Ohio University
From SoSH
Ohio University (OHIO) is a public university located in Athens, Ohio that is situated on a 1,800 acre campus.
Founded in 1804, it is the oldest college in Ohio and the first in the Northwest Territory of the United States.
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History
The Northwest Ordinance of 1800 called for educational institutions as part of the settlement and eventual statehood of the Northwest Territory: "Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." In 1797, settlers from Marietta traveled up the Hocking River to establish a location for the school, choosing Athens due to its location directly between Chillicothe (the original capital of Ohio) and Marietta. At first called American Western University, Ohio University was founded on February 18, 1804, a year after Ohio was admitted to the Union. The first three students enrolled in 1808 . Ohio University graduated two students with bachelor's degrees in 1815 . The famous E.W. Scripps School of Journalism was established with a grant from the Scripps Foundation. In 1975, Ohio University opened the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which remains the only college in Ohio specializing in osteopathy. Today the university is known for its strong journalism and visual communication programs, as well as its Avionics Engineering Center. The Avionics Engineering Center, part of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, specializes in the research, development, and evaluation of electronic navigation, communication, and surveillance systems. The center, the largest at Ohio University, was established in 1963 to support a combination of theoreticians, technical specialists and graduate students to study navigation issues encountered in air transportation.
Organization
Colleges
Ohio University is organized into several colleges:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Scripps College of Communication
- Russ College of Engineering and Technology
- College of Business
- College of Fine Arts
- College of Education
- College of Health and Human Services
- Honors Tutorial College
- University College
- College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Center for International Studies
Regional Campuses
More than 8,100 students attend Ohio University's five regional campuses:
- Eastern (St. Clairsville)
- Zanesville
- Lancaster
- Southern (Ironton)
- Chillicothe
Athletics
Men's and women's athletics teams at Ohio University are nicknamed the "Bobcats", with the school colors being hunter green and white. The Bobcats compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Mid-American Conference. They maintain strong rivalries with the other MAC schools in Ohio, particularly Miami University.
Baseball
The Ohio baseball program has won numerous MAC titles under Coach Joe Carbone and made a College World Series appearance in 1970 . There have been 23 former Bobcats to make the major leagues, most notably Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt. Other alumni that have played in the Major Leagues include Bob Brenly and Steve Swisher (father of Nick Swisher).
The baseball team plays it's home games in Bob Wren Stadium, which is also home to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League team, the Southern Ohio Copperheads.
Notable Baseball Alumni
- Mike Schmidt
- Bob Brenly
- Steve Swisher
- Cory Keylor, Pawtucket/Portland 2007
- Frank Baumholtz
Football
The long and storied tradition of Ohio Bobcats football began in 1894 with an 8-0 loss to Marietta College. Since that day, the Bobcats have posted a 485-503-48 record over their 112 year existence and a 191-232-12 record over their 60 years in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats have won 5 MAC Football Championships in 1953, 1960, 1963, 1967, and 1968 and a MAC East Division Championship in 2006 . Prior to joining the MAC, the Bobcats won 6 Buckeye Athletic Association Championships in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1936, and 1938 . In 1960, the Bobcats were crowned National Small College Champions after compiling a 10-0 record under Coach Bill Hess.
The Bobcats' September 7, 2005 win against the #24 ranked Pittsburgh Panthers was the first under head coach Frank Solich and the first ever game on ESPN at Peden Stadium. A home record crowd of 24,545 saw a Bobcats' 16-10 overtime win spurred by two interception returns for touchdowns by Dion Byrum. The Pitt-Ohio game also ranks among the Top 15 most viewed regular season college football telecasts on ESPN2 since the network debuted in 1994.
Under the guidance of Frank Solich, the Ohio football program has enjoyed a return to new levels of national prominence in 2006 . On November 16, 2006 the Bobcats secured their first ever Mid-American Conference East Division title and their first football championship of any sort since 1968 with a victory over the University of Akron Zips. They then advanced to the MAC Championship Game in Detroit, Michigan, where they were defeated by Central Michigan University 31-10. On January 7, 2007, the Bobcats were the MAC representative to the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, losing 28-7 to the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in a game nationally televised on ESPN.
Peden Stadium
Ohio's football venue, is one of the best in the conference and the nation. The stadium, though small in size, is big in atmosphere and tradition.
Football Bowl Games
The Bobcats have appeared in three bowl games.
- Sun Bowl (1962) - lost 15-14 to West Texas State.
- Tangerine Bowl (1968) - losing 49-42 to the University of Richmond.
- GMAC Bowl (2007) - lost 28-7 to the University of Southern Mississippi.
Basketball
One of Ohio's most successful varsity sports is its men's basketball program. Ohio has posted a .565 winning percentage over their 99 year history and a .564 winning percentage in their 60 years in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats have won 5 Mid-American Conference Tournament titles in 1983, 1985, 1994, and 2005 as well as numerous MAC regular season titles.
In addition, Ohio has played in the NCAA Tournament 11 times, appearing in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1994, and 2005 . The Bobcats have been selected for the National Invitation Tournament 4 times in 1941, 1969, 1986, and 1995, finishing as runner up in 1941. In addition, the Bobcats won the prestigious Pre-Season National Invitation Tournament in 1994. Ohio University played in the 1st ever College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in 2008. As a result of the long and storied tradition of Ohio Bobcats basketball, the program was ranked 86th in Street & Smith's 100 Greatest Basketball Programs of All Time.
The Convocation Center
Home of Bobcats basketball, volleyball, and wrestling, is also a great facility. The largest basketball arena in the MAC, and one of the largest in the state, the Convo's hostile environment has allowed the Bobcats to win over 75% of their games in the facility. The "O-Zone" student cheering section for men's basketball games is among the largest and most recognized in the Mid-American Conference and the nation.
Volleyball
Ohio's volleyball team has been steadily increasing in popularity. Under the direction of Coach Geoff Carlston, the team has won five consecutive Mid-American Conference regular season titles and made five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. In 2005, the team made the "sweet 16" of the NCAA tournament.
- Valerie Waugaman, "Siren" on American Gladiators, played volleyball at Ohio from 1996-1999.
Olympic Sports
Ohio's women's swimming and diving team consistently has won numerous MAC Championships. The Aquatic Center, one of the finest swimming and diving facilities in the league and in the nation, has hosted numerous MAC Women's Swimming and Diving Tournaments.
The Bobcat's wrestling team has a long and storied history and the team has found itself in the national top 25 many times over the years. Recent graduate Jake Percival was a four time All-American.
The Track & Cross-Country teams have done well historically.
The women's cross-country team has won the MAC title nine times since 1986.
The men's track team boasts several Olympians, including silver mecdalist in the 200 meter dash at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Les Carney.
"The Most Exciting Band in the Land"
Ohio University is also home to the nationally-acclaimed Ohio University Marching 110 marching band--"The Most Exciting Band in the Land!", which continually draws crowds at the Bobcat football and basketball games. The band's unique use of contemporary popular music, a "power high-step" stop-action marching style, and high-energy choreographed dance breaks has led the band to perform at many unique venues throughout the years. On October 28, 1976, the Marching 110 became the first marching band in history to perform at Carnegie Hall. On January 20, 1993, the band performed for President Clinton's Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC. The band has also performed at many professional football games and has taken part in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2000 and 2005.
- The Marching 110 was ranked as the #1 marching band in the country by CollegeSportsFans.com on their poll of The Best College Marching Bands - 2007.
School of Recreation and Sports Sciences
One of the top schools of its kind in the country, with its Graduate Programs often referred to as the best in the country, The School of Recreation and Sport Sciences offers an array of prominent, nationally recognized academic programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
- The Sport Management Program is one of approximately thirty such programs in the country to have won program approval by the Sport Management Program Review Council (SMPRC). Programs of study in the School emphasize an accommodating learning atmosphere that promotes high academic standards and a commitment to encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle. The School is dedicated to creating, improving, and propagating theoretical and practical information through its distinct programs.
Undergraduate Majors
- Athletic Training
- Exercise Physiology
- Physical Education
- Recreation Studies
- Sport Management
Graduate Programs
- Athletic Administration
- Athletic Training Education
- Coaching Education
- Physiology of Exercise
- Recreation Studies
- Sports Administration and Facilities Management
Notable Alumni
- Roger Ailes, President & CEO of Fox News Channel
- Richard Dean Anderson, actor on MacGyver, Stargate SG-1, television producer (attended, but did not graduate)
- Bob Brenly, Major League Baseball Player, catcher, Manager of 2001 World Series Champion Arizona Diamondbacks
- Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart and several other characters on The Simpsons - Attended for two years, then transferred.
- Joe Eszterhas, screenwriter, best known for the films Basic Instinct and Showgirls
- Arsenio Hall, comedian, former talk show host
- Leon Harris, news anchor, CNN and WJLA
- Brandon Hunter, professional basketball player, currently on the New Jersey Nets.
- Dave Jamerson, former NBA Player,
- Peter King, Senior Writer for Sports Illustrated, Host ofHBO's Inside the NFL
- Matt Lauer, co-host of NBC's The Today Show.
- Jay Mariotti, sports columnist and TV personality
- Scott Mayle, NFL Player, wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills
- Matt Muncy, NFL Player, 333 career tackles at Ohio.
- Ed O'Neill, Al Bundy on "Married With Children" among other shows and movies, attended university before transferring to Youngstown State University
- Clarence Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
- Piper Perabo, actress, best known for her work in "Coyote Ugly".
- Mike Schmidt, Hall of Fame third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Gary Trent, former NBA player. Nicknamed - "SHAQ of the MAC"
- Brian Unger, humorist, satirist, original correspondent of The Daily Show
- George Voinovich, U.S. Senator, former Ohio governor
- Valerie Waugaman, Gladiator "Siren" on 2008 Television Series "American Gladiators".
- David Wilhelm, Former Chair Democratic National Committee, Former Campaign Manager for President Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, John Edwards, and John Kerry among others.
- Dave Zastudil, NFL Player, punter for the Cleveland Browns
- Kevin Carberry, NFL player, defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions
Media
Newspaper
The Post - The campus newspaper is officially independent of the university and its administration.
Radio
Under the umbrella of Ohio University Public Radio, the university has 6 public FM radio stations. WOUB-FM 91.3 Athens, WOUC-FM 89.1 Cambridge, WOUH-FM 91.9 Chillicothe, WOUL-FM 89.1 Ironton, and WOUZ-FM 90.1 Zanesville broadcast the same programs throughout southeastern Ohio. Separate public radio programming is also heard in Athens on WOUB AM 1340.
ACRN.com, the University's only student-run radio station, recently celebrated 35 years, and features a rock lobster (from The B-52s song "Rock Lobster") as its mascot. The station is internet-only and essentially all matters of running the radio station are officiated by elected student executives.
Television
Ohio University Public Television is a PBS affiliate broadcasting on WOUB Athens/WOUC Cambridge. In addition to national PBS programs, WOUB features Newswatch, a nightly news broadcast with student reporters. Other student produced programs include "Gridiron Glory" and "Bobcat Blitz". "Bobcat Blitz" follows the Ohio University Football team during their season and features interviews with players and coaches. "Gridiron Glory" is a student produced program now in it's ninth season (Fall 2007). "Gridiron" follows the Southeastern Ohio football season by covering 7 games a week, and producing a live broadcast every Fall Friday night at 11:30PM. Gridiron Glory has won two Emmys since it began, most recently in 2006.
