Ohio Bobcats

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Ohio Bobcats
University Ohio University
Conference(s) Mid-American Conference
NCAA Division I (Bowl Subdivision)
Athletic director Jim Schaus
Location Athens, OH
Varsity teams 6 men and 10 women varsity teams
Football stadium Peden Stadium
Basketball arena Convocation Center
Mascot Rufus the Bobcat
Nickname Bobcats
Fight song "Stand Up and Cheer"
Colors Ohio Green and White

         

Homepage OhioBobcats.com

Ohio University intercollegiate athletics include six men's squads and nine women's squads and range from individual athletics to team sports, all called the Bobcats. The Bobcats compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in all sports. The Bobcats were a charter member of the Mid-American Conference in 1946 and are the only team still in the conference from the original 5 team league that included Butler University, University of Cincinnati, Wayne State University, and Case Western Reserve University. Ohio's team colors are green and white. All Bobcats sports compete at the highest level in the NCAA, competing top tier of Division I.

Administration

Ohio Bobcat statue at Peden Stadium

Jim Schaus was named the new Director of Athletics at Ohio University by President Roderick J. McDavis on April 7, 2008. Before accepting the job at Ohio, Schaus served in the same capacity at Wichita State University for 9 years.[1] Schaus replaced Kirby Hocutt, who took the Director of Athletics position at the University of Miami. The Ohio Athletics Department features 4 associate athletics directors: Amy Dean (Senior Associate AD/Administration and Sport Programs), Dan Hauser (Associate AD/External Operations), and Tricia Turley (Associate AD/Compliance and Student Services), and Jim Harris (Associate AD/Development).

Baseball

The Ohio baseball program has won 14 MAC regular season titles in 1947, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1991. The team has also won a MAC tournament title in 1997, and has made a College World Series appearance in 1970. There have been a total of 23 Bobcats in the major leagues, and hundreds more in the minors. Most notably, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt was a Bobcat.

Basketball

Ohio's home basketball games are played at The Convocation Center. Located on the south end of Ohio University's campus in Athens, Ohio, the venue has a seating capacity of 13,080. The arena was completed in 1968 and is the largest basketball facility in the Mid-American Conference and one of the largest in the nation. The "O-Zone" student cheering section helps to make the "Convo" one of the most hostile environments in the nation, and they are widely regarded as the best student section in the MAC. Thanks in part to this great atmosphere, the Bobcats have won over 75% of their home games since the opening of The Convo. Prior to playing at the Convo, Ohio basketball games were first played in Bentley Hall and then at Grover Center, two buildings that today exist as office space and classrooms for the university. The Convocation Center brought in its largest crowd on February 28, 1970, when 14,102 fans were in attendance to watch the Bobcats men's basketball team defeat the Bowling Green Falcons 77-76. Ohio is consistently one of the attendance leaders in the Mid-American Conference and has the ability to draw good crowds, win or lose.

Men's basketball

The first Ohio basketball game occurred in 1907 when the Bobcats defeated the Parkersburg YMCA 46-9. Since that day, Ohio has posted a .571 winning percentage over their 100 year history and a .566 winning percentage in their 65 years in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats have won 6 Mid-American Conference tournament titles in 1983, 1985, 1994, 2005, 2010, and 2012. As well as 9 MAC regular season titles in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1985, and 1994. Prior to joining the MAC, the 'Cats won an Ohio Athletic Conference title in 1921 and three Buckeye Athletic Association championships in 1931, 1933, and 1937. In addition, Ohio has played in the NCAA Tournament 13 times, appearing in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1994, 2005, 2010, and 2012. The Bobcats have been selected for the National Invitation Tournament 4 times in 1941 (runner-up), 1969, 1986, and 1995, while also appearing in the College Basketball Invitational in 2008. As a result of the storied tradition of Ohio Bobcats basketball, the program was recently ranked 86th in Street & Smith's 100 Greatest Basketball Programs of All Time, published in 2005.

The 2013 Ohio versus Marshall men's basketball game at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio.

Some of Ohio's famous men's basketball coaches include Jim Snyder, Danny Nee, Larry Hunter and John Groce. Jim Snyder led the Bobcats for 26 years (1949–1974) and helped Ohio to 7 NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT appearance. Snyder's teams compiled a 355-255 record, good for a .581 winning percentage. Former Ohio Coach Danny Nee led Ohio for 7 years from 1980-1986. Nee helped rebuild the program from several years of losing records, and he helped lead the team to 2 MAC Tournament titles, 2 NCAA Tournament appearances, and one NIT appearance. Following Nee's tenure at Ohio, he took a job as head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Today Nee is head coach of the Duquesne University Dukes. Larry Hunter served as head coach of Ohio from 1989–2001, compiling a winning percentage of .580 (204-148). His teams made one NCAA Tournament appearance in 1994, an NIT appearance in 1995, and won the Pre-Season NIT in 1994. Despite his good record as coach of the Bobcats, Hunter was relieved of his duties in 2001 for a lack of postseason success. Today, Hunter is head coach of the Western Carolina University Catamounts.

Ohio's head coach from 2001 to 2008 was Tim O'Shea. Coach O'Shea resigned on Monday June 23, 2008, in order to become the head coach of Bryant University in Rhode Island. Coach O'Shea had arrived at Ohio in 2001 after 4 seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Boston College. He came to Athens on March 29, 2001 and vowed to take the Ohio men's basketball program to what he called the "next level". This next level was realized in 2005 as he led to Bobcats to a 21-11 record, a MAC Tournament Title, and an NCAA Tournament appearance in which 13 seed Ohio nearly upset 4 seed Florida. O'Shea's 2005-2006 team proved successful as well, posting a 19-11 record with wins over teams such as Rhode Island and Samford, and a close loss to Kentucky. The 2006-2007 team also posted 19 wins, with a final record of 19-13. A 20 win campaign was had in the 2007-2008 season, including notable non-conference wins over Maryland, St. John's, George Mason, and Bucknell. The team was extended an invite to the College Basketball Invitational, where the Bobcats advanced to the second round. On June 27, 2008, former Ohio State Buckeyes associate head coach John Groce was named the sixteenth head coach in Bobcats history. Groce brings fourteen years of assistant coaching experience to Athens, along with a pair of outright Big Ten regular-season titles, two NCAA Tournament appearances, a berth in the 2007 NCAA National Championship game and the 2008 NIT title.

On March 18, 2010, the men's basketball program recorded a 97-83 blowout of the Georgetown Hoyas. The upset marked the first time in NCAA tournament history that a fourteen seed defeated a three seed by double digits. Ohio defeated 4th seeded Michigan in the 2012 Tournament. They followed up the 2012 victory over Michigan with a 62–56 win over 12th seeded South Florida, reaching the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1964. On March 28, 2012, John Groce left the program to coach at the University of Illinois. He was replaced by Texas Christian University head coach Jim Christian on April 3, 2012. Christian became Ohio University's highest paid faculty member in school history, having a base salary of $425,000 a year.

Ohio's all-time NBA draft selections

Women's basketball

The Ohio women's basketball program boasts the 1986 MAC championship, as well as several successful seasons and tournaments.

Cross-Country

The men's and women's teams are now coached by Clay Calkins, Mitch Bentley, and Nick Pero. The teams were previously coached by Elmore "Mo" Banton, a well-respected coach in running circles who became Ohio's first African American head coach in 1980 and stayed with the program for more than 20 years. Many cross country runners also run for the track team in the spring, forming the core of the distance runners. The runners were greatly affected by the loss of the Men's Track program in 2007.

Men's cross-country

The Ohio Men's Cross-Country program claims MAC titles from 1962, 1964, and 1996. Recently, distance athlete and Ohio's former Director of Compliance Craig Leon became a qualifier to the U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon in Eugene, Oregon. Leon finished 10th at the 2013 Boston Marathon, the same race during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.[2]

Women's cross-country

The Women's Cross Country team claims more titles than any MAC program: 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2006, and 2007.

Football

The long and storied tradition of Ohio Bobcats football began in 1894 with an 8-0 loss to Marietta College. Since that day, the Bobcats have posted a 498-516-48 record over their 112 year existence and a 202-243-11 record over their 60 years in the Mid-American Conference. Peden Stadium, the oldest football venue in the Mid-American Conference,[citation needed] is a designated state historical site. The 13,080-seat[citation needed] Convocation Center is OU's basketball, volleyball, and wrestling venue.

The Bobcats have won 5 MAC Football championships in 1953, 1960, 1963, 1967, and 1968, and MAC East Division championships in 2006, 2009, and 2011. Prior to joining the MAC, the Bobcats won 6 Buckeye Athletic Association championships in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1936, and 1938. In 1960, the Bobcats were crowned National Small College Champions after compiling a 10-0 record under Coach Bill Hess. The Bobcats have appeared in six bowl games, losing 15-14 to West Texas State in the 1962 Sun Bowl, losing 49-42 to Richmond in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl, falling 28-7 to Southern Mississippi in the 2007 GMAC Bowl, losing 21-17 to Marshall in the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, and losing to Troy in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl, 48-21, before finally winning a bowl game in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Utah State, 24-23.

Ohio's home football games are played at Peden Stadium. Located on the south end of Ohio University's campus in Athens, Ohio, the venue has a seating capacity of 24,000. The stadium was built in 1929 and is the oldest college football stadium in the Mid-American Conference and among the oldest in the nation. In 2010, Peden Stadium was designated an official Ohio Historical Site after a university alumnus, Michael A Massa, advanced the idea to Ohio University and State of Ohio officials. Many recent renovation and expansion efforts, though, have allowed the stadium to keep pace with the ever-changing landscape of college football stadiums. As such, Peden Stadium, nicknamed "The Wrigley Field of College Football", is considered among the best college football facilities in the Mid-American Conference and the nation. Peden Stadium brought in its largest crowd on September 8, 2012, when 25,893 fans were in attendance to watch the Bobcats decisively beat the New Mexico State Aggies by a score of 51-24. [3] This mark overtook the previous record set on September 5, 2009, when 24,617 fans were in attendance to watch the Bobcats drop a 23-16 decision to the Connecticut Huskies.[4] The third largest crowd came on September 9, 2005, when 24,545 fans watched the Bobcats defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers 16-10. The fourth largest crowd was on September 17, 2011, when 24,422 fans watched the Bobcats defeat the Marshall Thundering Herd 44-7 in the Battle of the Bell. Ohio is consistently one of the attendance leaders in the Mid-American Conference and has the ability to draw good crowds, win or lose.

Some of Ohio's famous football coaches include Don Peden, Bill Hess, Jim Grobe, and current head coach Frank Solich. Don Peden coached from 1924–1946, compiling a 121-46-11 record, good for a winning percentage of .711 that still stands as the best ever for an Ohio football coach. Peden's teams won a total of 6 Buckeye Athletic Association Championships in his tenure and left a lasting mark on the program when the Bobcat's football stadium, Peden Stadium, was named in his honor following his retirement. Bill Hess's time at Ohio was equally impressive. Coaching from 1958–1977, Hess had a 108-91-4 record, giving him a winning percentage of .542 that is second only to Peden on Ohio's all-time list. Coach Hess's teams won 4 MAC Championships, participated in 2 bowl games, and won a National Small College Championship in 1960 after having an undefeated season. Former Ohio Coach Jim Grobe took the helm of the Bobcats program in 1995, inheriting a squad that winless in the previous season. Grobe quickly turned the program around, as his teams went 8-3 in 1997 and 7-4 in 2000. Coach Grobe had a 33-33-1 record in his time at Ohio, good for a .500 winning percentage that is fourth among all Ohio football coaches. After the 2000 football season, Grobe took a job as head football coach at Wake Forest University.

Frank Solich was named the 28th football coach of the Bobcats on December 16, 2004. Prior to coming to Ohio, Solich spent many years as a part of the University of Nebraska football program, as a player, an assistant coach, and later as the head coach. Solich was head coach of the Cornhuskers from 1998-2003 where he directed Nebraska to 6 consecutive bowl games, including the national championship game in the 2002 Rose Bowl. Solich's impact on the Ohio program was immediate, as plans were put in place to renovate Ohio's football facilities and increase financial support for the football program. Also, Ohio was selected to appear on national television 6 times for the 2005 football season, a record for the program. Frank Solich's first home game as coach of Ohio was a memorable one, as Peden Stadium brought in its largest ever crowd to watch the Bobcats defeat the University of Pittsburgh Panthers 16-10.

Under the guidance of Frank Solich, the Ohio football program has enjoyed a return to national prominence. On November 16, 2006 the Bobcats secured their first-ever Mid-American Conference East Division title and their first football championship of any sort since 1968 with a victory over the University of Akron Zips. They then advanced to the MAC Championship Game in Detroit, Michigan, where they were defeated by Central Michigan 31-10. On January 7, 2007, the Bobcats acted as the MAC representative in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, losing 28-7 to The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in a game nationally televised on ESPN. The Bobcats followed up the impressive 2006 campaign with a 6-6 record in 2007, and was one of 6 bowl eligible programs that was not invited to post-season play. The Bobcats returned to the post-season in 2009, posting a 9-3 regular season record and another MAC East Championship. Ohio played in the MAC Championship Game, where they fell to Central Michigan 20-10. On December 26, 2009, the Bobcats fell 21-17 to the Marshall University Thundering Herd in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

Ohio's all-time players in the NFL

All players in bold are current NFL players.

Ohio's All-Americans

  • Joe Fladding-2011
  • Gerald Moore-2009
  • Lavon Brazil-2009
  • Noah Keller-2009
  • Matt Weller-2009
  • Dion Byrum-2005
  • Dave Zastudil-2001
  • Cleve Bryant—1968
  • Todd Snyder—1968
  • Ken Carmon—1968
  • John Frick—1966
  • Skip Hoovler—1963
  • Bob Brooks—1960
  • Dick Grecni—1960
  • Vince Costello—1952
  • Al Scheider—1951
  • John Kerns—1946
  • Danny Risaliti—1940
  • Art Lewis—1935
  • Lenard Sadosky—1932

Golf

Ohio University Golf Course

The Ohio Bobcats golf teams are two of the only teams in the MAC that possess their own golf course. Both the men's and women's teams have several notable victories in national tournaments and compete at regular matches across the country.

Men's golf

The men's golf program at Ohio is among the most celebrated in the school's history.[citation needed] Throughout the history of Ohio golf, 18 MAC tournament titles have been won in 1951–55, 1957–61, 1963–65, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1979–80 (1954 co-champions with Kent State). PGA Tour golfer Dow Finsterwald is among the Ohio golf program's many famous alumni.

Volleyball

Ohio's volleyball team has been steadily increasing in popularity and national prominence.[citation needed] Under the direction of Coach Geoff Carlston, the team won 5 consecutive Mid-American Conference regular season championships from 2003 to 2007, and 4 consecutive MAC tournament titles from 2003 to 2006. The team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament every year since 2003, and made the "sweet 16" of the NCAA tournament in 2005. Following the end of the 2007 season, Coach Geoff Carlston moved on to take the head coaching position at Ohio State University, with Ohio naming former Florida assistant Ryan Theis to the vacant head coaching position. Under the direction of Theis, the Bobcats have won 2 MAC regular season titles and have recorded 2 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Swimming and diving

Ohio's women's swimming and diving team has won 11 MAC championships in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2008 and 2011. This is more than any other women's swimming and diving program in the conference. The team competes in The Ohio University Aquatic Center, one of the finest swimming and diving facilities in the conference. The OUAC has hosted many Mid-American Conference Championship meets.

Wrestling

The Bobcat's wrestling team has won 15 MAC championships (more than any MAC program) in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001. Recent wrestler Jake Percival was a four-time All-American.

Other teams

MAC Championships in parentheses:

  • Women's golf
  • Women's indoor track and field
  • Women's outdoor track and field (1983, 1984, 1994)
  • Women's field hockey (1987, 1991, 2006, 2007, 2009)
  • Women's soccer (1998, 2001, 2004) more regular season titles than any MAC program
  • Softball (1995)

Athletic eliminations

On January 25, 2007, then-Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt announced the elimination of four varsity sports at Ohio University. Those sports include: men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track, men's outdoor track and women's lacrosse. The decision was announced without any advance warning to the student athletes involved causing major tension between the student body and the administration. The Athletic Department later revealed that the money saved would be used to strategically reinvest in revenue sports.[5][6][7]

Facilities

Ohio's athletic facilities and the teams that utilize them are as follows:

Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1965. Inductees to the Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame are inducted during banquet ceremonies the evening prior to a designated home football game. Inductees are also recognized during a special halftime ceremony at the football game the following day. A portrait and accomplishments are displayed in the Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame located in the Convocation Center.

Rivalries

Ohio University’s being the first university in Ohio, as well as the first in the Northwest Territory, has seen its rivalries storied and diverse. Its first game was a football competition between it and Marietta College. Since then, a myriad of competitions and statewide changes have seen other rivalries come to fruition.

Miami University

Miami University is Ohio University's principle conference rival. The two universities are Ohio's oldest: Ohio University was founded in 1804 and Miami University was formed around 1809. "The Battle of the Bricks" is an annual all-sports rivalry competition between the Ohio Bobcats and the Miami RedHawks athletic programs. The name "Battle of the Bricks" evolved from each school's reputation of having a campus of red brick buildings. Each varsity athletic competition in which the Bobcats and RedHawks meet including tournament play is counted as part of the years series record. At the conclusion of each academic year, the school with the most varsity wins takes the trophy back to their campus for the following year. Both Miami and Ohio became members of the Mid-American Conference, where Ohio maintains a dominate record.

Marshall University

Marshall University in West Virginia is a regional rival of Ohio University. The annual football game between Ohio and Marshall is called "The Battle for the Bell", with a traveling bell trophy as the prize for the victor. Due to Marshall's recent move to Conference USA, this rivalry game was not played for several years. However, the two schools have agreed to play each other each year and the games are scheduled through 2015.

Ohio State University

The bitter and sudden formation of Ohio State University in Columbus saw a conflict for funds ensue between the state’s oldest, established institution and the new agricultural and manufacturing university. In one incident, Ohio State University attempted to use the federally trademarked name “OHIO” on its athletic uniforms; however, during the subsequent legal dispute, presidents of the two schools agreed Ohio State should not be permitted the use of that name on uniforms.[8] More recently, the two universities have competed at athletic contests where the state funds received by Ohio State have helped it win. In 2010, the Rufus mascot tackled the Brutus mascot. Ohio students have urged the state government to fund state institutions based on their years in service as the fairest alternative to how the state currently funds its universities.

Inter-state competitions

Ohio University has competed against a multitude of other national universities in high-spectator events, including Georgetown University, the University of Michigan, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA tournaments.

Ohio athletic traditions

Ohio is a tradition-rich school, and many of those traditions are associated with athletics events, especially football. Some Ohio traditions include:

  • Rufus the Bobcat - The school mascot, a fierce yet friendly looking Bobcat that always sports an Ohio jersey with a number "1" on the back.
  • University Seal - legend has it that freshman must avoid stepping on the university seal or risk bad fortune in both athletics and in the classroom.
  • The Ohio University Marching 110 - "The Most Exciting Band in the Land" is widely regarded as one of the best in the nation and was ranked by Link Magazine in 1996 as one of the Top 10 college marching bands in the nation. They perform at every Ohio home football game and have marched at other events such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and numerous NFL games.
  • "Stand Up and Cheer" - Ohio's fight song
  • "Alma Mater, Ohio" - Ohio's alma mater song
  • Salute to the Students - Following every Ohio home football game, win or lose, Ohio football players head to the student section to thank the Bobcat's most rabid fans for attending.
  • The Cannon - After every Ohio score, a 19th-century style military cannon is fired. When the Bobcats enter the field, the cannon shoots off a smoke "O" that can be seen for several minutes before fading into the air.
  • Rubbing the Bobcat - Supporters and students rub the head of the life-sized bobcat sculpture located at the front entrance to the stadium, before each game. Tradition has it that touching the statue before a game will ensure luck on the athletic field.
  • The "O Zone" - The student cheering section at every Ohio men's basketball game. Widely regarded as the best student section in the conference and one of the best in the nation, their "Winning Team, Losing Team" chant is recognizable by college basketball fans everywhere.
  • Tail-Great Park - The park across from Peden Stadium is transformed for every home football game into "Tail-Great Park". The park features kid's games, live music, and tailgating everywhere the eye can see on gameday.
  • Homecoming Parade - The annual homecoming parade at Ohio begins in downtown Athens and ends in the Peden Stadium parking lot just in time for the big game. Always on a Saturday afternoon, homecoming is always one of the highest attended games of the football season.
  • CatFX- The always exciting and informative graphics and videos displayed on the videoboards at Peden Stadium and the Convocation center.

Marching 110

The marching band is the The Ohio University Marching 110.[9] On October 28, 1976, the Marching 110 became the first marching band in history to perform at Carnegie Hall.[10] The band has also performed at many professional football games and has taken part in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2000 and 2005[10]

Radio network

The official radio home of the Ohio Bobcats is the Ohio IMG Sports Network. The first Mid-American Conference network to reach into Columbus,[citation needed] the Ohio IMG Sports Network continues to serve the university's alumni base and fans in other parts of southeastern Ohio and parts of northern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. The radio voice of the Bobcats is Russ Eisenstein with Rob Cornelius as color analyst for Bobcat football and men's basketball and Tom Hodson as the football sideline reporter.[11]

The network features 13 radio affiliations throughout southeast and central Ohio, and into West Virginia:

References

  1. Schaus Named Ohio Director of Athletics :: Ohiobobcats.com :: The Official Site of Ohio Athletics
  2. "Former Bobcat Craig Leon finishes 10th at Boston Marathon". Ohio University. Retrieved June 24, 2013. 
  3. "Late Ohio Rally Falls Short in Front of Record-Setting Crowd". OhioBobcats.com (CBS Interactive). 5 September 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
  4. "Ohio Finishes Strong to Defeat New Mexico State in Home-Opener". OhioBobcats.com (CBS Interactive). 8 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012. 
  5. "Ohio General Releases", 2007, p.1
  6. Munoz, M.(2007). The Love of Their Lives. The Post, p.4.
  7. "Ohio General Releases"(2007). Director of Athletics Kirby Hoccuts' Remarks. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://ohiobobcats.cstv.com/genrel/012507aad.html
  8. "'OHIO' dispute leaves historic paper trail". Ohio University. Retrieved June 24, 2013. 
  9. "Marching 110: Official Website of the Ohio University Marching Band". Retrieved March 9, 2011. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 Brozak, George (2004). Diamond Ohio: A History of the Ohio University Bands. Mansfield, Ohio: Diamond Ohio Press. ISBN 0-9763538-0-6. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 "The Citizens Bank Ohio IMG Sports Network". 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013. 

External links

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