott Springer
BearcatReport.com Staff Writer

This is a story that's too early to speculate on, but would make great TV fodder if it came to fruition. Here's how it would come down.

"30 years ago a young man captained the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Flash forward and that man's son now represents a school from Ohio in this same stadium-only it's not the Buckeyes. It's the Bearcats from the University of Cincinnati!"

That could all come true if UC were to shock the world, run the table and make the BCS national championship game, which will be played AFTER the Rose Bowl, but in that stadium in Pasadena January 7th.

The players I've referenced?

Thomas Waugh, captain of Ohio State's 1979 Rose Bowl team and the father of Marcus Waugh, UC's all-purpose LB, FB, TE, DL and special teams man. Marcus has played more positions than most in five years with the Bearcats. Heck, you never know, you may see #35 line up and take a direct snap at QB-I'd put nothing past Brian Kelly.

Wherever #35 lines up, his father, the Buckeye is very proud. He's even had the courage to
cheer for the Bearcats around the Buckeye faithful and YOU KNOW that doesn't go over well.

"He kind of takes it with a grain of salt," Waugh said of his father. "When we played Ohio State a couple years ago, he's in the Ohio State section with Cincinnati gear on. He says, 'I'll be a Cincinnati fan 'til your done, then I'll go back to Ohio State.'"

Meaning for the time being, Mr. Waugh is in need of one of the popular "Buckeye State" shirts with the "UC" logo in "Buckeye".

"Not yet," confirmed Waugh. "I'm trying to get him to wear one."

That would be a major accomplishment for someone who sweated life out in the scarlet and gray up north.

"Our dream was for us both to go to Ohio State and it wasn't in the cards," admitted Waugh. "Just to stay in Ohio was really good. He's always been proud. He hasn't missed a game since my seventh-grade year. Just being able to play football at the Division I level-he was really proud."

The Waugh's are from the Toledo area (Whitehouse) where Marcus ran for 2,735 yards and 38 touchdowns at Toledo St. John's, as well as recording 266 career tackles and punting for nearly 43 yards per game. While Bearcat fans never saw those individual feats with Waugh, he's impacted UC football immensely and is part of the reason of its recent rise in the state of Ohio.

"We went from power football to spread," said Waugh of UC's offensive prowess. "Seeing the offense work is something to sit back and take in. They just go so fast...even in practice. Rep by rep by rep-it helps you get in shape for the games."

The result?

They're ranked as high as 4th in the country and currently 5th in the BCS.

"When Coach Kelly came in his first year here and we went to the Papajohn's.com Bowl, I said to myself, 'We have the talent, we just need leadership.' He's given us that leadership and also
challenged the players and the seniors to take over the team. That challenge to us as seniors and leaders of the team that gives us faith and gives us the determination to really be in the top four."

To stay in the upper echelon, the Bearcats are going to need a more consistent defensive effort from those that nearly squandered a huge lead against Connecticut last Saturday. Especially facing a West Virginia team that put up 13 in less than two minutes in Morgantown to force OT.

"It's just little things that we need to tighten down the screws to get us back to where we were," reassured Waugh. "We've got to get back to practicing with a purpose. Really tighten down the screw like Coach Kelly told us."

Even though the Bearcats nearly "urinated" the game away last season in Morgantown, Waugh has fond memories of the end result...a win!

"When I was in the game, we won on that pass to Kazzeem Alli," said Waugh. "To win in overtime was great. A week before that game we staid to ourselves 'We can beat this team!' We respect everybody, but we fear no one. After beating West Virginia, we said, 'Hey, we have a shot."

Now, not only do the Bearcats have a shot. Now, they're front and center with sold-out crowds and one proud Dad sitting in Nippert suppressing the urge to break out in "Hang on Sloopy."

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