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Topic: Ohio will be 1-0 and in 1st place in the MAC when it really counts
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OhioBobcat
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Posted: 9/16/2021 11:51 PM
Are non-conference games nice to win? Yes, they are. But they don't count for anything in conference play. I expect a loss next week at Northwestern, but that game also doesn't matter whatsoever in the MAC standings. This team will beat Akron and will be in 1st place in the MAC in 2 weeks and will find its stride. Just watch.
Last Edited: 9/25/2021 11:59:19 PM by OhioBobcat
ExVideoCat
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Posted: 9/17/2021 12:00 AM
Non cons matter when you’re trying to get bowl eligibility. We have to win 6 of 8 to go to a bowl. I’m going to go out on a limb and say when you start 0-4 and your offense/defense is about as powerful as one of those battery operated four wheelers you get your two year old at Walmart that 6/8 won’t happen.
RSBobcat
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Posted: 9/17/2021 12:01 AM
Hopefully not Jinx post....
RS Bobcat
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 9/17/2021 12:09 AM
From what I've seen so far, I'm not sure Akron is a given. The showing against Louisiana was really not impressive. I keep wondering what our record would be now if Frank was still at the helm. It appears that every team we've played, including the Iron Dukes, looked more athletic, but I'm not really sure that that is actually the case. We are just not clicking on either side of the ball.
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Pataskala
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Posted: 9/17/2021 12:36 AM
Akron will probably get its first win of the season Saturday at home vs Bryant. Whoda thunk that Akron would get its first win this season before Ohio would?
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

Last Edited: 9/17/2021 12:37:52 AM by Pataskala
OhioBobcat
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Posted: 9/25/2021 11:58 PM
The non-conference schedule is over. It didn't go as anyone on here had hoped but it has zero impact on what happens in the MAC moving forward. I truly believe this team is about to find its stride, and Akron up next is just what the doctor ordered. A win here puts Ohio in first place in the MAC and gets this team refocused and back on track. This is where things are about to take a turn.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 9/26/2021 12:07 AM
OhioBobcat wrote:expand_more
The non-conference schedule is over. It didn't go as anyone on here had hoped but it has zero impact on what happens in the MAC moving forward. I truly believe this team is about to find its stride, and Akron up next is just what the doctor ordered. A win here puts Ohio in first place in the MAC and gets this team refocused and back on track. This is where things are about to take a turn.
I hope that you are right, but I'm just not super confident that we can pull this off. If we play the way we did against the Dukes, it'll be a long afternoon. Akron would beat them badly, I think, just like they did Bryant.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
Maddog13
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Posted: 9/26/2021 1:41 AM
I deeply appreciate your optimism -- and win, lose or draw -- I will also be continuing to root for the Bobcats; however, I have seen absolutely nothing from the coaching staff or the players that would indicate that we will be nothing more than a bottom feeder in the MAC this year and beyond. Other teams in the league have moved on and improved, but Bobcat Football seems dead in the water right now. Now that we have lost our legendary coach, there appears to be very little left in the tank. I don't see any depth, ingenuity, or a system that will survive past Solich's time at the helm at Ohio. Now that the legend is gone, what does Ohio Football have that will attract new recruits? Granted, the beauty of the Hocking River is underrated, but -- seriously -- losing ugly and not having much of an identity other than playing bad football is not going to attract anyone, including fans. Many of us were led to believe that there was something in place that would survive long after Solich. The sad fact is that no sooner had he retired than the program turned back into a pumpkin and we are left without even a glass slipper needed to find our next thrilling leader. The only hope now is to find a former name who wouldn't mind living out his days coaching a less stressful program. I don't see this program being of interest to an up and coming coach with talent, which we could afford. I just don't.
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Posted: 9/26/2021 8:53 AM
At the start of this season I thought we had the potential, realistically, to be 2-2 going into conference play.
Now we are at 0-4!
1st conference game @ Akron, who was projected to finish last in the preseason polls.
Akron is 1-3 after their OOC play.
At the start of this season I thought we would take care of business with Akron.
Now I am pessimistic about this game.
This game could help us right the ship, especially with it being an away game.

THE STORY LINE FOR THIS GAME WILL BE "2 OF THE BOTTOM 10 TEAMS PLAY EACH OTHER".

I can't wait to see the spread on this one.




GO BOBCATS
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Posted: 9/26/2021 9:33 AM
I had cold pizza for breakfast today, because I feel like it's 1994.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 9/26/2021 10:10 AM
Maddog13 wrote:expand_more
. . .The only hope now is to find a former name who wouldn't mind living out his days coaching a less stressful program. I don't see this program being of interest to an up and coming coach with talent, which we could afford. I just don't.
Well, a strange thought occurred to me: Jim Grobe is now coaching some arena league team. He's a native of Huntington. Maybe he'd be interested in a second gig at OHIO. Wild idea, I know, but these are desperate times in Bobcat Football Land.
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Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 9/26/2021 10:41 AM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
. . .The only hope now is to find a former name who wouldn't mind living out his days coaching a less stressful program. I don't see this program being of interest to an up and coming coach with talent, which we could afford. I just don't.
Well, a strange thought occurred to me: Jim Grobe is now coaching some arena league team. He's a native of Huntington. Maybe he'd be interested in a second gig at OHIO. Wild idea, I know, but these are desperate times in Bobcat Football Land.
If nothing more, we could expect Grobe to quickly instill discipline and grit.

Which causes me to remember this anecdote: As his 6 years coincided with my 6 as pres of the Akron-Canton Alumni Chapter, we became close. Once when arriving at Peden to watch practice - at his invitation - I saw a Bobcat running laps. I walked to Jim and said, "Why is he running laps?" Jim waited till the player was within earshot and replied, "He said a bad word." The player grinned sheepishly.

I'm also remembering that, after stepping down at Wake, scandal-plagued Baylor asked him to serve a season as an interim Mr. Clean. Rather remarkably he coached the Bears to a 6-6 regular season plus a bowl win.
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Pataskala
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Posted: 9/26/2021 11:39 AM
Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more
. . .The only hope now is to find a former name who wouldn't mind living out his days coaching a less stressful program. I don't see this program being of interest to an up and coming coach with talent, which we could afford. I just don't.
Well, a strange thought occurred to me: Jim Grobe is now coaching some arena league team. He's a native of Huntington. Maybe he'd be interested in a second gig at OHIO. Wild idea, I know, but these are desperate times in Bobcat Football Land.
If nothing more, we could expect Grobe to quickly instill discipline and grit.

Which causes me to remember this anecdote: As his 6 years coincided with my 6 as pres of the Akron-Canton Alumni Chapter, we became close. Once when arriving at Peden to watch practice - at his invitation - I saw a Bobcat running laps. I walked to Jim and said, "Why is he running laps?" Jim waited till the player was within earshot and replied, "He said a bad word." The player grinned sheepishly.

I'm also remembering that, after stepping down at Wake, scandal-plagued Baylor asked him to serve a season as an interim Mr. Clean. Rather remarkably he coached the Bears to a 6-6 regular season plus a bowl win.
A blogger posted a while back that Jim Grobe saved Baylor football. Don't know if he's still a triple-option man but it would certainly make the most of the RBs we have and would be tough for opponents to defend.

What we need is somebody like Jimmy Burrow to come in and straighten out the D. We're suddenly making opposing RBs look like Jim Brown. They run past us, they run over us, they run through us. We're 17th in the D1A in pass defense but 130th -- dead last -- in rushing defense. Granted, part of the reason we're doing so well vs the pass is that teams just run all over us, but if they can run against us that really wears a defense out. Akron is 109th in rushing offense and we sure as hell don't want to make them look good this week.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

Doc Bobcat
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Posted: 9/26/2021 12:42 PM
We can beat Akron if:

(1) QB play means no mistakes. Rourke may be able to run against them. Cox is back and that’s encouraging. Need some way to get Rogers on the field.

(2) Reduce penalty yards.

(3) Stop the run.
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Posted: 9/26/2021 12:55 PM
Pataskala wrote:expand_more
. . .The only hope now is to find a former name who wouldn't mind living out his days coaching a less stressful program. I don't see this program being of interest to an up and coming coach with talent, which we could afford. I just don't.
Well, a strange thought occurred to me: Jim Grobe is now coaching some arena league team. He's a native of Huntington. Maybe he'd be interested in a second gig at OHIO. Wild idea, I know, but these are desperate times in Bobcat Football Land.
If nothing more, we could expect Grobe to quickly instill discipline and grit.

Which causes me to remember this anecdote: As his 6 years coincided with my 6 as pres of the Akron-Canton Alumni Chapter, we became close. Once when arriving at Peden to watch practice - at his invitation - I saw a Bobcat running laps. I walked to Jim and said, "Why is he running laps?" Jim waited till the player was within earshot and replied, "He said a bad word." The player grinned sheepishly.

I'm also remembering that, after stepping down at Wake, scandal-plagued Baylor asked him to serve a season as an interim Mr. Clean. Rather remarkably he coached the Bears to a 6-6 regular season plus a bowl win.
A blogger posted a while back that Jim Grobe saved Baylor football. Don't know if he's still a triple-option man but it would certainly make the most of the RBs we have and would be tough for opponents to defend.

What we need is somebody like Jimmy Burrow to come in and straighten out the D. We're suddenly making opposing RBs look like Jim Brown. They run past us, they run over us, they run through us. We're 17th in the D1A in pass defense but 130th -- dead last -- in rushing defense. Granted, part of the reason we're doing so well vs the pass is that teams just run all over us, but if they can run against us that really wears a defense out. Akron is 109th in rushing offense and we sure as hell don't want to make them look good this week.
Fully expect Akron to be in the top 80 in Rushing Offense after our game
GoCats105
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Posted: 9/26/2021 1:49 PM
OhioBobcat wrote:expand_more
Are non-conference games nice to win? Yes, they are. But they don't count for anything in conference play. I expect a loss next week at Northwestern, but that game also doesn't matter whatsoever in the MAC standings. This team will beat Akron and will be in 1st place in the MAC in 2 weeks and will find its stride. Just watch.
Gotta say I've missed this unbelievably missplaced optimism.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 9/26/2021 2:31 PM
If nothing else, the non-conference schedule allows you to figure out what works and what doesn’t work as you prepare for the conference schedule. We have pretty much aced the test in finding out what doesn’t work, and pretty much flunked finding out what works. No offense, no defense and overall pretty bad special teams. Why any optimism?

By the way, I think some on here underestimate the importance of the non conference schedule as far as branding, recruiting, alumni support etc. Don’t you think BG’s win over Minnesota helped them in lots of ways, whether they win a game in the MAC or not.
Athens
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Posted: 9/26/2021 2:54 PM
Maddog13 wrote:expand_more
I deeply appreciate your optimism -- and win, lose or draw -- I will also be continuing to root for the Bobcats; however, I have seen absolutely nothing from the coaching staff or the players that would indicate that we will be nothing more than a bottom feeder in the MAC this year and beyond. Other teams in the league have moved on and improved, but Bobcat Football seems dead in the water right now. Now that we have lost our legendary coach, there appears to be very little left in the tank. I don't see any depth, ingenuity, or a system that will survive past Solich's time at the helm at Ohio. Now that the legend is gone, what does Ohio Football have that will attract new recruits? Granted, the beauty of the Hocking River is underrated, but -- seriously -- losing ugly and not having much of an identity other than playing bad football is not going to attract anyone, including fans. Many of us were led to believe that there was something in place that would survive long after Solich. The sad fact is that no sooner had he retired than the program turned back into a pumpkin and we are left without even a glass slipper needed to find our next thrilling leader. The only hope now is to find a former name who wouldn't mind living out his days coaching a less stressful program. I don't see this program being of interest to an up and coming coach with talent, which we could afford. I just don't.
Actually our prospects in returning to winning in football are pretty good.

Cost of attendance is hurting Ohio attracting students but isn't a factor in sports when everyone is on scholarship. The campus and Athens have more to offer than previous decades.

Ohio is playing bad football at the moment but it hasn't become the program's identity. It still has the identity of a good MAC program that plays on national TV. The alumni at large don't know that Solich has stepped down. There has been 3 coaches who've won 100 games at Ohio, the only G5 program that can claim this level of tradition.
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Athens
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Posted: 9/26/2021 2:55 PM
colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
If nothing else, the non-conference schedule allows you to figure out what works and what doesn’t work as you prepare for the conference schedule. We have pretty much aced the test in finding out what doesn’t work, and pretty much flunked finding out what works. No offense, no defense and overall pretty bad special teams. Why any optimism?

By the way, I think some on here underestimate the importance of the non conference schedule as far as branding, recruiting, alumni support etc. Don’t you think BG’s win over Minnesota helped them in lots of ways, whether they win a game in the MAC or not.
It was a fluke.
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2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
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2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
bobcatsquared
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Posted: 9/26/2021 3:32 PM
OhioBobcat wrote:expand_more
Are non-conference games nice to win? Yes, they are. But they don't count for anything in conference play. I expect a loss next week at Northwestern, but that game also doesn't matter whatsoever in the MAC standings. This team will beat Akron and will be in 1st place in the MAC in 2 weeks and will find its stride. Just watch.
Have always disagreed about this position on non-conference games, in both football and basketball.

And I would hope we haven't sunken so low that we're hanging our hat on a potential win over Akron.

Let that sink in . . . Akron.
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Posted: 9/26/2021 4:00 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
. . .And I would hope we haven't sunken so low that we're hanging our hat on a potential win over Akron.

Let that sink in . . . Akron.
The word that worries me in the above quote is "potential." I remember not long ago folks on this board talked about guaranteed wins over the Zippers. Times have changed, and changed quickly.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
colobobcat66
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Posted: 9/26/2021 4:13 PM
Club Hyatt wrote:expand_more
[QUOTE=colobobcat66] If nothing else, the non-conference schedule allows you to figure out what works and what doesn’t work as you prepare for the conference schedule. We have pretty much aced the test in finding out what doesn’t work, and pretty much flunked finding out what works. No offense, no defense and overall pretty bad special teams. Why any optimism?

By the way, I think some on here underestimate the importance of the non conference schedule as far as branding, recruiting, alumni support etc. Don’t you think BG’s win over Minnesota helped them in lots of ways, whether they win a game in the MAC or not.
It was a fluke.

It was also a win
OhioBobcat
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Posted: 9/26/2021 6:19 PM
Ohio is a 9-point favorite at Akron.
GoCats105
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Posted: 9/26/2021 6:49 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Are non-conference games nice to win? Yes, they are. But they don't count for anything in conference play. I expect a loss next week at Northwestern, but that game also doesn't matter whatsoever in the MAC standings. This team will beat Akron and will be in 1st place in the MAC in 2 weeks and will find its stride. Just watch.
Have always disagreed about this position on non-conference games, in both football and basketball.

And I would hope we haven't sunken so low that we're hanging our hat on a potential win over Akron.

Let that sink in . . . Akron.
Some of Ohio's best teams have failed at Akron.
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Posted: 9/26/2021 7:25 PM
Due to poor preparation, yes. That problem plagued Solich teams once or twice a year.
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