‘They gained a lot of new fans’: Tennessee junior college weighs in on college rivalry

The decades-old University of Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier University Musketeers basketball rivalry is touted as one of the biggest and most intense rivalries in college sports.

The teams square off in the famous annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout, captivating fans across the country. Unites nearly a century of history between two NCAA Division 1 college basketball teams In North Cincinnati.

Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout: A rivalry that’s spanned decades

The Cincinnati-Xavier rivalry runs deep. There was at least one bloodshed after a massive brawl broke out on the field in 2011.

But the rivalry actually began on the hardwood in 1928, when Xavier defeated the Bearcats 29-25 at Schmidt Field House.

More: Cincinnati-Xavier: Anatomy of a rivalry

The schools took a break for several years and played their second match against each other in March 1943. Xavier won again, this time 51-37.

After another hiatus, the two schools, located about three miles apart, began an annual series in 1946.

The two have played 91 times, with the 92nd meeting scheduled for Saturday at Fifth Third Arena. In 91 matches, the Bearcats finished the series ahead 51-40 against the Musketeers.

But the Musketeers may have a few more fans cheering on them this year and next, some 294 miles away at Cheatham Middle School in Tennessee.

‘Cause baby, we’re on bad terms now.’

Cheatham Middle School, formerly known as the Bearcats, is rebranding after receiving an unexpected letter from the University of Cincinnati in November alleging copyright and licensing violations regarding its mascot, the “Cincy Bearcat.”

More: Xavier wins this one: Why the Middle Tennessee school chose the Musketeers mascot after the rival Cincinnati Bearcats sent a cease and desist order

The results of a community-wide search for a new mascot were announced at a press conference Monday.

“We definitely think the majority of students and staff are excited about the change, but a big part of that is because we have such a positive-minded and resilient community at Cheatham Middle; we do that at all of our schools, honestly,” said Cheatham County School District Athletic Director and Director of Transportation Deputy Jeff Hobbs.

“They really try to find the good in every situation and don’t dwell on things that are out of their control and things they can’t change. “Obviously we realize not everyone will have the same feelings about this transition, but the feedback we’ve received so far has been extremely supportive and full of positive enthusiasm.”

Rebranding of the mascot is provided free of charge. synergisticA marketing and media company based in Cincinnati. Hobbs said the firm offers assistance in other areas as well.

More: UC won’t allow Tennessee middle school to use Bearcat mascot. So Xavier steps in

“We have already started the process and have had a few really positive and exciting meetings with their teams,” he added.

Although Xavier University was aware of the rebranding of the middle school’s mascot, Hobbs says there was no help from the university.

“Xavier University … has expressed its approval and support of the change, but we want to be clear; no offer, promise or arrangement has been made by the University to assist Cheatham Middle,” he said.

“Xavier supporters and Xavier alumni have been very good to us through all of this and their passion has been contagious, but due to media coverage of this story they have been categorized as “Xavier,” which has spread the misconception that the University is “Xavier” itself offering help.”

Hobbs hopes to have the Gunslinger logo ready for use when students return from break.

“The rebranding package will include several different logo graphics, and we know it will take some time, but Synergistic is working hard to get us at least one logo by the beginning of January so we can start on some of the other needed logo changes, such as sports jerseys. What we will want the new mascot to have on “stuff,” he said.

Bearcats and Musketeers face off in the 92nd Crosstown Shootout

As noted, Cincinnati, a public school, and Xavier, a private Jesuit school, are about three miles apart, but the schools feature the majority of their players from outside the Cincinnati area.

Their heated rivalry escalated further in 2011 when the two schools came to blows following Xavier’s blowout 76-53 win. As the players began fighting, Xavier center Kenny Frease emerged, covered in blood, bludgeoned, and crawled out of the fight on his knees with bruises on his left jaw and blood running down his face.

More: Classic Doc: Crosstown Shootout meltdown turns into fight

How it started is debatable, but former Xavier standout Tu Holloway admitted to mocking the UC bench.

Holloway told the Cincinnati Enquirer after the game that the Crosstown Shootout was about “guys throwing, guys throwing elbows.”

The referees stopped the game with 9.4 seconds left.

Xavier students chanted “F— UC” as the team left the field.

The two teams will face off this weekend in the 92nd Crosstown Shootout.

The men’s basketball Crosstown Shootout is scheduled for December 14 at 1pm CST/2pm EST at Fifth Third Arena. The women’s basketball match will be played at Cintas Center the next day.

Xavier won the 2023-24 men’s basketball Crosstown Shootout 84-79 and all four games before that. Cincinnati’s last win came in the 2018-2019 season.

“The Xavier fan base and community has been amazing the last three weeks and they’ve gained a lot of new fans in the Middle Tennessee area. These kids and this school are finally feeling noticed and heard, and it’s all because of him. The gunslinger family,” Hobbs said from Cheatham Middle School this week .

“I feel like Cheatham Middle would want the Xavier Basketball team to know we support them right away.”

There will be a live broadcast of the college basketball game Available on ESPN+.

Katie Nixon can be reached at [email protected]. Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at [email protected] and X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription at www.tennessean.com. The Cincinnati Enquirer and USA TODAY contributed to this story.

This article first appeared in the Nashville Tennessean: Why is a Tennessee middle school watching the Ohio Crosstown Shootout?