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Topic: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Topic: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

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Buckeye to Bobcat
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Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/1/2019 11:14:14 AM

Athens (AP)--Ohio University has released a statement that after 73 years, the Ohio Bobcats will leave a conference they created in 1946 for "greener pastures." The Ohio University will be departing the Mid-American Conference effective July 1, 2020 for the Ohio Athletic Conference, a Division III conference.

"It's a great day to be a Bobcat," Athletic Director Jim Schaus said to the media. "We're finally able to find a great home for our athletic programs that makes sense for us not only financially but travel-wise as well. We have looked into this since the days of Charles Ping and right now it makes sense for us. We're excited to be playing local rivals Marietta and Muskingum University again, and an opportunity of a lifetime for Jeff Boals to take his basketball team over to Wittenburg for the Larry Hunter Cup!"

The Ohio Athletic Conference was established in 1902 and hosted the Bobcats from 1910-1928. Currently the conference consists of 10 full-time members but will go to 11 once the Bobcats join in 2020. With the Bobcats joining this new league, they may find life in the OAC difficult on the football end, as Mount Union is the current power.

"We're excited to go after our first conference championship since 1968," football coach Frank Solich said. "For our kids, it allows us to compete with schools we traditionally try to schedule here in Athens in September. In addition, we're prepared to take on Mount Union and wrestle the OAC Title away from them as soon as we join in 2020."

"We felt that going back to a league that had us as members at one time made too much sense," said Schaus. "With the full support of President Nellis, the Board of Trustees, and key donors, we feel this move will allow us to save on expenses and finally buy the Fairgrounds for new academic buildings."

Jeremy Guy of the Mid-American Conference had nothing to say on the matter, as he tweeted, "How did the Indians only get 5 runs this weekend? Why can't the Cavaliers score more than 80?"

Happy April Fools Everyone

Last Edited: 4/1/2019 2:15:08 PM by Buckeye to Bobcat

Mark Lembright '85
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Member Since: 8/22/2010
Location: Highland Heights, OH
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/1/2019 12:33:19 PM

Very well played, Sir!! :)

Recovering Journalist
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Location: Cleveland, OH
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/1/2019 2:42:25 PM

This is great but I don't see why you needed real quotes from J Guy's Twitter page. ;-)

GoCats105
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Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/1/2019 5:57:31 PM

You had me until the Jeremy Guy thing. That guy always keeps it real!

randy
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Location: along the green river, OH
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/1/2019 8:47:26 PM

Oh, jeeze I needed a smile on my face on this blog , with all the happenings and crap talk lately. thank you for lighting things up a bit

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/1/2019 9:20:54 PM

Though it was clearly a spoof from the beginning, I enjoyed it. Good satire. I love it! Thanks.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/2/2019 10:57:25 PM

Doesnt this mean we will be adding about four sports? We can have crew out on the Hocking River.

rpbobcat
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Member Since: 4/28/2006
Location: Rochelle Park, NJ
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 6:56:40 AM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

Doesnt this mean we will be adding about four sports? We can have crew out on the Hocking River.

Have to make sure to let Lori Loughlin know.

shabamon
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Location: Cincinnati
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 8:20:14 AM

Too ludicrous to believe for a second. Now if you had said FCS...

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 9:32:50 AM

shabamon wrote:

Too ludicrous to believe for a second. Now if you had said FCS...

Hence why I said April Fools. I believe Charles Ping at one time wanted to de-emphasize athletics to the point we were a D-3 school. Would have to check in his book but I believe he wanted to.

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 9:33:25 AM

rpbobcat wrote:

Jeff McKinney wrote:

Doesnt this mean we will be adding about four sports? We can have crew out on the Hocking River.

Have to make sure to let Lori Loughlin know.

+1

Savage

L.C.
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 9:50:51 AM

shabamon wrote:

Too ludicrous to believe for a second. Now if you had said FCS...

I presume you are being facetious here. Obviously no one ever drops to FCS, but it is not uncommon for an excellent academic university to decide to play sports at the Division III level. U. Chicago, M.I.T., Claremont/Harvey Mudd and Case Western are some that come to mind.

Last Edited: 4/3/2019 2:45:50 PM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

shabamon
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 9:56:12 AM

L.C. wrote:

shabamon wrote:

Too ludicrous to believe for a second. Now if you had said FCS...

I presume you are being facetious here. Obviously no one ever drops to FCS, but it is not uncommon for an excellent academic university to decide to play sports at the Division III level. U. Chicago, M.I.T., Scripps/Claremont and Case Western are some that come to mind.

Idaho did.

L.C.
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 10:47:03 AM

Idaho did, but not voluntarily. They got kicked out of the Sunbelt conference, and no other conference would accept them, so they had no choice.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 4:39:01 PM

Just wait for next year's April Fool's Post.....should be a treat

L.C.
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/3/2019 5:33:33 PM

This one was good. Kudos to you.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

colobobcat66
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/4/2019 9:37:21 PM

L.C. wrote:

Idaho did, but not voluntarily. They got kicked out of the Sunbelt conference, and no other conference would accept them, so they had no choice.

Actually, they had the same choice as UMass and New Mexico State, =independent.
Not a good choice, but a choice all the same.

L.C.
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/4/2019 11:33:41 PM

colobobcat66 wrote:

L.C. wrote:

Idaho did, but not voluntarily. They got kicked out of the Sunbelt conference, and no other conference would accept them, so they had no choice.

Actually, they had the same choice as UMass and New Mexico State, =independent.
Not a good choice, but a choice all the same.

And Liberty moved up to Division I despite not having a conference. Life as independent is rough, though, if you aren't named BYU, Notre Dame, or Army. I note that Liberty is playing NMSU twice a year. You are right, though, that Idaho technically could have stayed as FBS, if they really wanted to. Still, what we have never seen is a school that is in a conference, and which could stay FBS without difficulty, moving down to FCS. We have, however, seen colleges with strong academics electing to play in Division III. That was what made this a great April 1 post.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

catfan28
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/6/2019 12:32:20 AM

L.C. wrote:

Actually, they had the same choice as UMass and New Mexico State, =independent.
Not a good choice, but a choice all the same.

And Liberty moved up to Division I despite not having a conference.
[/QUOTE]

Liberty is trying to become like a BYU or Notre Dame for evangelicals. Whether the plan works athletically, time will tell. But I wouldn't be shocked if they keep trying to build their brand as an independent. Their facilities (as a campus and for athletics) are top-notch. Sleeping giant, IMO.

DJCooperBurnerAccount
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/8/2019 2:14:52 PM

99.9% of the time I leave my house sporting OU in some fashion. 100% of the time if it's a fall Saturday some "buckeye fan" with no affiliation to the school will drop the line of "Which D3 school do you guys play today" and I will stop myself from making their buckeye necklace a permanent part of their attire. This short rant leads me to my question.... do you think there will ever be a time OU leaves the MAC or division 1 ranks? I feel like the MAC is the perfect fit for us.. but you never know how the University officials feel.

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/8/2019 2:59:16 PM

DJCooperBurnerAccount wrote:

Great question.

To be honest, would have to come down to the other Ohio schools decide to do. Always have said this is one of the top leagues in terms of geographical fit and stability in the country. If they all decide to move a direction, I don't see OU abandoning their in-state brethren.

If anything would happen, it would be a universal move from the league to go FCS or below. I don't see OU making this decision independently if that makes sense. Only way we would ever look to move is if someone got loaded in a hurry (think T Boone Pickens Money) and wanted to take OU to the next level. Would mean a substantial gift (would estimate a $300 million endowment) along with either a new basketball arena or the ability to build a new football stadium on the fairgrounds.

Otherwise, I don't see us dropping for the long-term, especially with where we are as a school and some folks have realized the benefits of the NCAA Tournament on enrollment.

Last Edited: 4/8/2019 3:04:12 PM by Buckeye to Bobcat

GoCats105
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/8/2019 5:10:00 PM

catfan28 wrote:

Liberty is trying to become like a BYU or Notre Dame for evangelicals. Whether the plan works athletically, time will tell. But I wouldn't be shocked if they keep trying to build their brand as an independent. Their facilities (as a campus and for athletics) are top-notch. Sleeping giant, IMO.

The problem Liberty and BYU have: they're not Notre Dame. BYU totally overestimated their value and would probably love to be in a conference right now. Liberty will have an even tougher time than they have.

Last Edited: 4/8/2019 5:10:26 PM by GoCats105

Broomball @ Midnight!
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RE: Ohio University to Leave MAC, Go Division III

Posted: 4/11/2019 9:38:56 PM

I think you greatly undervalue the overall finances of Liberty and its determination to reach athletic relevance.

You need to do massive amounts of additional math and revisit this.

You just got lesson number one: don't think; it can only hurt the ball club. - Crash Davis (1988)

BS Ohio '88 - MA Florida '92 - PhD Florida '10

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