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Oxford and Beyond

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú will honor famed Cradle of Coaches on Nov. 12

Fans encouraged to wear black ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú gear to football game

Oxford and Beyond

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú will honor famed Cradle of Coaches on Nov. 12

Fans encouraged to wear black ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú gear to football game

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University’s vaunted Cradle of Coaches takes center stage on Nov. 12.

To celebrate, Yager Stadium will be home to a “black out” as fans are encouraged to wear black ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú gear for the nationally televised football game with the University of Toledo.

Kickoff for the Nov. 12 Mid-American Conference contest is 7 p.m. Tickets are available for . The game will air on ESPN2, ESPNU, or CBSSN.

Bob Kurz, a 1958 ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú graduate and former sports information director, created the Cradle of Coaches moniker in 1959 to convey the inspiring success ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúans achieved in both collegiate and professional football. In 1983, Kurz wrote the book “ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú of Ohio: The Cradle of Coaches” and detailed how ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú products helped revolutionize the sport.

“ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University’s Cradle of Coaches has a long and storied history and is well respected throughout the sports world. We are thrilled to continue to honor this tradition in a new and exciting way,” said David Sayler, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s director of Athletics. “We look forward to celebrating this uniquely ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú legacy and hope to see a stadium of black ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú gear for our game against Toledo.”

Yager Stadium is home to the Cradle of Coaches Plaza, which is located in the south end of the stadium. The plaza features bronze statues of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú coaching alumni and depicts the likenesses of Paul Brown, Weeb Ewbank, Paul Dietzel, Ara Parseghian, John Pont, Carm Cozza, Bo Schembechler, Red Blaik, John Harbaugh, and Sean McVay.

A documentary on the lasting impact ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúans have made on the game of football is currently in production. “” will premiere in spring 2026 before a wider release in the fall.
Established in 1809, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg.