I was a born and raised O$U fan (hard for me to admit here!)...My parents were die-hards. I remember watching Eddie George during his Heisman year and chanting "EDDIE...EDDIE...EDDIE" has he would break runs down the field. Our dog gorwing up was named Buckeye, for crying out loud.

However, that ended when I got accepted to Ohio in 2006. I remembered watching the Ohio-Pitt game, right after I decided I wanted to be a Bobcat, and from then on I was hooked. My transition from State to Ohio wasn't immediate, as I was adamant that I could "root for the Bobcats and the Buckeyes"...however my first State game that I attended in my life? Against Ohio in 2008. I went to that game as a Bobcat fan, and that's when I realized the importance of your Alma Mater. Now, no matter what, there is nothing that will tear me away from a Bobcat game on a Saturday afternoon (or a Tuesday, or whatever day it's on!). I still wish Ohio State well, and don't have the fervent hatred that some on this board have towards them, but Ohio is, and will always be, my team.

My Bobcat fandom and my Bobcat football fandom are entirely separate from one another.  I had two brothers that attended OHIO in the '70's, and when they were in Athens I went to games with them and was a fan of Bobcats hoops from that point.  Due to that time spent in Athens as a kid, I also knew I wanted to attend OHIO for university, and when I was in Athens for my undergrad years I almost never missed a hoops contest.  

However, when I was a kid I was living in a house full of tOSU football fans, and never had the opportunity to attend an OHIO football game.  I watched a ton of college football through my childhood but never really had one team that was my go to, even until the last few years, likely because I was a golfer through college, and we typically had matches every Saturday during college football season.

In full disclosure, the only OHIO football game I ever attended while in school was my Junior year ('87), a victory over Marshall, the only win that season.  I shamefully admit I did the first half, 110 then dash that was so (in)famous.

While I followed OHIO scores on the sports wrap up shows post graduation, my OHIO football fandom was not born until Friday night, September 9, 2005: the Pitt game.  My first full game Peden experience changed everything for me, and led directly to a complete re-connection with alma mater on a myriad of levels.

And for the record, since many have brought up their Cowtown experiences: I always rooted for Michigan against tOSU in football (my inner contrarian), but I never hated them until The Punch, December 29th, 1978.  Since that event, I can list several dozen reasons why I hope they never win another game in any sport...ever.

And point of fact: all my family are in Central Ohio, and when I visit them, even during the holidays, I stay in Athens and drive up for day trips because I can't stand event a whiff of that culture.  Athens is just far enough away to get out of the stench.

I am a third generation bobcat. My grandfather went to Ohio under the GI bill (choosing it over OSU and others) and lived on Hog Island. My parents both went to Ohio, meeting in Athens. My Aunt also went here. So basically i was born to be a Bobcat, but I took the long way around to being a fan.

I could talk about growing up in Columbus since i was six, and there barely being any Bobcat coverage, and not seeing the team other then the few visits to Athens for games (which were few and few between after my father passed when i was nine); but I will focus on the change into being a Bobcat. When I visited Athens (fall 2004) I fell in love with the city, not caring about sports.

The seed of being a Bobcat fan was always there, but did not begin to grow until the 2005 NCAA tournament, and watching the game during some downtime during classes at my high school. Then I got to Athens and I can point to two moments that made the change complete.

My first football game as a student was the Pitt game, I was at the south side five yard line (perfect seats as it turned out) and when we rushed the field, I stopped in the endzone to take it all in, and I was hooked.

The other moment was my first basketball game. I could not tell you who we played, I could not tell you the final score. I just remember the OZone, all of the chants, the heckling, and Winning Team. I loved the creativity and how loud we were.

It's football season so I was forgot about my first Bobcat game in any sport. The first time I ever stepped foot on a college campus was the day Dave Jamerson made 14 3's and set the still-standing single game record. Our high school basketball team came down to a game in the Convo once a year and that was my first year on the team since I was a Freshman. That day introduced me to campus life and I made up my mind I was going to attend Ohio around the age of 14.

I am an older (nearly 60) OHIO fan.  I am an alum of BGSU (BS & MS) and an alum of OHIO after doctoral studies in early 90's.  I followed tOSU as a kid and until later in life, mostly because it was there in front of me.  As a kid my best friend's parents had a box at the horseshoe.  They took me to nearly every home game most of my formidable years.  I have to admit those are some good memories. Script Ohio is still pretty neat.  

I was a different type of student at OHIO.  I was a 40 something, fully employed, married person coming to Athens for full weekends of classes and some weekday seminars.  Even with a relatively diminished exposure to "college life" I became awash in all things OHIO.  I had a connection to OHIO that never occurred at BG or anywhere else.

In 1998 my daughter made OHIO her choice for college...it wasn't even close for any place else.  She was fortunate to make the cheerleading squad as a freshman.  We came down to the first game of the season her freshman year and I was fully hooked.  When we went to the first basketball game at the convo the hooks went in deeper.

Today, my wife, daughter, and son-in-law (an OZONE alum) and I remain strong OHIO fans.  My daughter went to UNC for graduate school and works at UNC hospital.  There was still no question who we were rooting for last spring.  I am the proud owner of basketball season tickets in Athens and this year they will have the opportunity to see all the Tarheel home games with season tickets.  Make no mistake those games are simply something to do because it takes to long to travel from Raleigh to Athens for basketball games.

The exposure for OHIO is terrific and I hope it continues.  However, it is still like fingernails on a chalkboard when I walk into any store (especially in SE Ohio) and see nothing but a sea of scarlet with no hint of green any where.  I have started asking a store manager when I can expect to see some OHIO garb.  So far not much reaction but maybe soon.  

Hey, it's a serious problem that could mess up your life and leave you holding a cardbord sign on Lane Avenue selling shoddy necklaces just to pay your rent.

As for being an alcoholic, that's serious, too.

New campaign slogan for Ohio brand name?

"Ohio Bobcats: YOUR Anti-Drug!"