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Bobcat Mania

Posted: $util.date("h:mm a MMM d, yyyy",$story.contentLiveDate,$timeZone)
Reporter: Todd Baucher

Ohio Bobcats Merchandise Sales Up
Bobcat Mania Spreading

Update 7:00 P.M. 3/22/2012

"Bobcat Mania" isn't confined to Athens.

We've also found it in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

If, for some reason, you haven't heard by now, Ohio University is headed to the NCAA "Sweet 16" for the first time in almost 50 years.

And fans in our area are looking forward to the Bobcats matchup Friday night with periennial basketball power North Carolina.

"I think it's great Ohio U. Is there; I think it's great there are four teams from Ohio there," says fan Paul Thorn of Belpre. "So, we're hoping for a win, and we're hoping they get a matchup with Ohio State."

Besides Ohio and Ohio State, Cincinnati and Xavier are the other Ohio schools in the "Sweet 16".

The Buckeyes and the Bearcats squared off Thursday night.

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Stores in Athens have been doing a lot of business this week in "Sweet 16" merchandise.

With students out of town for spring break, businesses like the College Book Store have been doing a lot of their selling of Bobcat stuff on-line.

But even those sales have been through the roof...and they're expecting more before friday's game with north carolina.

"It's sort of a two-phase operation, the first phase has been internet," says Assistant General Manager Andrew Stout. "The second phase, which is just starting to ramp up as the kids come back from spring break, will be in-store. The store isn't crowded now, but in the next 24-36 hours, I think it will be crazy."

If you're wondering, the Ohio University Bobcats haven't advanced this far in the NCAA tournament since the Beatles first came to America...that was 1964.