http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/06151...

All times except the Rutgers game are now set. Good to see some games under the lights at home.

For me having only two games played with God's natural lighting is disappointing and even one of those will be completed around dusk (when does DST end this year?) 

I understand the necessity of TV schedules and weeknight games and all

- WAIT; no, I refuse to understand it and even if I did, I don't have to like it! 

Works better for me. I've usually got stuff to do for work in the mornings and sometimes up until 1 or 2 p.m. This schedule probably will be enough to prompt me to get season tickets for the first time. Now I just have to decide which ones.

I love this schedule.  I have been waiting for the Homecoming game to be moved back for years.  I have not attended the parade for 10 years or so because there is not enough time to get back and cook before the game.  Tailgreat Park will be rocking around 3:00 that afternoon.  We will have larger crowds for the night games, too.  Most of those games will be natural light for the first half and under the lights for the second.  I am really looking forward to the start of the season.

I'm for the later HC start with the downside being that the booze will keep many at Tail Great instead of going to the game (but it may be a wash because  with prior earlier starts some didn't get their fill of fellowship and mingled longer around the grill) It will also limit after game tail gate action because of darkness and folks leaving Athens for home.  

As a 110 parent of two, it will mean only one game potentially in the blazing sun which is positive because 110 style precludes donning glasses or hats.  Talk about scrambling at HC with early starts, the two bands probably have it the worst as they march in the parade, hi tail it down to the practice field and then work together to craft their on field and in stands show.  The extra time can probably be put to valuable use no doubt. Perhaps we'll even get to see some of the team as they would have time to move down court street to the cheers of their fans at the parade.

Speaking of parades--has anyone heard/witnessed/read about homecoming parades and how OUrs rates with the others?  I learned OUr graduation ceremony is up there with the best.   I attended graduation on Saturday and learned that it is supposedly rare that a university has LIVE music for the ceremony which ranks the Ohio University experience (wind ensemble on stage) notches above other institutions using recorded music,  for the quality of ceremony.  Ohio also calls each graduate name, which delights the families.  Compare that with the O$U where even when they hold a winter quarter graduation of up to only a 1000 grads they never announce the names. 

Not only do they not announce names (impossible. really) but they start tearing down the dais and VIP sections while thousands of under grads are still being presented their diplomas.  Bush.  My email complaint directly to Gordon Gee brought an almost instantaneous response with regrets.  He promised to look into it.  I, however, have no reason to ever go back now.  Can anybody else report on this?

Tulane had a N'Awlins jazz band AND Stevie Wonder this year....how's that for live music?  When I got the degree, they just had everyone in Arts and Sciences stand up; no names were called.

I LOVED night games when I was an undergrad.  I just think football is meant to be played under the lights.  Not to mention standing in the tunnel waiting for the team to come out can suck hardcore...the field turf gets really freakin' hot on the feet (no to mention the wool uniforms!) on those 90 degree days.

FWIW, they still get their actual diplomas @ A&M.  They do screw up occasionally and you get the wrong one, but they have somewhere to go to if you don't get your own diploma, lol.

I honestly thought that most colleges did use live music provided by a School of Music ensemble.  I had only been to a few other personally (Eastern Michigan for my sister and a few community colleges).  Regrettably, I see that coming to an end soon, as that costs the university probably at least $4-5,000 to pay the musicians (I was paid $100 each year when I played in '06 and '07).  Heck, I just found out today that they have cut the instrument repair tech (who was already down to 1/2 time)... he was the guy who keeps the 110 operational when it comes to instruments.  

I don't know about Winter graduation.

But in the spring, they give you actual diploma...

But the staff and speaker (John Boenher) left before they even started handing out diploma's.

They do read the names of the PHD's...that took almost an hour.

Could you imagine if they read off every name of all 10,000 grads?

I did already know about Chris (the piano tuner) getting completely cut, but I was hoping they would keep Rick (instrument repair tech).  He alone not only serviced the 110 instruments, but also all the instrumental music majors in the school of music, plus the instruments used for methods courses, etc.  He even created an Instrument Repair course (at no extra cost to the university) for music majors.  Taking that course saved my own students hundreds of dollars in repairs I could do myself instead of sending to the shop.  Very sad to see him go.

Additionally, without going into detail, I can tell you that Dr. Suk is waiting for a few things to fall into place before releasing a final schedule for the fall.  I too was hoping for a trip to Rutgers, but the band was not going to be given time during halftime to perform.  I would say look for an updated schedule for the 110 early next week.