Luke Fickell: 'I don’t use the phrase' Power 5, it's 'P-whatever'

Of the 32 teams to appear in the College Football Playoff, Cincinnati is the first one from the Group of 5.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Dec 30, 2021 9:47 AM EST

CINCINNATI — Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell has some rules for what can and can't be said in the football facilities. One of those forbidden phrases is Power 5.

Fickell told Ross Dellenger the term is off-limits in a new feature for Sports Illustrated.

“I don’t use the phrase,” Fickell declared to Dellenger, stating another name for the group of well-funded college programs. “P-whatever.”

The Bearcats and fans of UC have heard the term ad nausea. Fickell's crew has a chance to make the Group of 5's loudest statement if they take out the best "P-whatever" team of the past decade in Alabama.

“If anybody asks me in two years when we move to the Big 12, I will say there is no difference between leagues,” Fickell said. “Why would we try to separate ourselves? ‘Oh, you’re not going to say that when you’re with the bigger guys!’ No, I will say that.

“We all understand there are discrepancies in money. The majority of that goes to the coaches. Coaches are paid more. We all know the facilities are different, but really, what’s the difference? That’s the way I look at it and that’s what we preach to our kids. We don’t allow it to be an excuse for recruiting.”

Dellenger dove into all the key metrics and history surrounding this monumental moment for underdogs in college football. Read the full story here.

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