Today the Ohio Bobcats’ equipment staff Twitter @OHIOBobcatsFBEQ posted a picture of the new green and white helmets the team will be wearing at their opening game against Penn State on Saturday.
Used with permission by @OHIOBobcatsFBEQ
This is the most recent uniform change in the Ohio University Athletic Department. Last year they trotted out black uniforms with green numbers that were used for football, men’s basketball and baseball, with black helmets and the ‘OHIO’ in green for football. Whatever the cost of the new duds may have been, the return on investment far surpassed it. First, the video of the football team reacting to the black uniform reveal went viral on YouTube, getting over 315,000 views. If you Google “Ohio University black uniforms”, you see posts from all different organizations talking about it. If you haven’t seen the video, watch it below. If you have seen it, you know you want to watch it again.
Then, came the actual game the black uniforms were for; the annual “Battle of the Bell” showdown between Ohio and non-conference rival Marshall. This was a revenge game for the ‘Cats, even though players and coaches denied it to the media, because they lost this game in 2010 in dramatic fashion. QB Boo Jackson drove the team 72 yards in 1:01 and hit Terrence McCrae for a 36-yard hail mary TD to make it 24-23 Marshall with no time on the clock. Head coach Frank Solich decided to go for the two-point conversion, and the win, instead of trying to tie with an extra point and the throw to wideout Riley Dunlop was knocked down. Many said the refs swallowed their whistles on a defensive pass interference on Dunlop. For Marshall Week 2011: The Revenge, the black jerseys only added to the intensity surrounding the game and the strategy worked very well for the football team because they smacked The Herd 44-7. In the video below: see how much the game meant to the team in the “Marshall Week” episode of the Bobcat Sports Showcase, specifically at 10:51. (Disclaimer: I did work on this show. Also, this episode won an Ohio Valley Emmy, so I’m providing you with real eye candy here.)
Six weeks later, the Bobcats met Temple at home, which played a big factor in whether they would go to the MAC Championship game or a bowl game. The promotions & marketing teams sold black shirts promoting the ‘Bobcat Blackout’ that would be televised on ESPN. Even though it was cold, Peden Stadium was packed with students (most of whom still left after the Marching 110 performed at halftime). The event was a rousing success because the ‘Cats won 35-31 en route to a Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win, 47 school records, and arguably the most successful football season in Ohio University history.
Fans stormed the field after the Bobcats beat Temple 35-31 in the first-ever Bobcat Blackout game. (Personal photo)
The power of the black jerseys seemed to bestow equally unparalleled success for the men’s basketball team who powered to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Also, the school sold the football jerseys for around $180 for a couple weeks during the holiday season, so I’m sure they enjoyed the new jerseys as well.
However, as my title indicates, these changes mean more than just a new look on the field. It shows that the athletic department is willing to invest in its programs, even though that is usually its most visible programs, football and men’s basketball. Fans will be more interested in a team that they can see is worth it. Last year’s black jerseys were important because they ignited huge amounts of Bobcat pride in a year that swelled with unprecedented athletic success. Athletics is hoping to capture some of that ‘lightning in a bottle’ excitement with the new green helmets.
When you have teams like Oregon, who get three or four new sets of uniforms every year, the appreciation and excitement of a new, fresh look is diluted. Whoever decides what the teams will wear did it right. They unbottled the lightning at the right time, inspiring the team and the university community. For football, they rewarded a team that was heartbroken by Marshall in 2010 and added fuel to the incendiary “Battle of the Bell” fire. Then, they let Ohio and its students appear on national television in a memorable way and gave viewers what they wanted to see. Northern Illinois got to wear black as the home team in the MAC Championship, and I’m not saying that jerseys can be responsible for bad play, but Ohio gave up 23 unanswered points after halftime and lost 23-20.
The last football uniform change came in 2007. (Source: http://www.uni-watch.com/2007/08/21/uni-watch-on-site-report-lelands/)
As with anything, people have varying opinions of how the new helmets will look, but if they can be linked to a win over Penn State on Saturday, Bobcat fans should ease up. Then, the athletic department and director Jim Schaus (called Jim “Schnaus” by Yahoo! Sports, which I find hilarious) can give themselves another pat on the back.
No Cheering in the Press Box 