Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell admitted he felt dread about a Birmingham Bowl media event in Alabama last week.
Attending a press conference that included reps from Boston College and the Bearcats required a two-hour flight after a practice and a quick return trip for another practice the following morning.
"That was one of those things where I'm like, 'Gosh, do we really have to go down there?'" Fickell said.
That was the mood before Fickell saw the reception linebacker Perry Young received. The Birmingham product and two-time All-AAC first team selection was greeted like a local celebrity, with even the city's mayor Randall Woodfin taking time to speak to the senior linebacker.