Luke Fickell is nearly a full week into his new job as the head coach at the University of Cincinnati, as the former Ohio State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach saw his time at his alma mater come to a close in the team's 31-0 loss to Clemson on New Year's Eve in the Fiesta Bowl.
As weird as it is to type the words "the former Ohio State defensive coordinator," this is the new reality for the man once thought to be a Buckeye lifer.
Still, Fickell spent the vast majority of his football life in Columbus and more than 20 seasons at Ohio State both as a player and coach. His impact on the program is immeasurable, as the ad states.
To thank him, Ohio State took out a full-page ad in Friday's Cincinnati Enquirer. Here is the ad, courtesy of ESPN Sideline reporter Lindsay Patterson's Instagram:
Cincinnati finished 4-8 this season under Tommy Tuberville and hired Fickell on Dec. 10. The Bearcats open their 2017 season on at Nippert Stadium on Aug. 31 against Austin Peay.
