OU's growing Apathy a concern to researchers

"We have sports teams?," commented a 5th year junior at Oglethorpe when I asked him about his expectations of the Lady Petrels this coming hoops season. Surprisingly this was not the first such response I received last Wednesday when I went back to the campus of Oglethorpe University in a quest to gather student insight on their expectations of the 2007-2008 Lady Petrels hoops squad. Disguised as a Japanese Maple, I planted myself outside of the Emerson Student Center and bombarded unsuspecting OU students with questions concerning the Lady Petrels. After 6 hours of incredibly unnecessary covert journalism I was shocked to discover that the majority of students I interviewed were more surprised to find out that OU had sports teams than the fact that they were talking to a tree. That's right, it didn't even begin to phase these students that they were talking to a frickin' Japanese Maple! As I drove home, disappointed with my day's research, I began to reflect upon my wonderful days at OU. I remembered being at almost every single sporting event I could attend. Me and my cronies made several road trips to support our fellow students in their athletic competitions. It was a fun era at OU. Students made absolute fools of themselves at every sporting event. Life was great, Lake Lanier was full, and home games on Friday nights in January and February were what we lived for. Have you ever cheered so hard and fanatically that after a win the players come and thank you and assist the EMT in starting your intravenous drip because you've given everything you have as a fan? Well I've been there and it's awesome! Why can't the good 'ole days return to OU? I want to see Dorough Fieldhouse packed all season long. I've had enough of the apathy around campus, it's time to get out and support your school, your fellow students, and the concession stand (conveniently located in Dorough Fieldhouse). Let's bring the energy back to OU. The Dorough Delinquents need to return, and return in force. I'll see you this season!

What should we expect this season?

With the Lady Petrels first regular season game less than a month away, you have to ask the question; is this team ready to make a run at the D-III National Championship? I know the season has not yet begun, and two straight years of making the national tourney does not guarantee a third straight appearance, but the fact that the Lady Petrels are bringing back their core players for a third straight season and Corbett is returning from injury makes me believe that that we will be adding some hardware to our trophy case come March, assuming the lock hasn't rusted over from lack of use. I'm probably getting ahead of myself but I truly believe these girls will provide OU with some much needed excitement this March. DePauw's Lady's took home the National Championship last year, our Lady's took down DePauw at Dorough last season. If they can find that level of intensity and determination that they had versus DePauw last January and apply themselves to that level of play all season long, they will be the team to beat around the SCAC and come March, around the country. What do you think, am I full of it, or do the Lady Petrels have a legit shot at a National Championship? What will it take for them to win the SCAC? What will you consider a successful season? I want to hear from you. Post your comments.

About this Blog

Kim and Brett will frequently post blogs concerning the Lady Petrels basketball team and their webcasts. Your job is to comment on their posts. You can just leave comments, or ask questions and Brett and Kim will incorporate these comments into their webcasts of the OU Lady Petrels basketball games. Additionally if there is a topic you feel is worthy of discussion you can simply e-mail brett at brettrwise@gmail.com or Kim Wiley at kimawiley@yahoo.com

Webcasts

Fans of the Lady Petrels basketball team of Oglethorpe University can now listen to all the home games for their favorite NCAA D-III women's basketball team via the web. Click on the following link to catch the Lady Petrels in action this season http://www.oglethorpe.edu/athletics/ then click on "Listen Live." The games will be brought to you by Oglethorpe University alumns and former student athletes Kim Wiley and Brett Wise. A full schedule will be posted in the coming days.