The Ohio University Bobcats head football coach had nothing but praise for the support the Ohio University Southern Campus has shown toward the football team as he spoke at the seventh annual Kickoff Classic Thursday.

Friday, August 06, 1999

The Ohio University Bobcats head football coach had nothing but praise for the support the Ohio University Southern Campus has shown toward the football team as he spoke at the seventh annual Kickoff Classic Thursday.

"The people at the Southern campus have been so supportive of our team and the crowd just keeps getting better every year. Hopefully our team will get better, too," said Grobe before the largest crowd in the Kickoff Classic’s history.

"We have a chance to sell out every game and the Southern Ohio campus is a big reason for that."

The support by OUSC fans can be documented by the Spirit Award. The plaque is presented to the branch campus with the most fans attending a designated Branch Campus Day each season.

Ohio Southern has won the award three straight seasons which pleases Dr. Charles Jarrett, a teacher at OUSC who initiated the Kickoff Classic and has served as its director each year.

"As long as I’m in charge of (Branch Campus Day), we’ll win that award. That’s what this town expects," said Dr. Jarrett.

Grobe said fans should expect a young but talented team this fall. Unfortunately, the young Bobcats face a grueling schedule that begins at Minnesota on Sept. 4, hosts Northern Iowa Sept. 11, then visits Ohio Stadium to play the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sept. 18.

A nine-game Mid-American Conference run begins for the Bobcats against Buffalo on Sept. 25. The season concludes at MAC East preseason favorite Marshall on Nov. 20. The game may shift to Friday, Nov. 19.

"We’ll be really young and our schedule early is really tough. But I don’t have a problem being tough enough for the MAC after going through our first three games," said Grobe.

Ohio finished 5-6 last season after an 0-3 start. The losses came at the hands of North Carolina State, 34-31, Wisconsin, 45-0, and East Carolina, 21-14. The N.C. State and Wisconsin games were on the road.

The Bobcats will play several night games: Northern Iowa Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.; Buffalo Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., Kent Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.; and Marshall.

The Marshall game may be moved up to Friday afternoon, Nov. 19.