Got a tip off about a new initiative that the AD is launching to honor the memory of Daniel Lowe while also giving the O Zone a much-needed bit of refreshing.

I am sure this will go public soon, but wow. Big fan of the idea.

Here’s the full release!

Bobcats,

We all know Bobcat basketball games are much more fun with a loud crowd. One that makes the Convo a tough place for an opponent to play and gets all the fans in the Convocation Center into the game.

With that in mind, we bring to you D-Lo’s Crew. Named after an OZone legend, Daniel Lowe, (learn about Dan here, here and here) D-Lo’s Crew will be the group that sparks the OZone. It does not replace the OZone but it is a core group of 100 that commit to attending games, being loud and promoting OHIO men’s basketball to the campus.

We have selected you as a potential D-Lo’s Crew member based on your support over the past year through attendance at our games or as a member of the OZone. We very much appreciate that support and would love to have you as part of the original D’Lo’s Crew. The details are below.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting new group, please click here to add your contact info to the Google Doc. You can email Justin, our Ohio University student leader, if you have any questions. His email is jw739715@ohio.edu . The first 100 that show interest will be invited to a tip off meeting here at the Convo in December so we can discuss the mission and purpose of the group and answer any questions.

Get your friends and be a founding member of D-Lo’s Crew!

D-Lo’s Crew Mission

• Have fun while creating a strong home court advantage for the OHIO men’s basketball team!

D-Lo’s Crew Purpose

• Be the fire that sparks the energy of the OZone and the Convocation Center crowd.

D-Lo’s Crew Expectations

• Committed to having fun and creating an exciting atmosphere at OHIO Bobcats men’s basketball games.

• Attend at least 90% of the non-holiday break home men’s basketball games and sit in the courtside OZone bleachers.

• Attend monthly D-Lo’s Crew meetings – we will feed you at these meetings.

• Promote OHIO Bobcats men’s basketball on campus to increase student attendance.

D-Lo’s Crew Rewards

• Free D-Lo’s Crew t-shirt.

• Pre-game food and Pepsi at each home men’s basketball game.

• $5 Chipotle gift certificate.

• Satisfaction of being in a group that brings school spirit to OHIO men’s basketball games.

Michael Stephens, Sr. Associate AD – External
Ohio University Athletics I Convocation Center I Athens, Ohio 45701-2979

I hope that older gentleman who was there on Saturday got an email.

Nice idea, but those students have to meet this halfway.

Looked like a bunch of jersey chasers there on Saturday, if you know what I mean.

Who is that guy? I love his passion. He's also a big presence at Peden.

I'm to the point where I would rather the 110 stretch "long ways" instead of vertical in the bleachers. Let them take up the entire section. At least they'll be rowdy. I used to think it was dumb when there were ushers checking tickets at the entrance of the Ozone, but now I think they should be there and you need to be a member that signs up for Ozone occupancy.

This is kind of straying away toward a different topic, but I think it bears discussion here.

When OUCountry and I were walking into the Convo on Saturday, we were talking about how silly it is to only have the one entrance for students. The ushers were kindly telling them that they had to walk all the way around to the other side.

But here's my thing: whyyyyyyyyyy?? Why are they doing this? If you're coming from West Green its not a big deal. But if you're walking in the rain, cold, snow from South or East Green during basketball season only to have to walk to the complete other side is a freaking joke.

The look of dejection on the kids' faces left an impression on me. It was rainy and gross outside and they walked all the way to the Convo to the game only to be told "no, you have to walk back down the ramp, around, then back up." They don't get to use the sidewalk that encircles the Convo doors.

While a small thing, I've seen that look before. The "are you serious with this crap?" look. And that's the kind of stuff that hurts this fan base. Those kids might never come back to a game again. It may not be because of that one thing, but that and other things added together? We're only hurting ourselves.

Then after the game, the ramps are barricaded (at least the one we walked down) so there is only one small opening on the ramp once you get out of the Convo? WHAT IS THAT? I'm pretty sure I learned that in Risk Management 101 taught by Dr. Higgins. You leave as many exits as wide open as possible for egress in case of an emergency.

Maybe they have legitimate reasons for these things and maybe they can explain them to me in a way that makes sense. But I don't see it.

Seems to me there should be an entrance in the front and back. For anyone and everyone. Why not?

Ohio Athletics plays no part in these restrictions. They are forced upon them by the Athens police.

With good reason. I used to think it was the most accessible arena I've ever been to. Multiple entrances, multiple exits, its round, etc.

Not anymore.

But not in the case of where students can enter. Why can't they come in the front door like everyone else?

This is so spot on. Its already a huge battle to get kids from that side of campus to the convo for a game. Only to be told by an authoritative figure (college kids hate being told what to do) that they need to walk an additional thousand feet to the back entrance. That's the kind of stuff that reminds students why they shouldn't attend the next game.