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Topic:  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?

Topic:  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
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Mark Lembright '85
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 12:39:46 PM 
cbus cat fan wrote:
Mark Lembright '85 wrote:
cbus cat fan wrote:
This topic hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday. I usually come with my wife, kids, friends or some combination of the three. Yesterday it was just me. I walked a round the campus and while sitting drinking a soft drink found myself in brief conversation with a two groups; one a group of young female students and then male students.

They were very pleasant and asked me if I was an alum and if there was a game today (dressed in my OU attire I am sure it was pretty obvious, the days have long passed for me being confused as a current student.) They young women said they sometimes go to games but weren't going today, but said they hoped we win. The young men said they were big basketball fans, they too sometimes go to games. However, some of them said they were going to hang and drink with friends, while a couple of others said they were going to work out or take a run. Just a totally different mindset than I remember from when I was an undergrad in the 80s.

At halftime talked to a couple of guys sitting near me who seemed to be around 40. They kind of laughed about the thought or promotion getting more students to come. Different world they said from when they were here in the 90s.

Think about it, we are the ones who other MAC schools look up to for crowd involvement. As bad as Miami crowd supports can be, Eastern Michigan probably thinks it is impressive compared to their atrocious numbers. The number of our alums, fans and townspeople in the Convo hasn't changed at games, but the number of students though double the size of the student body of the 80s isn't even half the size of that era, maybe a third. Winning can temporarily solve problems, but we are facing a different mindset from what many of us who originally came to games in the 70s, 80s and 90s experienced.


I graduated in '85 and to be honest, I don't remember there being more students at the games then than there are now. Seems about the same to me. Granted, tons of students showed up for the rivalry games (BG and Miami come to mind) and of course the famous DePaul game, but other than that it seemed about the same. I went to all the homes games because I loved the Convo, the team was good and admission was already paid for. It was just great entertainment value I thought. But very few of my fraternity brothers went; I usually went by myself. I may very well be wrong but the size of the crowds then and the size now seem generally about the same to me.

What has changed for the good is that students wear A LOT MORE Ohio gear than when I was there.


Mark it sounds like you may be a couple of years older than me, but we were basically in Athens around same era and with all due respect, I have to vigorously disagree with you. Here's why; I usually went with the same 3-5 guys every game. We had a routine usually getting to the game about 15 minutes before tip off. I don't ever remember sitting in the lower section. On occasion we would sit in the first row of the section above the general walkway. On a few big games, I actually remember sitting near the upper press box, I specifically remember doing that on a weeknight against Miami in 1986.

Now look at today, Saturday was a continuation of what I have been seeing for some time. There were actually empty student seats in the lower level for the entire game and we are talking a Saturday game. Also keep in mind that the student body is about twice the size compared to when we were in school. You are correct there is a great deal more OU shirts, pants, sweaters etc available to students than when we were there, especially to those outside of Athens. We have talked about this before on this board, at least now you can OU gear outside of Athens which just wasn't an option when we were in school. I am certainly glad to have students who are there. It is not a knock against the student body, we are just living in different times. There are many things they could be doing, more kids have cars etc. Like the guys sitting near me at the game said, different times and different mindset.


I stand corrected-after 32 years away, my memory gets a little foggy! :) I tried to see if there were year-by-year records for attendance but haven't found anything yet, so if there were more of us that attended years ago, works for me. I will say, it seems we had more Saturday home games back in the day, which always boosts attendance.

And its not just Ohio's attendance that's down. I was shocked to read over the weekend attendance at NASCAR was down last year. At least Ohio's in good company if both the NFL and NASCAR are seeing a decrease.
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Alan Swank
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 1:09:10 PM 
Mark Lembright '85 wrote:
cbus cat fan wrote:
Mark Lembright '85 wrote:
cbus cat fan wrote:
This topic hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday. I usually come with my wife, kids, friends or some combination of the three. Yesterday it was just me. I walked a round the campus and while sitting drinking a soft drink found myself in brief conversation with a two groups; one a group of young female students and then male students.

They were very pleasant and asked me if I was an alum and if there was a game today (dressed in my OU attire I am sure it was pretty obvious, the days have long passed for me being confused as a current student.) They young women said they sometimes go to games but weren't going today, but said they hoped we win. The young men said they were big basketball fans, they too sometimes go to games. However, some of them said they were going to hang and drink with friends, while a couple of others said they were going to work out or take a run. Just a totally different mindset than I remember from when I was an undergrad in the 80s.

At halftime talked to a couple of guys sitting near me who seemed to be around 40. They kind of laughed about the thought or promotion getting more students to come. Different world they said from when they were here in the 90s.

Think about it, we are the ones who other MAC schools look up to for crowd involvement. As bad as Miami crowd supports can be, Eastern Michigan probably thinks it is impressive compared to their atrocious numbers. The number of our alums, fans and townspeople in the Convo hasn't changed at games, but the number of students though double the size of the student body of the 80s isn't even half the size of that era, maybe a third. Winning can temporarily solve problems, but we are facing a different mindset from what many of us who originally came to games in the 70s, 80s and 90s experienced.


I graduated in '85 and to be honest, I don't remember there being more students at the games then than there are now. Seems about the same to me. Granted, tons of students showed up for the rivalry games (BG and Miami come to mind) and of course the famous DePaul game, but other than that it seemed about the same. I went to all the homes games because I loved the Convo, the team was good and admission was already paid for. It was just great entertainment value I thought. But very few of my fraternity brothers went; I usually went by myself. I may very well be wrong but the size of the crowds then and the size now seem generally about the same to me.

What has changed for the good is that students wear A LOT MORE Ohio gear than when I was there.


Mark it sounds like you may be a couple of years older than me, but we were basically in Athens around same era and with all due respect, I have to vigorously disagree with you. Here's why; I usually went with the same 3-5 guys every game. We had a routine usually getting to the game about 15 minutes before tip off. I don't ever remember sitting in the lower section. On occasion we would sit in the first row of the section above the general walkway. On a few big games, I actually remember sitting near the upper press box, I specifically remember doing that on a weeknight against Miami in 1986.

Now look at today, Saturday was a continuation of what I have been seeing for some time. There were actually empty student seats in the lower level for the entire game and we are talking a Saturday game. Also keep in mind that the student body is about twice the size compared to when we were in school. You are correct there is a great deal more OU shirts, pants, sweaters etc available to students than when we were there, especially to those outside of Athens. We have talked about this before on this board, at least now you can OU gear outside of Athens which just wasn't an option when we were in school. I am certainly glad to have students who are there. It is not a knock against the student body, we are just living in different times. There are many things they could be doing, more kids have cars etc. Like the guys sitting near me at the game said, different times and different mindset.


I stand corrected-after 32 years away, my memory gets a little foggy! :) I tried to see if there were year-by-year records for attendance but haven't found anything yet, so if there were more of us that attended years ago, works for me. I will say, it seems we had more Saturday home games back in the day, which always boosts attendance.

And its not just Ohio's attendance that's down. I was shocked to read over the weekend attendance at NASCAR was down last year. At least Ohio's in good company if both the NFL and NASCAR are seeing a decrease.



Games used to be played on Wednesday and Saturday. Fans got into a routine.
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cbus cat fan
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 2:32:25 PM 
Mark, honesty I think sports is down as a whole. It seems people either aren't into following non championship winning teams (aka bandwagon followers) or they have found other things to do. I read somewhere, perhaps someone could find the exact stats, that a couple of years ago that of all the top attendance figures for each individual major league baseball team, most involved some sort of giveaway. Perhaps it was during the Bobble-head craze. Lots of options, different era, and a different mentality I guess.

Uncle Wes, I seem to recall that Ohio University's student body was lower than your mid 1980s figures in the early 1980s. I recall being in high school in the early 1980s and I can't remember if a campus recruiter came to our school, or if it was figures given to our high school guidance counselor. However, 12,000 sticks out in my mind.

Alan, you are right about developing a routine. It sure made planning ahead easy, even though we had far fewer cars, and options for other activities than do students today.

Last Edited: 2/20/2017 2:36:40 PM by cbus cat fan
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Ohio69
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 3:10:36 PM 

Heck, Nick Saban was writing op-eds trying to get students to show up at Bama football games a few years ago. Ala-freaking-bama.... We are lucky with the fans we got. By all means let's try to get more. But if Bama has issues, it's gonna be really tough for everyone.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

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WishIWasAtLuckys
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 3:50:14 PM 
Saul is one of the most dynamic figures on campus. He could get out there and sell coming to the games more.

He should work the bars uptown on Friday's for Saturday games. If the head coach asked my group of buddies to go to a game we would probably at least consider it.
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Mark Lembright '85
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 4:12:15 PM 
WishIWasAtLuckys wrote:
Saul is one of the most dynamic figures on campus. He could get out there and sell coming to the games more.

He should work the bars uptown on Friday's for Saturday games. If the head coach asked my group of buddies to go to a game we would probably at least consider it.


As I recall, after Danny Nee was hired, didn't he hit the Court St. bars to try and get people to go the games? Of course it was a different world when Nee was hired.
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Alan Swank
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 5:03:58 PM 
Mark Lembright '85 wrote:
WishIWasAtLuckys wrote:
Saul is one of the most dynamic figures on campus. He could get out there and sell coming to the games more.

He should work the bars uptown on Friday's for Saturday games. If the head coach asked my group of buddies to go to a game we would probably at least consider it.


As I recall, after Danny Nee was hired, didn't he hit the Court St. bars to try and get people to go the games? Of course it was a different world when Nee was hired.



Not sure about the bars but he hit every dorm lounge on campus when he first got here. We had him in Pickering in the fall of 1980. Electric atmosphere. He was such a contrast to Dale Bandy. Unfortunately today most coaches stay out of bars on their own or instructed to do so. Since everyone is a photographer, one "bad" picture and it's a mess for everyone involved. The pendulum has swung way too far to one side, again.
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Roasting Joe
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 6:10:41 PM 
https://vimeo.com/88201908

Love the curtain of distraction at ASU!
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Campus Flow
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 7:10:04 PM 
Ohio69 wrote:
Heck, Nick Saban was writing op-eds trying to get students to show up at Bama football games a few years ago. Ala-freaking-bama.... We are lucky with the fans we got. By all means let's try to get more. But if Bama has issues, it's gonna be really tough for everyone.


It's a different type of student at every school these days because how competitive it is from H.S. on to get into a decent college. They'll still fire up in Athens around the weekends and like to impress their friends from other schools with a 10,000+ Convo crowd. The segment where we are struggling with is the alumni who are fond of their college town days but have kept a small college opinion of what OU should be athletically. What should be obvious with a 13,000 seat arena it's not because they don't realize how high it stacks up nationally.

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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Campus Flow
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 7:33:38 PM 
I'd put money into the concessions and amenities. That is what the pros are doing practically turning the stadium into food courts and bars. Instead of going with a few friends to the bar go to the stadium and have a few while you watch the game. Alums would pay $50 for a beer and food ticket to Peden or the Convo. The only way to get beer and good food is to be part of the Bobcat Club and that's beyond the level of involvement the casual alum wants.

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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RSBobcat
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 8:03:53 PM 
Uncle Wes wrote:
I'd put money into the concessions and amenities. That is what the pros are doing practically turning the stadium into food courts and bars. Instead of going with a few friends to the bar go to the stadium and have a few while you watch the game. Alums would pay $50 for a beer and food ticket to Peden or the Convo. The only way to get beer and good food is to be part of the Bobcat Club and that's beyond the level of involvement the casual alum wants.


Hmm - tell me more - about where this good food is I seem to have been missing......

RS Bobcat

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The Optimist
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 8:11:17 PM 
Outsource beer distribution in the Convo and Peden to Jackie O's. Game over. Ohio wins.

I've seen crazier things happen.

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Campus Flow
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 10:36:08 PM 
RSBobcat wrote:
Uncle Wes wrote:
I'd put money into the concessions and amenities. That is what the pros are doing practically turning the stadium into food courts and bars. Instead of going with a few friends to the bar go to the stadium and have a few while you watch the game. Alums would pay $50 for a beer and food ticket to Peden or the Convo. The only way to get beer and good food is to be part of the Bobcat Club and that's beyond the level of involvement the casual alum wants.


Hmm - tell me more - about where this good food is I seem to have been missing......


Lobster tail buffet. Here is an idea market the $50 dollar food and drink ticket in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati the way you advertise for a casino buffet. Different marketing for different folks.

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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RSBobcat
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 10:54:27 PM 
Uncle Wes wrote:
RSBobcat wrote:
Uncle Wes wrote:
I'd put money into the concessions and amenities. That is what the pros are doing practically turning the stadium into food courts and bars. Instead of going with a few friends to the bar go to the stadium and have a few while you watch the game. Alums would pay $50 for a beer and food ticket to Peden or the Convo. The only way to get beer and good food is to be part of the Bobcat Club and that's beyond the level of involvement the casual alum wants.


Hmm - tell me more - about where this good food is I seem to have been missing......


Lobster tail buffet. Here is an idea market the $50 dollar food and drink ticket in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati the way you advertise for a casino buffet. Different marketing for different folks.


I would go for some Grilled Roo, Flame Scorched Bison, or Smoked Redchicken.....

RS Bobcat

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cc-cat
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/20/2017 11:23:52 PM 
Mark Lembright '85 wrote:
As I recall, after Danny Nee was hired, didn't he hit the Court St. bars to try and get people to go the games?


Nee hit most everything when he first got to Athens 😃😳

Last Edited: 2/21/2017 12:08:02 AM by cc-cat
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GoCats105
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 7:52:23 AM 
For all the naysayers saying sports are down everywhere and students would rather look at their phones than watch a basketball game, please tell that to the students at Grand Canyon University. Look how engaged they are! Look how organized they are! You're telling me Ohio can't get like this? We've certainly seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-VIvIHrs74&t=32s

Freaking Grand Canyon University.

I think this video also goes hand in hand with the spicing up the Convo talk. There's no reason the Convo shouldn't have LED scorer's tables yet. We look so old right now. Old and tired. I love the Convo, but cmon. It's time to step up a little bit.
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Recovering Journalist
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 8:06:06 AM 
GoCats105 wrote:
For all the naysayers saying sports are down everywhere and students would rather look at their phones than watch a basketball game, please tell that to the students at Grand Canyon University. Look how engaged they are! Look how organized they are! You're telling me Ohio can't get like this? We've certainly seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-VIvIHrs74&t=32s

Freaking Grand Canyon University.

I think this video also goes hand in hand with the spicing up the Convo talk. There's no reason the Convo shouldn't have LED scorer's tables yet. We look so old right now. Old and tired. I love the Convo, but cmon. It's time to step up a little bit.


Who would have guessed that a for-profit school with more than 60,000 online students to go along with 20,000 on campus in a metro area of 4.5 million could end up with a fancier arena and bigger crowd than the Convo?

Edit: More insight into this place many sports fans have not heard of: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/sports/ncaabasketball/...

Last Edited: 2/21/2017 8:07:38 AM by Recovering Journalist
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GoCats105
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 8:22:14 AM 
Recovering Journalist wrote:
GoCats105 wrote:
For all the naysayers saying sports are down everywhere and students would rather look at their phones than watch a basketball game, please tell that to the students at Grand Canyon University. Look how engaged they are! Look how organized they are! You're telling me Ohio can't get like this? We've certainly seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-VIvIHrs74&t=32s

Freaking Grand Canyon University.

I think this video also goes hand in hand with the spicing up the Convo talk. There's no reason the Convo shouldn't have LED scorer's tables yet. We look so old right now. Old and tired. I love the Convo, but cmon. It's time to step up a little bit.


Who would have guessed that a for-profit school with more than 60,000 online students to go along with 20,000 on campus in a metro area of 4.5 million could end up with a fancier arena and bigger crowd than the Convo?

Edit: More insight into this place many sports fans have not heard of: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/sports/ncaabasketball/...


So the only reason the students are engaged is because it's a nice new arena?

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Recovering Journalist
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 8:27:28 AM 
GoCats105 wrote:


So the only reason the students are engaged is because it's a nice new arena?



Did you read the article? All their eggs are in the hoops basket. No football. Massive amounts of money to lure in big-name opponents, famous names running the program, the glitter and novelty of a new arena. It's the face of marketing for the school and they have no limits on spending -- and they're doing it in one of the 15 largest markets in the U.S. It's ridiculous to compare the two places and programs.

Edit: Here's an argument against even wanting to be like them: http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/109068712/grand-cany...

Last Edited: 2/21/2017 8:35:50 AM by Recovering Journalist
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stout76
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 8:52:15 AM 
I might add that they share their market with Arizona State, a school with 70k students and 250k alumni in the state. Even though ASU has been in the basketball graveyard for decades, you'd never expect GCU to explode like they have. They also have excellent baseball teams. Testament what leadership, money and marketing can do.
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GoCats105
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 9:29:41 AM 
Recovering Journalist wrote:
GoCats105 wrote:


So the only reason the students are engaged is because it's a nice new arena?



Did you read the article? All their eggs are in the hoops basket. No football. Massive amounts of money to lure in big-name opponents, famous names running the program, the glitter and novelty of a new arena. It's the face of marketing for the school and they have no limits on spending -- and they're doing it in one of the 15 largest markets in the U.S. It's ridiculous to compare the two places and programs.

Edit: Here's an argument against even wanting to be like them: http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/109068712/grand-cany...


Yeah, they're following the model that programs like Xavier, Gonzaga, Creighton and other non-football programs have done. Those programs aren't for-profit, but It's not hard math when you don't have a football program. They're lucky to be in a major metro area too.

My question to you is do you really think students are more engaged simply because this is something that's nice and new and shiny and bright? If that's the case and Ohio's history and tournament success is outshined by a school like GCU, which has only been in Division I for all of 3.5 seasons, then we're way behind the 8-ball.

And I'm not saying I "want" to be like GCU. I'm just giving an example of how engaged crowds can be in the year of 2017. We place way too much blame on the changing culture of college campuses and changing landscape of athletics. It's not impossible to pack a house and make it rock like this.

Last Edited: 2/21/2017 9:33:39 AM by GoCats105
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Deciduous Forest Cat
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 10:02:22 AM 
GoCats105 wrote:
For all the naysayers saying sports are down everywhere and students would rather look at their phones than watch a basketball game, please tell that to the students at Grand Canyon University. Look how engaged they are! Look how organized they are! You're telling me Ohio can't get like this? We've certainly seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-VIvIHrs74&t=32s

Freaking Grand Canyon University.

I think this video also goes hand in hand with the spicing up the Convo talk. There's no reason the Convo shouldn't have LED scorer's tables yet. We look so old right now. Old and tired. I love the Convo, but cmon. It's time to step up a little bit.


Checkbook.
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OUcats82
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  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 10:03:39 AM 
GoCats105 wrote:
Recovering Journalist wrote:
GoCats105 wrote:
For all the naysayers saying sports are down everywhere and students would rather look at their phones than watch a basketball game, please tell that to the students at Grand Canyon University. Look how engaged they are! Look how organized they are! You're telling me Ohio can't get like this? We've certainly seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-VIvIHrs74&t=32s

Freaking Grand Canyon University.

I think this video also goes hand in hand with the spicing up the Convo talk. There's no reason the Convo shouldn't have LED scorer's tables yet. We look so old right now. Old and tired. I love the Convo, but cmon. It's time to step up a little bit.


Who would have guessed that a for-profit school with more than 60,000 online students to go along with 20,000 on campus in a metro area of 4.5 million could end up with a fancier arena and bigger crowd than the Convo?

Edit: More insight into this place many sports fans have not heard of: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/sports/ncaabasketball/...


So the only reason the students are engaged is because it's a nice new arena?



The arena doesn't have a hanging scoreboard though!

The student section experience I am most familiar with is the O-Zone as I got involved the year it was founded during the 2001-2002 season. I first remember hearing promotions for it at football games during that, ahem, wonderful fall where Ohio played something that kind of resembled football. But that's a different topic!

Some may remember that a group of students, led by Dan "D-Lowe" Lowe camped out to be the first official members during a "pick your seat" O-Zone launch event. I was good friends with all of those individuals as a student but other commitments prevented me from camping out with them for the however many days they were perched on the Convo concourse. When I joined them on the Sunday afternoon of the launch event, I was maybe only 10 places behind them in line and I arrived at best 30 minutes before the doors opened. I would guess fewer than 100 students total came that day to kick off the "new" student section. Promotion I remember was pretty well done given the available methods at the time. The closest thing available then to a Facebook event would have been a mass IM on AIM lol.

Point being going back 15+ years there wasn't some mad, raucous rush to the door to fill up the O-Zone at its launch. Many of my best college friends were in the O-Zone and/or 110 (meaning already at the game) but I knew plenty of people who had little to no interest in any organized sports. The basketball team would walk around the dining halls with coaches handing out tickets. There were articles in The Post asking for people to come out and offering free pizza, t-shirts, etc. and many people were more interested in watching the latest episode of Dawson's Creek.

I would argue that the 5-10 years that followed its founding were as good as any Ohio student section has ever been. The home Miami game in the 2001-2002 season was, in my opinion, one of the greatest displays ever put on by the O-Zone. The movie "Blackhawk Down" was in theaters at the time and many of us played off that with Redhawks etc.

I also remember though an athletics staff member coming through and inspecting all of our signs and other props and taking some away before the game. Some of the signs taken away would be considered tame or even lame by today's standards.

Bring in some high profile games at a time when you know students will be on campus and the seats will be filled. If Ohio State would come to Athens (I know, keep dreaming), even with an average team, it would bring students out of the woodwork. Free DP Dough and a pair of Ugg boots for the ladies (or whatever is most popular now) wouldn't sell out if the Cats are playing Northern Illinois.

Last Edited: 2/21/2017 10:30:34 AM by OUcats82

Ohio-The State University
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GoCats105
General User

Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 6,912

Status: Offline
  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 10:23:30 AM 
OUcats82 wrote:
GoCats105 wrote:
Recovering Journalist wrote:
GoCats105 wrote:
For all the naysayers saying sports are down everywhere and students would rather look at their phones than watch a basketball game, please tell that to the students at Grand Canyon University. Look how engaged they are! Look how organized they are! You're telling me Ohio can't get like this? We've certainly seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-VIvIHrs74&t=32s

Freaking Grand Canyon University.

I think this video also goes hand in hand with the spicing up the Convo talk. There's no reason the Convo shouldn't have LED scorer's tables yet. We look so old right now. Old and tired. I love the Convo, but cmon. It's time to step up a little bit.


Who would have guessed that a for-profit school with more than 60,000 online students to go along with 20,000 on campus in a metro area of 4.5 million could end up with a fancier arena and bigger crowd than the Convo?

Edit: More insight into this place many sports fans have not heard of: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/sports/ncaabasketball/...


So the only reason the students are engaged is because it's a nice new arena?



The arena doesn't have a hanging scoreboard though


It does have huge video boards in the corners on one side.

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Andrew Ruck
General User



Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,695

Status: Offline
  Message Not Read  RE: IDEAS to ENTICE more STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ?
   Posted: 2/21/2017 10:59:53 AM 
OUcats82 wrote:

The student section experience I am most familiar with is the O-Zone as I got involved the year it was founded during the 2001-2002 season. I first remember hearing promotions for it at football games during that, ahem, wonderful fall where Ohio played something that kind of resembled football. But that's a different topic!

Some may remember that a group of students, led by Dan "D-Lowe" Lowe camped out to be the first official members during a "pick your seat" O-Zone launch event. I was good friends with all of those individuals as a student but other commitments prevented me from camping out with them for the however many days they were perched on the Convo concourse. When I joined them on the Sunday afternoon of the launch event, I was maybe only 10 places behind them in line and I arrived at best 30 minutes before the doors opened. I would guess fewer than 100 students total came that day to kick off the "new" student section. Promotion I remember was pretty well done given the available methods at the time. The closest thing available then to a Facebook event would have been a mass IM on AIM lol.

Point being going back 15+ years there wasn't some mad, raucous rush to the door to fill up the O-Zone at its launch. Many of my best college friends were in the O-Zone and/or 110 (meaning already at the game) but I knew plenty of people who had little to no interest in any organized sports. The basketball team would walk around the dining halls with coaches handing out tickets. There were articles in The Post asking for people to come out and offering free pizza, t-shirts, etc. and many people were more interested in watching the latest episode of Dawson's Creek.


I remember the event vividly and I think your recollection is off. As you said, the main reason for the event was to claim your seat - We had assigned seats at that time. They also fed us pizza and had the coaches talk. That was the day the WT/LT was reborn when Coach Rhodes explained how it was done when he was a student.

I wasn't very early to the line, but I was not able to get in the middle 2 sections and ended up in the 3rd row of the home bench side. I recall nearly all the seats being claimed that day, and this was before the days of the 110 being in the Ozone. Keep in mind it was also coming off a disappointing season and a coach firing, for a team that hadn't been to the postseason since Gary Trent. It also cost like $15 I think to get the shirt and seat. Imagine if they had a random day in November to claim your seat for the upcoming season for $15 this past November...It would have been a depressing turnout.

Yes of course there was thousands of apathetic students then as well, but it isn't even comparable to today.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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