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!

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.

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

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.

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 ;)

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.