I saw my first live game this weekend, and while it was a great game and great atmosphere for the most part. Here's a criticism:

-- Standing and shouting when something exciting happens or might be about to happen: Totally OK!

-- Participating in arena-wide cheering (defense, clap-clap, OU/Oh Yeah, etc.): Also, great!

-- Loudly, repeatedly saying "defense" "let's go D" "let's go cats" and "go Ohio" 10 or so times each possession, loudly enough for 5 rows around you to hear but not in a way that other people could participate or join in: Me thinks you might have Tourette's and should see someone about your problem.

I already realize I'm going to get a few responses about this from people saying that fan participation is good, and IN THEORY I totally agree with you, but you don't understand. I'm talking SNL-skit levels of repetition of those same 4... cheers, I guess I'll call them.

Additionally, the same middle age gentleman had such a freak out about a call at the end of the game that was meaningless (well after Winning Team/Losing Team had been done) that I really thought he might have an aneurysm or burst a vein.

TL;DR - A simple reminder, there are other people around you trying to enjoy the game too. Don't be a doofus.

Encountered a bit of that when we played in the pre-season tournament in Vegas a few years back. An Ohio fan near us griped on even the most obviously correct fouls/calls against us.

Not helpful. If I'm a ref and I know that I made a correct call and there's grousing, I probably then don't listen to grousing when it's appropriate.

I applaud anyone fighting against the "glare at people who stand up and cheer" culture.

It is much worse in Peden than in the Convo.

The unwillingness to stand on 3rd down is unbelievable.

+9,000

and +24,000

We sit in Sect. 226 and always stand and wave our flags, glow sticks, etc for Ohio. We might be "old farts" but we do our best, even though we may be in the upper ring, to cheer on the Bobcats.
I recall we had a "confrontation" a few years ago when someone sitting behind us took issue with our standing for defense at the start of the game. The more this individual yelled for "down in front" the more the group in front of him stood. (I don't recall the opponent but this was one of those rare occasions where we were standing well past the first media timeout). We found out later this man had attended very few Ohio games in the past and didn't totally understand what we were doing. After we (me and several others in our section) had a "face-to-face" explanation with him he calmed down for the remainder of the game.
My point is this...regardless of where one is sitting in The Convo there is no excuse for not doing whatever needs to be done to support the Bobcats. Standing, cheering, chanting...whatever. Having been a teacher for 35 years before retiring I can still bellow out my "teacher voice" with the best of 'em! Be part of the game experience! Go Bobcats!!!

I don't think you're in the minority, a lot of us thing it is a weird tradition. I'm not as passionately opposed as some are to it, but I don't like it. Perhaps what bothers me most about it is I suspect about 50% of the building is secretly hoping for the opponent to score so they can sit down.

I hate it. I think borna said Schaus brought it over from Wichita State. I guess if that's his biggest sin in his time in Athens, we should be happy, but I won't miss it when it goes away.

I think I remember the discussion in 2010 or 11 but I do not know the origin or remember if OUr AD was responsible for the stand for defense. I don't think I ever heard the origin and don't remember commenting on that.... I am with ya on the standing. I often wondered if we would not do better standing for offense. Sitting down when WE make the first basket.. Agreed though....it is maddening, but if it the worst thing ...we can live with it for a while.

Hardly definitive, but a Google search suggests that it is (or was) indeed a Wichita State thing. It seems especially pointless and stupid to celebrate the defensive prowess of this team given performances like last night.

Thanks RJ for finding that. I was about to go to Shockernet.net and take a look.

I am assuming OUC that you are not proposing bringing back the 18:04 Freeze or anything similar.

There could be worse things, but no, I wasn't proposing that. I think at UC they throw confetti in the air at the first made basket. Anything that engages people make noise and cheer more often and louder, and have more fun, I'm in favor of. I recall several years ago at UD Arena when many of the less young folks were up and dancin' and singing the YMCA during a media timeout. Most schools need more of that, Ohio included.

Stand for defense needs to be replaced.

Agreed Jeff but as long as people on here who have said it needs to go continue to stand, it will continue. I just don't do it any longer because it's a joke.