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Topic: The Power of Athens

Topic: The Power of Athens

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SBH
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 3,942

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The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/3/2023 8:15:57 AM

This might belong in the transfer portal thread, but I think we too often overlook the allure of Athens for some athletes -- and certainly for students.

There is a long thread on the BGSU fan site concerning their recent spate of losses to the portal. A few posters expressed their frustration about their own choice of school after having visited Athens during football road trips. Here's one of several messages:

"Just spent the day in Athens again Saturday. It's a miracle we ever get people to BG (or stay here) when places like Athens, OH are our peers.

I don't have a lot of regrets in life but going to BGSU because it was close and I grew up with the sports teams rather than spending 4 years in Athens (where I probably would have never left) is up there."

As for me, I ended up at OU almost by accident but sure am glad I did. The friendships formed there, literally from day one, have lasted a lifetime.

Last Edited: 1/3/2023 8:19:54 AM by SBH

Andrew Ruck
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,882

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RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/4/2023 9:46:05 AM

I agree. I am sure the coaches do all they can to sell the Athens experience. It would be interesting to see commit rates of people who visited by school. I have to imagine we would be higher than our MAC peers. The true challenge is getting them to visit, but you can use videos and other ways to promote the Athens experience for them to come take a look for themselves.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

OhioBobcat
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Member Since: 1/20/2006
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RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/5/2023 9:03:42 PM

SBH wrote:

Let me preference this by saying I love both Athens and Ohio University. I personally fell in love with both the first time I visited and that never changed. But I also know and have met people who feel differently about Athens and Ohio than I do. Certainly the majority of friends and family who came to visit me felt the same as I did. But not all did or do. For every group who loved it for why I did, some cut on it or ridiculed it for the same reasons. This is also why I feel it's extremely important to visit schools during the college selection process. Some people like college towns, some people like cities. Some people like rural campuses, some people like urban campuses. Some people like warm weather locations, some people like cooler weather locations. I continue to love Athens and Ohio. But over the years I have also been to many campuses all across the country. Some I like better than Athens and Ohio, some I don't like as much. Picking a school has a lot of factors in it. What might seem great to one person may be awful to another. The bottom line is, it doesn't really matter what opinion others have on a specific school or location. The opinion that matters when choosing a school that's right for you should be your own. The rest doesn't really matter.

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,005

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RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/6/2023 12:22:21 PM

I've always thought a college town environment was a premium experience over an urban school environment. The crazy thing is that if we were having this conversation 30 years ago the consensus would be Athens was the best college town in the MAC but there are so many improvements to the university and campus since that time that its hard to wrap your mind around all the changes. It's a list on many fronts; athletics, residential living, classroom facilities, uptown upgrades, breweries, shopping for essentials on East St., overnight accommodations, access to Athens from highways. Outdoor activities in the Hocking Valley are more developed. Local festivals that have sprung up. Then of course the ultimate neutralizer to not having enough malls by the name of online shopping. Streaming services so first rate television is available now without needing to be in a big city market for robust cable.

The "city life" of Toledo or Akron doesn't offer more than what you can have in Athens. Its still a good drive to watch professional sports in Detroit or Cleveland from those communities. Cleveland is different with the museums and acts they can bring in and of course the NFL and NBA is right there.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

Kinggeorge4
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Guysville, OH
Post Count: 999

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RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/6/2023 1:48:42 PM

Several years ago during a conversation with some people who worked in and with Enrollment mentioned the big negative for us was our dorms. They would interview people who chose another Ohio school and the main reason they went elsewhere was our dorms. They loved Athens and the school, just not our dorms. Hence why South Green has shrunk. My current student employees couldn't imagine living on the far points of South Green. Times change.

GO BOBCATS
GEORGE

rpbobcat
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Member Since: 4/28/2006
Location: Rochelle Park, NJ
Post Count: 3,547

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RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/6/2023 3:50:00 PM

Kinggeorge4 wrote:

When I was at O.U. back in the 70's,I lived in GAM.

Not exactly the Ritz Carlton.

As I've posted, I work with FDU.

They built a new dorm a couple of years ago.

With all the amenities in the rooms, including a microwave and fridge and things like its own fitness center, it may not be the Ritz Carlton, but has a lot more amenities then some hotels I've seen.

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,005

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RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/6/2023 6:00:37 PM

Dorm is complicated because its required for students in their first two years unless they live within a 45 mile radius of campus. The policy I thought only applied up to 30 miles but now they are exempting more areas. This goes to show how much OU isn't a SEO school if its relying on students filling up its dorms from outside the region as the core of its revenue model. There is all that merit aid tuition discounting these days so the profit is in the room and board.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

Andrew_Mooney
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Member Since: 11/11/2006
Post Count: 7

Status: Offline

RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/30/2023 2:09:45 PM

When I returned from my official visit I told my parents, "Even if I wasn't playing football there I want to go to school there". OU made me an Ohioan. There are lots of great schools in Texas that have strong fanbases all over the state that a lot of my friends went to. But they don't endear their alums to the town and school the way OU does. I have an immediate connection to an alum from any year because of Athens/OU.

Andrew_Mooney
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Member Since: 11/11/2006
Post Count: 7

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RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/30/2023 2:10:26 PM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

If we get a kid on campus, the chances of him committing are almost guaranteed.

colobobcat66
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Member Since: 9/1/2006
Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO
Post Count: 4,346

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RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/30/2023 6:07:05 PM

I lived in Washington in a triple room. How times have changed. And the airport was on east state-yes that had aero planes in those days.

Last Edited: 1/30/2023 6:09:37 PM by colobobcat66

bobcatsquared
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 5,211

Status: Offline

RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/30/2023 6:26:57 PM

Andrew_Mooney wrote:

Andrew Ruck wrote:

If we get a kid on campus, the chances of him committing are almost guaranteed.

Is this true or wishful speculation?

While many (most?) on here, including myself, love Athens and our shared college experience at Ohio University, I'm not sure if it's for everyone. Are the young athletes OUr coaches are recruiting into a rural, bucolic setting? Or are they more interested in an urban setting?

Bobcat Jerry
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Member Since: 5/3/2017
Post Count: 232

Status: Offline

RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/31/2023 5:59:43 AM

When my high school drafting teacher said "You should take a serious look at OU in Athens, Ohio" the obvious question was where is it? While the school of Architecture is long gone, my first visit recalls a gorgeous setting in rural southeast Ohio, its beautiful treed campus in a small town with "pretty girls".
My best buddy was an OU college recruiter after graduation and really enjoyed it. Piece of cake job.
So what is the message from this string of comments? Get the word out! OU? Oh yeah!

Last Edited: 1/31/2023 6:01:57 AM by Bobcat Jerry

Ohio69
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 3,023

Status: Offline

RE: The Power of Athens

Posted: 1/31/2023 5:11:31 PM

bobcatsquared wrote:

Andrew_Mooney wrote:

If we get a kid on campus, the chances of him committing are almost guaranteed.

Is this true or wishful speculation?

This is true. For non-athletes too. I don�t recall the exact % but it�s pretty big (over 50% for regular students) and mentioned often on campus.

Last Edited: 1/31/2023 5:12:04 PM by Ohio69

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

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