Tiger mascot, cheerleaders and players join Loveland Mayor in ceremony during Tuesday night City Council Meeting
By Chuck Gibson
LOVELAND, OH (January 26, 2022) – It was all about the Black and Orange at the Loveland City Council meeting Tuesday night. Sure, they had the standard roll call of council members in attendance, but there was a Tiger (or two) waiting in the wings to begin the proclamation celebration in City Hall shortly after 7 p.m.
Loveland Mayor Kathy Bailey and vice-mayor Ted Phelps during roll call at City Council Meeting where they honored the Cincinnati Bengals with a Black and Orange Day proclamation (Chuck Gibson)
It didn’t take long to get the party started. Though, if you ask Loveland Mayor Kathy Bailey it still took too long. Her response as Clerk of Council Misty Brents asked for the roll call was telltale.
“Are we going to do that,” she asked, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to proclaim this Sunday, January 30, as “Black and Orange Day” in Loveland to honor the Cincinnati Bengals trip to the NFL’s AFC Championship game in Kansas City.
They did follow protocol calling roll with the mayor and each council member acknowledging their attendance. Mayor Bailey also welcomed the packed house noting the attendance of former Loveland Council members Todd Osborne, and Neal Oury along with Loveland City School District Board President Dr. Kathryn Lorenz, and Chamber President Cee Cee Collins.
Some of the packed house at City Hall Tuesday, January 25, A close look reveals Todd Osborne, Kathy Lorenz and Cee Cee Collins among those attending (Chuck Gibson)
You can see the Tiger Mascot ready to celebrate during Mayor Bailey’s proclamation of Black and Orange Day Sunday, January 30, during council meeting held Tuesday, January 25, (Chuck Gibson)
Bailey quickly rose from her seat and moved to the podium to the left of the public seating area and began the proclamation everyone was waiting for.
As the mayor offered the appropriate “whereas” statements accounting for the Cincinnati Bengals defeating the Las Vegas Raiders January 15, and the Tennessee Titans on January 22 in Wild Card and Divisional Round playoff games, you could see the Loveland Tiger Mascot’s waiting in the doorway – ready to help kick-off support for the Cincinnati Bengals and “Black and Orange Day” in Loveland this Sunday, January 30. Bailey recounted some history of the Bengals past Conference Championship games dating back to 1981, before welcoming the Loveland Tiger cheerleaders and mascots to lead a “Black and Orange” cheer.
The Tiger mascot and other Loveland High School officials waited in the doorway (Chuck Gibson)
Lovealnd Tiger Cheerleader and Mascots lead a cheer during ceremony honoring Cincinnati Bengals at Loveland City Hall Tuesday, January 25, 2022 (Chuck Gibson)
Loveland High School Principal Adam Reed followed Mayor Bailey to the podium where he proclaimed current Cincinnati Bengal stars: QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase as honorary Loveland Tigers. Reed recognized both as former LSU Tigers and now Cincinnati Bengal Tigers and with the honorary high school title as Loveland Tigers completing their Tiger trifecta.
Loveland Tiger football players display the honorary team t-shirts for #9 Joe Burrow and #1 Ja’Marr Chase (Chuck Gibson)
He introduced some Loveland Tiger football players on hand to display the official #9 Burrow Loveland Tiger t-shirt and the #1 Ja’Marr Chase Loveland Tiger t-shirt.
Next up at the podium representing the Loveland Athletic Boosters was Matt Kapszukiewicz, LAB board member. He announced an honorary LAB membership for Bengal rookie kicker Evan McPherson.
McPherson was the hero of the Divisional playoff round walk-off win kicking the game-winning field goal sending the Bengals to the Conference Championship game as time expired on the game clock. Kapszukiewicz had an official certificate welcoming the Bengal hero as an honorary member of the Loveland Athletic Boosters. Following his final remarks, he, Principal Adam Reed, the Loveland Tiger players, cheerleaders, and mascots joined the City Council members for a group photo closing out the ceremonial Black and Orange Day proclamation at City Hall Tuesday evening.
Officials from Loveland High School, football players, cheerleaders, and the Tiger Mascots joined in a group photo with Loveland City Council during ceremony honoring the Cincinnati Bengals at Loveland City Council Meeting Tuesday, Januaray 25, 2022 (Chuck Gibson)
Watch for a whole lot of Black and Orange all around Loveland throughout the week and especially this Sunday. I say: GO BENGALS and, with what has become a familiar refrain around Cincinnati, Why not us?
