The excitement was palpable as Luke Fickell took the field for his debut as University of Cincinnati football coach Thursday night. Fans standing and yelling. Parachutists zipping down into the stadium. The UC band running down the stadium steps and onto the field, per tradition.
Then came the familiar smoke-and-flame explosions, surrounding the players as they charged onto the Nippert Stadium turf. And, all of it played back in mega-sized living color from the massive new video board, high overhead.
Then, oops. The game itself nearly flew off the rails before everyone could sit back down.
UC started slowly but gradually overpowered FCS team Austin Peay, as the Bearcats won 26-14 in perfect football weather (79 degrees, low humidity).