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Topic: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Topic: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

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bobcat2nc
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Member Since: 12/28/2004
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There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 9:20:54 AM

So why do I come away from the Convo with a feeling of "mehness"?

Is it because most games have been without the student fan base?

Is it because of the physical set up? (example-cheerleaders behind the basket)

Just FYI- before anyone rants on the cheerleaders in general, I need to say I am a parent of someone who did cheer for OHIO during the Brandon Hunter years (98-02). I am aware of the sometimes attitude of cheerleaders and their purpose. I am also aware of the skills and work that went into being a cheerleader (at least at that time). Our daughter was a gymnast and track person. The only 2 people who she couldn't beat in the hurdles in high school went to Ohio on a track scholarship. She decided she wanted to cheer with a squad that also would do competitive cheering with stunts, gymnastics, etc. This is just to point out that I have seen and heard all the arguments about cheerleaders. My point is that the physical set up does not give them any chance to be a part of the OZONE activities or even "lead" the place in cheers.

Is it the OZONE or lack of the OZONENESS that once was? Is there still an OZONE?

Is it the use of canned music when we have one of the best bands in the land?

Is it the constant commercialization of each timeout? When there is excitement going on there is no allowance for spontaneous crowd participation. Let the damn band play!

Is it the part of me that reacts negatively to the constant berating of the announcers about what our job is? Stand UP for defense, Light up the Convo, let them know we are here. Maybe we need a bobcat roar for each 3 point basket?

Is it that the style of SaulBall just is not exciting to me?

My wife and I talked about it on our 90 minute ride home again last night. Neither of us have left the convo for the last 2 years with that same exhilaration that we have in the past. Maybe we just go too old for exhilaration?!

Maybe it is because of decisions like the 9:00 start this Friday night due to ESPN scheduling. (I know, I know, exposure is great but it points out that the local fans are secondary to the exposure factor of TV)

OK finally--HEY KID, GET OFF MY LAWN!

Go BOBCATS!

OUVan
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 9:55:23 AM

bobcat2nc wrote:

So why do I come away from the Convo with a feeling of "mehness"?

Is it because most games have been without the student fan base?

Is it the OZONE or lack of the OZONENESS that once was? Is there still an OZONE?

I'm going to say these are the two biggest factors. That and the lack of really compelling home matchups this year.

GoCats105
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 9:57:05 AM

Let me see if I can try to get to some of these...

-For starters I think Saul Baul really is never going to be flashy. They're gonna score a lot (if they've got good makers, not just shooters) and they're gonna play fundamentally sound on offense. They're not gonna run up and down the floor looking for the highlight reel play. It's a grind and a marathon, not a track meet. Saul Ball really is for the basketball nerds, not the dunk contest fan, at least from my perspective.

-Commercialized timeouts? You gotta pay the bills somehow.

-I'll agree there does need to be more band, less PA music. Could be just because the students aren't in session?

-OZone...it has been well documented on this board that the OZone isn't what it once was in terms of loudness/excitment/engaged. They add a different level to the Convo when they are really jacked up. Could be part of the reason.

-Stand for defense needs to just go away, I will not disagree there.

-Take what you can get on the 9pm tip. But it's a Friday, live a little. Game will still be over by 11. If this were a Tuesday, I'd be a bit more concerned.

-Winning helps. Keep winning and the excitement will come. Especially if the team goes on a run in February/March.

Ohio69
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 10:19:26 AM

Random thoughts:

- Fans no longer cheer. They sit in judgement instead. Every possession. Last night me and a buddy were yelling encouragement and cheering good plays every now and again and we were looked at like we were a curiosity.

- You have been trained to think your favorite teams suck and you should not be happy, even when we are having good games and good seasons. When not showing live sports events, ESPN, CBSSports, and FOXSports and etc. all make their money talking about what is wrong and who is to blame. And, that happens right here on this message board most of the time as well. (This also applies to all facets of your life and living in America by the way. According to all media and political leaders, being an American is an absolute nightmare. And if you try to be positive, you are out of touch and clueless.)

- College sports abandoned fans in the stands in favor of TV. Friday night at 9PM we will be on ESPNU nationally. I'm guessing maybe 3K in the stands.... My kids will be in bed. I'm not even sure I'm going to make it and I live minutes away. Same for one of the families we go to games with. Off the top of my head I can think of 25 season tickets that will not be used Friday night due to the start time. Saturday afternoon all 25 seats would be full.

- You have been trained to think the only thing that matters is the MAC tourney in Cleveland. So, excitement over playing really well and thrashing WMU last night was almost non-existent.

Man, I just depressed myself with these random thoughts.... Somebody tell me to back away from the ledge and the Convo will be rocking again soon...

Last Edited: 1/4/2017 10:21:07 AM by Ohio69

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

oldkatz
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 10:27:32 AM

Ohio69 wrote:

It will be okay, G. That ledge is wide enough to hold quite a crowd. Painful but spot on perspective in your second paragraph.

"All my inside sources tell me I have no inside sources." Salvatore "money bucks" Mafiosiano.

giacomo
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 10:56:09 AM

Ohio69, I completely agree with your take.

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 11:04:21 AM

giacomo wrote:

Ohio69, I completely agree with your take.

Me too. I have four season tickets and will either reduce to 2 next year or move them. I can't pry my wife out of the house to go see a game and we used to attend them all. Biggest pet peeves - stand for d (I will not), the "parade" of time out lunacy (the 3 kids dancing last night may have been the worst ever and by the way, those things don't bring in much money) the bs music that is played over the PA and the very poor lighting around the outside of the Convo. Driving by at night you wouldn't even know there was a game. For the reasons listed by other posters, there just isn't any buzz.

HeHateMiami
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Location: Mason, OH
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 11:05:40 AM

bobcat2nc wrote:

Just FYI- before anyone rants on the cheerleaders in general, I need to say I am a parent of someone who did cheer for OHIO during the Brandon Hunter years (98-02). I am aware of the sometimes attitude of cheerleaders and their purpose. I am also aware of the skills and work that went into being a cheerleader (at least at that time). Our daughter was a gymnast and track person. The only 2 people who she couldn't beat in the hurdles in high school went to Ohio on a track scholarship. She decided she wanted to cheer with a squad that also would do competitive cheering with stunts, gymnastics, etc. This is just to point out that I have seen and heard all the arguments about cheerleaders. My point is that the physical set up does not give them any chance to be a part of the OZONE activities or even "lead" the place in cheers.

Not a rant, but some context. I sat in Monroe's Bobcat Black seats a couple of years ago before they moved the cheerleaders (if you haven't taken advantage of the way he raffles off his seats, it's worth it and he was simple to do business with... it's especially nice for someone like me who lives far enough away that I can only attend a couple of games a year, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to pay for season tickets.)

Having the cheerleaders right behind you on the sideline (between the black seats and the o-zone) and shouting random "let's go bobcats"-type cheers into your ears, sometimes with megaphones, multiple times per possession was annoying. It wasn't "leading cheers" so much as randomly shouting, "go bobcats!... go ohio!... go bobcats!... go cats!" literally at least 5 times per possession. At one point my wife started counting. It was bad.

It wasn't our place to complain, my feeling was that we were guests in those seats. But my understanding from the people around us in those seats who were commiserating with my wife is that they complained multiple times and told Athletics they would not renew their seats in those places unless they found a better place to stash the cheerleaders. I'd guess that's why they're under the basket now.

catfan28
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 11:24:01 AM

bobcat2nc wrote:

Is it the OZONE or lack of the OZONENESS that once was? Is there still an OZONE?

Is it the use of canned music when we have one of the best bands in the land?

You do realize students and the 110 are not in town, right? Nothing against them but Alexander High does not have one of the best bands in the land ;)

GroverBall
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 11:58:37 AM

There's been many changes to basketball games at the Convo over the decades I have been attending but one thing hasn't changed - there's a basketball game being played. And I love basketball. I understand these complaints, but ...

Deciduous Forest Cat
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 12:00:18 PM

Oh, No!!! The game is on Friday instead of Saturday!!! Whatever will we do??!!

Alan Swank
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 12:02:45 PM

One thing that is lacking too is a "character" - a Spindle Graves, a Snoopy Graham, a Geno Ford, etc. Now that everything has become entertainment, since Treg graduated we are lacking an entertainer. Am I saying you need to recruit one or even have one? Absolutely not but it doesn't hurt to have a character on a team.

BillyTheCat
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 12:04:36 PM

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Oh, No!!! The game is on Friday instead of Saturday!!! Whatever will we do??!!

You say that in gest, but many of our fans and season ticket holders have high school age players, students or work at schools themselves. The game is not ideal, but it is what it is and no one can control this change. However, there will be people who would attend who simply will not be able to make the game.

Alan Swank
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 12:34:44 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Oh, No!!! The game is on Friday instead of Saturday!!! Whatever will we do??!!

The same can be said for the switch to Tuesday night MAC games and high school basketball. You can't be two places at one time and our local high schools have very good fan support. This switch will have an effect on butts in the seats. You will definitely see that on Feb. 7th with the Athens - Alexander game plus a show at Mem Aud.

OUVan
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 12:41:02 PM

GroverBall wrote:

I'm with you. Certain things could improve but it's still a great product and a good bargain comparatively. Once the students are back things will pick up.

bshot44
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 12:43:05 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Oh, No!!! The game is on Friday instead of Saturday!!! Whatever will we do??!!

Friday night game at 9pm would be ideal IF....

We had a raucous student section that was a little "tuned up" prior to tip off.

If Ohio was 11-1 and rolling.....instead of being 9-3 with collapses at Iona/WKU and that sleepwalking effort vs. Urbana in the 1H

This team was surrounded by so much buzz in the pre-season...and they have been vanilla at best.

AC is a totally different type of player. It's obvious the days of him being a low-post beast are done. He (or Saul) is more interested in chucking 3s in the corner (whether he makes them or not)

There just isn't a lack of buzz in the Convo...the buzz has significantly subsided with the team.

Maybe if they roll off 8 in a row or something and we're 17-3.....then the Convo could start rocking again.

I will be in Athens for the Friday night tip. I actually like it (as a novelty...not as a standard thing like weeknight MACtion in football)

A chance to go up to Court Street....throw down a few...then wander down Richland to watch what should be a good game vs. Kent.

I agree....I was in Monroe's BlackSeats for Milwaukee and it was like watching a JV girls volleyball game. No life in that building at all...and I understand it's during winter break. But this team just doesn't have that jolt of excitement.

Saul is an awesome character off-the-court, on the radio, etc. But during games he's pretty lifeless. Maybe that's just his style. And the team doesn't have a rah-rah guy like Treg was. AC/KK/Simmons show little to no emotion when they play. Just AC with his dumb cell phone hand signal when he throws in another 3ptr (what the hell is that? Dial up another?)

I don't know..maybe I'm getting old too....but I just haven't got a buzz watching this team yet....hoping it starts soon. Rather not wait until first week of March in CLE

Deciduous Forest Cat
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 1:08:41 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Oh, No!!! The game is on Friday instead of Saturday!!! Whatever will we do??!!

Of course! Each possible time slot is going to interfere with someone else's personal schedule. It's never going to be perfect. There should be plenty of people who work at banks or in retail and find saturday attendance difficult who will be glad for the Friday opportunity to attend. I might make the game this weekend because it's on a Friday, knowing I can still be home a little after midnight and my Saturday will be completely free for whatever else I choose.

BillyTheCat
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 1:08:50 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

BillyTheCat wrote:

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Oh, No!!! The game is on Friday instead of Saturday!!! Whatever will we do??!!

Not all places or areas play tuesday night basketball and in those areas that do, not everyone plays on every Tuesday night. Friday's yes!

Recovering Journalist
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 1:11:56 PM

Some great posts here and valid opinions. Some of these quibbles are fixable, but I do think we're seeing some broad effects of television, competing interests (even at the game) and other factors. Even pro leagues are struggling with these changes.

Here in Cleveland they redesigned the ballpark to subtract thousands of seats and make it easier and more convenient to NOT watch the game. In place of seats, there are broad standing areas that function more like barrooms than viewing perches. There are also a lot more screens everywhere and plenty of charging stations for phones and tablets. These changes caused people to grumble when they were made, but fans love them and most other teams are following suit at least to some level.

We're in an era where you don't get engrossed in a game anymore. If we're home, many of us are dividing our attention between two or more screens. With live sports, most people socialize, look at their phone, and only intently follow the action if there's a critical moment.

This stuff is not unique to Ohio athletics. Pro leagues, as well as college football and hoops, are all seeing flat or declining live attendance, and only a handful of teams - pro or college - regularly enjoy an electric atmosphere.

To use another example from Cleveland, the defending champion Cavs have to shamelessly pour loud music into the arena and an announcer constantly begs people to get engaged just to get a semblance of atmosphere most times in most games. I've seen weekday tickets on StubHub for less than $10 this year -- and that's for the reigning champions with a number of superstars.

With all the stimuli sports fans have to choose from now, it's hardly shocking that a midweek MAC blowout hoops game would produce a "meh."

Jeff McKinney
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 1:28:25 PM

Part of this is a jaundiced and cynical culture...with the internet, people can create their own reality and how they use their time.

Notice that there isn't much traffic on the Western Michigan thread after the team's best performance of the season so far. Far less interest than after losses to Iona and Western Kentucky, etc.

Attendance dropping like a lead balloon in all sports all over the country. Again, reasons include what Ohio69 listed, but I'm inclined to think that the main reason is the proliferation of web entertainment options and saturation of television. It's evolving in the direction that only the die hard fans will attend.

Same thing happening with other community institutions.

Last Edited: 1/4/2017 1:33:29 PM by Jeff McKinney

GoCats105
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 2:42:39 PM

I still think there's something to be said about introducing new fans to a game in person if they've never been, especially kids. Kids are very impressionable. Of course the screens dominate their time, but I've heard countless stories of kids who are ecstatic about attending their first live sporting event in person.

Alan Swank
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 2:45:48 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

If I'm not mistaken Chris Jackson said on his interview that TV is over saturated with sports. It was interesting to see Herbstreit and the other announcer shrug. It was a classic moment.

bobcat2nc
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 2:51:09 PM

catfan28 wrote:

bobcat2nc wrote:

Is it the OZONE or lack of the OZONENESS that once was? Is there still an OZONE?

Is it the use of canned music when we have one of the best bands in the land?

You do realize students and the 110 are not in town, right? Nothing against them but Alexander High does not have one of the best bands in the land ;)

I do realize that that the last few games there have been few students. This was a comment on the lack of OZONENESS in general, from my perspective.
Same for the band comment. The Alexander High band was terrific, when they got to play. I say let them play. That is all.

Recovering Journalist
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 2:57:21 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

If I'm not mistaken Chris Jackson said on his interview that TV is over saturated with sports. It was interesting to see Herbstreit and the other announcer shrug. It was a classic moment.

�It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.� ― Upton Sinclair

bobcat2nc
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RE: There is a lot to like about Ohio Basketball..

Posted: 1/4/2017 3:32:49 PM

GroverBall wrote:

GroverBall and all,

My observations were some complaints and some observations. I also love basketball and will , likely, not change my attendance nor my support in attendance and otherwise.

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