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Topic:  Football Scheduling Strategy

Topic:  Football Scheduling Strategy
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Voice of Reason
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Member Since: 7/28/2010
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  Message Not Read  Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/29/2013 1:14:01 PM 
I know this has been a heated debate on here in the past and that there are many schools of thought, but I personally have really liked the scheduling strategy we have had.  I know the games in Peden have not been all that sexy, but they have delivered wins and attracted more fans.  You can argue that having bigger schools come in, would drive greater attendance, and I would agree.  However, you cannot argue that are current scheduling strategy to detrimental to that based on the actual results.  We have gotten wins and national attention with our current scheduling strategy and that in turn has attracted more fans.  People like winners and I have felt strongly for a while now that Schaus has simply been trying to provide wins to grow our base level of supporters and get people in the stands. 

Now with the success we have had and the significant growth in our attendance Schaus is thanking the fans by providing 7 home games this year.  This is unheard of in the MAC and at most Mid-Major programs.  We are able to do it because our home games are actually generating revenue for us now.  We have very winnable games on the schedule this year along with the key game against Louisville, where if we win we will be in a great position to garner national attention again next year.  I don't know that a more challenging schedule last year or this coming year would or would have provided that same opportunity as a loss would have removed us from all conversation.

With that said, I do believe the program is getting to a level that we need to begin looking at challenging ourselves and providing our home crowd with some quality or at least big name opponents that are winnable.  That is why I was very happy to see, and I don't remember this being mentioned in a previous discussion, that we have Kansas and Cincinnati on home and away schedule in the future.  It is not posted on our site, but I found it at http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/mid-amer/ohio-bobcats.php.
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L.C.
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/29/2013 4:00:18 PM 
Arguing about it prospectively a few years back, a case could be made that a stronger schedule would be the best way to attract additional fans. Now that it has been done this way, with the results it has produced, it would be difficult to argue that it hasn't been successful. Adding a 6th home game, even if it has been Norfolk State, VMI, UT-Martin, Gardner-Webb, or whoever, has produced a winnable game, and extra buzz, plus extra cash for the Athens business community.

Even though attendance is up, a full Peden at a $15 average ticket is not going to come close to a 70,000 fan stadium at $45/ticket, which is what you find at many BCS schools. Because of the small stadium and low ticket prices, and because of relatively low alumni giving compared to BCS schools, in order to make the budget work, "money games" with the likes of OSU, Virginia Tech, and Penn State will continue to be necessary. As a result the choice will continue to be between having a 5 game home schedule, or adding a 6th game against an FCS school.

If you eliminate the FCS school, and add another Home-Home, the OOC schedule would look like this, which gives 5 home games some years, 6 others:
@home, part of a Home-Home against Team A
away, part of a Home-Home against Team B
away, money game
alternate home or away, part of Home-Home against Team C

I think Schaus is on exactly the right track, trying to upgrade the Home-Home schedule from the likes of ULL and New Mexico State to teams like Kansas. The program continues to head the right direction, so it just needs to keep making progress.

Last Edited: 3/29/2013 4:01:33 PM by L.C.

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus

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perimeterpost
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/29/2013 10:54:34 PM 
Here's how I see our current approach to our 4 non con games-

#1- BCS team. Paycheck game. always played away. This game can be maximized by selecting regional BCS teams (B1G and ACC) that are tough but winnable. Avoid top 10 power houses.
#2- FCS team. Easy W. always played at home.
#3- Marshall. Home/Away series, good competition, good for local interest/rivalry
#4- Non AQ, below avg to poor. 1-1 with very beatable non AQs in regions not heavily recruited by Ohio. 


I'm ok with the first 3 but the key is how we approach #4. I would like to see us migrate that 4th game to a below avg to poor regional BCS team that would give us a 1-1.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.
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catfan28
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Location: Athens, OH
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/29/2013 11:18:50 PM 
perimeterpost wrote:
Here's how I see our current approach to our 4 non con games-

#1- BCS team. Paycheck game. always played away. This game can be maximized by selecting regional BCS teams (B1G and ACC) that are tough but winnable. Avoid top 10 power houses.
#2- FCS team. Easy W. always played at home.
#3- Marshall. Home/Away series, good competition, good for local interest/rivalry
#4- Non AQ, below avg to poor. 1-1 with very beatable non AQs in regions not heavily recruited by Ohio. 



A very apt assessment. Everybody plays a #2, so I'm fine with the FCS game. #3 is good because Marshall makes a lot of sense and is a fun rivalry.

The key games, to me, are #1 and #4...

I'd like to occasionally play Top 10-15 programs with our BCS game...Kentucky, Louisville and Minnesota are pretty "blah" sort of games over the next 5 years. Although, Louisville (if only because of their bowl game) will likely be top 10 to start the season. I don't, however, think they belong there talent-wise.

The #4 game vs. non-AQ teams is usually the most boring game of the year, IMO. New Mexico State, North Texas, Idaho, Louisiana-Somewhere, etc. I'd rather play a team with slightly more name cache or regional interest (Southern Miss, Western Kentucky, Memphis - just to name a few possibilities). The opponents we've rolled out for these games are what makes the schedule seem like a joke to those evaluating it on a national level.

And, like everyone else, I'd LOVE to see some BCS type teams in Peden. But I realize that's easier said than done, too.
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TWT
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/30/2013 1:11:59 AM 
Its more than just the names on the schedule that has to be considered. Ohio is capable of dominating a mid tier D1 conference like the MAC with its brand. The Bobcats would be over their heads in the SEC or Big Ten. Ohio would be like Vanderbilt or Wake Forest with a marginal improvement in recruiting. My point is the program would be much better off racking up a ton of wins and MAC Championships to attract next level recruits. I would stick with the formula with the exception of trying to play the money game in Cleveland every other year instead of always at a neutral site. Ohio should sign for example Iowa to a 1 for 1 with a game in Cleveland. Could we possibly get a 1 for 1 from Tennessee or Kentucky using Cleveland? I'm surprised we don't continue to play Temple every year because that is a quality upper tier non-AQ matchup to go along with the Marshall series. Marshall is going to roll through the new CUSA with all the FCS upgrades so that will be a solid for the schedule. Marshall, Temple, Kentucky and a FCS school would be competitive but winnable non-conference every year. 

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

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Bobcat110alum
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Member Since: 7/7/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/30/2013 10:14:13 AM 
Uncle Wes wrote:
Its more than just the names on the schedule that has to be considered. Ohio is capable of dominating a mid tier D1 conference like the MAC with its brand. The Bobcats would be over their heads in the SEC or Big Ten. Ohio would be like Vanderbilt or Wake Forest with a marginal improvement in recruiting. My point is the program would be much better off racking up a ton of wins and MAC Championships to attract next level recruits. I would stick with the formula with the exception of trying to play the money game in Cleveland every other year instead of always at a neutral site. Ohio should sign for example Iowa to a 1 for 1 with a game in Cleveland. Could we possibly get a 1 for 1 from Tennessee or Kentucky using Cleveland? I'm surprised we don't continue to play Temple every year because that is a quality upper tier non-AQ matchup to go along with the Marshall series. Marshall is going to roll through the new CUSA with all the FCS upgrades so that will be a solid for the schedule. Marshall, Temple, Kentucky and a FCS school would be competitive but winnable non-conference every year. 


I think you raise a good point that no one has really talked about on here. Why not give Temple a call? It was a fantastic rivalry while it lasted, why not see where it goes?

B.S. Journalism, 2012.

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TWT
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,171

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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/30/2013 10:31:54 AM 
Tyler Charles wrote:
Uncle Wes wrote:
Its more than just the names on the schedule that has to be considered. Ohio is capable of dominating a mid tier D1 conference like the MAC with its brand. The Bobcats would be over their heads in the SEC or Big Ten. Ohio would be like Vanderbilt or Wake Forest with a marginal improvement in recruiting. My point is the program would be much better off racking up a ton of wins and MAC Championships to attract next level recruits. I would stick with the formula with the exception of trying to play the money game in Cleveland every other year instead of always at a neutral site. Ohio should sign for example Iowa to a 1 for 1 with a game in Cleveland. Could we possibly get a 1 for 1 from Tennessee or Kentucky using Cleveland? I'm surprised we don't continue to play Temple every year because that is a quality upper tier non-AQ matchup to go along with the Marshall series. Marshall is going to roll through the new CUSA with all the FCS upgrades so that will be a solid for the schedule. Marshall, Temple, Kentucky and a FCS school would be competitive but winnable non-conference every year. 


I think you raise a good point that no one has really talked about on here. Why not give Temple a call? It was a fantastic rivalry while it lasted, why not see where it goes?


Temple in the Big East is what Marshall is to CUSA a decent opponent but not great. Is it better than playing North Texas and New Mexico State for our fans? Definitely. I know we have Kansas 1 for 1 on the schedule and Cincinnati now non-AQ. That is another idea on the schedule; could we be talking to schools like Houston and East Carolina for 1 and 1's because they may be blackballed from playing CUSA.  Before Ohio would only play Marshall from CUSA but now since those schools are in different conferences it could make sense to play Marshall, a Big East school and a Big Ten money game. As an upper tier MAC school in a bowl game every year we shouldn't have a problem finding schools to play us 1 for 1 in the Big East.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

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perimeterpost
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/30/2013 11:25:13 AM 
There is zero upside for Temple to schedule a game with a MAC team, especially a good one that consistently beat them. Doesn't help recruiting, doesn't help their status, doesn't help their perception, doesn't help squat.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.
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TWT
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Location: Alexandria, VA
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/30/2013 4:41:25 PM 
If Cincinnati another school in the Big East can play us 1 for 1 so can Temple.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

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MonroeClassmate
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/30/2013 10:18:06 PM 

Please remember that a 1 and 1 is ONLY attractive if the first game is in Athens and is actually played.  Numerous times the opponent buys out of the return game and the team is stuck filling a schedule with last minute leftovers. 
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shabamon
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 3/31/2013 1:47:20 PM 
MonroeClassmate wrote:

Please remember that a 1 and 1 is ONLY attractive if the first game is in Athens and is actually played.  Numerous times the opponent buys out of the return game and the team is stuck filling a schedule with last minute leftovers. 



Miami has been burned by Missouri and Boise State this way.
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brucecuth
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 4/2/2013 6:43:01 PM 
I'd luv a home-and-home with Navy.  Even if played in Annapolis, that away Navy game gets you into the Balt-D.C market.  Navy gets very good home game coverage...
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catfan28
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 4/3/2013 12:31:27 AM 
brucecuth wrote:
I'd luv a home-and-home with Navy.  Even if played in Annapolis, that away Navy game gets you into the Balt-D.C market.  Navy gets very good home game coverage...


I'd like games against any of the 3 academies home-home. Even lowly Army would be more compelling than Louisiana-Lafayette, New Mexico State, Idaho, etc.
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OhioCatFan
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  Message Not Read  RE: Football Scheduling Strategy
   Posted: 4/3/2013 1:11:03 AM 
Agree with both of the last two posts.  But, it would be a real treat for me to see USNA in Peden Stadium.  Several years ago we played a home basketball game against Navy and though I rooted for Ohio to win, I had a tear in my eye when I saw the Navy team come out of the locker room and Navy Blue and Gold was echoing through my head as I was transported back to the first college athletic contest I ever witnessed as a young lad of about four with my father in Annapolis.  It was a Navy baseball game.  Sometimes I can be a real sentimental slob, and that was one of those occasions.  Go NAVY . . . Go OHIO!

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

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