Seemed like there was a decent crowd last night, but do they get excited about anything? I know we lost last night, but there were several comeback runs that should have got them on their feet and...nothing! Frustrating. I know some of you will say "Put a winner on the floor and they'll come"...That's probably true, but dang..Show a little passion. It's sad when a 70 year old man is the most rowdy person in the section.

Agree with everything you stated.

Pssst...welcome to the only thing that matters is March (because those are nationally broadcast games against high, nationally relevant teams) club.

I'd bet $100 you couldn't find 100 students at OU who even know what the CBI is. Is that like, an alternative to CBD, but for beer?

I feel

A lively student section is everything to the program. The players want to play in front of passionate fans and want their classmates behind them. Recruits eat it up. Older fans and children LOVE the atmosphere and entertainment that a good student section brings. Most of us on this board are diehards that only need the game itself to entertain us...but so many others need so much more.

Also, our best "old" fans are former student section crazies. You rarely (ever?) run into a Bobcat fan that didn't really care as a student and picked it up as an alumni. If they can't be bothered to stand up and cheer and a 20 year old, they won't be bothered to come or even watch it on TV as a 30 year old.

I'm 19 and I am disappointed in the lack of participation in the student section. The Ozone used to be bumpin and I want that back. You'd be surprised the amount of students that say they would stand if other people were standing. Seems only a few people are brave enough to do it as of right now.

Agree 100%. My buddy and I talked about that last night after the game. We have to get students out of their bubble and live life a little.

I'm gonna sound like an old man when I ask this, but how much of the "bit too inhibited and self-conscious to let loose" has to do with phones and cameras being everywhere, and the fear of embarrassing yourself, or potentially worse?

I did some dumb things I did at that age like everyone else. I'd like to think that with camera's everywhere, I would have been a little different.

Do we still play Zombie Nation sometimes?

I think this is a big part of the problem.

The key to the O Zone getting people engaged is making it fun again.

Students in organizations on campus today run a big risk of Jenny Hall-Jones sending them a cease-and-desist letter if they attempt to do anything other than sit in their seats and quietly take notes.

To that point, here are a few paragraphs of the letter I sent to Schaus when he asked for input on the basketball program game day experience last year.

"Game flow is a problematic area when we are trying to create spirit and enthusiasm and a home court advantage. Thank you for getting rid of “stand for defense.” As a former athlete and coach, that practice would have served as great motivation for my team and me to score as quickly as possible to “sit those folks down” or to deliver a common 70’s statement – “in your face.” I’m afraid “Roar to 1804” is as equally ineffective except for those wanting a cheap hot dog.

Having subbed as a volleyball announcer, I’m aware of the requirements of the game script/log especially as it pertains to promotions and advertisements which are a large part of the necessary revenue stream for your department. There have been many times though when adherence to the script has actually killed the spirit and enthusiasm and home court advantage that we are trying to build.

I didn’t take notes of the specific games or times in the games this year, but on more than one occasion, the Bobcats battled back to make a game close, tie the game or go ahead and the other team was forced to call a time out or a dead ball and the resulting media time out resulted in a stoppage in play. Either a pre-scheduled promotion was trotted out, a scripted announcement was made, or a recorded song was played when a blaring tune by the 110 or a more appropriate recorded song could have been played thus building on crowd noise and enthusiasm as opposed to fans returning to their seated position in their seats. A well-trained technical director who understands the ebb and flow of the game would be a huge step in improving the in-game experience. There were too many occasions where the 110 and the DJ/sound board operator were in conflict."

The game script is easy if you simply write flexibiltiy into the advertising contract. You'd be shocked how little those promos cost. This isn't the Superbowl where millions are being paid for specific time slots. I was going to do an onfield promotion a few years back where I'd race three students 50 yards in my Smart Car. It was going to be a tie into text book winnings. Cost was only $6000 to $8000 total for six home games.

So that is you who's responsible for putting an end to the cheap hot dogs?

(Before SBH jumps all over me, Alan and others know I may have been the first Bobcat fan to speak out against both Stand for Defense and Roar for 1804)

I sit right across from the Ozone, 6 rows up and on the aisle. When they used to do original stuff (not bounce, bounce, pass, pass), it was a hoot - a fine example of youthful exuberance and creativity. Then it got stale. Why? This is my opinion but when the powers that be in the athletic department who were extremely conservative began to "babysit" the group and set the rules, things went south. Combine that with a lackluster record on the court and it just died. With all due respect to a great Bobcat, they tried the DLo thing but that didn't register or resonate with the students. It was adults telling kids how to have a party. Give the game back to the kids and let's see what they come up with. Right now, the two guys standing and the old man are a reason not to get involved.