It is unreasonable to expect Peden to bring the noise when we're playing just about any MAC team, including Miami. Most people including myself just don't care about these schools with traditions of mediocrity and strange names. 

Don't get it twisted. I support Ohio University. I've seen 41 of the last 59 OHIO football games in person. I can't get up emotionally for these games. I rarely am able to. It's not my fault. I try my hardest; it's just not compelling entertainment. I'm still vocal at these games where we play these "no name" schools. But it's because I know it's the right thing to do, not because I'm overwhelmed by passion.

I think it's ridiculous to call out our fans right now. We have shown time after time that when we play nationally respected schools our fans rise to the occasion. In my time at Ohio, we had a great vocal crowd in Providence for Georgetown and Tennessee. We had the most fans in Nashville and were without a doubt the loudest. We brought the energy in St. Louis as well. I had multiple Kansas fans tell me and my friends that they've never seen a group of students have more fun at a game (referring to the OHIO section).

The wins are there, but they can't make you care about the opponent. History tells us it is impossible for the players to get up emotionally for every game (for everyone, including Boise State). The same goes for the fans.

You really have to trick yourself to care about these games. I think our fans do a pretty good job. We certainly do a better job than every other group of fans in the MAC. But give us home games against traditional powers and you won't have to ask yourself or anyone else where the energy in Peden is.

I thought the New Mexico State had a nice atmosphere. When people do get fired up Peden just does not hold noise.

My first year as an OHIO fan was my Freshman year, 2008. Since then the ONLY games I've been to in Peden where it really felt loud was the 2nd half of 2009 NIU (the final two drives were deafening), 2009 Temple, the first half of 2011 Marshall, and 2011 Temple. All of those games have one thing in common. The perception was that we were fighting for something with someone that was good enough to take it from us. 

NIU had beaten Purdue that year, and lost to Wisconsin by 8. Word was going around that they were good. Temple, although in the MAC ,still had a lingering perception amongst the student body and fans that they were more of a big time program than us (many students didn't even know they were in the MAC I swear), plus that 2009 game was for the MAC East title. Marshall still carried and carries a perception that they're bigger from their glory days. 

Ohio football fans have a tendency to only give their full support when the opponent is perceived to be greater than or equal to us. And whether it's right or wrong, there isn't a single MAC team right now that most Ohio fans would consider in that category. (Maybe Toledo, maybe NIU, that's it)

Like I said, whether it's right or wrong, many Ohio fans view these MAC schools as no names, regardless of what the nation may or may not think about us. Regardless of what we have or have not accomplished.  And for many, perception is reality. 

Remember that UNC game, I was there. Carolina fans in attendance didn't care. They perceived us as a lesser opponent, and even though we were a DJ Cooper half-court shot away from victory, even though we pushed them to overtime, almost every UNC fan was sleepwalking through that game. It's the same when our fans perceive MAC teams as no names, we sleepwalk. Sometimes the team does too. But that's another story.

As for your experience, I'm here to tell you I'm about as true as they come. I've got a degree from here. I've got 1804 tattooed on my body. I represent the university in more ways than just my attendance. I've been converting students into loyalists for years. I've put a quality effort into supporting many aspects of this university in general. And I don't care at all about these MAC teams. You're going to have a hard time convincing me that I should feel dialed in about every game when I really don't care. I show up because I love my university. I show up because these players represent my school, because I represent my school, and because my school represents me. 

God bless the day that we separate ourselves from these MAC schools.

Our fan base isn't stupid. It's human. We're responding how most universities would respond in this exact situation. What, do you think they put something in the water at these historically loud stadiums? Are they genetically engineered? Have you ever been to big school play a little school? The fans go through the motions on their traditional chants, then those chants fade early in the second quarter (we haven't even had enough big games to create traditional chants). Do you think Clemson got the name "Death Valley" from playing home games against Ball State. Ha! Philosophically right or wrong, all MAC schools are little schools. Even to OHIO.

I was just in Georgia last weekend taking in the #6 Georgia-Tennessee game. Apathy is at the highest level too. Even though it was a huge conference game, their students were so casual. One of the girls I know there didn't even go to the game. The vibe was we'll get to the game when we get to the game, doesn't matter if we're late. Is that true support for the team? People didn't finish trickling in until midway through the 2nd quarter. That was a 3:30 pm game. They did however turn up the volume in the second half, but they were only truly loud when it was a 7 point game against an SEC rival!

I had a similar experience with Penn State students taking their time to come to the game for a noon kickoff. And you better believe they didn't give the lowly Ohio team their loudest game. Zombie nation was non-existent, and pales in comparison to the energy they bring for big conference games.

I would agree 100% that night games are just more fun!

Beer.

This is interesting. I can hear Peden from N court. We could erect something to block the sound. Like a big flat board in the south endzone. Maybe they could attach some kind of noisemaker to it.

Mark, backing up the calendar a couple decades before you were going to Peden to see the band, I had a Saturday afternoon date ... No, let me re-phrase that: My EYES had a date with the band's drum majorette whose name was, as I recall, Joy. And she was all of that to look at -- a pure joy. But alas, the band was soon gone from the green grid ... and so was I: off to the greener pastures of W. Union and Court ... not a land of milk and honey, to be sure, or I wouldn't have made a regular pilgrimage there before the official's shrill whistle signaled the beginning of the third quarter. Rather, it was a land of 3.2 Blatz and Black Label, where we got our game face on early for a Saturday night of ... why, I can't remember Saturday night! :)

I showed this thread to a couple of my friends who went to Marshall. They laughed at the comments and asked if our fans are only willing to get up for two games a year (Marshall and our BCS conference game that year). We play in the MAC. I refuse to believe we are only capable of being "excited" for our opponents one time every other year at home. We might as well make Peden Stadium as intimidating as possible. I'm thrilled we have 20K showing up every game, but 90% of the crowd acts like they've never been to a game before. The Convo is a tough place to win because of our fans. Peden should be the same. It's the same exact crowd.

The reason that I and my wife sit on the student side.  The last time I used reserved seats in 105 was against marshull when we kicked their #$@**  last year - 2011.  I will say that I was able to get a  "Let's go CATS" chant going after the nerds started their marshull chants.   I embarrass my wife when we sit in 105 because I will be the only oned standing and yelling and pumping my fist..
GO  CATS   !!!

This thread is why I never sit on the tower side.  We have been sitting in the family section since they started it, and we yell, stand, and do use bad language from time to time (have had to say I'm sorry to a few folks). If the crowd is light, like saturday we move over behind the students. To whoever said the students were not into the game saturday needs to have their eyes checked, most of the Ozone never sat down for the whole game. 

I will say the one bright area of the tower side is the phillips club, I moved over there for the second half, and the few times I think a few buffaboos wanted to climb the wall to get at some folks heckling them.   

I sit in 105 also.  It seems really quiet this year.  Only a few of us up and yelling.  Even when the players are asking for the crowd to get up and noisy, only a few do.  I would love to see us get louder on third downs.