Oct. 4, 2023 – Homecoming Edition

Underage drinking remains focus for APD

KENDALL WRIGHT FOR THE POST

Ohio University students are spoiled for choice when looking for bars uptown, and underage people wanting to get in on the action has always been a concern for the Athens Police Department, or APD.

APD Chief Nick Magruder says underage drinking has always been the biggest issue in the uptown area, but it’s not a new trend. Since the beginning of the fall semester, APD has charged 42 individuals with underage offenses.

“We’re seeing a lot more underage offenses in the bars,” Magruder said. “We’re also seeing a lot more fake IDs and people with multiple fake IDs.”

Most of the issues that occur uptown from drinking come from people under the age of 21.

“The biggest thing we see is a lot of the fights and assaults, and the highly intoxicated people we’re seeing are underage people that are going into bars and maybe have no experience with drinking, and also just kind of haven’t really got their feel for how to control themselves as well,” Magruder said.

With the increase of new students and freshmen at the start of each school year, officers take a more firm stance while patrolling, AJ Spear, APD Lieutenant, said.

Spear said there are multiple things officers look for when determining if someone is underage, such as body language or discerning behaviors, like walking the other way after noticing cops coming in.

“The one thing we don’t do is that we’re not going in there and saying, ‘That person looks young,’” Magruder said.

Bar checks not only help with underage issues, but also with overcrowding problems, Spear said.

He also said there could always be a case where something bad happens and people can’t get out, so APD works with the Athens Fire Department on occupancy.

Oftentimes, when APD enters a bar for a bar check, many students walk out, which helps weed out underage people and overcrowding issues.

Bennett Snyder, a senior studying journalism and manager at Broney’s, located at 7 W. Carpenter St., said he’s noticed an increase in police presence this semester.

Snyder said he’s seen a couple of people get arrested in Broney’s, but none the fines or offenses have been too severe.

“Normally, they don’t really have to kick people out,” Synder said. “I think that’s pretty typical at most bars when there are underage people at a bar and (they) see cops walk in; they’re normally like, ‘How fast can I get

out of this door or out of this bar?’”

With the past two freshmen classes coming to OU being its largest ever, instances with underage drinking are bound to happen, Snyder said.

Magruder said APD doesn’t target any specific bars, and they try to ensure to focus on each one.

The amount of patrol also depends on what weekend it is or how busy it’s anticipated to be.

With Homecoming this weekend, Magruder said there will be extra staff on hand, but it’s similar to how they handle all big weekends.

Spear said he expects to see more intoxes, a term that refers to passed out people or people unable to take care of themselves. With the older crowd of alums coming into town, APD doesn’t expect the amount of fights to rise since they stem mainly from individuals under the age of 21.

During the fall semester, Spear said he had to charge someone with an underage offense.

“They were causing an issue, which then caused me to get involved in the situation,” Spear said. “When I got involved, then I determined that they were underage and that

they were intoxicated, and that’s when I pursued the charge.”

Typically, officers can decide if they want to charge an individual with the issue they were causing or cite them for underage. For example, if someone has an open container and the officer then finds out the individual is underage, the officer may pursue an underage ticket instead, Spear said.

Getting an underage citation allows the individual to enter a court ordered diversion program whereas a different charge can stay permanent on one’s record.

“I know that it’s probably going to sound extremely biased, but coming from a college student and then working for the police department here – knowing what I know now – I would’ve felt lucky to have this police department,” Spear said. “The guys who work here genuinely want to help people, and sometimes, that means charging people.”

Mounted police start shutting down parties on Palmer St, around 8 p.m. on Friday night Oct. 28, 2022. (CARRIE LEGG| FOR THE POST)

Athens, businesses prepare for Homecoming

Cornwell said his goal for the day is to get through it, keep his employees healthy, not run out of inventory and keep his customers safe.

Local businesses and the city of Athens welcome Ohio University’s Homecoming Week by preparing for the massive number of alumni parading Court Street on Oct. 7. Homecoming Weekend is a time to celebrate past, present and future Bobcats.

“It’s our busiest and most favorite time of the year; I dread it, but I look forward to it,” David Cornwell, owner of The J Bar, Courtside Pizza and North End Kitchen and Bar, said. Operation times change for most businesses and the workday starts earlier compared to a normal Saturday. Paula Marsh, front-of-house manager of Jackie O’s, said they will open at noon instead of 4 p.m. on Saturday to accommodate for more business.

Cornwell said that each of his three bars opens at 5:30 a.m. and is open all day until their normal closing time, 2 a.m.

“My cleaners basically have two hours to get three places back to functional,” Cornwell said.

Staffing at the bars is the biggest challenge during the week because workers have an entire extra shift in the morning, Cornwell said.

“We try to staff up; we try to keep support staff on — the people doing food running, extra hosts, all that — so we have extra people on board,” said Marsh.

Marsh said for Jackie O’s that it is just business as usual and they will work to keep people coming in and make room for everyone.

With alums parading uptown, business revenue is expected to increase compared to other weekends.

“I always hope to go up 8%-10% but times are changing,” Cornwell said.

Cornwell said that his expenses increased and the extra revenue brought in compared to other years would only offset the difference.

Marsh said it’s hard to tell how much revenue will increase due to how COVID-19 affected revenue in the past few years.

“We opened slowly and kept adding and adding and then this year, I believe there’s the biggest freshman class ever,” Marsh said.

The increase in incoming freshmen will bring in more revenue for restaurants like Jackie O’s, but Cornwell said he does not expect it will affect the bar scene.

“We won’t really see that making a monster effect for another year or so,” Cornwell said.

The City of Athens is also anticipating increased foot traffic uptown over the weekend and has already begun preparing for the parade to ensure the safety of citizens and students.

“The city will have additional police and fire staffing, along with some public works personnel, on duty throughout the day,” Andrew Stone, service safety director, wrote in an email.

One of the most attended events of Homecoming Week-

CAMPUS EVENTS

October 5 - October 15th

Social Engagement & Student Org Events

October 6

Homecoming Mixer

Multicultural Cente

2nd floor Baker Center

5-9 pm

October 6 & 7

OHIO Hockey vs Calvin Bird Arena

7 pm

October 12-15

McAffee Knob

Backpacking Trip

recshop.ohio.edu/program

click on “outdoor pursuits” choose Appalachian Trail SCAN to view all events

Sorority & Fraternity Life

October 1 - 7

Homecoming Week Events Trivia, Flag Football and more!

Campus Rec & Wellbeing

October 6

F45 Friday Night Lights

7 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

Ping Recreation Center

Registration on recshop.ohio.edu

October 6 & 7

DI Hockey Game vs Calvin

7:00pm

Bird Arena

October 10

Pleasure Activism Discussion Part 1

Women’s Center/Baker 403

12 PM – 1 PM

October 10

DOGA! Yoga with therapy dogs

Ping Recreation Center

3 PM– 4 PM (20 minute increments)

Registration on recshop.ohio.edu

* To have your event included on this calendar make sure it is registered on Bobcat Connect!

end is the parade. The parade needs Court Street, Factory Street, Riverside Drive, Station Street, West Green Drive at Oxbow and Oxbow at the Central Food Kitchen, all to be shut down at 9 a.m. to support the parade route.

“The parking meters along the route are bagged with yellow ‘no parking bags’ at around 4 a.m. and all cars parked along the route can be towed if still parked in a spot any time after 6 a.m.,” Andrew Chiki, deputy service safety director, wrote in an email. “The parade route is a rolling closure with police officers stopping traffic at intersections along the route.”

A volunteer staff from Ohio University’s Campus Involvement Center will remove the meter bags as soon as the parade ends.

In reference to possible safety concerns, Stone said that the city will complete the same activities it does every day to ensure safety but will have more staff on duty because of how busy it will be.

By the time Homecoming arrives, the houses that have large parties have already received noise complaint warnings during previous weekends, so the city responds and will issue citations as needed, Stone said.

“I think this will be bigger than the past few years, both because OU is having a successful football season and we are out of the pandemic now,” Stone wrote in an email. “It promises to be a great weekend for Athens.”

October 10

Survivor Advocacy Presentation

Iljeoma Idika-Chima

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Baker 240/242

October 13

Trauma Informed Care

Student Training

1:30 - 3:00 pm

Ping Meeting Rooms

October 24

Pleasure Activism Discussion Part 2

Women’s Center/Baker 403

12 PM – 1 PM

HOMECOMING 2023 events

SUZANNE PIPER FOR THE POST

A litany of litter

Athens expects more litter during Homecoming

PAIGE FISHER NEWS STAFF WRITER

Athens city officials plan for an increasing amount of litter to contaminate Athens due to Ohio University’s Homecoming events, which are happening Oct. 2-7.

Athens Mayor Steve Patterson and Service-Safety Director Andy Stone said they have both seen an increase in litter during weekends with large events in Athens, such as Homecoming and Halloween.

“In terms of overtime for people that have come in and help with the street sweeping, it might cost the city $2,0003,000 more to manage, and I don’t think that there is really much of an increased cost burden when it comes to litter control in the uptown area,” Patterson said.

In Athens, there are two solid waste officers, who are funded through people’s garbage fees and are responsible for enforcing the city’s waste control, Stone said.

“If there’s a mess, the solid waste officer will go and knock on the door, see the owner – if it’s a business – and say, ‘You need to come out here and clean that up,’” Stone said.

After large weekend events, Stone said the city tries to pay extra attention to the central business district – mainly Court Street and the general uptown area – to make sure that part of town stays clean.

we’ve had for a long time that does the whole city and we try to keep gutters and streets clean with that for more than just litter. Just general road debris and such to keep it out of the storm drains,” Stone said.

er to help those who clean streets pick up trash along the street and sidewalks after large weekend festivities, such as the Homecoming parade.

well. Not only are they doing the street sweeping for the street, they are also doing sidewalk sweeping,”

said. “It’s also important to note that the sidewalk cleanliness is the responsibility of the property owners and the businesses to manage the appearance of their sidewalks.”

Business owners are responsible for maintaining a clean space in front of their business. The owners used to be responsible for cleaning 18 inches in front of their storefront, but it was recently changed to only eight inches before a street curb.

The change was mainly for business owners in the uptown area, specifically those with a traffic lane within 18 inches of the storefront; however, maintaining a clean walkway 18 inches in front of a business may be difficult to upkeep, Stone said.

City Council President Christine Knisely said she believes the change has been beneficial to both the city and property owners.

“Property owners (& renters if they are responsible for the yard upkeep) are now responsible for up to 8 (inches) from the curb,” Knisely wrote in an email. “One specific example where this is beneficial is when bar property owners have their maintenance staff clean the sidewalk.”

OU is also considered a business owner to the city, Stone said. They are

own whether it is on or off-campus.

“The university is a property owner adjacent to city streets, so just like any other property owner has a responsibility of the public property in front of their property,” Stone said. “The university does a very good job in taking care of the streets that run through the university – if they’re city streets or university streets.”

Patterson said there does seem to be an increase in litter in the Athens uptown business district, but the city has been able to manage and keep the city clean.

“We see an increase in littering and things finding their way on the street or the sidewalks rather than in our trash receptacles uptown,” Patterson said. “I think we do a pretty good job of managing it.”

A plastic cup and water bottle sits on the side of Stewart Street, Oct. 1, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. (OWEN HEDBURG | FOR THE POST)

Fire chief increases bar overcrowding fines

Alison Patton For The Post

With the start of the fall semester, many bars in Uptown Athens are experiencing overcrowding beyond their maximum occupancy levels and, in turn, are being fined for unsafe occupancy levels.

While there have been only a few recent incidents of bars going over their maximum occupancy levels, Athens Fire Chief Robert Rymer is trying to increase the penalties for business owners who continue to overcrowd their bars to stop the issue.

Rymer presents fire safety talks and he’ll use past examples of fires in bars, including the Rhode Island Station nightclub fire – in which 100 people died because they couldn’t get out of the building – to local Athens bar owners to explain the importance of complying with maximum capacity laws.

“We try to provide that education (to bars),” Rymer said. “Here's the seriousness of (overcrowding). This is what may happen if you have a fire in your establishment, and people cannot get out in a timely manner. (The Station nightclub fire) is what we're trying to prevent.”

Bar checks are completed by the fire department to ensure businesses are staying below their maximum capacity, Rymer said. He said the checks happen about six to 10 times a year and are usually conducted on big weekends, like Homecoming.

The fire department issued a lawful order to each bar in August that explained the rules and regulations of maximum capacity, Rymer said.

Currently, when a bar exceeds maximum capacity, the owner or manager of the business is issued a minor misdemeanor, which – including court fees – is about $200.

“We're in the process of escalating (the fine) because (bars are) making thousands of dollars a night selling alcohol; well, $150 and a minor misdemeanor doesn't mean anything,” Rymer said. “We're in the process of trying to figure out how do we get their attention to say, ‘look, just keep your numbers down below what it is supposed to, and we're not going to have any issues.’”

Athens County Law Director Lisa Eliason said Rymer introduced a new set of ordinances with updated penalties to the Athens City Council.

Under the drafted ordinances, the first offense is a minor misdemeanor with a $150 fee; the second offense within two years is a fourth-degree misdemeanor with a $250 fine and up to 30 days in jail; the third offense within two years is a third-degree misdemeanor with $500 fine and up to 60 days in prison; the fourth offense within two years is a second-de-

gree misdemeanor with a $750 fine and up to 90 days in jail.

“If the owner could face jail time for having overcrowding, then maybe other steps would be taken to not overcrowd the bars,” Eliason said.

Although not every bar contributes to the overcrowding problem, Rymer said he has seen the issue consistently occur throughout the years.

“We're more concerned with (the bars) that aren't following the rules and aren't doing it properly,” Rymer said.

Eliason said the new ordinances have to go through two more readings with the city council; if approved, it will take 30 days for them to go into effect. However, it will be about another month and a half before anything changes.

At the Athens City Council meeting Monday the ordinance was up for second reading. It was tabled after Anthony Grillo, attorney at Toy Law Office, representing Daniel DeLuca, owner of the Red Brick Tavern, asked the council to collaborate on it with bar owners.

“We will feel that the penalties proposed … might be excessive or not achieved the purpose I think that everybody's trying to achieve,” Grillo said.

The ordinance will return to second reading if it is decided it no longer needs to be tabled. Multiple other bar owners were at the meeting and left after the motion was approved to be tabled.

Chris Knisley, city council president, said she thinks tabling the ordinance would signal to Rymer that they are listening to him and tells the bar owners that they will be held account-

able. The only council member opposing the motion was Sarah Grace, D-At Large.

“I just think sometimes things get tabled and never come back,” Grace said. “I believe that our firefighters, who have tried numerous times to address this issue have felt very disrespected in that process. I think there has been ample opportunity for the situation to be addressed.”

There are at least three bars that have been fined since Rymer sent out the lawful order, which includes North End Kitchen and Bar, located at 77 N. Court St., which has a maximum capacity of 215 people; Courtside Pizza, located at 85 N. Court St., which has a maximum of 200 people; and J Bar, located at 41 N. Court St., which has a maximum of 147 people. David Cornwell is the owner of all three bars.

The misdemeanors were issued on Sept. 9, due to a failure to comply with the lawful ordinance.

Cornwell declined to comment.

Athens City Chief of Police Nick Magruder said the Athens Police Department, or APD, helps the fire department alleviate overcrowding because when they walk in, a lot of people leave. However, APD’s focus isn’t just bar checks.

“(The police department is) doing bar checks for a lot of other reasons, not just for the overcrowding purposes, which kind of comes into play with it,” Magruder said.

“We will go and make sure that bars are not having underage people, there's no intoxicated people in there or fights in there.”

The police try to do checks throughout the week, but due to staffing, it’s difficult, Magruder said. Because there is more staff on the weekend, bar checks happen a couple of times

a night.

“It's surprising how many people will move right when they see a flashlight, and so you'll have people who are trying to get through a very narrow backyard or narrow space to get out of the backyard,” Magruder said. “We're just trying to make sure that people leave, but do it safely because people can get really hurt.”

While overcrowding inside a bar is an issue, APD also runs into problems outside the bars. Magruder said while people are waiting to get inside, they sometimes get into fights, urinate in public or carry open containers.

Rymer said he has been doing bar checks for the last thirty years, and he will continue to do them until overcrowding stops being an issue.

“I would love to not have to go to bar checks. I would love to not have to go do inspections,” Rymer said. “But those are things that we have to do in order to make sure that every establishment is following the codes for the safety.”

@ALIPATTON13

AP208619@OHIO.EDU

The Union bar pictured Sept. 29, 2023, with people watching live entertainment in Athens, Ohio. (CHLOE EGGLESTON | FOR THE POST)

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Q&A: Christopher Lewis Micah McCarey discuss being an ‘OU power couple’

TP: How has balancing working different schedules while working on the same campus been for you?

PODCASTS PUBLISHED

Many Ohio University students know the names Micah McCarey and Christopher Lewis. Bobcats looking to apply to highly prestigious scholarship programs will be graced with assistance from Lewis, who is the head of OU’s Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, and those looking for resources for LGBTQIA+ students will find help from McCarey, who directs the university’s LGBT Center. Additionally, McCarey is an alum and an Athens City Council member.

However, students may not know the two are married. Lewis and McCarey have been the OU power couple for over a decade, contributing to the Athens and OU spheres for years. w

The Post sat down with McCarey in person and Lewis over an email to get a glimpse into their relationship, their work on campus and more.

The Post: Dr. McCarey, how did you and Dr. Lewis meet?

McCarey: We met on a website called gay.com. that is now the website for the Los Angeles LGBT Center. In 2009, it featured a chat room, LGBT resources and the ability to search dating profiles. I ended up searching for guys in the Columbus area who specifically listed Mariah Carey in their interests, along with the age and educational parameters. Chris was the only person to come up in that search and, coincidentally, he had just created his profile the day before, so if I had run the search, even though a few days earlier, I would have missed him.

TP: Dr. Lewis, how did you feel about Dr. McCarey reaching out to you first?

Lewis: Honestly, I can't remember. People didn't meet as much over the internet then as they do today. I think I listed only Mariah Carey and Toni Morrison as the interests on my profile, so I'm glad those interests spoke to him.

TP: What was your first date? Did you feel like it went well?

McCarey: Our first date was at the Union Cafe in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus. Chris was working on his PhD in English, and, at that time, I was working full time in OU’s Department of Housing and Residence Life. Immediately upon meeting, we realized that we grew up 20 minutes from each other, and we were born just 20 days apart. His best friend throughout grade school was among my best friends in college and, actually, the first person I met and made friends with when I moved into college. There are all these coincidences that made it feel like a great match.

TP: Dr. Lewis, does it feel weird to be working at OU with your husband who is an alum?

Lewis: No, it doesn't feel weird to work at OU with Micah. It's great that I get to meet new colleagues and students through him who I may not otherwise get to meet, and likewise he can meet new colleagues and students through me. We end up getting to know more people across campus and also within the Athens community that way.

Lewis: Our schedules can be very different from one another or very much aligned depending on the day or week. It's nice that throughout the week we can usually find the time to socialize with our friends, listen to music outside on our deck, or watch our favorite shows together. Currently it's the remake of the show “Dynasty" that came out a few years ago. And classic episodes of “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Frasier” and “Will & Grace.”

McCarey: The bigger challenge was that for the first nine years of our life together, we were in a long-distance relationship, trying to figure out where we were going to make our home together. It's only been since 2018 that Chris has been in Athens permanently as our director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. So, now everything feels like a cakewalk compared to visiting each other every other weekend for those first nine years.

TP: How do you feel like you're bringing change to campus and making it more accessible for LGBTQIA+ people, and really just anybody in general who might feel like they aren't always represented on this campus?

Lewis: I'd say that every generation of LGBTQ people makes way for the next, and I'm grateful that many generations of LGBTQ Bobcats before us have built community over the years. I do some of my part today as an adviser for the oSTEM student group on campus, which has been a great way to support LGBTQ STEM majors and allies.

McCarey: Well, I suppose on the surface, there's the benefit of LGBTQ visibility. It really matters in an area like Southeast Ohio where some folks wonder if there is much of a vibrant and diverse LGBTQ community there. For us to be out professionals who work with lots of university and community members gives us that opportunity to share that people can build happy, fulfilling lives.

JM049122@OHIO.EDU @ _JACKSON_MCCOY_

A photo of Micah McCarey, director of the LGBT Center, and his husband, Christopher Lewis, director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards.(Provided By Micha McCarey)

Harvard on the Hocking? The Ivy League’s lasting influence on OU’s campus

DISHA HOQUE FOR THE POST

Walking through College Green on Ohio University’s Athens campus for the first time is an unforgettable experience. The brick paths and buildings alongside the Hocking River represent a 200-year history of academic excellence, earning the university the nickname “Harvard on the Hocking.”

The nickname references the look of the prestigious Ivy League school and is used by students, alums, staff and other Ohioans. It is not uncommon for the nickname to spark debate concerning the validity of the nickname and where it originated. Although the phrase may be common lingo around Southeast Ohio, very little is widely known about the origins of the nickname.

A common explanation for the nickname has to do with the architecture on campus and its uncanny similarities with Harvard’s.

Georgian-style architecture, named after the four King Georges of England, has a heavy influence on current campus buildings as well as those that have been renovated. The style typically features brick walls, symmetrical designs and multi-paned windows. These details give the buildings classical and timeless looks straight from the 18th and 19th centuries, which make the campus feel like a snapshot from history.

The building curation is a drawing point for prospective students and alums.

“Sometimes it feels like an office park but other times it feels like it’s a traditional college campus,” Sarah Stepleman, a freshman studying acting said. “I like it. I don’t know how to describe it, (the campus is) just very homely, I suppose. It looks like its own town.”

Current students are not the only ones with fond opinions on campus curation and architecture.

“The architecture to me is just the perfect combination of tradition and just beautiful-ness,” Melissa Mccoy, OU class of ‘97, said. “I know that’s not really a word, but I really do believe that.”

It is no coincidence that OU resembles the architecture of Ivy League schools. When founding the school, former OU President Mannaseh Cutler, a Harvard MBA graduate, took inspiration from his time in Massachusetts.

“The founders really wanted to make it look like Harvard and the Ivy League schools.” Bill Kimock, OU archivist and records manager said. “I think over the years it’s worked so well to attract students here and to attract the alumni to keep coming back.”

Aside from the architecture of the school, there are other apparent Harvard influences on campus as well. Both Mannaseh Cutler and John Calhoun Baker were Harvard-educated, and Baker’s time as president had no shortage of influence from the Ivy League.

Baker came into the presidency after the passing of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, more commonly referred to as the G.I. Bill. The bill increased educational assistance to servicemembers and veterans, and Baker used this opportunity to increase OU’s outreach and resources. The campus was declining in admission rates and falling into eco-

nomic disparity when Baker stepped into the position, but the Harvardsman sought to bring elements of his Alma Mater to re-establish the institution.

“I was just putting out my stuff downstairs for the homecoming display and looking at the first page of The Post every year, and every year, they’re setting a new record during the Baker administration for enrollment,” Kimock said.

According to Kimock, Baker’s efforts exponentially increased the student population by way of renovations, establishments of regional campuses and even sending professors off to study at Harvard.

Baker’s positive impact on the campus is inarguable, and there is strong evidence that the nickname “Harvard on the Hocking” could have potentially started from this era of rejuvenation when looking back on past archives.

An article written by TIME during Baker’s presidency claims speculators of the new investments wondered, “What’s he trying to do, make this a Harvard on the Hocking?”

Cutler and Baker’s heavy Harvard influences most likely contributed to the nickname being adopted by Ohioans, but there could potentially be another more unexpected, and furrier, Harvard influence running around the campus grounds today.

According to the Bulleted and Pictorial History of Ohio University, in 1908, the University Board of Trustees introduced squirrels, allegedly from Harvard, onto the campus to increase wildlife. This story is widely believed by many Ohioans, but may not be inherently true.

Although a committee was formed in 1908 to discuss the introduction of squirrels onto campus, Kimock notes that there is no hard evidence of the squirrels originating from

Harvard.

“In the meeting minutes (of the June 1908 Board of Trustees meeting) it says there was a motion made, and then seconded, that there should be a committee forum to consider the introduction of squirrels to the campus,” Kimock said. “I couldn’t find anything beyond that (or that) they bought all the squirrels in a truck or anything.”

Although there is no direct evidence that the squirrels were brought onto the campus from the East, there is nothing directly combatting this claim.

“I get this picture of these Harvard guys running around trying to catch the squirrels, (but) I don’t really know how it happened,” he said, “I don’t think there’s a definitive answer, but people like to say that they came from there anyway. So I’m not trying to dispel it. It may very well be.”

Regardless of how OU became known as the “Harvard on the Hocking” it is inarguable the campus has also become a place of memories, both old and new, for students and alums alike. The influences and efforts of the founders and figureheads of the school contribute to the identity and pride of the school today, with students parading around wearing green and white all over Athens. Harvard University’s influences over the school were stepping stones for the school to flourish, but OU has taken a new culture and identity of its own. The student body finds comfort in the same brick roads and shaded trees generations of Bobcats prior found enjoyment in, and Homecoming Weekend is a time to celebrate the OU community coming together over a shared love of this campus.

EMMA MCADAMS | ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

The ‘Best Band in the Land’

SOPHIA ANNESS FOR THE POST

The bricks tremble as synchronized footsteps approach. It mingles with the sweet sound of instruments blending as one, music filling listeners’ ears. It’s the most exciting band in the land: the Marching 110.

Ohio University’s marching band has been around for 100 years, and a lot has happened between 1923 and today. When the band began in 1923, it only had 40 members, which is quite different from its current 225 headcount. According to the band’s website, Homer Baird assembled the original Marching 110, then known as the “Ohio University Marching Band,” or OUMB. The band then grew in size and popularity until 1949. In 1950, the OUMB became an all women’s marching band while the men were off at war. Then, in 1967, Gene Thrailkill brought about one of the most controversial decisions in the history of

the band.

Thrailkill announced all the women would be removed from the band. Not even the majorettes were spared from this decision. The name of the band was changed to the “100 Marching Men of Ohio,” then it was changed again to the “110 Marching Men of Ohio” the very next year, referring to the original number of members.

A previous report by The Post described it as “total asininity.” A quote from the article read, “No longer will we be able to applaud at halftime when an excellent and DIFFERENT (perish at the thought) band marches onto the field in MODERN dress and performs an entertaining and MODERN show. Now we’re just going to be like every other university.”

Martin Osborne was a member of the “110 Marching Men of Ohio” from 1970 to 1974. He played baritone and was also a choreographer and a primary arranger during

his time in the band. He recounted one of his memories from his time as a marcher.

Once, the band was invited to three events in one weekend in November 1972. Friday night was a halftime performance at Ottowa High School, Saturday night was the Bowling Green vs. OU football game and Sunday, the 110 Marching Men were invited to play at the Cincinnati Bengals game.

Osborne remembers it as quite an eventful weekend as the students had to drive their own cars from place to place due to budget cuts, and they received poor instructions on how to get to their hotel in Pittsburgh.

“It happened to be one of the most memorable trips we ever had,” said Osborne. “It also was a bonding experience for the band.”

In 1975, the band became known by the name it is still known as today: The Marching 110. Ronald Socciarelli, the band director from 1973 to 1989, reinstated women in the

marching band. He spoke about new technological advancements in a 1982 article in The Post titled, “Band director tunes up for a new Bobcat Season.” He detailed how the band learned a pregame in 27 minutes with the help of mathematics, a grant and computers.

“It really helps a lot with learning a new show,” Socciarelli said in the article. “This year we learned pregame in 27 minutes. It used to take us two and a half days to learn that.”

The article goes on to talk about the many special events planned for the year aside from the excitement of the football games. This wasn’t the only jam-packed year the “Marching 110” has had.

The band is no stranger to getting invited to play special events and make guest appearances. In 1976, right after the band was renamed the Marching 110, they became the first marching band to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Throughout the years, the marching band has also played at multiple NFL games, Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Parade (1993), Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2000 and 2005) and even the hit game show “Deal or No Deal” (2006). 10 years ago, the Marching 110 went international when they performed in Dublin, Ireland and Vatican City, Rome.

Today, under the direction of Richard Suk, the band has been hard at work preparing for performances, halftime shows and, of course, Homecoming. Eric Steere, a senior trumpet player and field captain, said a lot goes into preparing for performances each season. The band meets Monday through Friday, practicing and perfecting their performances. They hold an additional practice on Thursday nights and Saturdays before the big football game.

“We are given the music, and it’s our responsibility to learn the music, memorize the music (and) figure it out, so you can’t mess it up,” said Steere. “We played as a band a few times, but that is mostly our time to come together and work as an ensemble instead of individually.”

The band reclaims its title as “the most exciting band in the land” week after week, bringing audiences from all over to see the spectacle of the Marching 110. And year after year, Athens looks forward to when members past and present join together to create that sweet symphonic sound. Alum and current students alike look forward to seeing what the band will masterfully put together for the favorite game of many.

Members of the Marching 110 Band perform on College Green, Sept. 26, 2023. (BECKETT STARK | FOR THE POST)

Alumni Association offers chance to support small businesses

ALYSSA CRUZ CULTURE EDITOR

For Bobcats who appreciate craft beer, the Ohio University Alumni Association has created the perfect opportunity for alums to enjoy a crisp beverage, support a small business and connect with fellow Bobcats.

The Bobcat Brew Trail is an interactive activity available for OU alums to partake in. By visiting its website, interested parties have access to a map denoting Bobcat-owned breweries around the state of Ohio. Participants are invited to visit the locations and check in at the brewery by scanning a QR code displayed at every brewery. After filling out a form, participants must upload proof of the visit such as a selfie of them there or a picture of their selected brew. Every visit to a different brewery works toward a complimentary gift. Six visits warrants a sticker, 12 visits earns a custom stein and a visit to all locations is worth a custom Bobcat Brew Trail t-shirt.

“The Brew Trail work has been an exciting project to connect alumni breweries and Ohio University graduates across the state,” Dana Wright, associate director of student and recent alumni engagement, said in an email.

Laura Sowers, senior associate director

of alumni relations and campus partnership, said the goal of the Brew Trail was to create an opportunity for alums to connect, regardless of what campus they studied at.

“The inception of the Bobcat Brew Trail emerged as an effort to connect with alumni residing in proximity to Ohio’s regional campuses, including Zanesville, Eastern, Lancaster, Chillicothe, and Southern,” Sowers said in an email. “Upon discussions with colleagues, it became apparent that Ohio boasts a plethora of breweries owned and operated by alumni.”

Some of the breweries featured in the Brew Trail are located in Athens, such as Jackie O’s Taproom & Brewery, located at 25 Campbell St., and Little Fish Brewery, located at 8675 Armitage Rd. Others are a little further from OU’s iconic bricks.

One of these breweries that is a little further away the Fifty West Brewing Co., located at 7605 Wooster Pike in Cincinnati. Max Fram, the vice president of strategy and operation, graduated from OU in 2012 with a degree in biology.

Fifty West’s beer is distributed in Athens, so students can purchase it at Kroger and Seaman’s as well as The CI and The J Bar.

“If anybody wants to celebrate our beer or our alumni status, that’s where you can do that,” Fram said, laughing.

Regarding the Brew Trail, Fram said he and the team at Fifty West were more than happy to be involved with an activity presented by OU.

“We participate in Ohio Brew Week every year back in Athens, and we are proud alumni,” Fram said. “We were happy to do it.”

Another stop on the Bobcat Brew Trail is Urban Artifact, located at 1662 Blue Rock St., in Cincinnati as well. In addition to being a proud Bobcat, Scotty Hunter is the head of sales as well as the co-founder of the brewery.

Because the program is still relatively new, Hunter said he has not seen a huge response from the public yet, but he is optimistic about the future.

“It’s always good to have more engagement and more eyes, and fellow Bobcats love to support each other whenever they can,” he said.

In the theme of Bobcats supporting Bobcats, Fram praised the mighty brewing community in Athens. With locations in Cincinnati and Chillicothe, he said they are looking to expand, but not necessarily to Athens, because of the robust brewery scene that already exists.

“Athens has a very reputable amount of brewers already, and it’s only a town so big,” Fram said. “I think we would do well there,

and I wouldn’t rule it out but I do respect that guys that are there now because there’s Little Fish (Brewing Company), Jackie O’s (and) Devil’s Kettle (Brewing), and they’re all doing a great job.”

Sowers has completed some of the Bobcat Brew Trail and said she had a great experience learning more about the breweries as well as making connections with fellow alums.

“I have really enjoyed learning about the rich history, unique stories, and craftsmanship behind these alumni-owned and operated establishments,” Sowers said in an email. “It’s more about the experience and camaraderie for me.”

The Brew Trail team is optimistic about what the program will look like in the future and is also excited to have the opportunity to witness the Bobcat camaraderie that will take place.

“Through the Bobcat Brew Trail, we’re not only celebrating our education roots but also fostering a lasting bond with our communities, all while supporting local businesses,” Sowers said in an email. “It’s a wonderful testament to the lifelong commitment many of us feel toward Ohio.”

How often do we win the Homecoming Game?

BOBBY GORBETT SPORTS EDITOR

Homecoming Weekend celebrates current and former Bobcats with festivities like the pep rally, parade and other events for alums. The weekend is centered around the Homecoming football game, in which Ohio typically squares off against a Mid-American Conference opponent in front of a packed Peden crowd.

How much of a difference do the festivities make to the on-field product? At least on paper, a great deal. Since 2000, Ohio has had an impressive 14-8 record with its Homecoming games. Highlighted by a six-game winning streak from 2005-2010, Ohio students and alums returning for the game have been treated to many more wins than losses.

To understand Homecoming’s impact on the team’s success, context is necessary.

Ohio’s recent Homecoming history can be split into two categories: From 2000-2010, Ohio had a 9-2 Homecoming game record. Ohio’s spectacular play during the 2000s Homecoming games was highlighted by a dominant 38-10 win over Akron in 2010. Terrance McCrae and Boo Jackson set and tied career records in the game, respectively. For McCrae, his two touchdown catches made him the all-time career leader in touchdown receptions in school history. Jackson, meanwhile, threw a touchdown to tie for the most touchdowns in program history.

Although Ohio’s run was very impressive, it makes more

sense when considering some of the competition. From 2000-2010, Ohio’s opponents combined for a record of 39-88 in the seasons that Ohio played them. In short, the opponent Ohio played for its Homecoming games in the 2000s had an average season record of 4-8. Although Ohio deserves credit for taking care of business against MAC opponents, its 9-28 record on Homecoming during the 2000s has more to do with its opponents than the festivities.

The second category, from 2011-2022, tells a different story about Ohio’s success in the Homecoming game. Ohio is 5-6 for its Homecoming games since 2011, including multiple close losses and eventual bowl-eligible MAC teams.

Toward the end of the Frank Solich era, the Bobcats’ Homecoming woes had more to do with some late-game heartbreak than poor performances. The Bobcats lost by a field goal in four of Solich’s five final Homecoming game losses. In Solich’s last Homecoming game, the Bobcats surrendered 17 fourth-quarter points in a 39-36 loss to Northern Illinois.

Albin’s teams have started out 1-1 for Homecoming games, including a 2021 3-point loss to Central Michigan, a team that has been a thorn in Ohio’s side for Homecoming. Last year, as part of Ohio’s yearlong defense of “The Frank,” the team picked up a 55-34 win over Akron. Rourke threw for over 400 yards with three touchdowns and an efficient 88.8% completion percentage.

It’s easy to think the Homecoming event would only help a football team. With a packed crowd and the excitement

surrounding the festivities leading up to the game, the team should be energized by the galvanized community.

Ohio Head Coach Tim Albin talked about the positives of Homecoming.

“You get a few more texts from alum. They come back for Homecoming,” Albin said. “From the build-up, the kegs and eggs and all the stuff uptown you hear about, it’s an exciting time.”

There is a downside, however. With all of the other festivities going on throughout the week, it’s easy for players to get caught up in the hype rather than the task at hand: the football game.

“There’s a few more distractions from Homecoming than there are from a regular season game,” Albin said. “So, as a staff, you’re going to have your ear to the railroad track on it.”

So what’s the answer? Does Homecoming help or hurt Ohio’s chances to win Saturday’s game? According to Albin, it doesn’t make a difference.

“I don’t think it’s (Homecoming) going to have a bearing,” Albin said. “We’ve got enough veterans who have been here, have gone through it (and) can help the younger kids, where it’s not a distraction, and we can just turn all the energy from Homecoming and leading up to the game and get it into a positive manner. It’s going to be a rowdy crowd —it always is — and it should be electric, but our guys are going to give a great effort regardless of that.”

Homecoming History

Looking backwards, forward at Homecoming Games

Ohio looks for Homecoming win over Kent State

BOBBY GORBETT SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio (4-1,1-0 Mid-American Conference) couldn’t possibly have more energy heading into Homecoming. After a Week 1 loss without Quarterback Kurtis Rouke, the Bobcats have won four straight games, including a road win against Florida Atlantic, a Power Five win over Iowa State and a dominant 31-point road win in the MAC opener against Bowling Green.

The Bobcats are coming off a week-long bye—which is rare for a MAC team in the age of MACtion—and should be plenty motivated against the only MAC team that beat them in 2022.

In short, Ohio is perfectly set up for one of its best Homecoming football games in recent memory, all that’s left is the product on the field.

Meanwhile, Kent State (1-4, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) has had a nightmare start to the season. Kent State’s 1-4 record may seem bad against FBS opponents, but the true concern is the margin of defeat. The Golden Flashes have lost by 50 points against UCF, 22 against Arkansas, 43 against Fresno State, and 20 at home against Miami (OH). Kent State’s tough start to the season is easily explicable, with some roster and coaching turnover in the offseason, but it doesn’t bode well for it against Ohio.

Here’s what to know about Kent State.

Head Coach

Kent State’s first-year Head Coach, Kenni Burns is one of the younger coaches in the MAC at age 39. Coming from the PJ Fleck coaching tree, Burns helped lead Western Michigan and Minnesota to successful seasons as a running back coach. Burns was also the assistant head coach at Minnesota from 2019-22.

Quarterback

Michael Alaimo has been the only quarterback to see serious playing time in

2023 for the Golden Flashes. Transferring from Purdue, Alaimo has 56% completion, 763 yards passing,—just over 150 yards per game— one touchdown pass and three interceptions. Alaimo most recently completed 18-of-30 passing attempts for 170 yards in Kent State’s 23-3 loss to Miami.

Running Back

Gavin Garcia has been the Golden Flashes’ most consistent performer out of the running back room. Garcia has gained 359 yards on 87 carries over five games. Garcia ran for over 100 yards and had two touchdowns in Kent State’s win over Central Connecticut State. Xavier Williams and Jaylen Thomas are the only other two Kent State players with over 10 carries. Although Thomas only has 16 carries, his 4.9 yards per carry shows effectiveness when called upon.

Receiver

Chrishon McCray and Trell Harris are not the most experienced weapons for Kent State, but they may be the team’s best. McCray, a redshirt freshman, leads the team in receptions with 19 and receiving yards with 234, so far. Harris, a sophomore, has 233 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.

Defense

Kent State Redshirt Senior Linebacker Devin Nicholson ranks in the top 10 in solo tackles in the MAC with 22. Nichols previously spent his time at Missouri before transferring to Kent State, where he immediately made an impact. Kent State D-Lineman CJ West has made his presence felt with a team-high in sacks (2) and tackles for losses (4). West is the only Golden Flash to force a fumble so far in 2023.

Ohio University Special Teams Coordinator Nate Faanes screaming at his players at Peden Stadium on Oct. 23, 2021. (CLAY STARK | FOR THE POST) ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Notable alumni reflect on years spent at OU

CULTURE STAFF FOR THE POST

According to the Ohio University Alumni Association, there are more than 275,000 living people who have graduated from OU. Among these Bobcats are doctors, engineers, teachers, journalists and just about every other profession imaginable. Whether alums return to Athens’ bricks frequently or only have memories of their time on campus, one thing remains the same: Once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat.

With Homecoming right around the corner, now is as good a time as ever to reflect on notable alums and all they have accomplished since leaving the “Harvard on the Hocking.”

ALISSA EDWARDS

As the lifestyle host of WSYX ABC 6 and the host of Ohio Cash Explosion, Alissa Edwards is a familiar face to many Columbusites. Also a successful blogger and local entertainment reporter, Edwards has a lot on her plate. However, she never is too busy to devote time and effort to her alma mater.

Originally from Columbus, Edwards graduated from OU in 2009 with a degree in journalism. She said she was immediately drawn to OU because of its ideal location and picturesque campus.

“I loved my experience at OU,” she said. “I made great friends who I still talk to now, I learned a lot, I had excellent internships, I joined a sorority (and) I got good grades.”

During her time in college, Edwards was involved in a plethora of activities and extracurriculars. From being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to being a part of the Black Student Communications Caucus to writing an opinion column for The Post, she was all over campus at all times. Even with all her responsibilities, Edwards managed to graduate magna cum laude.

Edwards said her favorite memory from her time at OU was having the opportunity to emcee the Homecoming parade with a news anchor in Columbus. A full-circle moment, the news anchor is now one of Edwards’ coworkers, and to make it an even more full-circle moment, she will be emceeing this year’s Homecoming parade as an alum.

“I did it when I was a student, now I get to be the person working on television that comes and does it with the current students which is cool,” she said.

Edwards emphasized that having a journalism degree from OU has been an asset in her professional career, with the notoriety of the program following her.

“It’s great to be able to say that I graduated from OU because pretty much everyone knows that OU is known for journalism, so just saying that speaks volumes,” Edwards said.

Edwards said she is excited to return to campus and will be forever thankful for her time spent at OU.

“I loved my time there,” she said. “I’m glad that I went there, and I’m glad I graduated from there.”

DAVID WESSELLS

David Wessells, the vice president of homecare services at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, said he received his master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) at Ohio University in 2018. Wessells is originally from Aberdeen, Washington. He said his wife was an alum of OU, so he was familiar with the school and knew that OU had an excellent online medical program.

“I had a really great experience with the OU professors, with interacting with others that were taking the course from all over the country,” he said.

downtown Chicago because of medical school, he said he enjoyed Athens’ college town feel which reminded him of Chapel Hill.

“I really missed that college campus experience that I got in Chapel Hill and when I go back to Athens, it always reminds me of that,” he said.

JENNIFER LAHMERS

From the quiet city of Dover, Ohio, to the bustling streets of New York City and Los Angeles, Jennifer Lahmers has already made a name for herself within the television news landscape.

Lahmers, a former E. W. Scripps School of Journalism student, began her career as a “one-woman band” for WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee. After a year at the station, she worked with Fox CT as an award-winning journalist and weekend news anchor in Connecticut.

A lifelong dream to move to the most populated city in the country led Lahmers to jobs within New York City, as a reporter for WNYW-TV and host for "Good Day Wake Up." During her time in the Big Apple, she caught the eye of the former senior executive producer of Extra in Los Angeles and eventually became a correspondent for the entertainment news program.

Lahmers worked for Extra for almost four years before returning to morning television news with Good Day L.A. in February 2023. She said despite her love for entertainment, the return felt natural and what she was meant to do.

Lahmers became an OU alum in 2006. She said the decision to major in broadcast news emerged from her early passions at eight years old.

“I always wanted to be a storyteller,” Lahmers said. “I

Wessells said his biggest piece of advice for students looking to work in health care is to go out and talk to people in the field that interests them. He said medical professionals are looking for talented individuals ready to put in the work and be flexible and willing to adapt to many different situations.

“I think the health care field is changing dramatically,” he said. “It’s changing from a situation where organizations are delivering procedures to solve medical problems to transitioning to where we can look at community health and prevention and wellness. I think that (there are) health care professionals who are interested in making an impact on the health of their communities.”

Wessells received his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later went to medical school at Northwestern. While Wessells stayed in

wanted to be an author and an illustrator, and there’s even a cardboard cutout in my room…in Ohio…saying ‘my big dream is to become an author and an illustrator.’”

Whether it was participating in her middle school’s competitive writing team or creating mock newscasts and commercials for the fictional “WJETS” news station with her friends, Lahmers’ passion for storytelling eventually led to her decision to attend OU because of its “elite journalism school.”

“I remember I was sitting in math class and my mom ran over the acceptance letter I got to the Scripps School of Journalism…and I was so excited because I knew what it meant,” Lahmers said.

Lahmers utilized her opportunity as an OU student and strengthened her enthusiasm for broadcast journalism. She became involved in WOUB, a public radio station operated by OU, as a weekend and morning radio reporter under the guidance of Fred Kight.

Along with the useful creation of a resume tape and the ability for her parents to watch her broadcasts, Lahmers shared how beneficial her experiences were at OU with others.

“You get to do a little bit of everything and figure out what you love the most,” Lahmers said. “I really feel like the experience I got at OU forever sent me on a path to what I am doing today. It gave me a love and appreciation for the television industry and that has never left me.”

Lahmers said the professors and mentors she interacted with set her up for success.

“The people who work at WOUB, they came from that world,” Lahmers said. “Because they love the industry…and journalism so much, they made me love it even more. They opened my eyes to the real mission of what journalism is all about, which is telling people’s stories and giving a voice to the voiceless.”

Olympic Games in 2024.

As a Columbus native, Barnes said he enjoys telling stories and amplifying voices within his community. His goal as a journalist is to tell stories accurately and compassionately.

“That's the best part of the job, just telling people’s stories,” Barnes said. “That's what I've always wanted to do is just highlight people that may not have that same voice or have the chance to have their voices amplified. That's what we can do.”

Barnes also works to further his community contribution as a volunteer and role model. He is a supporter of the Ronald McDonald House and was named Big Brother of the Year in 2020.

“We as a news station, as anchors, reporters, producers, all of us — we're trying to do our small part to make this a better city, a better region,” he said.

Barnes’ career as a journalist began in 2008 when he earned a degree in journalism from OU. During his time in Athens, he took part in WOUB and had a job as a tour guide and orientation leader.

Barnes chose to attend OU for the scenic campus and renowned E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. During his four years at OU, Barnes said he was shaped as a successful journalist and as a person.

The Alumnus of the Year Award is the highest honor an OU graduate can receive. This year, the award will be presented Friday, Oct. 6 to an individual who is well deserving of it. As the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Nexstar Media Group, the largest local media and communications company, which is based out of Dallas, Perry Sook, ‘80, will bear the title with pride this Homecoming weekend.

Sook spent his time at OU during the late ‘70s and proudly claims West Green as the best green. Not only did he spend his first two years there, but he also has a personal connection with West Green, as it was where he met his wife, Sandy Sook, ‘80, in Boyd Dining Hall.

“Nothing would have happened in my life to this order of magnitude were it not for me having the chance to meet my wife Sandy on campus freshman year of 1977,” said Sook. “But had I not attended Ohio, had we not met, had we not become a couple and been married for the last 46 years now, none of this success that I've had professionally or personally or my ability to give back to Ohio University (in) a philanthropic way, none of that would’ve happened, had we not come together.”

Sook has also served 20 years on the OU Board of Trustees, with eight of those years being served as chair. Sook and his wife also donated a generous amount of money to assist in creating the Perry and Sandy Sook Academic Center, which opened at Peden Stadium in 2018. The space is an academic study area created for student-athletes to have a collaborative space. Sook’s resume speaks for itself, and his dedication and generosity toward the university even more so.

Sook credits nearly all his success to his time at OU and has given back to the university countless times. He continues to persevere in the media and communications world. This weekend, Sook will accept his award and partake in some traditional OU Homecoming festivities such as marching in the parade and attending this year’s football game.

“My philosophy to life is that attitude is everything,” Sook said. “I think that if you want to be successful in life, you have

MATT BARNES

From an early age, Matt Barnes has had an unwavering desire to become a broadcast journalist.

“You could literally ask friends I was with in second grade and my teachers,” Barnes said. “They would be like, ‘Oh, yeah, he's always said he wanted to talk about sports on TV.’”

Since 2010, he has been living his dream as the morning co-anchor of NBC4 Today. Every morning beginning at 4 a.m., Barnes goes live and reports news for the Central Ohio region.

During his career, Barnes has had the opportunity to cover historic events including both the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Summer Games. He will continue his streak, reporting live from the Paris

PERRY SOOK

Photos provided by Ohio Alums.

EMMA MCADAMS | ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

“I love this university so much because I think it just played such a role (in) who I am as a person and who I am as a journalist,” Barnes said. “I hope every student that is there now understands the impact that place, that city and the people around you can have on you. Do not take it for granted.”

- Matt Barnes, NBC4 Reporter

Keegan Wilburn is happy to call Athens home during Homecoming

ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR

For graduate student Keegan Wilburn Southeast Ohio has been home for more than just his college career.

Willburn grew up just about 15 minutes up the road in Nelsonville, Ohio, where he played wide receiver for Nelsonville York. Wilburn had a successful career for the Buckeyes that included a trip to the state final four in 2017.

During a game his sophomore year, Wilburn and the Buckeyes made the short trip down to Athens, where they’d face off against Athens High School in a yearly Tri-Valley Conference rivalry. Little did Wilburn know, Tim Albin, Ohio’s Offensive Coordinator at the time, was there watching him play.

“It was after my sophomore year, we played Athens at Athens and I got a phone call from a 740 number and it was Coach Albin,” Wilburn said. “I was thinking about not playing basketball my junior year because I was like you know what, I should focus on football and track. So he called me and was like, you know, ‘Hey, this is Coach Albin at Ohio University, I heard through the grapevine that you’re thinking about not playing basketball this year,’ and I was like, ‘What? How does he know that?’ He told me at Ohio, they liked athletes who play a bunch of different sports.”

Wilburn didn’t always want to play at Ohio and he didn’t necessarily always want to play football either. The receiver’s first love was basketball, which he wanted to play at the University of Oregon because he loved the school color schemes and look on the field.

What Wilburn did know was that he loved the community that he was a part of and staying in Southeastern Ohio wouldn’t be too bad of a second option.

“It was easy for me to stay,” Wilburn said. “I mean, I just met with my mom and my grandma for breakfast and I think those are the things that I take for granted because I am so close, a lot of other kids don’t get to go do that.”

Family has always been important to Wilburn, which was one of the main factors in his decision to come to Ohio. But Wilburn didn’t expect to be part of an even bigger family on the football team.

“I’m fortunate enough, my mom and my dad are able to make all the games whether they’re home or away and I’m fortunate that they don’t have to pay for school so that they can afford things like that,” Wilburn said. “But also, coming here felt like a family. Coach Albin’s wife worked with my mom when I was really little and there’s just all these little ties to people within the organization it just made it really easy for me to come here.”

It’s not just the people within the football program that bonds Wilburn to the Ohio community. The Nelsonville native loves the people of Athens and the culture that comes with living in the community.

“It’s like this hippie vibe with everyone going out and getting crazy on the weekends,” Wilburn said. “One thing in Athens that’s special, and what Athens does very well, is bringing that culture to you in this very rural area. Just having social awareness of certain things and I’ve just learned so much and grown so much since I’ve been in Athens … I just have a really deep appreciation for it.”

Without a doubt, the people of Southeast Ohio have shaped who Wilburn is in more ways than just one and through more facets of life than just football.

“There’s a lot of hard-working people here that don’t reap the benefits (that) a lot of other people who work hard (do) elsewhere,” Wilburn said. “I’ve learned that life isn’t the greatest for everybody, everywhere. I’ve learned to have empathy for people, it’s just all-encompassed through my experiences here.”

-

With homecoming right around the corner, Wilburn will have plenty of people from both Athens and Nelsonville in attendance rooting for him.

“(On Homecoming) I get to perform in front of the people that formed me and shaped me (as) who I am right now,” Wilburn said. “I have old teachers who reached out to me (for tickets) ... The whole community and having everyone so close I think has definitely just been really special to me.”

@ROBERT_KEEGAN BK272121@OHIO.EDU

Keegan Wilburn, wide reciever, 3, smiles for a portrait at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio. Oct. 3, 2023. (MEGAN VANVLACK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Provided by Ohio University Athletics

Athens does very well, is bringing that culture to you in this very rural area. Just having social awareness of certain things and I’ve just learned so much and grown so much since I’ve been in Athens … I just have a really deep appreciation for it.”

Keegan Wilburn, Graduate Student

Tyler Foster has stepped into a new role for Ohio

ROBERT KEEGAN III SPORTS EDITOR

Throughout the start of the 2023 season, Ohio has struggled with injuries to its offensive unit, including receivers Jacoby Jones and Sam Wiglusz and, of course, Quarterback Kurtis Rourke. When an offensive unit sees injuries to its core at the primary skill positions, somebody has to step up — this year, it’s been a young group of tight ends.

For any young core to be successful, you need a leader. For Ohio, that leader has been Redshirt Senior Tyler Foster.

“With everything that goes on between coach Metz, the tight ends coach, and the other guys, I’m kind of the middle line of communication,” Foster said. “I also look out for everybody, whether it be on or off the field, to make sure everyone is on the straight and narrow, making sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to.”

In Ohio’s first home game of the season versus Long Island Uni versity, the offense scored three touchdowns, two of which were the first career touchdown receptions for tight ends new to Ohio.

Mason Williams, a true freshman, recorded his first career re ception, a 32-yard touchdown reception, while Redshirt Sophomore Bryce Butler did the same with his first career reception, going for a nine-yard touchdown.

It’s uncommon to see so much production from several different tight ends. Teams usually approach the tight end position as a spot held by one or two guys — Ohio has been the complete opposite. Aside from Foster, Will Kacemarek, a redshirt sophomore, has taken plenty of valuable snaps for the Ohio offense, including a position-leading two touchdown receptions. Both Williams and Butler have seen less time on the field than both Kacemarek and Foster but have been able to contribute in big ways when they do see the field.

In 2022, Foster was the only tight end for Ohio to score a touchdown.

“We usually only play the two oldest, but we’ve played everybody this year,” Foster said. “I got hurt in the first game, which opened up opportunities for everybody else. I try to make sure their fundamentals are sound and that they’re doing their job.”

In Ohio’s Week 0 loss to San Diego State, Foster was injured early in the game and had to miss considerable time at the beginning of the season with an injury. While rehabbing from injury, Foster was able to step into a new and unexpected role on the team as a leader for the young guys, helping out coaches and making sure everything was running smoothly while sidelined with injury.

“I was mainly rehabbing, but at practice, I was doing the rotation for coach Metz and making sure the right guys were in at the right time,” Foster said. “On game day, I was keeping track of reps and trying to be a helpful person, whispering in their ears, making sure they were doing what they needed to do.”

Foster is not necessarily new to being a leader on the Bobcat offense, but he certainly feels to have a better grip on things in his second year as a starter.

“The catch I had in the Bowl game gave me a lot of confidence as a leader and a lot of people looked up to me because of that,” Foster said. “I would say that gave me a boost into that leadership role that I was thrust into last year, it gave me some confidence to actually do it.”

In overtime, seeking to cap off an excellent season with a bowl game victory, Quarterback CJ Harris found Foster in the back of the end zone, where he made a spectacular catch over the Wyoming defender for a game-winning touchdown, securing the first bowl game victory for the Bobcats since 2019. Foster’s catch in the Arizona Bowl will go down as one of the most memorable moments in Ohio Football

Since that game, Ohio’s tight ends have been utilized even more as a threat in the impressive Bobcat passing attack.

Foster is not just the leader on the field for the tight ends. The group has a strong bond off the field as well.

“They’re some of my best friends, I mean, Will Kacemarek is probably top three closest friends I have here,” Foster said. “Me and Bryce are super close; we’ve been getting close over time, and Mason just got here and he’s just been

The relationship that Foster and the tight ends have off the field directly results in the way in which they perform as a unit on the field.

“The more comfortable that we are together off the field, it’s sort of a direct translation. It makes communication easier and it allows us to move freely and fluently,” Foster said.

Led by Foster, the tight ends have been a prevalent part of the offense so far, with so much talent at the position alone, that is surely not soon to change.

“Having him (Foster) and Will (Kacemarek) and Mason (Williams) and Bryce Butler, we’ve got a group there,” Head Coach Tim Albin said following Ohio’s win over Iowa State. “We need to expand on that package, they’re weapons. They can run block and they can catch, so we should have some fun dialing up some plays to utilize their talents.”

@ROBERT_KEEGAN BK272121@OHIO.EDU

Redshirt Senior Tyler Foster (86) stands for a portrait on the field of Peden Stadium, Sept. 28, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. (ZOE CRANFILL | PHOTO EDITOR)

Not feeling at home for Homecoming

and turns of the local backroads carve a path in the back of your mind. If nothing else, you can physically feel how small the world is as you grow older in front of the never-changing backdrop.

The thing is, a college homecoming can’t really mean much to someone who doesn’t feel like their university and/or town is “home.” When someone attends their first college homecoming, they’ve usually only been on campus for less than a few months. Sure, there is a spectacle to it and an energy that permeates campus for a week, but projecting a meaning from that onto the self is nearly impossible; you feel like an intruder.

You feel like there is something your fellow classmates and preceding alums understand that you fundamentally cannot comprehend. They’re speaking a different language in an accent that is hard to gauge, hard to like, hard to enjoy and hard to be around.

Matt Butcher

The entire point of homecoming is the celebration of coming home. High school and college alums have the opportunity to make voyages from their new homes and return to the place and time in which their world was much smaller.

By the time one enters high school and can take part in homecoming, they have most likely been in that town or area for at least a decade — it already has significance. You’ve watched the same trees die and resurrect year after year and let the twists

Abby Waechter

I’ve been there before. I transferred to Ohio University from a school in northern Ohio where I first felt this sensation of otherness; it was not fun at all. I spent one semester there and I didn’t even experience homecoming — I went to a different campus to hang out with my friends. My classmates back north seemed to be victims of a trance that I somehow avoided but wished I didn’t. The traditions meant nothing. I didn’t care for the ceremonies or the showmanship that was taking place. It was a depressing feeling of alienation.

I’ll admit, last fall I didn’t feel much when my first OU Homecoming came around. I had been in Athens for less than a full

school year, I kept getting lost on campus and I was generally having a hard time easing into Athens and my classes. A ceremony in which the average attendee had green coursing through their veins was unimportant to me. I had to convince myself I liked being here.

It took a while; it took some long weeks, longer weekends and an open heart and mind, but I came around to this place. I can’t name a moment, just as I can’t name the moment I started loving my car or my cat or the Phillies, but I knew after some point my eyes dilated more when I looked around on College Green; my arms hung looser when I walked between classes. My affection for these streets has, and continues to, grow; I know them a bit better, they’re not painted on the back of my head yet, but they exist somewhere.

That’s what Homecoming is about. I can’t imagine not having an affection for Athens anymore, and that’s what is to be celebrated. It’s not celebrating having chosen a school one likes, but what the school has done to me and everyone else who will be on campus this weekend. We’re celebrating our shared green blood.

Matthew Butcher is a junior studying English at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Matthew know by tweeting him

Bobcat blood does run thicker

attend at least one of the weekend’s festivities. Whether it is the pep rally, the parade, the football game or the infamous get-togethers beforehand, Homecoming is worth staying in Athens for.

As I was reflecting on my last Homecoming experience, I realized that everything seemed to fall into place for me that weekend. It was the first time I branched out from my high school friends and paved the way for deeper connections, and it was also the first time I felt genuinely proud to attend OU.

For all new students, freshmen and transfers alike, Homecoming is the first weekend you will see just how thick Bobcat blood is. I remember sitting in my first-year seminars, listening to my professors preach about alum networks and reiterating “Bobcats help Bobcats” over and over again; for me, all were empty promises until Homecoming Weekend.

Cincinnati. I knew there wouldn’t be a lot of OU alums, but there were bound to be some. Almost all of the Bobcats sought me out to say, “hello” within my first week, and I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with some at a career fair last week. Not all universities are like that.

I urge everyone to take advantage of the opportunities that Homecoming brings and actually talk to people. Alums want to talk to you, they want to hear about your accomplishments and failures, and they want to help you.

Business aside, Homecoming is supposed to be fun. Have fun this weekend, and do something you have never done before. Attend the parade, yell like hell at the pep rally and go to the football game, but do not leave Athens during Homecoming Weekend.

I had a student in my learning community ask me if Ohio University’s Homecoming was “worth staying in Athens for.” Immediately, I answered “Yes!” As a seasoned sophomore, I thought “How is that even a question?”

I think Homecoming Weekend at OU is one of the best weekends of the semester and everyone should push themselves to

Homecoming Weekend attracts hundreds of alums, all of whom have the ability to connect you in some way to where you want to go. Alums will visit past clubs they were in, their old sports teams and most definitely be at the Homecoming parade to see the Marching 110 Alumni Band’s performance.

As cheesy as it may sound, Bobcat blood does run thicker. Bobcats do care for Bobcats.

In all of my run-ins with OU alums, they were willing to speak with me regarding my future and wanted to help me get there. During my internship, I worked for a large insurance company in

I am proud to call OU my home, and I can’t wait to welcome home the Bobcats that came before us this weekend.

Abby Waechter is a sophomore studying strategic communications at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Have something to say? Email Abby at aw087421@ohio.edu or tweet her @AbbyWaechter.

Homecoming highlights OU tradition, excellence

ing is its opposite was an exciting revelation. Homecoming in college is a time for alums and students to unite and celebrate meaningful traditions and festivities.

Specifically, Ohio University’s Homecoming Weekend is a worthwhile experience for all including alums, students, parents, professors and Athens locals.

love, whether it is as a student or not.

While many may be more familiar with these more popular aspects of Homecoming, there are deeper traditions that further instill its true meaning.

As a freshman last year, the word “homecoming” still had its negative implications for me.

In high school, homecoming dances were consumed with competition, stress and a group chat that just could not agree on where and when pictures would be taken. However, learning that college homecom-

An OU classic, Kegs and Eggs, kicks off the festivities. While it’s not an organized event, different organizations on campus or groups of friends gather at houses to begin an exciting day with the most important meal of the day — sometimes paired with beer. After that, everyone is invited to OU’s Homecoming Parade where alums can see the faces of any organization, club or Greek life they may have been involved in, walking along campus. Students also have the chance to feel young again while sitting on the sidewalk collecting candy.

That may not seem traditional, but it creates memories among students that will last until they return to watch the parade as alums. It’s heartwarming to see everyone gather to celebrate the school that we all

All week, Alden Library is hosting a Homecoming Archives Display in which visitors are welcome to come see past yearbooks, photos, newspapers and more. Similarly, the Scripps College of Communication is honoring a Journalism Centennial Homecoming Celebration that will welcome guest speakers and a chance to network with other alums and students. The historical aspects of Homecoming reflect the strong roots connected to the university that have spread far, yet remain intertwined with the opportunity to gather for events like these.

Although Homecoming is about Bobcats connecting with each other, I’m sure most students at OU know of Kent State University — the opposing team in the Homecoming football game this year. Friends, family and alums of KSU will also flood Athens to partake in such traditions.

At the game, they will be able to experi-

ence the magic of the 110’s alums performing at halftime. They will also admire everyone in traditional green and white, sparing only the visitors section. Showing other college students and their families how we celebrate Homecoming is something special that’s even better when shared.

Tradition means marking excellence, no matter the sophistication of the tradition. In everything from a party to a formal presentation, OU has a Homecoming tradition for everyone. A network of engaged students, alums, parents, professors and locals eager to celebrate OU for a whole weekend speaks volumes to its stature.

Layne Rey is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @ laynerey12.

Layne Rey

Ohio University Homecoming decorations displayed on College Green Oct. 4, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. (ALAINA DACKERMANN| DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Reflecting on Homecoming as a senior

Being the kid of two OU alums meant growing up hearing about how much my parents miss Athens. They’ve always said it feels like coming home every time they visit. I believed them, but there is a limit to how much you can truly understand that feeling until you experience it yourself. I truly believe I came home the moment I stepped foot into Washington Hall on that cold Friday afternoon.

Whether it was because the COVID-19 pandemic took my first semester on campus away from me or all of the anticipation I had built up in my mind, it was as if something progressively released a weight off my shoulders as I settled more and more into being on campus. My classes were still entirely online, but getting to explore campus further amplified the clarity I felt when I committed to OU as a high school senior.

ter break. It’s by no means a bad situation, but it’s certainly a reminder that I don’t know how far I’m going to have to travel to make it to Athens for Homecoming next year.

This year, I plan to spend Homecoming living it up with my friends for what is likely one of the last few OU traditions where all of us will be together. It’s still fall semester, so I predict it will be more sweet than bitter, but I’m not counting out the possibility of teary eyes and emotional hugs.

To be completely honest, I don’t think being a senior will sink in until I’m sitting in my cap and gown at graduation. I’ve spent three years looking up to the seniors before me, but being one myself causes a very different feeling than what I felt the first time I was a senior. I have a solid amount of homecomings under my belt, having experienced a few in high school and two as an Ohio University student. What I didn’t realize until now is that my first real OU Homecoming actually took place Jan. 15, 2021: the day I moved into my freshman-year dorm.

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Getting to experience an OU Homecoming for the first time as a sophomore, I got to look around at all of my friends while walking in the parade with The Post and appreciate that this university brought us together. Coming out of a high school experience that, to put it lightly, could’ve sucked a lot less, I put a lot of my energy into hoping college would be different. Evidently, something in the universe put me in the right places at the right times and proved that the right people will find you exactly where you are in life.

I spent Homecoming last year with people who are now alums while personally refusing to give thought to anything other than the present moment. It was a day meant to appreciate my time with people I saw every single day before my current reality of wondering if I have enough time and money on my hands to visit my graduated best friends over win-

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If I’ve learned anything throughout my time as a Bobcat, it’s that Athens will never really leave us because the memories made here are so special. This year, I plan to take Homecoming as a glaring reminder to listen to the voice in the back of my mind telling me to remember every great moment until May 4, 2024. Bobcats will always find a reason to come back to Athens, but we have to take advantage of every second we are here in order for all of our future Homecomings to be truly special.

Tate Raub is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Tate know by tweeting her @tatertot1310.

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Homecoming survival guide

CLARA LEDER FOR THE POST

Homecoming Week at Ohio University is the year's most anticipated event. With traditions starting in 1919 and some such as the "Yell like Hell" pep rally and the Homecoming Parade continuing today, it's a week filled with fun, nostalgia and celebration.

So, whether you're planning on staying up for 24 hours to reign it all in this weekend or looking to attend every event during the week, here are the best homecoming survival tips:

Water is your best friend

While trekking to the Homecoming parade and hopping from party to party, it is incredibly important to hydrate. Start drinking water before you head out for festivities, and be sure to end your night with it, too.

Take naps

Surviving Homecoming weekend is no small

feat, especially if you aren't planning on sleeping. Many students choose to stay up for 24 hours to enjoy every minute of the occasion. If this is your plan, try to get a nap in at some point during the afternoon or evening.

Buddy system

Keep a friend or a group of friends with you during the festivities. With streets packed with celebrations and parties, it's important not to stray from your group – and all the better to celebrate Ohio University with your friends.

Go to bed early

Most Homecoming parties start in the early morning, from 2 a.m. to kegs and eggs at 6 a.m. To get the most out of the weekend, catch up on your sleep during the week leading up.

Caffeine is your second best friend

Caffeine can help you through the 24-hour celebrations when coupled with naps and water. Whether it's an energy drink or a coffee, it will be

the much-needed boost to keep you going. Just make sure you don't consume too much.

Go to the Homecoming parade

The Saturday morning parade is a must-see for the homecoming weekend. Bringing alums, students and Athens residents together is the perfect way to celebrate OU. This year, the homecoming parade will be on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m., starting on West Union and ending at the Konnecker Alumni Center. It is one of the best events to show off your Bobcat pride.

No matter how you plan to celebrate Homecoming, be safe and enjoy every second. The 24hour window of celebrations can be tiring, but with these tips, it will be a weekend you never forget. CL125221@OHIO.EDU

ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Here are the Best Deals for Homecoming Week

SIMONE TILLMAN FOR THE POST

Homecoming Week is notorious at Ohio University for its football, tailgates, parties, parades, alum events. However, the week’s often overlooked perk is deals from all around Athens. From school spirit sales to food coupons, OU doesn’t shy away from the town-wide excitement that comes with the spirit of Homecoming.

It can be hard to navigate amid the commotion surrounding this week, but there is no need to fear, below is a list of the best deals Homecoming has to offer this year:

Food Truck Friday

This Friday, Oct. 6, from noon to 2 p.m., the Ohio University Alumni Association is hosting Food Truck Friday at the Konneker Alumni Center. Besides the easy access to a wide variety of food trucks — some of which aren’t always local to Athens — there are great incentives given out at the event as well. If you sign up for the Bobcat Network you’ll receive your

choice of a free drink from Court Street Coffee or a free slice of pizza from A-Town Pies & Fries, while supplies last.

Wings Over New Flavor

Wings Over’s Athens location is a chicken staple on Court Street. With its late-night hours on weekends, it also weaseled itself into the nightlife scene by being an easily accessible late-night snack. It has also just introduced its brandnew Cajun Garlic flavor which will only be available during the month of October. So, try it now while it lasts.

West 82 Spirit Week

West 82 is a food court located at the bottom of Baker University Center. It has six attractions including The Deli, Brick, The Grill, La Verde, Salad and Life is Sweet. This Homecoming Week they are having a spirit week, with each day bring on a new deal. Tuesday was twin day: each person dressed as a twin was eligible for a buy one, get one free slice of pizza. Wednesday was sports day: walking tacos were served at Verde. Thursday was tie-dye day: any purchase at Life is Sweet came with a free rainbow bagel. Friday was Bob-

cat Pride Day: anyone with two or more items of OU attire received a free fry with their purchase.

OhioEats

OU typically offers at least one sale through the OhioEats app weekly. However, Homecoming Week has brought forth a plethora of them. Through the app, you can enter a contest to win tickets for the Homecoming football game against Kent State on Oct. 7. Also, Wednesday is Taco Day, where you can get $1 off tacos at West 82 or Hungry Cat Food Truck. While you’re getting revved up and ready for an epic Homecoming Week and Weekend, don’t forget to snag a few of these one-time deals while you’re at it. From West 82’s Twin Tuesday to the Alumni Association’s Food Truck Friday, there is a pocket-friendly food deal for all to enjoy.

ABBIE KINNEY | ART DIRECTOR

How to spend Homecoming Weekend sober

ALEXANDRA HOPKINS FOR THE POST

Widely known as a party school, Ohio University can feel isolating for sober students, especially during events such as Homecoming, and some may find it challenging to stay sober with campus-wide partying.

There are many reasons for choosing to stay sober, but whatever they may be, there is something for everyone to do this Homecoming Week:

Homecoming Parade

A perfect event to stay sober for is OU’s Homecoming Parade. At 10 a.m. this Saturday, the annual event will start on W. Union Street and wind its way around College Green before ending up at the Konneker Alumni Center, where the Marching 110 will perform. This year’s theme is “Bobcat Pride,” so make sure to show up in your favorite OU gear. Anyone can register to join in the parade and it will be livestreamed for those who can’t make it or prefer to stay home!

Homecoming Football Game

Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. OU’s football team will play Kent State. The football game will bring in such a lively crowd of students, parents and alums that even sober Bobcats will feel the buzz of excitement throughout the stadium. The halftime show will also be an opportunity to watch OU’s iconic Marching 110 perform.

Yell Like Hell Pep Rally

Thursday from 6 - 8 p.m., Homecoming's most popular event will take place at the Scripps Amphitheater. The Alumni Association will have yard games, a photo booth and live music. The main event begins at 7 p.m. when the Marching 110 performs. Featured will be special guests such as the OU Football team and Rufus.

Food Truck Friday

Since even sober Bobcats get the munchies, finding good food during Homecoming Weekend is a must. Friday from noon to 2

p.m., Athens Food Trucks will stop by the Konneker Alumni Center. Bring a couple of friends and taste test every truck, or meet some furry friends with the Bobcats of the Shelter Dogs.

Homecoming Archives Display

If you’re a history major or are curious about OU’s past Homecomings, the University Archives will have an exhibit available to browse through on the fourth floor of the Alden Library until Oct. 7. Take some friends to look through the historical OU materials including yearbooks, scrapbooks, newspapers, student publications and sports memorabilia.

Spend time exploring Athens

Apart from university-sponsored activities, there are plenty of activities to do around Athens while staying sober. If this is your first time in Athens for Homecoming Weekend or you haven’t had time to explore, this might be the perfect weekend to check out all the nooks and crannies of the beau-

tiful campus. Take a stroll on the bike path, try a new restaurant on Court Street or make plans with someone new.

EMMA MCADAMS | ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

Your 2023 homecoming lookbook

This weekend Bobcats of past and present will flock to campus to ring in yet another Ohio University Homecoming. As students everywhere are preparing for a weekend of no sleep and minimal water, you can feel the excitement in the Athens air.

Among the laundry list of preparations you may need to complete this week, don’t forget about your homecoming look because the only thing worse than a hangover is a bad outfit.

So, here is your affordable and easy homecoming lookbook:

Matching sets

Matching sets are a tried and true staple when you’re in search of something comfortable and cute. Amazon offers a huge selection of green sets that are perfect for homecoming and are warm enough for the early morning weather and can arrive quickly.

Hats

It can be difficult to elevate an outfit while also considering the weather, especially with Saturday’s high being 58 degrees. So, a hat is the perfect way to spruce up a rather dull but warm look.

The hat section at the Ohio University College Book Store features a wide variety of OU baseball caps, bucket hats and beanies. Order online or go to the store on Court Street. Either way, a hat is a great way to make sure your homecoming outfit has some OU flare.

Overalls

As fall rolls around, overalls are in once again, so why not bring them back in full force for Homecoming? Green overalls from Amazon are a perfect statement piece and come in different colors if green isn’t what you’re looking for.

Ohio University merch

Court Street offers an abundance of stores that include more OU merch than you could ever need. Some stores and bars on Court Street feature homecoming-specific merchandise that can be picked up in person. A t-shirt or hoodie from North End, The J Bar and Courtside Pizza or another bar collection are perfect for a homecoming outfit that allows you to rep OU, Court Street and your favorite bar all at once.

Cut and crop

If you’re staring at the one OU sweatshirt or t-shirt you own and thinking about how boring it is, the simple answer is always to cut and/or crop it. This year’s fall fashion forecast calls for off-the-shoulder looks, so don’t be afraid to make that sweatshirt all the more stylish by cutting it, cropping it or both.

Puffers

We saw the development of cropped puffer vests at last year’s Homecoming, and they are coming back for round two. Whether it’s a puffer vest or a puffer jacket, a good puffer is always the right choice. They make perfect statement pieces and are extremely practical for walking around Court Street at 5 a.m. The Athens Walmart has a huge selection of both puffer jackets and vests for an affordable price and quick pickup before Saturday.

No matter what you wear, Homecoming 2023 is sure to be one for the books. So as this week comes to a close and the weekend arrives, remember to finish your homework, drink water, have fun and stay safe, Bobcats!

Cost Estimates

Amazon matching sets: $30-50

College Book store hats: $20-35

Amazon overalls: $25-60

Bar merchandise: $20-40

Ohio University shirts: $8.88 at College Bookstore

Walmart puffer vests: $15-30

ASHLEY FRYE FOR THE POST

(EMMA MCADAMS | ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR)