ThePostGame caught up with the entertainer and super fan to discuss fatherhood, the Bengals and much more. Lachey has teamed up with Tide on the "Show Us Your Colors" campaign, a friendly competition among NFL fans to see which team has the most passionate supporters.
ThePostGame: We know congratulations are in order (Lachey's son, Camden, was born in September). Are you getting any sleep these days?
NICK LACHEY: (Laughs). I'm getting sleep in little, small chunks. It's definitely changed with a newborn in the house, but he's a pretty good sleeper. So we're not doing too bad.
TPG: You've said it's important for you that your son grows up a Bengals fan, it looks like you've already got him in orange stripes.
LACHEY: Ultimately it will be his decision to make, and one day if he chooses to be a Bengals fan, great. But yeah, as a father I think you have this idea in your head that you're going to pass along the tradition to your next generation.
I remember watching Bengals with my dad when I was a kid, so it's exciting now to be able to pass those on to Camden and watch the games with him. So hopefully he'll be a Bengals fan, but at the end of the day it really is his decision.
TPG: What does it mean for you to be able to pass along that tradition of watching the games and wearing the team colors?
LACHEY: Football is a chance for families and fathers and sons to create those memories and pass along those traditions. With the "Show Us Your Colors" campaign, what we're encouraging people to do is to capture a moment in your team's colors when those colors really meant the most to you. For me it was the moment I watched my first game with Camden and put him in his onesie. So that was the picture that I uploaded.
Basically, capture that moment, upload the picture on Tide's Facebook page, and you're automatically entered for a chance to win a trip to the Super Bowl. It's a great chance to celebrate people's fandom, your team and your community.
TPG: Ohio is a huge football state, but neither the Bengals nor the Browns is in the top 10 of Tide's campaign. What's going on?
LACHEY: I think Pittsburgh's in first place, and it breaks my heart to see that. I don't know, man, we've got to get the word out.
TPG: You're also a big Cincinnati and USC football fan, and last Saturday Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish beat USC to secure a berth in the national championship game. Is there still any animosity toward Kelly for leaving Cincinnati, or have those feelings faded?
LACHEY: No, I wouldn't say they've faded (laughs). I thought there was nothing that could make me dislike Notre Dame more than I already had, but then when they stole Kelly away I was proven wrong. There's absolutely no love in my heart for Notre Dame at all.
TPG: Sticking with college sports, what's your prediction for Cincinnati basketball this year?
LACHEY: Well, I think they've got a great team. We're a lot quicker. Yancy Gates was a good player, but he definitely slowed things down for us a little bit. From what I've seen so far, this is a team that enjoys playing defense, they play defense well. So far, they're shooting really well. I think it's a team that (head coach Mick) Cronin really likes and enjoys coaching, so I expect big things from them this year. I think they can make some noise.
Fans have until Nov. 30 to upload their picture to Tide's Facebook page. The winning team will receive a $15,000 donation to the charity of their choice
