I recently got elected to the executive board of Block "O" (which is the largest student organization and official student section for all Buckeye sports). Is there anything you guys would like to see from Block "O" next year (new cheers, card stunts, involvement, interaction, programming, etc)?
Just want to hear from the community, and you guys seem to be good at giving advice. I'd like to hear what both students and non-students think/want.
Thanks!
I sat above Block O South this year, and found it a little disheartening that the Block O sections weren't filled by kickoff, although the same goes for the rest of the student sections. I think it would be helpful to create a system that would encourage students to be in their seats about 10-15 minutes before kickoff. Maybe a points system where one is assessed points for coming to the game at a certain time or earlier, and after having earned enough points, you would get some free swag like shirts or other apparel. You could just swipe your BuckID at admissions to ensure that you would receive credit.
Most of it gets filled prior to kickoff, especially for big games. It's not like the seats aren't sold, the Block O South tickets sell out almost immedietly when tickets go on sale. I mean, we have a points system in place, but it's largely for non-revenue sport attendence. I'll see what we can do.
I think it'd be good for a partnership to be formed between Block "O" and website such as this. It would be good for you guys to get your message out to the non-student fan community as far as fund raising events, pre-game celebration, special game day events, etc. Maybe that's a little off base and maybe this partnershp already exists, just thought I'd put it out there.
@Recruitbuck. I know there's an attendence point system for non-rev sports, got a t-shirt from hockey games this year. Just think if that were implemented at football games the stands would be completely filled before kickoff. Thanks for the response, also congrats on being elected in the first place.
They tried a lot of things to get us in the stands on time in 07 and most of the time, it just doesnt matter. The people who dont care about seeing script or the entrance wont show up on time for some free points. Just kind of the way it is. My suggestion is to make sure it stays fun. When I was in Block O, it got to a point where it felt more like a job and nothing was natural or fun. So that is my suggestion. Keep it loose, keep it natural.
"Who cares? Go Bucks." - Aaron Untch
What position were you elected for? I was the Director of Volleyball Operations from 2007-2010.
Where do I start with reccommendations... wow, this could turn into a rant as I am not very happy with the path Block "O" has gone down. Guess my number one piece of advice is to remember what the roots of Block "O" are. We are a cheering section. We are there to support the team. We are not a social club and we are not a resume stuffer. We show up at games, get loud, and yell "OOOOOOOOOOO" when the other team has the ball. If you always have that perspective, you will do just fine.
Congratulations, Block "O" was the best time of my life. Most of my closest friends are from that organization. Work hard, but make sure you enjoy every second of it.
Cause I couldn't go for three
Awwwwop is correct.
Taquitos.
Will do guys! Keep 'em coming.
I would have to agree with William on this. I know I'm over the hill, will turn 60 this year. I get back for up to 4 games per year. Part of the fun of attending games is to see some of the warms ups by both teams, and, of course, to see the band enter the stadium. It really amazes me that anyone can show up late for a game, let alone someone seated in the Block O section. And, when it does happen in Block O it makes it look like you are scrambling just to find enough behinds to fill the seats there. Anything that you could do to get Block O completely filled 15 minutes prior to kickoff would be welcome. I know that everyone comes to see the game, but there is so much more to the game than just what happens from kick off to the final gun.
Block O is a premier group, much like the band. Imagine if the band would show up 10 minutes after kickoff!!! With that said, the biggest improvement you could make is to have Block O be the leaders in the stands. Getting in early and staying until the end to sing Carmen Ohio with the team would do wonders for overall fan support in the stadium. Basically - if you want to be part of the pageantry - do so!! You might even find that the team would appreciate you being there for warm ups. You could probably work in some simple enthusiastic routines while the players are going through the motions on the field, and just maybe start a new tradition. At the very least you could flash something cool as the band enters the field - maybe a figure of the drum major bending over backwards - this could be animated, starting with a standing Drum Major, progressing through the motions as the hat touches the turf!
Hope that's what you are looking for.
Do away with Seven Nation Army.
I don't get those who wish to do away with Seven Nation Army. It's fun, and the 'Shoe/Schott get loud when we do it. What would you replace it with exactly? Look at these videos and tell me we should replace it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm1FkS-Svlg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWqRhDqR-bI&feature=related
Haha I actually played in the band at the Duke game, it was crazy loud during the Buckeye bounce. The only other Buckeye event I can relate it to is when it was #1 vs #2 OSU/Mich and the USC game. The band likes Seven Nation Army too, so I'm not sure you can just do away with it.
@William... I agree... it is a stupid request by people who just want to whine
Cause I couldn't go for three
@Rampage, I was elected to marketing director.
Yah seventh army nation makes the place go crazy. Keep it for sure!
RecruitBuck...glad you're here soliciting opinions... I think we need to have more than just O-H cheers circling the stadium. I wish people would really know and sing aloud the words to all of our songs! I went to an Auburn game a couple season ago, and I was thoroughly impressed with the crowd inside the stadium. Everyone in the stadium knew the words and sang along to multiple songs, cheers, whatever. We really need to step up our game, and this obviously goes beyond Block 'O' section, but it must start somewhere (I was told at Auburn in freshman orientation everyone is supposed to learn and memorize the various songs and cheers...I didn't do orientation at OSU, does this happen?).
We have a great history of songs and cheers, we just need people to learn the words and scream them outloud!
Thanks for your time RecruitBuck.
Come up with some new cheers, while also performing the old ones. Penn State fans always come up with new stuff and I wish OSU students would not just rely on the classics.
I love the ideas guys. I'm a big fan of what the Nordecke does at Crew games, they have new cheer sessions/practice and then belt them.
Just a thought here, RecruitBuck... I have noticed that the Block O section is generally filled from bottom to top. Yes, I do get into the stadium early!!! Just saying that if I was in Block O, I would probably want to arrive late too, because the view down low is a little obstructed. Don't know if that is a factor on the slow too arrive bodies, but maybe you should turn it around and fill from the top down. Also, don't know if that is logistically possible, but it may be worth a try.
William, I get your point on Seven Nation Army. I must admit that the song itself really doesn't thrill me, but it does seem to get people going and I love the noise and energy. I think the biggest draw back is that it is similar if not the same as what Penn State does. There have been discussions on here before that it is different, but it sure sounds the same on TV. It seems the Wisky does something similar too. Maybe that is where the distaste is coming from.
can we stop with the wave? it is seriously the worst thing in sports...start a revolution and stop it!
Whether the cheers are old or new, they need to engage more than just the few thousand in Block O...really has to become something that engages the majority of the stadium (at least the students spread throughout it). Things that people will start to participate in at every game.
marketing director?? That's a new one to me...
Cause I couldn't go for three
@WILLIAM, thanks for linking to my Youtube video!
No relation to OSUFORLIFE...
@Rampage,
I guess I will be doing website stuff, marketing accross campus, etc.
Oh god. The wave is horrible. Please stop doing the wave. The incentive to show up late is not for a better view. It is to get more drunk/fix the hangover from the night before. Always was and always will be. We always wanted to get there before script but only did so about half the time. Also: there is a block o meeting in the beginning of the year where the band and block o leadership teach the students the words and actions to the songs. Again though people who don't care won't go no matter what. I think block o does really well for the most part but you will always have the pockets of people that just do not and will not care.
"Who cares? Go Bucks." - Aaron Untch
I'm not sure if you are able to change any of the music played in the Horseshoe and Schott, but I have noticed a severe lack of Metallica being played. I don't know if it is just me, but I certainly would trade Hell's Bells for For Whom The Bell Tolls. Metallica always gets stadiums loud at professional games, why don't we play it at OSU?
Class of 2016. Go Bucks!
As someone who sat in Block O during my time, please time the card stunts right (if you have to do them at all). Doing card stunts right after the other team has scored is never a good idea because people aren't going to be happy. This is what leads to people throwing their cards at the Block O leaders.
I think they give us time frames as to when to do the stunts. Typically it's during a selected TV timeout.
I'm making a Google Doc of all of your ideas. I also made a Twitter for my section, so if you guys are interested you can follow: @BlockOMarketing.
-RB
I could care less if doing this would be unoriginal, but f something like this were to happen in the Schott I think it would be pretty amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44YUnOoye58
I know people want to come up with new cheers/chants on their own...but the "I Believe that We Will Win" that Navy started (and now Utah State and San Diego State use) is pretty sick. Check it out on Youtube (edit: or the post above).
Bump :) Let me know guys!
i really love the whole hells bells bob-type thing we do at basketball games. ive heard that block o does it during football games, but from my seat i couldnt tell. itd be really cool if the whole student section did it, it would look incredible if the whole south stands/stadium did it
Yes, the I believe that we will win is insane. Isn't imitation the most sincere form of flattery? So, I say imitate away, and we would do it better. (edit: not just in the Schott but in the south stands...it would be glorious)
Utah State also does this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARpzavb7PQk&feature=related