OUZ Honors First Basketball Team with New Banner

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Saturday, Ohio University Zanesville recognized their first ever basketball team by hanging a banner at Fred Taylor Gym to honor the founding fathers of Tracers hoops.

40 players from the late 1960s and early 70s met on campus to see the new banner and reminisce about the old days. OUZ’s first intercollegiate team was organized in 1968 and played other Ohio regional campus teams.

Dale Eineder and Larry Snode played together on the inaugural team. They admitted that OUZ basketball has come a long way in 50 years.

“We practiced in the YMCA and YWCA at 9 at night. It was the only facility we had. Then the van trips off to different games. It was good memories,” said Eineder.

The first team played their inaugural game in March of 1968 beating Ohio University Chillicothe. They were co-champions that year despite not having a home gym.

“We played at Secrest Auditorium on the stage,” said Snode. “We had a trophy, but we never had a banner.”

Former OUZ Athletic Director Tom Bixler was hired 50 years ago this month to organize the school’s first basketball team. Bixler said he is glad the early OUZ teams are finally getting honored.

“Larry Snode was at a game with his grandson, when they noticed that there wasn’t a banner on the wall for his championship team. That got me thinking why. Well back then we didn’t have a wall or gymnasium to put up a banner. So that’s what we are doing today,” said Bixler.

The banner is now on display and can be seen when the Tracers open up their season this winter.