Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt's Monthly Comments
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January 16, 2008
December 3, 2007 October 26, 2007 September 27, 2007 August 23, 2007 July 17, 2007 June 7, 2007 May 9, 2007 April 6, 2007 March 7, 2007 January 31, 2007 November 27, 2006 October 23, 2006 September 18, 2006 August 10, 2006 July 12, 2006 June 9, 2006 May 10, 2006 April 6, 2006 February 28, 2006 February 2, 2006 December 22, 2005 November 23, 2005 October 21, 2005 |
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March 7, 2007
Dear Bobcat Fans,
March is always an exciting time of the year as our spring sports begin their competitive seasons. The start of baseball and softball reassures us that warmer spring weather is right around the corner.
In this column I will update you on a special guest we had visit the Convo, discuss a couple of football related items that some of you have inquired about, and extend a very special thank you to the Marching 110.
Michael Franzese
On Monday, Feb. 19 we welcomed a special guest, Michael Franzese, to the Convocation Center to speak to our student-athletes. Michael is a former captain in New York's Colombo crime family and known as one of the biggest money earners in organized crime since Al Capone. Michael was recruited out of prison to participate in a program designed to educate professional athletes about the dangers of gambling. He knows the world of gambling and sports first-hand from his experience inside organized crime. Since being selected by the government to speak on this topic, he has spoken to numerous NCAA athletics programs, NBA and Major League Baseball teams. Michael provided our student-athletes with a first-hand account of the dangers associated with gambling, but also on the importance of making wise social decisions.
2007 Mid-American Conference Football Schedule
I have received a few emails inquiring about the release date for the 2007 MAC football schedule. It is the hope of the conference office to be in a position to release the 2007 schedule in the next couple of weeks.
For the 2007 MAC football season, as was the case in 2000 and 2001 when the MAC was at 13 teams, the league will play an unbalanced conference schedule, with divisional games being the primary factor in determining the divisional champion. Each team will play a full schedule within its division. In terms of overall MAC games, six institutions will play seven MAC games and the other seven institutions will play eight MAC games. Crossover games within the conference will serve as a tie-breaker in the event of a multiple-team tie within the division. As released earlier, we will play four non-conference games, and eight conference games.
MAC Football Student Seating Policy
In order to comply with the existing MAC Football Student-Seating Policy (passed prior to the 2004 football season) we will be required to make a change at Peden Stadium prior to the 2007 season. The current Football Student-Seating Policy states: "Each MAC institution commits to a safe, secure and sportsmanlike environment behind the visiting team bench area {30 yard line to 30 yard line}. As a part of that commitment, home team student and band seating shall be OUTSIDE the visiting team bench area. Additionally, the host MAC institution commits to an active and responsive security presence behind the visiting team bench area to address potential violations of the above policy."
At our Winter MAC meeting it was brought to my attention that Ohio was not compliant with the stated Football Student-Seating Policy. It was Ohio's opinion that the buffer zone area created by the Phillips Club seating section on the visitors sideline was satisfactory towards our compliance with the rule. However, given the clarification that no students can be seated between the thirty-yard lines from row one to the top of the stadium, we must make changes to our stadium seating.
At this time we are discussing all possible options to comply with this rule. We are visiting with O Zone members, students and Phillips Club season ticket holders. Simply, we have two options: (1) switch the Bobcats' sideline to the opposite side of the field, or (2) designate student seating in sections 118, 119 (to the 30 yard line), 122 (beginning at the 30 yard line) and 123. Option 2 would enable us to sell the Phillips Club section seats and the remaining east side seats between the 30 yard lines to Bobcat Fans. Obviously, it goes without saying that our visiting block of tickets will be moved to the top of section 112.
If you would like to let us know what you think about either seating option, please contact the Bobcat Ticket Office at (800)-575-2287 or (740)-593-1173.
Marching 110
I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the Marching 110 for all they continue to do in support of our athletic teams. Sunday night, at the Ohio versus Central Michigan women's basketball game in Cleveland, Diane, my wife, commented how fortunate we were to have such a talented group of students playing in the 110. It doesn't matter where I am, in Cleveland for the MAC Basketball Tournament or in Mobile for the GMAC Bowl, I always receive multiple comments from other athletics administrators or fans regarding how great the Marching 110 is! We do have the most exciting band in the land! Thank you Marching 110 for all you do to support our teams and enhance the environment both at our home events and on select road trips!
In closing, thank you for your continued support of Ohio Athletics. If there are topics you would like for me to address in upcoming columns please send me an email and let me know. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming athletics event!
Go Bobcats!
Kirby
