THE BROO VIEW with Ken Broo

I've been away from here for awhile. Sorry about that. Busy times around Cincinnati. I do have some random thoughts about what's gone down in the last four or five day....

UC fans should be happy about what they saw in the International Bowl. Yep, the second half comeback by Western Michigan is a concern. But don't you love your new coach, who isn't afraid to open things up?....OSU got exposed by Michigan's offense and you know Urban Meyer and the Gators went to school on it....But how does that account for what Florida's defense did to the Buckeyes?.....After watching the wild card weekend in the NFL, do you think the Bengals would have stood a chance against any of the AFC teams playing last weekend?.....Maybe the Chiefs, maybe....Did Kyle Larson feel any better after seeing what happened to Tony Romo? My guess is no....The Eagles could run the table, the NFC is so wide open....The best thing the Bears will have going for them in the playoffs is Chicago's iffy weather. It sure isn't Rex Grossman....

Ohio fans, relax. Frank Solich isn't going anywhere. As great as this past season was for Bobcat fans, the MAC Championship game and the GMAC bowl showed that Solich's work isn't finished. He's talking like a man who's found a home....let's hope the Ohio AD, Kirby Hocutt has, as well. He's done a superb job, occassionally dealing with crisis, and it hasn't gone unnoticed nationally.

Have you been to the new ice hockey facility in Oxford, Ohio? Stellar. There can't be a better place in America to watch college hockey....I keep waiting for the Reds to make a move, any move, to improve their team BEFORE spring training....Last year, the late arriving Wayne Krivsky swung two killer deals in the spring, one that brought Bronson Arroyo in from Boston, the other Brandon Phillips from Cleveland. Maybe Wayne-O is waiting for the trees to bud again...Victor Santos could be a find. He has 73 big league starts in the last three years, more than any other suspect for the Reds' fifth starters spot...

UC's basketball team needs a lot of help. It's small and it can't shoot very well....that's why they've got the perfect guy as head coach. Mick Cronin has the patiences to deal with the present and the savvy to make the future better....most experts think Xavier will have no trouble making the NCAA Tournament....the bigger questionis how far will the Muskies go?....their inside players are steady if not spectacular and point guard, Drew Lavender needs to get over his sometime shaky play....As Greg Oden goes, so go the Buckeyes....no scoop there...but the deeper we get into the season the more it becomes a big man's game.....

Ken