I've noticed several references in other discussions on the board about the inclusion of lower division teams as part of our schedule. I thought I'd comment about it myself in the form of a general thread about what suggestions could be made about the schedule going forward.

I think such a game every year is a good idea; particularly if, as I believe OCF said in one of the other threads, it is a team in our area such as Rio or Marietta. I would also include Shawnee State in the group, and, perhaps even Ohio Dominican and Otterbein. These games could be on an annual, somewhat rotational basis.

I think another opportunity to improve the regional fan base would be to include one game a year at a branch campus, hopefully against a low-major D1 opponent, that can accommodate a game. For instance, I believe OU-Chillicothe's Shoemaker Center seats in the neighborhood of 3500 people and the OU Eastern facility about the same. These games might be a one-time deal at each location, or, if successful, done over multiple years. For comparison, BG's Stroh Center seats about 4400 for basketball.

I think the branch campus idea would help those students feel that are indeed part of the university. It would also enable the communities to host a much different kind of event than they are accustomed to and it could be exciting and very successful.

Thoughts? (Including from Athenians of course). ;)

The branch campus idea is interesting, but I wouldn't count on getting any type of response from their students as they are typically commuters. Most just want to take their classes and then go home. I definitely wouldn't do that while classes are in session so as not to steal a game from our own students.

If we are committed to one regular season non-D1 school, I don't think it has to be someone all that close unless the team has a real fanbase, like Marietta. I know Rio brought about three rows of fans, but for our fanbase, does it move the needle at all if we had played Ohio Northern, for instance.

Don’t have any problem with local colleges as exhibitions (like Marshall did with Rio Grande) but still not sold on them as games that count. This year with all the turnover might be a one time thing, we‘ll see what happens in the future.’

I have to comment on the “steal a game from our own students” they are all Ohio University students whether in Athens, Chillicothe, St. Clairsville, Lancaster or the Southern campus. Their diplomas will say Ohio University just like yours and mine.

The last time I looked the answer was yes, and they also helped to pay off the Ping Center bonds.

Agreed OU-Country and I would say try to get Dayton on the schedule. I doubt Dayton would travel to Athens, but it wouldn't hurt to make an offer. Playing Dayton and others like them away and winning is the only way to gain an NCAA bid, if Ohio doesn't win the league tournament.

It was because of finals week.

I'll take the satellite campuses a step further:

-If you're not going to get the commuter students in for the game, how about pairing an Ohio game with a couple of local high schools for a double or triple-header? There are some great basketball schools in the area that travel well and would probably fill the stands enough to make it worth it.

-This is also a pretty good idea for those home games while students are out town and/or while football is still playing and the crowd is low. Schedule some high schools to play in the Convo on the same day as the Bobcats. Worth a shot, though the logistics for all of this would probably be hell.

It was stated at a Caravan stop in Saul's...I'm guessing here, 2nd or 3rd year maybe? Not that finals week isn't a valid reason not to, but given the short distance, one would think it could have been worked out.

I would just say this about the branch campus idea, from my perspective...that of a parent of a young child who loves going to the Convo and husband to a wife who almost never misses a home game. We feel like a home game is already being taken from us (so to speak) by a 9PM tipoff in the Purdue game on a Tuesday night. We understand getting on national TV is great exposure, but scheduling that game that late on a week night effectively scheduled us out of attending. If you move a home game to a branch campus and now force us to drive an hour instead of 5-7 minutes to reach what is a "home" game, I know a large group of fans (including us) who likely won't go. Basically, don't expect all of the season ticket holders to want to travel a lot more to, as noted, watch us play Rio. Pick your poison, it might be great for a small handful of branch campus students to feel a part of the university, but it also might alienate a large group of fans for the game who would otherwise be there.

I might be in the minority in this perspective, but that's where I am.

Don't get me started on Schaus. I'll leave it at that fact that I'm glad he moved on.

What's funny is that you think he just had the whole calendar to pick from and deliberately chose a date without students in town.

Nope, and you obviously missed the point. The point is the Dayton thing was never real, and the reason is silly! Purdue > Dayton, the poster said we wouldn’t play a 1-1 with Dayton because of students, but we will play Purdue? Makes no sense, but also because it’s simply not true.