CINCINNATI — For one night, the home of the Cincinnati Bengals became a gathering place for many connected by one of football’s most remarkable family trees.
Inside Paycor Stadium on Tuesday, Miami University unveiled preview clips from Cradle of Coaches, a feature-length documentary celebrating the Oxford school’s unparalleled influence on the sport through generations of legendary coaches.
The exclusive event brought together hundreds of Miami fans, graduates and administrators while offering an early look at parts of the film before its Aug. 17 premiere on Peacock.
The preview featured selected scenes blending rare archival footage with interviews from some of football’s most recognizable names, including Ben Roethlisberger, Lou Holtz, Ken Anderson, Dick LeBeau, Sean McVay and John Harbaugh.
Current Miami coach Chuck Martin viewed the evening as a reminder that he is one chapter in a much larger football story.
“It’s very surreal,” Martin said. “When I was growing up, Ara Parseghian was one of my favorite coaches. Then you think about Bo Schembechler, Woody Hayes, Sid Gillman and so many others. To be at a place connected to all of them is mind-blowing.
“I’m starting to get old enough where you appreciate it differently. When you’re younger, you’re worried about coaching and doing your job. Tonight I had to miss a walkthrough with our team, but I got to represent Miami football at something like this. It’s hard to believe it’s real.”
The documentary arrives as Miami prepares for another football season, adding another chapter to a coaching lineage unlike any in college athletics.
Martin said one of the greatest privileges of coaching at Miami has been meeting the people connected to that history.
“I’m a fan,” Martin said. “I’ve gotten to meet Jack Harbaugh and so many others because of the connections that exist here. Those relationships have opened doors all over football. It’s something else.”
Produced by RESLV over nearly two years, Cradle of Coaches explores how Miami’s coaching tree helped shape both college football and the NFL through innovation, leadership and mentorship.
David Sayler has had the luxury of watching Cradle of Coaches four times.
Each viewing has reinforced why Miami University’s athletic director believed the documentary needed to be made.
“I saw the first rough cut and then watched how much it improved,” Sayler said. “It’s really good. What stands out is the commonality between all of these coaches, even though they came from different eras. They’re remarkably similar in what made them successful, and Miami breeds that. It comes through loud and clear.”
The project, filmed over roughly two years, became one of the athletic department’s most ambitious storytelling efforts — taking production crews to stadiums, homes and offices across the country while capturing interviews with coaching legends and football icons.
But for Sayler, the documentary represents something even more significant than entertainment.
It preserves history.
“So many people who knew Red Blaik or Carmen Cozza aren’t going to be around much longer,” Sayler said. “Getting their stories on tape was really important for the history of the university and our football program.”
Sayler credited Miami President Gregory Crawford for helping make the documentary possible, calling it a project he had hoped to complete during his tenure.
“This is something I’ve wanted to do,” Sayler said. “I’m thankful President Crawford made it happen, and I’m really glad we were able to get it done.”
Rather than serving as a conclusion, Sayler said the film establishes a foundation for future generations.
“Now there can be a second version someday,” Sayler said. “You’ve got this first one to build from.”
The documentary features never-before-seen archival footage and interviews spanning generations of football history that highlight the careers of coaches whose influence reached from Oxford to Notre Dame, the NFL and beyond.
Sayler noted that preserving those stories ensures Miami’s identity remains connected to the game it helped shape.
“When I’ve talked to people around the country and they hear bits and pieces of the story, they’re amazed,” Sayler said. “Even people who went to Miami are going to learn things. Everybody is going to learn something.”
The national release on Peacock, Sayler said, provides an opportunity to remind audiences of Miami’s unique place in football history.
“It’s going to help bring Miami back into that national spotlight where we belong,” Sayler said.
Directed by Scott Thompson and produced by RESLV, the film features interviews with football personalities including Ben Roethlisberger, Lou Holtz, Ken Anderson, Chris Berman, Rocky Bleier, Pat Narduzzi and Dick LeBeau, along with rare archival footage collected from across the country.
“It’s just hard to believe it’s real sometimes,” Martin said. “The people who came through Miami changed football. To be a small part of that tradition is pretty cool.”
