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Ohio Basketball

Topic: Crowd/O-zone

Topic: Crowd/O-zone

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tevis48
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Member Since: 7/21/2010
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Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/9/2013 6:07:56 PM

How was the crowd and student section today? Seemed like a good turnout on the web stream.

The Optimist
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Location: CLE
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/9/2013 6:13:04 PM

Dad's weekend has traditionally been big but quiet. I thought the noise level was pretty decent today considering that. The full 110 really made it LOUD.

We've really upped our game with the pre-game buildup. Turning out the lights gives a big-time vibe. Loved Rufus coming out on the motorcycle like football!

Last Edited: 11/9/2013 6:17:29 PM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

catfan28
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/9/2013 7:07:47 PM

Pregame was big-time...is the spotlight new? Don't remember that from before.

No MAC school comes close to that atmosphere. At all.

The Situation
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Location: Columbus, OH
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 1:27:40 PM

Relative to the MAC, no contest. Our crowd in the Convo trumphs them all. Trumph might not even be the right word because most of the MAC is trying to play UNO while everyone else is playing poker.

But guys the O-Zone sucks compared to the student sections worth a lick of salt. More students come to the game each year but I've also noticed a year by year regression in noise since I started in '08.

The first defense chant is pretty loud (btw pace yourself on that chant. It lasts longer). But other than that there's no energy. No crazy guys that make noise every possession. There's hardly any "OOOhhHhhOOOOooohOO"s on defense, or after threes, or after dunks, or after blocks. That was second nature my freshman year.

The O-Zone is in bad shape.

RPKirtland
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 5:17:27 PM

Man, let me tell you. That quiet side is nothing like it was in the "glory days", when my friends and I were in it. The sun shone a little brighter, birds sang a little sweeter, and the basketball was always flawless. Ever since I left it's obvious they've fallen into dire straits/OSU fans plague their numbers/the leadership is not good enough. How dare the quiet side not make as much noise as I perceived I did when I was there? It's a shame and a black mark on Ohio and the O Zone, which is always fantastic.

(Note: Names swapped to see how you like it.)

EDIT: This is why no one ever goes to the "O Zone" forum on this site. Bye.

ADDITIONAL EDIT: As one of the ones who is over their busting our asses and trying to be loud the whole game, I resent a lot of the self-entitlement displayed by many members of this website about how good the O Zone was when they were in it. We can do what we do and if it catches on, fine. If it doesn't, we have to deal with it and keep trying.

Last Edited: 11/10/2013 5:21:34 PM by RPKirtland

Went a little too far west, let's go SJ Earthquakes!

TheBobcatBandit
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 6:13:46 PM

The Situation wrote:

I agree, I was trying to get that going after every three and I would only get maybe 5 or six guys doing it at best. Mostly just me and my friend next to me. I'm going to try and sit more central next game and get more people involved but it almost feels like tower side football. you get looked at funny if you cheer.

Last Edited: 11/10/2013 6:25:10 PM by TheBobcatBandit

The Situation
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 6:21:06 PM

RPKirtland wrote:

Bro, I said it's regressed every year since I've been a student (and it has). One could infer that it wasn't me or my friends that were responsible for the song birds or the sunshine. In fact one could infer that me and my friends could have made more noise, been more enthusiastic. I mean after all I said it's been getting quieter the entire time I've been going to games.

By the way, I'm one regular season game removed from my time of enrollment (1 year from undergrad). It's too soon to honestly refer to the time before yesterday as glory days.

But after all, I do understand you're just filling in the blanks for a default apologist's argument.

I've been to over 60 OHIO basketball games since the '08-09 season (almost entirely in the student section). Why am I not qualified to speak on this topic?

RPKirtland wrote:

ADDITIONAL EDIT: As one of the ones who is over their busting our asses and trying to be loud the whole game, I resent a lot of the self-entitlement displayed by many members of this website about how good the O Zone was when they were in it. We can do what we do and if it catches on, fine. If it doesn't, we have to deal with it and keep trying.

Bro, I'll call you out. You're not busting your ass. I know who you are. I see your crew at games. Don't flatter yourselves. Sporadic noise with no rhyme or reason does not qualify as impassioned leadership.

I know JSF and shabamon were around before and during my time. Maybe they could speak to the O-Zone's noise levels over the last 4-6 years?

Speaker of Truth
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 6:25:55 PM

A few points to add:

- The "OOOOOOHHHHHHH" is the most overrated and boring cheer/chant in sports. It may work at some schools that are basketball crazy but for us it doesn't seem like a fit.

- I'd love to see our student section take a euro soccer approach. Make it fun. If casual fans find it fun, they will jump on board.

- No reason to complain about the students. The student crowds are getting bigger and with that more casual fans will move into the ozone seating.

The Situation
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 6:29:52 PM

TheBobcatBandit wrote:

I'm going to try and sit more central next game and get more people involved but it almost feels like tower side football. you get looked at funny if you cheer.

Stay strong man. Enthusiasm is contagious. The more fun it looks like you're having, the more people will get involved.

The Situation
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 6:31:19 PM

the123kid wrote:

A few points to add:

- The "OOOOOOHHHHHHH" is the most overrated and boring cheer/chant in sports. It may work at some schools that are basketball crazy but for us it doesn't seem like a fit.

It's not a chant. It's raw energy.

TheBobcatBandit
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 6:34:54 PM

the123kid wrote:

,

- No reason to complain about the students. The student crowds are getting bigger and with that more casual fans will move into the ozone seating.

I would rather have 5 die hard fans who will cheer rather than 50 that just stand there and do nothing, We can't just have casual fans. We need those 50 to turn into a die hard fan

LuckySparrow
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Location: Illinois
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 7:24:28 PM

O-Zone did alright. Needs more organization & consistency, as usual -- but everyone did alright.

What a day at the Convo.....Wow!

Bobcats1991
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Member Since: 9/21/2011
Location: Lancaster, OH
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 7:26:42 PM

The O-Zone should use the 110! They are constantly loud, both at football and basketball.

"GO FOR IT FRANK"

Bobcat110alum
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Member Since: 7/7/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 8:20:29 PM

PvilleBobcat wrote:

The O-Zone should use the 110! They are constantly loud, both at football and basketball.

I've been a proponent of this idea, but it usually falls on deaf ears.

B.S. Journalism, 2012.

LuckySparrow
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Location: Illinois
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 8:20:55 PM

PvilleBobcat wrote:

The O-Zone should use the 110! They are constantly loud, both at football and basketball.

Yup. I wish there was more coordination between the 110 and O-Zone.

Although Saturday was fairly cohesive between both groups.

What a day at the Convo.....Wow!

Monroe Slavin
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 9:12:44 PM

Until the ref dragon throws a member of the Ozone out of the Convo, the game has not begun.

Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!

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bigtillyoopsupsideurhead
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Member Since: 12/1/2006
Location: Cincinnati
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 9:36:14 PM

the123kid wrote:

A few points to add:

- The "OOOOOOHHHHHHH" is the most overrated and boring cheer/chant in sports. It may work at some schools that are basketball crazy but for us it doesn't seem like a fit.

Totally disagree. The "OHHHHHH" chant is the most important chant for a good student section. I agree with The Situation, the overall number of posessions with raw energy seem to be down. That doesn't mean we're calling anyone out, its simply an observation.

LuckySparrow
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Location: Illinois
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/10/2013 9:51:39 PM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

Until the ref dragon throws a member of the Ozone out of the Convo, the game has not begun.

I'm now convinced to do this.

What a day at the Convo.....Wow!

shabamon
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/11/2013 12:54:21 AM

I'm growing weary of these threads, but if my input is asked for, I'll weigh in.

I watched the first half of yesterday's game online. I would give you guys a pass with it being the Dad's weekend game, although that really shouldn't be an excuse not to do the usual if you really wanted to.

Since my freshman year (04-05), in my opinion the best years for the O Zone were 05-06, 06-07, and 10-11. However, I will say that last year's Akron game was the absolute best I've ever witnessed in terms of atmosphere. What made those years the best? A full section with plenty of students genuinely excited to be there. A good student section is noisy and energetic. Creativity is fun, too, but you don't have to come up with the next Myron Piggie gag to be effective. Also, make sure you are not crossing the line into being inappropriate. Save that for Buffalo fans. Every dunk, 3-pointer, or crucial defensive possession should send the section into the OOOOOO thing. If the person next to you doesn't follow, forget about them - it'll catch on.

I know there are a lot of people who want this to be a major basketball environment, but are you really busting your ass? Busting your ass would be doing something every possession. I blame moving the cheerleaders to the baselines in favor of the black seats, but those are a money maker and they are not going anywhere. So, when the cheerleaders aren't doing anything, it's on you to start a cheer yourselves. There are plenty of generic cheers that while not funny or aggressive, can still encourage participation:

*=clap

Go! O-H-I-O **
Green! White! Let's go Ohio! *
Green n White, Green n White, Go! Go!
Goooo Cats Go! ***
O-HI-O! OHIO * * *
OU**OU**
Here we go Bobcats, Here we go! **
Defense Bobcats Defense **
Let's Go Cats * Let's Go Cats *
Defense Defense Defense Bobcats

There are also opportunities to be reactive to the game. There are obvious ones, like when someone airballs or fouls out. But the O Zone used to let out a "That's good coaching" chant whenever there was a shot clock violation. I'm also in favor of a well-placed "Sit Down Shut Up" to an unruly coach. Last year I may have started a "You have no points" chant to UNC -Wilmington when they started the game in a funk. You can also stand to do some things in pregame to set the tone for the game. It can be as simple as someone starting a quick OU-Oh Yeah. UCLA's roll call chant is cool, too.

I'm an adult now. I feel like I shouldn't be dabbling in this stuff anymore, but I also love a great college basketball atmosphere and I'm willing to offer my limited assistance if it's appreciated. So to recap:

1) Be genuinely excited to be there, no matter who the opponent is. It will rub off on the shyer people around you.
2) Try to do something, anything, on every possession.
3) Consider utilizing event staff to allow only official tee shirt wearing members access up until tipoff. Seriously, I have no idea why this ever went away. Suzie Sorority who goes to only one game per year because she can get a free scarf doesn't get the best seat in the house.

Last Edited: 11/11/2013 12:56:38 AM by shabamon

LuckySparrow
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/11/2013 1:29:18 AM

shabamon wrote:

Since my freshman year (04-05), in my opinion the best years for the O Zone were 05-06, 06-07, and 10-11. However, I will say that last year's Akron game was the absolute best I've ever witnessed in terms of atmosphere.

I know there are a lot of people who want this to be a major basketball environment, but are you really busting your ass? Busting your ass would be doing something every possession.

There are also opportunities to be reactive to the game. There are obvious ones, like when someone airballs or fouls out. But the O Zone used to let out a "That's good coaching" chant whenever there was a shot clock violation. I'm also in favor of a well-placed "Sit Down Shut Up" to an unruly coach. Last year I may have started a "You have no points" chant to UNC -Wilmington when they started the game in a funk. You can also stand to do some things in pregame to set the tone for the game. It can be as simple as someone starting a quick OU-Oh Yeah. UCLA's roll call chant is cool, too.

I'm an adult now. I feel like I shouldn't be dabbling in this stuff anymore, but I also love a great college basketball atmosphere and I'm willing to offer my limited assistance if it's appreciated. So to recap:

1) Be genuinely excited to be there, no matter who the opponent is. It will rub off on the shyer people around you.
2) Try to do something, anything, on every possession.
3) Consider utilizing event staff to allow only official tee shirt wearing members access up until tipoff. Seriously, I have no idea why this ever went away. Suzie Sorority who goes to only one game per year because she can get a free scarf doesn't get the best seat in the house.

Meh 10-11 wasn't that great. IMO. 2013's Akron was indeed pure madness. Excited students happy to be there plus a fantastic/unreal game.

I definitely try & bust my ass. I'm not involved in the logistics of the O-Zone, but I'm always sitting in there & being loud. That's how I naturally am.

I think the O-Zone leaders do a good job on reactive plays (imitating the coaches, pointing out who tossed up an airball, Losing Team/Winning Team etc.)

Screw it, I'm a senior. I'm definitely going to try & rub off on people in the O-Zone, even if it takes a little tough love. Needs to happen. I was all in with the team last year & I'm all in with our squad this year. Going to try & pysch people up.

What a day at the Convo.....Wow!

Andrew Ruck
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/11/2013 11:06:25 AM

I'll weigh in with my own "back in my day..." message. The Ozone was the best at it's start, 2001-03, and most of that was thanks to Dan Lowe. A defined leader who RELISHES the role is so important. I don't have the personality to do that job, so I won't throw stones at anyone who isn't stepping up...I'm just saying it is very important.

Last Edited: 11/11/2013 3:07:15 PM by Andrew Ruck

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

OrlandoCat
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/11/2013 11:55:04 AM

shabamon wrote:

in my opinion the best years for the O Zone were 05-06, 06-07

This

The 05-06 year is the year the Ozone got it's reputation. Dragon was kicked out of a game, The Refs almost gave a technical foul the the crowd during the 'Kron game that year as well.

Of course there's this gem from the '04-'05 season (If you look you can see me in that video back when the cheerleaders were allowed to actualy do the scoreboard chant):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3ROtK_cetk

To me it seems that moving everything around - band in the student section, black seats (or whatever in front) and moving the cheerleaders off to the side - has had a HUGE impact, and not in a good way.

JSF
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/11/2013 3:04:56 PM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

A defined leader who reliquishes the role is so important.

Were you going for "relinquishes" or "relishes"? Could be either from the context.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

JHSbobcat08
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/11/2013 4:12:12 PM

I lost my voice during that Akron game last year, such a great atmosphere. I think the problem is that there isn't that great of communication between the sections. one side will start a chant and the other side will start one and no one knows what to yell out. The black seats also hurts us because we can't be right on the court.

IamTheWin25
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RE: Crowd/O-zone

Posted: 11/11/2013 4:42:25 PM

shabamon wrote:

Since my freshman year (04-05), in my opinion the best years for the O-Zone were 05-06, 06-07, and 10-11.

Agreed, especially since I was also a part of these. The team had a decent amount of hype surrounding it as 05-06 was Leon and Fear's sophomore campaigns and there seemed to be an upswing of basketball interest after the tournament appearance in 2005.

One thing I found to be most helpful were the flyers strewn about the bleachers during pre-game. Lots of pre-meditated chants about opposing players checkered histories as well as the cadence for the generic ones. Bravo to the guys in charge those years, I have never felt the same energy from the O-Zone since I have been an alumni.

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