Ohio and Marshall, are only separated by 80 miles, which has led to the development of a strong rivalry between these two schools. The rivalry dates back to 1905 when Marshall shutout Ohio 6-0 and each year the winner walks away with The Bell as well as regional bragging rights. Ohio leads the all-time series 33-20-6 and will try and extend their lead when these two bitter rivals meet next.
The Battle of the Bricks between Miami and Ohio dates back to 1908 and has been going strong ever since. Each year the two teams meet on the gridiron for MAC supremacy creating a fierce rivalry that is a lot of fun for both sides. The RedHawks lead the all-time series 52-37-2, but the Bobcats have won 9 of the last ten meetings and will look to draw ever closer next time these two rivals meet.
Bobcats Tailgate Guide
Atmosphere
Ohio is one of the biggest party schools in the country meaning you’ll feel no need to go to a major conference school if you want to cut loose because you’ll find no better place to do so than Athens. On game days the entire town is one giant party that is a can’t miss for anyone looking to take part in a wild and fun tailgate party. Ohio has such a strong party reputation that the Princeton Review’s annual biggest party schools listed Ohio University as the #1 party school in the entire nation in 2012, #3 in 2013, and #7 in 2014. Clearly, Ohio gets national recognition for their party scene, and that extends into the atmosphere for their football games.
Bobcats fans get tailgating started early with Pepsi Tailgreat Park taking shapes in the field across from Peden Stadium on Friday afternoon. Tailgreat Park is the center of the Ohio tailgate providing a great space for picnics, grilling, tossing Frisbees, and setting up tailgate sites for Saturday’s big game. You’ll also find live music, games for kids, and the smell of charcoal emanating throughout Tailgreat Park on game days.
Ohio University Marching 110 Pregame Concert and Fan Walk
A couple of hours before kickoff the Ohio University Marching 110 will make a stop at Tailgreat Park to perform for the fans to boost the crowd’s energy before kickoff. At the end of the concert, they will lead fans down the Hocking River in a fan walk, which culminates in the fans giving the team a few words of encouragement as the players and coaches enter the stadium.
Tailgreat Park is the center of the Bobcats tailgate and the place to be in Athens on Bobcats game days. Tailgating here starts Friday afternoon before the game, so make sure to get here early to secure a good spot right in the heart of Bobcats Tailgate country.
The Ohio Bobcat Club Hospitality Village provides an exclusive tailgating area open to only Ohio Bobcat Club members. The Hospitality Village opens three hours before kickoff and offers flat screen TVs, food and drinks, and even giveaways to loyal Bobcats fans.
Where to tailgate
Pepsi Tailgreat ParkTailgreat Park is the center of the Bobcats tailgate and the place to be in Athens on Bobcats game days. Tailgating here starts Friday afternoon before the game, so make sure to get here early to secure a good spot right in the heart of Bobcats Tailgate country.
Ohio Bobcat Club Hospitality VillageThe Ohio Bobcat Club Hospitality Village provides an exclusive tailgating area open to only Ohio Bobcat Club members. The Hospitality Village opens three hours before kickoff and offers flat screen TVs, food and drinks, and even giveaways to loyal Bobcats fans.
Indoor Pregame HospitalityIf you want to stay out of the weather than there is no better place to tailgate than the Indoor Pregame Hospitality tailgating area. The indoor area is perfect for those late season games when the wind is howling, and temperatures drop below 40 degrees
Bobcats Stadium Guide
In Game
Peden Stadium provides an intimate and historic atmosphere, which has caused it to be viewed by many as the “Wrigley Field” of college football. You’ll find that the atmosphere at Peden Stadium is so intimate that if you’re sitting in the first few rows, you’ll even be able to hear the communication between players and coaches on the sidelines.
It’s not just the intimate atmosphere that makes attending a Bobcats game a special event. Ohio is known as one of the top party schools in the nation, and this fuels the crowd before, during, and after the game. The students start pregaming early in the morning before heading out to the game and bringing enthusiasm with them in bundles.
The fans and students at Ohio engage in a variety of chants with the most commonly heard being the OU-OHHH YEAHHH chant. You can hear this chant before the game, after significant offensive plays, and after the fight song when the Bobcats score meaning you’ll pick it up quickly so you can take part in the fun. If you want to fit in with the rest of the crowd make sure to wear green since you’ll find fans are decked from head to toe in green and white for game day, it almost looks like a St. Patrick’s day celebration.
At the North Entrance of the Stadium is a life-size bronze statue of an actual Ohio Bobcat. It’s an Ohio tradition to gently rub this statute to bring the team good luck when you walk past. Make sure to stop by the statue and rub its paw to give the Bobcats some extra luck before the game.
Peden Tower is home to all of the Ohio University football operations, so if you get the chance make sure to take a peek to see where all the magic happens behind the scenes at an Ohio Bobcats football game.
The fierce mascot roams the sideline during games looking to rile up the fans and inspire school spirit. Rufus works hard to keep the crowd pumped up and entertained on game days, so keep your eyes peeled for him during stoppages in play or when you need an extra boost in cheering on the Bobcats.
The Marching 110 are a key feature of every Ohio game day that you won’t want to miss. The band starts early in the morning at the tailgate leading the fans to the stadium and continues pound on the drums and blast the horns throughout the game. The band plays loud and proud for every Bobcat first down and before opponents third downs, as the fans rise to intimidate the opposing offense.
The open hill on the south end of the stadium is home to the Ohio student section and is among the best in the MAC. The students form a sea of green in the stand and are among the noisiest student sections in the conference drawing many opponent offsides.
Fight Songs
Ohio University Fight Song
Stand up and cheer
Cheer loud and long for old OHIO
For today we raise
The Green and White above the rest
Our team is fighting,
And we are bound to win the fray
We’ve got the team,
We’ve got the steam,
For this is old OHIO’s day!
Rah! Rah! Rah! (Repeat)
Alma Mater
When e’er we take our book of mem’ries And scan its pages through and through We’ll find no days that glow so brightly As those we spent at old O.U. Within our Alma Mater’s portals We meet her children hand to hand And when there comes the day of parting, Still firm and loyal we will stand CHORUS (2 verses) Alma Mater, Ohio, Alma Mater, brave and fair! Alma Mater, we hail thee, For we own thy kindly care. Alma Mater, Ohio, When we read thy story o’er, We revere thee and cheer thee As we sing thy praise once more. Our Alma Mater calls us ever, And love of country has its claim, The one but makes us prize the other, And thus we cherish both the same. When Alma Mater sends us forward, And in her name we stand in line, Then we will serve the nation better, For having gathered at her shrine. CHORUS
Locally owned and operated, Broneys offers a beer and spirits list second to none. Try our mouthwatering wings while watching the NFL Network and the Bobcats on our large screen televisions.
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