Written by O Dellshae Wiles Tuesday, 22 December :48 - Last Updated Wednesday, 23 December :04

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1 The band played and the crowd cheered with a mixture of relief and excitement as the Bobcats scored their first touchdown of the 2009 Homecoming game against Ithaca College. Unfortunately, the Bobcats went on to lose homecoming The Bobcats went on to end the 2009 season 1-9. We all think they suck, replied Kamia Sparrow, a graduate student at FSU and Washington, D.C. native, when asked what she thought about the students overall view of the Bobcats football team. Josh Volpe, the Bobcat s quarterback, said, I think most students think we are not very good, and that is their opinion, and I really cannot blame them for thinking that because of our record. At the time of his interview, the Bobcats were 0 and 7. The head coach, Tom Rogish, of the FSU Bobcats expressed his understanding of the growing unsupportive student views of the team, I think the athletics program is the front porch of a university. If the athletics are failing it makes it tough to gain students support. Volpe on Playing 4 FSU 1 / 9

2 Josh Volpe, a business major and Germantown, MD native who was recruited to FSU to play football, stated reassuringly I have no regrets at all about coming here. I enjoy playing football here, and I am glad I made that choice. Volpe s outlook on the Bobcats is obviously a very positive one. After acknowledging that the Bobcat s record was not where he or the coaches would like it to be, he added, We are not a 0-7 team. According to Volpe, the Bobcats have lots of talent that has been displayed in each of the games this season. When it comes to FSU students thinking the Bobcats suck, Volpe says, It is our job to change that perception and start winning games. But even if the students do think we aren t that good that doesn t affect us. We will continue to practice and work hard. Attendance Grade F Attendance at FSU home games definitely reflects the overall student view of FSU football. This year, like years prior, the number of attendees at Bobcat home football games has remained below a thousand, including the visiting team s fans. Most games at the Bobcat stadium have been lucky to max out at about 800 people, which is merely an appetizer for a stadium that can seat 4,000 people. However, Homecoming games year after year have proved to bring the most attendees, drawing approximately 2,500 people per game for the last few years Homecoming games. When asked if she attended FSU football home games, Sandy Marsh, a psychology major from Takoma Park, Md., answered saying, No, just homecoming games. This has become a growing consensus amongst the FSU student population. Several students admit they attend Bobcat football games only to socialize, just to have something to do, and some only go because they have a friend playing or cheerleading. I do attend the football games, but only to watch the cheerleaders, said Lindsey Holthaus a junior, former cheerleader and finance major at Frostburg. I go just for something to do and to see people, said Marsh. Other students just decide it is too cold or rainy to attend a Bobcat game when the team is not expected to win. 2 / 9

3 Some students admit that they do not attend any sporting events at FSU. Many students do not care to attend FSU games because of FSU s division. No, as long as FSU is a third division school I have no motivation to see a game, said Collins. When asked what his expectations are prior to attending a FSU football game Clifton Gray begins to laugh and replies, I expect to go and talk to my friends. I don t expect them to win; I basically go just to support my friend Pat, referring to Patrick Fears, one of the Bobcats offensive linemen. After almost three semesters at FSU, Gray, an exercise and sport science major from Washington, D.C. and a football fan, is amongst the many students who have negative views of the football team. Sometimes the team shocks me, said Gray about the excitement of FSU football games. Sometimes they actually make good plays, I am used to them throwing a pick or always punting the ball. Every time they make a touchdown I m shocked. Gray admits he would attend more games, even some away games, if the Bobcats had a winning record. Night Lights on the Turf The Bobcat Stadium, home to the FSU football team and also other FSU field sports - women's soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey; men's soccer and lacrosse; and coed track and field - uh is equipped with stadium seating, Sprinturf, and 95 stadium lights. The 95 stadium lights alone cost $283,659. According to the 2006 article "$1,500,000: How would you spend it?" by Benjamin Christensen replacing the natural grass on the field with Sprinturf would cost $790,000. "What the hell were they thinking? They are not that good!" Gray exclaimed when he was asked his opinion of the million dollar renovations which began in According to Noah Becker, the current director of athletics at FSU, the 95 stadium lights were installed in 2005 and the Sprinturf installation was completed the summer of The stadium lights were put in place to add more night access to the Bobcat Stadium. The stadium lights have been extremely useful for playing night games. Ironically, since the installation of the 95 stadium lights in 2005 the Bobcats football team has only played three night games. However, Mountain Ridge High School's soccer and football teams have played numerous night games at the Bobcat Stadium. 3 / 9

4 To Win or Not to Win From 1992 to 1999 the Bobcats won 73 percent of their games and had 2 ties. The Bobcats' best winning seasons since 1992 came under the leadership of former Head Coach Rubin Stevenson: 10-2 NCAA Quarterfinalists in the 1993; ECAC Runners-up), 1994; 9-2 ECAC Champions in In 1999 the Bobcats ended the season with an overall record of 8-3; 1st in the ACFC and were 5-1 runners-up in the ECAC. The Bobcats' longest winning streaks to date extended from September 22, 1988 to November 3, 1990 and again from September 2, 1996 to September 31, Since 2000 the Bobcats have been able to win only 33 percent of their games, including the 2009 season which ended 1-9 on November 14 against Salisbury. Looking Back, but Moving Forward Ariel Bell '91-94, Shawn Freeman '92-95, and Andre Parker '93 all played FSU football. "'93 was the best season in the school's history. We went overall...we made it to the division quarter finals," stated Parker, a marketing representative for a physical therapy company, during halftime at the 2009 Homecoming game. Freeman added that in '94 the Bobcats were #3 in the nation during pre-season. "We were like a football family," said Freeman, standing on the bleachers overlooking the Bobcat field at Homecoming '09. "Everyone looked out for each other," offered Parker. Although Ariel Bell, the 156th inductee into the FSU Hall of Fame and a current circuit design engineer for Verizon Partner Solutions, came into the interview later, it was quickly apparent he felt the same about the need for camaraderie. "They are a young team. They have to develop 4 / 9

5 chemistry," Bell stated about the current Bobcat players. "Give them the chance to get used to the coaches and players...they need a little time, but you should see a change in the next two years" Bell said. "Winning will bring more fans and more recruits." "If they had a better record, I'd go to more games, no question. The record DOES affect my game going...i don't go because I expect them to lose," stated Kamia Sparrow Bobcat Football & Frostburg It is evident to the FSU community that high school football outshines the Bobcats in Frostburg. Mike Burke, sports editor for the Cumberland Times-News, was willing to lend his knowledge on Bobcat football and the Frostburg community. According to Burke, high school football has been the "king" of all sports in the Frostburg and surrounding areas since the early 20th century. FSU's home games, which bring in about people, can hardly compare to high school games in the area that normally draw between 2,500 and 5,000 people on a weekly basis. Although FSU is a major part of the local community, FSU cannot compare to the high schools which the natives of the surrounding areas feel connected to. As Burke said, "Most of the people who live here, their parents, children, and grandchildren more than likely attended one of the high schools in the area. Not everybody attended FSU." According to FSU's Fast Facts page, Allegany County students make up only 18 percent of the FSU current students. Once again, the Bobcats' record does not help draw in people from the community, either. Burke acknowledges that many of the local high schools are traditionally winning schools. According to Burke, even when FSU was a Division III power, local high schools still drew more people on a weekly basis. 5 / 9

6 The sports fans in the surrounding area tend to prefer to watch their college games on TV. Unless a person in the area has a relative playing for FSU, many are more likely to watch major college football games on TV or make a short drive to West Virginia or a 2 1/2 hour trip to the University of Maryland to see a game. The Rise to Empire 8 The 2011 season will be first season that the Bobcats will be joining the Empire 8 conference. This will provide the Bobcats with a more competitive schedule, which will provide many conference games against teams like Alfred University, Hartwick College, Ithaca College, affiliate Springfield College, St. John Fisher College, Utica College, and Salisbury which also is joining the conference in Playing in the Empire 8 conference will give the Bobcats a schedule which features more conference games; unlike their ACFC 2009 schedule which featured only 3 conference games. Bob E. Cat* is amongst many who sees the Bobcats' future as a bright one in the Empire 8 conference. "As far as FSU football goes, I know they have been invited to join Empire 8, which is a huge deal and will give them more opportunities to play different schools and raise FSU's profile a bit in the sports world," stated Bob. Head coach Tom Rogish explained that the move to Empire 8 is not only an honor because of the more competitve schedule; Empire 8 is also a giant promoter of academic excellence. Tom Rogish says that the Bobcats are going to finish off the 2010 season positively, as well as look forward to a bright future in the Empire 8 conference. "I've never been around this before, a 0-7 team playing and practicing hard like they are 10-0," stated Rogish. Rogish alludes to the future of FSU football: "I tell them stay around and I guarantee they will be champions." 6 / 9

7 *Bob E. Cat - For more information contact his agent, Rebecca Ramspott, FSU's Public Info Specialist in the Tech & New Media office. 7 / 9

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