I know the OZone has some student leadership, but do they have practices to coordinate with the cheers to get the rest of the crowd involved. Someone has got to start the cheers and noise, what better way than to get the students to lead it. 

Maybe even get some student spirit squad leaders beside the cheerleaders or heck if you had some ROTC guys yelling at you to do the cheer, don't you think you would do it. 

Noise "momentum" will get the fans involved, even if the average fan's football IQ is below average.

Case in point: 2002 Marshall visited Athens with Leftwich and a decent number of their own fans.  They were mostly in the NW corner raised stands.  They made as much noise as they could as soon as the ball was put in play for each of our 3rd downs, and more often than not the rest of the stadium joined in.  Even the OZone was screaming at the top of their lungs.  Our QB was trying to hush the crowd.  The Marshall bench was pumping up OUR student section and laughing their asses off.

On Marshall's third downs?  Mostly silent.

Sad to say it... but Brick Tamlin represents our typical fan from 10 years ago:

Remember that game like it was yesterday! That was a hilariously bad commentary on our fans. Sadly, we haven't advanced much past those days.

This year has brought these problems to the forefront more than ever, if only because we're getting some unbelievable crowds. I always thought Peden would be louder if we had more fans. Well, now the stands are full...but we still don't have any noise. Why are many of of fans (die-hards, casuals or otherwise) relatively clueless as to "football etiquette"?

This thread is amusing.

I feel like the O-Zone has the potential to get the entire student section involved into some pretty cool chants/cheers if they have a few dozen people spread out through the student section.  They could start a chant together, and then (hopefully) have it spread throughout the rest of the student section.

Part of the problem is I've tried to get the O Zone leadership to do things like this but when ever I offer insight I am greeted with an attitude of "it's not our idea so we won't do it," or other responses of that nature. But, at least it's good to be reminded that Troy and UL Lafyette is still in the Sunbelt right? I found that ideas my friends and I come up with are better responded at away games. My friends and I came up with a "move the chains" chant after every bobcat first down and it ended up catching on. But in the actual O Zone? Just looks of thats stupid towards our way. One other question, for those that sit on the other side of Peden, on third down when the O Zone makes noise by pounding on the bleachers does that make any noise at all? I'm just curious. In the end the O Zone bar none is the best student section in the MAC, but a lack of organization, interest in the actual game,  or interest in outside ideas are very off putting for someone "not in the loop." Just my 2 cents worth and sorry for the mini rant, stepping off the soapbox now...    

For several years the 110 has been consistent in playing the same defensive third down ditty and it isn't copied from any other band. The only way it would be effective is if the defense would actually contain the opposition on third down. When the band is moving (like towards the field for halftime)and cannot play, the PA plays a chorus of chimes. Additionally, on third down the announcer always urges the fans to be on their feet and loud. Those of us in the stands that know football, know Ohio, know game etiquette, will stand and cheer. As long as scores of tickets are snatched up by the casual fan attending their first or infrequent college game, the audience participation will be sparse. I am thankful for the increased attendance but I think it will take a few more winning years to have a large and consistent fan base to engulf themselves in the game ala tOSU or Marshall. Until then it will be up to us to encourage those around us. Mrs.Oldcat and I have had season tickets for several years in section 106 but we prefer to sit on the student side, further away from the game, but closer to the students and band who do "get into" the game by screaming and cheering.

And then you had our crew...

I got a lot of weird looks from people in our section for my antics during the game (none bad, I promise) and some laughed because I was somehow amusing.  We got loud at key moments, but if it weren't a key moment, it seemed the best we could do was stand up and (not) cheer.

Fans all sitting with their arms folded tight,
fans are all sitting with their arms folded tight,
Well,  football is pure and Bobcats are right,
But the fans are all sitting with their arms folded tight

Maybe all our fans are hipsters.

I agree with others who suggest this takes time... We are getting there.  Current students are used to winning.  Expecting to win goes a long way to getting the crowd into it.  O Zoners now will populate the other side as they graduate.  Fans in the real seats now are also starting to expect to win.  I've seen some very insane fans in the "old zone" in hoops.  These fans are building... I think a lot of them sit in 105 and are a sleeping giant.  Their cheering will grow exponentially   

Basketball last year was particularly abysmal.

The PA announcer could also help with this problem. Being more emphatic on third downs for the defense when coming over the loudspeaker helps.

OT: Went to the Arizona State at Missouri game a couple of weeks back and was pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere out there. They definitely belong in the SEC. I know Ohio traveled out there not too long ago and wondered what other Bobcats thought of it. Particularly enjoyed every Missouri first down followed by the PA announcer saying "First down, M-I-Z..." and then the entire crowd following up with "Z-O-UUUUU." And their kettle corn popcorn was off the chains good.