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**DONNI3YEAGS** · 04-13-2010, 10:44 PM

I hope if some of these young men that are seniors don't chose to go away for school they come on out to OUE and play for coach madzia.

**secretstud96** · 04-14-2010, 01:43 AM

I wonder when the last time a freshman was on the 1st team

**thunder** · 04-14-2010, 10:19 AM

Why play at OUE. You got to be kidding. If you are a good player, you want to play at the highest level. Playing at OUE is playing varsity basketball again. The problem in this area that everyone wants to stick around. The kids in this area need to get out of the valley and experience what college is really like.

**LuvHoops99** · 04-14-2010, 01:01 PM

My son plays in the valley for one of the small high schools and I am actively encouraging him to attend OUE after graduation next year.....a great little school and a great basketball program under a well-respected coach.

**thunder** · 04-14-2010, 01:12 PM

As I said, kids never get to experience college. Live at home go to school, sounds alot like high school. Find your son a college where he lives in the dorms, and has to take care of himself. Find him a basketball program that plays a ncaa or naia not against some satellite campus teams. Its time for kids to quit relying on their parents and learn to live on their own.

**DONNI3YEAGS** · 04-14-2010, 05:03 PM

Nice short-sighted post there Thunder. I said if they don't go away for school I'd like to see them on the court at Eastern. Personally, I am perfectly happy with my Bachelors from Ohio University-that is what you get when you graduate from Eastern, the same thing you get as if you graduated from Athens...just a heck of a lot cheaper. And yeah, I didn't "experience college" yeah...didn't party, smoke pot, or throw up on Halloween. Things worked out pretty good for me.
Our roster last year was a combo of plenty of good athletes who stuck around to get something you go to school for-education. The nice thing about OUE is that people that may not start or sniff the court @ other places will have more of a chance of playing.
Last year we had...
Thomas Norris, who was the Eastern District player of the year at Cambridge, Carter Baldwin, who was a heck of a player, also from Cambridge, Pec Schmitt-All State Hon Mention UL, Dan Milleson, who was nice for Harrison Central, Dave Barcroft-ditto, Steve Luckhardt-a great from Shadyside, Nick Rocchio who transfered from WL (Bellaire)
Zach Tolzda-excellent for Beallsville, Jason Shaw, who was good for Caldwell And a couple other guys.
Our schedule was against the other Branch campuses (not "Satelite") and we also played Slippery Rock, Fairmont, Charelston, Crace College (NAIA) and a couple others.
As for "not taking care of yourself"? Funny, that's what appartments are for. I lived on my own, and a lot of our kids do. Plenty of kids move out at 18 these days.
LuvHoops, feel free to send your kid out way, he will be well taken care of.

**steelers24** · 04-16-2010, 02:46 PM

My husband is a great basketball coach. He coached at OUE for 15 seasons and was in the Ohio Regional Final Four several years, was runner up in the state of Ohio for Regional campuses and even won a state championship. OUE plays regional campuses of Ohio State, Kent State, plays DII teams, etc. As a matter of fact, Jay's teams were so good in the 90's (with several local stars) that they beat Bethany, West Liberty, Fairmont, and almost beat Jesuit on a few occasions. Many students can't get in to the DII programs because of grades or finances, lack of size or speed. OUE is a great option for local athletes to continue to compete against some great competition. At least it used to be like this when my husband coached. I think you would be surprised at the caliber of athletes that have played for OUE---both men and women. Finally, the academics are great. You are getting a degree from a major university (Ohio University) but are paying branch prices or you can transfer to Athens. Not all kids are ready to go away to college. And, in today's economy not everyone can afford to go. Why not go to a quality, local institution and get a big University degree and not pay the price? And, if you are lucky enough, continue your athletic career as well.

**Jay Morris** · 04-16-2010, 05:53 PM

I am not mad at Thunder's comments about playing basketball or going to school at Ohio University Eastern. There are some in the Ohio Valley that have the same misconceptions about the university.

I was head coach at O.U. Eastern for 13 seasons and have been employed with Ohio University for 21 years. First, let me talk about the basketball experience at O.U. Eastern. Thunder, you are correct that O.U. Eastern basketball is not NCAA II or NAIA basketball, nor will it ever be. But it is very competitive basketball with very good basketball players who for the most part are in between sizes. We were always very competitive with the West Libertys and Wheeling Jesuits. OUE defeated local NCAA Division III teams, Bethany and Waynesburg while I coached. We had a 23 game home-winning streak over three seasons, a streak of six seasons averaging over 95 points, and a state regional campus title. It is a very good brand of basketball.

Since I have left, Ben Porter won a state regional campus title and Donnie Madzia has been in the final four teams all three seasons. Porter and Madzia both played for O.U. Eastern and are as good as coaches as you'll find in the area. But better yet, they are both quality people. Their players learned the lessons of life under them.

It's almost ironic that I saw this post this afternoon. I had just gotten off the phone with one of my former players. He is now in sales and making over $100,000 per year. He was saying that he never would have finished his degree if he didn't have basketball at OUE to keep him motivated and in college.

I think at last count there were 28 of my former players that earned their degree at O.U. Eastern and gone onto success in their fields. In the coaching ranks alone, you have Porter, now at U.L. and Madzia, Troy Baker at Monroe Central, Nate Alexander in Florida, Mikale and Greg Roby in Martins Ferry system, John Farrier at OUE and Bellaire, Tom Winland at Franciscan University, Keith Tate in Columbus area, Adam Shinsky at St. Vincent's and John Klayko, Mike Saffell, Justin Tyler, Jess Cordery and Rusty Davis in the OUE program. (Sorry, if I've forgotten someone.)

As for education, you can get an Ohio University education at Ohio University Eastern and pay a fraction of what you would pay at other universities and college. Ohio University was ranked as one of the top public universities in the country in the annual rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Current tuition is around $4600 per year. Many students get full financial aid and scholarships and actually get overage checks from financial aid. That's correct. They go to college for free and get back checks each quarter that they do not have to pay back.

Tuition at O.U. Eastern has not gone up since 2007 and there are no student fees each quarter. It is an affordable option for 900 students in the Ohio Valley. You can earn 12 bachelor's degrees at Ohio University Eastern. Your credit hours are more likely to transfer to other colleges because they carry the Ohio University name.

Thunder, you are correct that living on college campus adds another dimension to being in college, but for some that is just not a viable option. I have always thought of Ohio University as one of the best kept secrets of the Ohio Valley. I hope this long reply helps for some of those out there who may not know much about Ohio University Eastern.

**DONNI3YEAGS** · 04-17-2010, 04:31 PM

Well put Coach Morris.

**secretstud96** · 04-19-2010, 01:58 AM

Agree...^^^

**joesports** · 04-19-2010, 08:11 AM

Well said Jay....
I agree with Thunder also that there is a different kind of college growth experience that you have with moving away to college.

**RedDevilPride** · 04-19-2010, 03:33 PM

Well put Jay...and I will add that alot of kids DO go away to school...but for whatever reason, end up back at home. In most cases, they were not mature enough for the "major college experience". Staying at home and getting at least their first two years at a branch, community or technical college saves money...and in my eyes even more important...gives them the time to mature to the point they are ready to handle a major college experience. I've spent over 25 years in higher education at both a major university and a local techincal college and can say without question that 50% of all students who "go away" to college, will never graduate from that institution. Colleges like OUE, Belmont Technical, WV-Northern, Gateway, etc. provide an inexpensive, great education with small classes and alot of one-on-one attention with dedicated faculty.

**DONNI3YEAGS** · 04-19-2010, 07:29 PM

See, that is also well put. Great point RedDevilPride.

**thunder** · 04-19-2010, 08:47 PM

Everyone has the opinions thats great, but lets get back to discussing the all ovac team

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