An OSU fans thoughts about BG..thoughts?

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Yeah, the "create a new board" thing has been done with the buckeye faithful as well. A lot of people I know from Buckeyeplanet.com had to bail out of bucknuts cause of all the luanacy. If you want some fair talk from Buckeye fans, you should check it out. Sure, there still some homerism, and of course new posters are usually "initiated" if they come off too strong from the get go, it's an intelligent place for so football talk.
Hell, I came on too strong and got pummled there before I figured out it wasn't a "smack" board.

I think BG should start beating up on the BigTen teams they can beat up on fairly easily. The Meeshitagain States, the Indianas, the way things are going, even Penn State. Actually, beating PSU would do much for BGSU.

1st, I think BG could beat PSU these days.
2nd, depsite the fact that PSU is clearly going in thewrong direction, everyone insists "THEY'RE BACK" this year. They're not. Jo Pa was a great coach... is a great coach.. but, it's over. Anyway, the perception of a BG win over Penn State would be favorable.

(OH, and what is "Ay-Zaggy-Zoomba" anyway?)

[UK Peregrine]

UK Peregrine - that's kinda my point. I'll say it again, I was not attempting to suggest that Marshall did it "right" just that it can be done. Again, it's my position that there is no reason why BG can't become a bigger/better program. In otherwords, I don' t believe the deck is stacked against BG.

That's not to say it's an easy road to hoe. The MAC should start by getting more lesser bowl tie-ins. That's where the MAC is getting beat up financially. If CUSA has 5, the MAC should have at least that many.

Agreed, I was just due for a really sarcastic post today. BG's best approach in terms of growing the program is to contiune what they are doing.....winning football games is the best marketing strategy a team can have. If you don't win games, you're going to have a hell of a time getting fans into the seats. If BG continues to go to bowl game after bowl game and creates some longevity without the lull we experienced from '95-'00, then the accolades and bandwagon fans will come. Also if Omar manages to become a legitimate thought in the minds of the Heisman voters, then this program may go places we could not even dream about just five seasons ago. Sooner or later, people will realize that BG football is exciting, top-notch football and this program can play with anyone in the land.

The Doyt attendance problem itself, likely resides more with the MAC bottom tier. As TG pointed out, its tough to get fans excited for the likes of UB, WMU, and CMU when we blow them out each week.. If the conference can become a little more competetive, then that's when people will show up. Only when the games mean something do fans seem to show up at BG at this point in time.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

The Doyt attendance problem itself, likely resides more with the MAC bottom tier. As TG pointed out, its tough to get fans excited for the likes of UB, WMU, and CMU when we blow them out each week.. If the conference can become a little more competetive, then that's when people will show up. Only when the games mean something do fans seem to show up at BG at this point in time.

That's a good point, who wants to see Buffalo and Directional Michigan? Still, it doens't matter who OSU is playing, they sell 100,000 seats. 60,000 may be gone by half time (not me, I love a good old fashioned ass whipping.. ps2 style) but the interest is there regardless. I don't know how you build that kind of following, if I did I'd be making a lot more money. I do think you are right though, keep winning and it'll come.

Take Florida State... They flat out stunk before Bobby Bowden came to town.. I mean they were BAD. Say what you will abotu BB, but he built that proggy up. He did it by playing the "big boys" of the time at their house and showing well, ultimately beating them. To get better, you gotta play the best, philosophy. That won't put butts in the seats for Buffalo.... at least not right away.

Miami of Florida is another example. Prior to 1983 they were plain miserable. Something changed... now people talk about how easy it is to sell a recuit on Miami. What's not to like, beaches and babes.... you know. Still, what put them on the map, was winning the biggie against Nebby.

Neither FSU or Miami belonged to conference in those days... I dont think, anyway.

[TG1996]

(OH, and what is "Ay-Zaggy-Zoomba" anyway?)

No clue.

But "Ay-ZIGGY-Zoomba", is the unofficial, yet almost universally preferred fight song at BG. Back in the 30's or 40's, an alum (or future alum at that point) named Gilbert Fox came up with words to a Zulu war chant for the BG athletic teams. UNC also uses a version of Ay Ziggy Zoomba, and claims it to be their own, yet by their own admission, it surfaced in Chapel Hill 20 or 30 years after Gilbert Fox brought it to BG.

(And by then, he was well on his way to over 1,000 published lesbian porn novels.)

[It's the Journey...]

I was wondering if you would ask about Ay Ziggy Zoomba. I will compare it like this. Ohio has "Fight the Team" and "Buckeye Battle Cry" as fight songs. Here at BG we have "Foreward Falcons" which is our official fight song and "Ay Ziggy Zoomba" which is our unofficial fight song. It was brought to us from a WWII vet just after the war and is a Zulu war chant. It's literal translarion escapes me but here are the lyrics:

Ay Ziggy Zoomba, Zoomba, Zoomba,
Ay Ziggy Zoomba, Zoomba Zig (Ze),

Ay Ziggy Zoomba, Zoomba, Zoomba,
Ay Ziggy Zoomba, Zoomba Zig (Ze),

Roll Along, You BG Warriors,
Roll Along, And Fight (Win) for B G S U

Words in the parenthasis (sp?) are different from how I learned the song.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

ZIggy, not ZAggy... my bad.

Thanks for the info. Leave it to the good ol boys on tabacco road to steal a good idea from Ohio. Kinda reminds me of Meechigan recruiting. Friggin thieves.

[TG1996]

Kinda reminds me of Meechigan recruiting. Friggin thieves.

See "other schools" forum for reply.

[It's the Journey...]

Perhaps Grant or Mike could upload Ay ZiggyZoomba on here for our new friend.

[TG1996]

Perhaps Grant or Mike could upload Ay ZiggyZoomba on here for our new friend.

Its already here in band form, on the multimedia page (easily accessible from the main lobby )

[UK Peregrine]

Perhaps Grant or Mike could upload Ay ZiggyZoomba on here for our new friend.

And its already done on Anderson Animals by Mike.

http://www.andersonanimals.com/sounds/ayzig.mp3

[It's the Journey...]

Thank you. I haven't been to the animals site in a couple weeks.

[Schadenfreude]

If it was easy to build a football program, everyone would be doing it.

I don't think there are pat answers for how to build a better football program. "Investment" is easy to say. The hard part is raising the coin to do it.

When I look around, I do see investment. I see our pink rails painted black, I see the new videoboard, I see the Sebo Center coming. These are investments -- and I trust more will follow.

I tend to think Marshall fans always talk in terms of having the will power to build a program and the importance of investing in football and stuff because they want to share in the credit for how far the program has come.

The belief that anyone could do what Marshall did if only they work hard enough and make the right decisions is very important to Marshall fans -- much like it is for rich people who bitch about their taxes being too high.

In reality: Marshall spent its money wisely, and it got lucky. That was the recipe for success. Either one, alone, would not have yielded the program we see today.

Marshall got lucky in that it fielded winning programs year after year after year -- pretty much from the mid-1980s on.

It got lucky in being situated in a media vacuum.

It got lucky in having people like Joan Edwards able to fork over $3 million to get them in a different (not better!) league.

I trust if that our run lasts as long as Marshall's has, we'll get to where they are. Because I see us trying to invest in football, I see us making a lot of good decisions.

But some of it is luck. Bill Gates? Smart guy. Worked hard. And he was lucky.

It's the same for Marshall.

Heck, it's probably the same for that guy now coaching at Florida.

Oh yeah, one more thing:

I'd submit we are already competing with the big boys. Watch us Sept. 3 at Wisconsin.

We aren't a big boy -- not yet -- but we can beat 'em.

[Tech83]

iHuntington, West Virginia,
As of the census of 2000, there are 51,475 people, 22,955 households, and 12,235 families residing in the city.

I have to differ greatly on this issue. There is no comparision and it gets down to demographics.

The population of BG is about 29,000 according to State of Ohio estimates.

Marshall football is an event for students, alumni, and every Hilljack with a monster truck. Their fan base is wide-spread. And its program was wildly popular and drew large numbers prior to the plane crash. There is a very nice (hate to use that word) documentary about the Marshall football program that runs on PBS on occasion. Documents the program and its growth very well. It has HUGE local support and always has.

How many D-1a football programs are in West Virgina? I can think of two..... Marshall and West Virgina. I have conducted business in West Virgina..... they are mad about Marshall football. It's a sickness.... I would met professional people and when they found out I was a BG/Miami grad they would go nuts. And they did not even go to school there. The same sickness we see with Ohio State football.... never went there, but they are fans.

How many D-1a football schools are in Ohio? Cincinnati, Miami, BG, Toledo, OSUcks, Kent, Akron, The Ohio University. Am I missing any? Compared to West Virgina, the Ohio market is deluted.

Also think about the other programs being mentioned BYU and Boise... Again, what other D-1a product is in their geographical area.

There is some sort of opinion being expressed here that you can only get players if you fill the stadium..... I don't buy that as a wholesale theory. Many kids want to play all four years and not ride the pine for 2-3 years like at OSU or a larger program. They chose to go to BG, Miami, Toledo.

The program will grow based on sucesss and quality facilities, not filled stadiums. That comes after years of sucess. But we are not going to get locals in Toledo to switch to BG football.....However, we might all be surprised at the number of Toledo hockey fans we possibly attract. Then again, there are only three D-1a hockey programs in the state.

I am no trying to poo-poo marketing, that needs to happen, but lets assume there are only so many football fans and that number does not change. (just like soda drinkers.... no amount of advertising will create new soda drinkers...only a certain percentage of the population drinks soda on a regular basis......there are just brand jumpers) You will not get a Toledo fan or alumni to switch to BG or vica versa.... You won't get an OSU fan to switch to Ohio University.... and the fan base for most of the schools, other than OSU will be locals and alumni. The market is somewhat static.....

Having said that, I think you might be able to grow football fans through school (alumni) allegance (yes I know I just contradicted myself).... but that takes getting students in the Doyt. They might not be interested in football as much as the atmoshere of event.....which means in 5-10 years they will return with their spouses and families. And the staduim starts to fill. Hopefully they actually become football fans.

[BGSUFootballFan]

wow this is getting really deep into it, i love it

[MiamiBando]

I like this Buckeyes fan... he has the right idea!

Miami of Florida

MUAHAHA! He know's who MU is and who the other one is. Marshall was the exception to the MAC. I think instead of adding Temple's and the like, they should shoot for the stars, and invite teams like Navy(never gonna happen) or other teams!