ATHENS, Ohio -- Parking spaces on campus will be at a premium Saturday, Sept. 7. The day will be a moving experience in more ways than one for the approximately 3,700 new students moving into the residence halls.
Football and band fans also will flock to campus for the Bobcats' 2002 home gridiron opener against Northeastern University at 8 p.m. in Peden Stadium, which coincides with Band Day and is also Employee Appreciation Day. The Band Day event will draw approximately 800 students from 13 high schools across the state, who will perform with the Marching 110 during pre-game and halftime festivities.
The football game's kickoff has been pushed back from the usual night contest start time of 7 p.m. to allow the parents of new students who need to leave campus to depart before the football fans begin arriving.
"We are doing all we can to make sure the needs of parents, students, community members and fans are met," said Julio Freire, assistant athletic director for facilities and operations. "There has been much planning and teamwork by departments across campus to ensure the day is a success."
Because of the game, there will be some parking restrictions, with lots 132 and 133 (next to Peden Stadium) and lot 134 (across South Green Drive) closed except for football parking. The closings shouldn't cause an inconvenience since the lots aren't near residence halls. Also, lots 127, 128 and 129 (around the Convocation Center) will be closed to the general public and limited to football parking at 4 p.m. Those still unloading students will be allowed to leave without paying and latecomers needing to move in will be allowed to enter without paying.
"Typically, the flurry of cars during move-in day is from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., with the process pretty much wrapped up by 5 p.m.," said Mark Mathews, assistant director with the Ohio University Police Department. "With the later start of the football game, we don't anticipate a traffic jam, although I think there will be additional traffic congestion due to normal football traffic, pre- and post-game. Also some parents and visitors may stay for the game after move-in who normally wouldn't be in town. Also, during the day, it's advisable for motorists to avoid the campus areas as best they can to accommodate the parents and students moving in."
It promises to be a banner day on campus.
"It's good for us to have so many high school students see the band and visit campus," said Richard Suk, director of the Marching 110. The high school marchers will join the Marching 110 during pre-game for "America the Beautiful" and the National Anthem and return for a tune at halftime.
The participating high school bands and their directors include: Athens, Susan Climer and David Turrill; Bowling Green, Thomas R. Headley; Canal Winchester, Scott Zeuch; Chillicothe, Lea Dawn Scott; Indian Creek (Wintersville), Donald R. Llewellyn; Johnstown, Marc Zirille; Linden McKinley (Columbus), Megan Eliason; Unioto (Chillicothe), Tim Neal; Nelsonville-York, Terry Robb; Peebles, Eric Criss; St. Peter Chanel (Cleveland), Don Day; Morgan (McConnelsville), Lew Friend; and Sheridan, John Goretta.
To help with the traffic flow, plans are for the approximately 25 buses transporting the band members to park near the credit union when not dropping off or picking up students.
