Sometimes I don't think we realize how good we have it.  Driving to the Convo today i was hoping that I could convince the young lady monitoring parking around the Convo to let me park even though my hang tag was in my daughter's minivan that left for PA last night for my son-in-law's grandfather's funeral.  I shared our situation with the parking attendant and she let us in.  I didn't get her name but thanks to that young OU student.

A quick bottle of water from the Rohr Room refrigerator, a hand shake from the next president of Langston University and it was game time.  Though not large, the Ozone was loud and coordinated today, the assh&^% cheer disappeared, and the students really seemed to be paying attention.  The 110 brought it's A plus game today.  Just looking around and watching people sway to their sounds while they clapped to the beat or even did a little dance brought a smile to my face.  We truly have the best college band anywhere.

All of this and no mention of the team and coaching staff.  Talk about engaged.  Every head man needs a right hand guy and Dustin Ford is certainly that guy.  Everyone on the OU bench knew this would be a dogfight and for most of the 40 minutes of the game everyone was in that fight.  Somehow this team continues to find a way to win these ugly games.

And then, it was over.  As folks filed out of the Convo, trash went into the garbage cans and a large number of plastic bottles found the recycling bin.  Sure it's easy to type these things after a win.  It's also easy to see how good we really have it here in Athens and at OU.

Go Bobcats!

 

Nicely said Alan

There are plans to upgrade concessions at the Convo as part of the Walter gift but part of the experience of going to a game in Athens is eating uptown and browsing the gift shops. The university is trying to pull income their direction from better concessions for their own bottom line but I'm not sure how that is going to pan out. Students can't afford to eat off their meal plan and for SE Ohio the cost of going to the game is enough. There are blue collar fan bases like Marshall has where they eat only from the concession stand because their too cheap to tip at a restaurant. 

Every game I've attended in CT has had a different feel to it, and every one has left me appreciating the Convo a bit more.

I had quite an experience in Dekalb last night. Fantastic sandwich. Decent game.

But the top takeaway from the NIU Convocation Center is this:

Anybody, ANYBODY, who ever, EVER complains about gameday atmosphere in our Convocation Center, should be required to attend  a road game of the kind I sat through.

What a horrible gameday experience. It had the character of the noon tip at Seagate Center. There was no student involvement, which stemmed from no students being there.

The dorms are a two minute walk away. Nobody came. I take that back. 26 came. 26 disinterested souls.

The pep band was a disaster, which was a known quantity the minute I saw the guy with a tambourine.

The band director broke a floor mop late in the game attempting to distract a free throw. It was very sad. That mop was one game away from retiring.

They sell earplugs there.

But it makes me appreciate what we have.

A LOT.

My feed went dead just as their band director started riding the broken mop.

Maybe Montgomery can help with the band. They were terrible.