I personally don't mind one of these a year, would rather not, but it is what it is. However I am not seeing this "regional interest".

I have no problem with ONE regional D-III team coming to the Convo for a regular season game.  There may be 15 other horrible D-1 teams to come into the Convo and take a beating, but you know what, they all count against the RPI.  This one does not.  Why not accomplish the same objectives with a game that shouldn't cost us a whole lot of money that doesn't hurt us in the long run?

This is where I'd love to see the NCAA mandate some form to OOC scheduling.  We should be afforded the opportunity to play some of the big boys, and we should be forced to play some of the lower tier teams.  Break the D1 teams into 3 tiers based on prior year RPI or something, require 1 home and 1 away within each tier or something.

I know it will never happen, it just drives me crazy that the NCAA can't do anything like this.

Yeah, Huggins was so willing to bring his Bearcats to Athens, I am still mad that we kept turning him down on that 1-1 deal he begged for all those years!

Not only do I remember it, it still makes my eyeballs hurt after all these years.

Hear this Huggy:  Bucket by Luckett!

I thought when Huggins was hired he said playing in Athens was a no win situation and not something he was looking to do.

A friend of mine was on the 1988 Ohio Wesleyan national championship team that took down the Cats in the Convo many years ago.  That's why they play the games, folks.


bishops.owu.edu/mbb88ch.html

122-115, Scott Tedder scored a visiting team record 50 points in the win. OWU won the DIII National Championship and Tedder was the DIII player of the year.

I've heard some rumblings about teams we'll be hosting in the Convo: Arkansas State, Tennessee-Martin, and Kennesaw State are the ones I can remember.

What's sad is that those "powerhouses" are the ones I can remember, there were others of equal or lesser notoriety.

+1 for Uncle Wes.  Spot on commentary.

I have to agree with Uncie Wes as well.  I think the current philosophy is that until we dominate who we currently have on our schedule, there's no argument to upgrade it.   We also try to get as many home games as possible against teams that have some credentials on paper, but are not recongnizable to the average fan.   And considering our results during the past two regular seasons I feel their argument is that until we dominate our current schedule how can you argue that we need to upgrade it. 

As a season ticket holder, if it takes a 2-for-1 to get a few brand name schools in the Convo, I'm up for.  And as you pointed out so accurately, our fans do show up when a name brand school comes to the Convo.  Last year all it took was Temple.    I'm not an AD, so I'm sure it's easier said than done, but I'd love for us to beat the bushes to get at least one big name/fun/give non-die hard OHIO fans a reason to come to the Convo type of game each season.

Another scheduling issue I'd like to see us change is when we do schedule to play a brand name school on the road, avoid Top 10 schools. May sound like we're being too picky, but pick your beatings wisely.  For example, Kansas is a terrible choice.  @Pittisburgh wasn't great either.  I'd avoid Duke, UK and all other almost assured 30-50 point beat-downs.  I'm not even sure @Louisville this year is a great choice.   I'd instead be selective and choose the 2nd tier schools from BCS Conferences.    Big name schools, from big name conferences, who we have a punchers chance to upset. 

I think playing Kansas and Pittsburgh have benefits, even when Ohio gets killed. I think it ultimately helped make the team better. I wouldn't want more than one of those per year, though.