CINCINNATI -- His weekly 700 WLW radio show at the Original Montgomery Inn, drew the usual audience of fans, alums and the curious. For all the people he's met since coming on board as UC's Head Football Coach in December of 2006, there are that many more who haven't had a face-to-face with Brian Kelly.
Being the way he is, it is just a matter of time. Thursday night, any number of people, gingerly approached the table where Brian and show hosts Dan Hoard and Jim Kelly were seated. They had the good sense to do so during commercial breaks and Coach Kelly, unlike some people in his position, was more than willing to take what time he had before going back on air, to accept their congratulations, thank them for their support and invite them back next week.
A visitor to the Bearcats' Wednesday practice, gave the coach a UC Hero Decks pack of playing cards. Produced by a local firm, they spoof politicians or in this case, pay tribute to the Bearcats. When he saw the C-Paw logo and realized what they were, he was stunned. He turned to Sports Information Director Ryan Koslen, saying "Can you believe this? We have our own playing cards! How cool is that? My kids are gonna love these."
And indeed he brought up the subject of his kids and the cards again during a break in the Brian Kelly Show.
"My oldest kid went through every card", he said. "And no Brian Kelly, until he got to card #52. There I was. The joker," he laughed. "One of two jokers. The other was Kerry Coombs. How did they know?"
To think that such a small item could have such an impact on a guy whose face is or will be emblazoned on TV screens and billboards coast to coast when he reaches his ultimate goal of a National Championship, makes one feel good not just about Kelly but about what he means to the city.
Larry Sheakley, the highly successful head of the Sheakley Group, put it well during a chat Thursday. "We need Brian Kelly, regardless of whether he coaches football or not. We'd need him if he was a business man. He would be successful in whatever line of work he chose. His positive attitude has had made a difference in Cincinnati and with the support of the University and UC fans, he'll continue to do just that."
Kelly's Bearcats take on the UConn Huskies Saturday night in one of three games featured on ABC. UC will try to improve to 9-0 which would equal the school's best start to a season.
Be sure to tune into Channel 9 on Saturday. Before the Bearcats and Huskies kick off at 8 p.m., Channel 9 will broadcast "Bearcat Fever: Climb To The Top," a live one-hour special starting at 7 p.m. featuring in-depth analysis of the game, the excitement surrounding the team, and what the nationally televised game means to the university.
