This is my best post ever.  Not because none of it is from me.  Because, well read it and see if you can help but feel it:


"It was 1982, fresh off 4 straight wins; the Miami Redskins were now coming into Athens. The game was for sole possession of first place and would put the 'Cats record at a very respectful 5-2 and, undefeated in the MAC. Miami's Brian Pillman headed one of the best defenses in the MAC and he was a consensus A.P. All-American. I was playing on the offensive line at the time and we knew we had our hands full. Coach Burke put in a game plan to double team Pillman on each & every play. By the time the 2nd quarter was done, so was Pillman. Tim Linson had an excellent game and seemed to be in Pillman's legs the entire day. Miami was never in the game and the Bobcats shut out our longtime foe 20-0 in front of what was at the time, one of the largest crowds in pre-renovated Peden stadium history (I think about 20,000 people).

When we were in double sessions each summer, Coach Burke made every new player learn each & every word of the Ohio University fight song. Some of us wondered why but we did it anyway. Following this game, President Charles Ping came into the locker room and, in his now raspy voice from cheering, congratulated us. Then he started to sing STAND UP AND CHEER! Every single person in the locker room joined in and started to sing as loud as we could. President Ping knew each word of that song and so did the whole team, thanks to Coach Burke. I don't think I've ever felt more proud to be singing the OHIO fight song in that misty room filled with those fine young men that had just accomplished what so few had thought could be done. To this day, it brings back chills to think of all those special people and that very, very special version of 'STAND UP & CHEER'.
-- Brian Bertoia, Hawthorn Woods, IL, Class of '85

MANDATORY LYNX:
http://www.ohiobobcats.com/genrel/091306aaa.html

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