College Sports Established
1804
Location
Athens, Ohio
College Name
Ohio University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1926 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1946 - Present / MAC Conference
1939 - 1946 / Independent
1926 - 1939 / Buckeye Athletic Association
Nickname
Bobcats - For die-hard sports fans, there’s nothing like the thrill of cheering on your favorite team. For Ohio Bobcats fans, that includes learning about the origins of their beloved mascot's nickname. While many may know that “Bobcat” is a type of wild cat found in North America, few know how it became associated with Ohio University and its athletic teams.
The story begins back in 1924 when students at OU began to refer to themselves as “bobcats” after they adopted an unofficial school song called "Stand Up and Cheer for the Green & White," which featured lyrics referencing bobcats: "We'll fight for dear old OU/ We'll shout out loud our battle cry/ To show we are true Bobcat men." This was likely inspired by nearby Appalachian mountain folklore, where people would use bobcat calls as signals during hunting trips or other outdoor activities. The name caught on among students and faculty alike until eventually it was officially recognized by then president William Oxley Thompson who declared it part of school tradition in 1925—making Ohio University one of only three NCAA Division I schools whose mascots are named after cats (the others being Baylor Bears and Arizona Wildcats).
Since then, Bobcats have been a source of pride for current students and alumni alike—and have become synonymous with excellence throughout college athletics thanks to their numerous conference championships over the years! Whether you're attending games or just rooting from home, supporting this storied program has never been easier than wearing green & white proudly while chanting along to their fight song: "Let's go 'Cats!"
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1896
- 2010
- 2012
- 2021
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The Ohio University football team plays its first game
The game was played on November 7, 1896, on the university’s campus in Athens, Ohio. The Ohio University football team was coached by Alexander Lilley, who also served as the team’s captain. The game was a significant event for the university, as it marked the first time that the school had fielded a football team. Ohio University had previously participated ... -
D.J. Cooper sets Ohio records
In 2010, D.J. Cooper sets Ohio records for career assists and steals, and leads the Bobcats to their first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2012. -
Bobcats men’s basketball team advances to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament
In 2012 The Ohio University men’s basketball team advances to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, defeating Michigan and South Florida before falling to North Carolina. -
The Ohio University football team wins its sixth bowl game
The game was played on January 3, 2021, at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. It was the sixth bowl game victory for Ohio University in program history. Ohio University entered the game as underdogs, as Nevada was favored by 7.5 points. However, the Bobcats played a strong game, particularly on defense, and were able to secure a 30-21 victory over ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Bobcats
In football, Ohio boasts two Mid-American Conference Championships (MAC) titles and eight bowl game appearances, including four wins in their last five postseason games! Their record stands at 557-475 while they've had six different coaches lead them throughout their history, with current head coach Frank Solich entering his 15th season at the helm this fall. Some notable alumni include Hall Of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who was drafted 11th overall by Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2004, and Pro Bowl running back Kalvin McRae, who played for Cincinnati Bengals from 2006-2009 after being selected with 50th pick overall during the 2005 NFL Draft.
On top of tremendous success on the gridiron, Ohio also claims three MAC Men's Basketball Tournament titles and seven regular season conference crowns - making it one of only four schools to win both tournament champions the same year (2007). Notable former players include NBA All-Star Jason Richardson, who spent 12 seasons playing professional basketball before retiring in 2015; he was initially taken fifth overall by Golden State Warriors 2001 draft out of University Toledo, where he began his career before transferring midseason in 2002/03 academic year joining Bobcat Nation!
Last but not least, we can't forget about Baseball, which has become increasingly popular past few decades thanks mainly to due program's impressive track record producing Major League talent such as Nick Swisher ('01), Matt LaPorta ('07), Scott Lewis ('08) & Thomas Pannone ('17). They currently hold a second place among active Division I teams, a total number of MLB draftees, having seen 79 players selected since 1965 when first-round drafts were introduced into the sport – trailing behind only Florida State Seminoles' 81 selections during the same time frame!
With so much success across multiple sports disciplines, it's easy to see why fans continue to rally around these proud university athletes who proudly wear green and white every Saturday afternoon during the fall semester or whenever an action takes place court field diamond like Go Cats GO!!
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