I am frequent lurker but a very infrequent poster but I’ve always thought that the collective forum have many good ideas that could help the athletic department. With this in mind, I wanted to start a new topic with the goal of realistic and actionable idea’s being shared and discussed. My focus is on ideas that have low costs but could increase income. So here goes:

-Auction Game Balls- I know many universities have an on-line auction for items and I think is a no brainer to increase donations and athletic funds. Think about how much a ball from the Penn State game would have gone for.

-Allow for pick up hoops or football games at Peden/Convo for a donation to Bobcat Athletics. I know many alums have bachelor parties or annual events in Athens and this seems to be a great way to get income.

-On-line Auction for key surplus items “helmets, etc” The University can keep the local auction but put some of the larger dollar items on-line to get more money and allow for fans/alums that do not live locally to participate.

-“Pub to Peden”- Bus that picks up fan’s from uptown and drops them at Peden or the Convo

What makes people come to games and donate is very simple - put a quality team on the field made up of good and likeable kids, hire a coach who is engaged in the community and engaging on the court, play a competitive schedule against decent teams and win games and league titles. That is why volleyball is as popular as it is and why under John Groce at least, men's basketball was too. You can dress up the pig but at the end of the day if the quality of the bacon isn't there, it's still just a pig.

For what it's worth, they used to think the game ball auctions were worthwhile. They used to do them, and I want to say the PSU gameball(s) (or something of similar significance) was on there once upon a time. There's a link for Auctions on ohiobobcats.com, and I can't remember the last time there was something on there. And it wasn't really publicized that I'm aware of...