Guys, we got the Eeyore slam from this thread, in all its gloriousness. It was all worth it for that.

I agree with several comments that I've read:
I get tired of students and fans not standing for the football team when they come on the field, score a touchdown or FG or have a big play. Standing for the opening kick off is just natural at almost every football game that I've ever been to (except at OU). I'm sure that people wonder what is wrong with me when I stand for the football team during all of these times.
However, people get on their feet when the 110 comes on the field (which is just fine). But, this makes me want to stay seated during the band performance or go to the concessions (which I do). Guess I'm there for a football game first!

Get tired of watching people who never even pay attention to the game.
Noticed a girl during the Bowling Green game who stood with her back to the field and talk to people behind or beside her almost the entire game. Was glad to see her leave after halftime and it is normally disgusting to watch the students leave the game after halftime.

Why don't we have REPLAYS OF BOBCAT SCORES on the screen - as well as PLAYS WHICH INVOLVE A QUESTIONABLE OFFICIATING CALL. Surely, we have the money and technology to do that.

Agreed with another that young kids doing a dance is not interesting. An OU Dance team would be much more fitting at a college football game.

Uhhhh...where have you been watching games? They form a tunnel and play the fight song when the team comes out. Check out the end of this video for a refresher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y6ogD85e6M

28, that was not the case on band day! I know they have done the tunnel some but I don' remember it being consistent. And you may be half right they were on the field. My real point is getting them from the field to their seats for kick offs is a traffic nightmare.

I love the discussions about fan experience and even the issues that may be detrimental to the fan experience on game day in Peden Stadium, but here are some of the biggest issues that I see. 1) In the Jim Grobe years the athletic department made a concerted effort to regional advertising in order to draw more of the casual fans to the games. I mention this because I live in Marietta, and except for those two years and again the year that Frank was hired I never see or hear any advertising for our games. Sure the diehard fans such as myself will scratch out the information needed in order to know what our Cats are doing and when, but we aren't talking about us who have distinct ties to the school. In Washington County, Ohio and Wood County, WV, there is a populous of approximately 150,000 people most of whom would be the targeted casual fan. I have had several people in my area tell me directly that they enjoy going to the games and would go to more if they knew about them. Yes these people are big buckeye or WVU fans but many have said that they don't like going to those games often because they take up the whole day.(with travel time included) I bring new people to games as often as I can, many are in their early to mid teen years trying to show them a good time and let them get a glimpse of what the school has to offer in their upcoming college years. Others are adult acquaintances that I hope may enjoy it enough to come back time and time again. (Sorry for the short tangent) I feel that since these are casual fans we need to keep our name in front of their eyes as often and as much as possible. That is accomplished through radio, newspaper, and TV advertising as well as billboards, etc... Yes that all takes money but as the saying goes "you have to spend money to make money". I am not advocating that all of that be done at once but at least start somewhere. If we achieved our goal in drawing these Football/BB fans to games the demand to expand the stadium would increase, then we may be able to get some better opponents to come to our house to play, so on and so on. We had the chance to take great advantage that type of advertising when we got one of the big name coaches in the nation(Solich)to come coach our boys, but we let it die way to quickly. 2)In regards to radio coverage: I don't understand the reason for having any of our games blacked out. If the reason for doing so is to try and draw fans to the stadium, it doesn't wash. the fans that are interested are already there, regardless of whether it is on the radio/internet or not. Plus, there isn't a station close to me that is dedicated to the cats. Without the internet feed I would not be able to listen to the teams at all. The signal from 105.5 is not strong enough to reach out past Coolville let alone reaching all the way to the Marietta/Parkersburg vicinity. 3) The biggest issues I see with the game day experience is our lack of a good quality sound system coupled with our video board that is at best half the size that it should be. It is about time that we get those things upgraded. I feel that we are laughed at when people see and hear those two things.

Billy I beg to differ. Since I was unable to make it to the game and do not have access to any local radio broadcasts I brought up my 105.5 internet feed and it specifically said that the program was blacked out in my area. It was like that for the last two home games that I was unable to attend. Trust me, when I say things on here anyone who knows me can verify that I do not say things that aren't true. I read a lot and post seldom. No offense taken or intended, we are all friends on here.

To the comments on this thread I would add that I had the pleasure of sitting in the section with the parents and friends of football players at the Kansas game. It was an absolute pleasure. Everyone around me was into the game. They were fantastic fans. They all were knowledgeable about the game, and aware of what was going on on the field, and totally behind the team and players. If a player dropped a pass, the fans were rooting for him to catch the next one, not turning on him. It didn't hurt that Ohio totally kicked KU's butt from the start that day, but being surrounded by enthusiastic, knowledgeable fans made that day one of the most enjoyable I have ever spent watching a football game.

Perhaps something can be learned here. Early on, I remember that Solich had classes for women fans, trying to teach them the basics of the game, so that they could enjoy watching the game more. Perhaps they could have some non-credit courses for students on football basics, to increase the pool of football knowledge among the students. Then, maybe reward the graduates with seats in a special section, so that you had a seed group of players that are actually interested in the game, and year by year, let that seed group grow larger.

Being surrounded by people who know the game, and who are into the game makes being a fan ever so much more run than being surrounded by people who are only there for the social occasion. It really makes the games, win or lose, a pleasure, and makes you want to go back.

I like L.C.'s idea of non-credit classes on football for interested students. There are many details that would have to be worked out, but the general concept I think is a good one.

As I read L.C.'s post, it stirred a vague memory in my addled mind. I seem to remember vaguely that Bill Hess may have done something like this. Does any other old-timer remember this in any more detail?