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Topic: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Topic: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

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bobcat695
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Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 12:04:17 PM

I have spent the last 20 years of my life faithfully following the Ohio Bobcats wherever they play. I have been fortunate to see some awesome games, and had to sit through some where we were painfully overmatched. Two days after the Debacle in Detroit (v. 2011), I am still in shock over what happened.

Apparently, the MAC office went into our locker room at halftime and awarded the team the trophy. There is no other explanation for that 2nd half. The coaching was awful all the way around. Clock management, play calling, motivation and personnel issues all reared their ugly head. The players also performed at a level way below their potential in that half.

I have tried to think of a worse loss in any Bobcat sporting event, and I can't come up with one. We were never blowing out OSU in football or Florida in basketball, so those losses were not as shocking when they actually happened. Our bowl games have not really been close. Our NCAA basketball games have not really been close either. Shame on me for being fooled into thinking all those involved in winning the game would actually coach/play to the end. That is just not how the story ever ends for us. Why would Friday night be any different? I love our university. I believe we will be back in Detroit next year. I will be in attendance. The only difference is that I will drive north fully expecting to feel like a kick in the crotch is forthcoming.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

Alan Swank
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 12:12:41 PM

bobcat695 wrote:

Shame on me for being fooled into thinking all those involved in winning the game would actually coach/play to the end. That is just not how the story ever ends for us. Why would Friday night be any different? I love our university. I believe we will be back in Detroit next year. I will be in attendance. The only difference is that I will drive north fully expecting to feel like a kick in the crotch is forthcoming.

Care to walk into the locker room on the first day of practice for the bowl game and say that to the faces of the coaches and players? Sometimes things just don't work out but to question the integrity of the coaches and players in playing the game is a bit of a stretch for a guy who prides himself on being the tailgater of the game.

bobcat695
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 1:06:20 PM

I never called for anyone's head, nor did I question their integrity. I questioned the focus and killer instinct in the 2nd half. I would be shocked and disappointed if those inside the the locker room don't feel the same way. And, what does tailgating have anything to do with this? Nobody questions my loyalty or support for our teams.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

Hooligan
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 1:22:59 PM

It's obvious that the last 30 minutes were not played with the same intensity and desire as the first 30. I don't think 695 comments are a stretch at all. The play calling changed, the jump in the step was gone, head scratching penalties(both personal fouls) that happened at the worst possible moments. The team somehow lost the fire that was needed to complete this Championship run.

As far as the tailgater of the game comment, you can't control the outcome of the game but you can control the party before hand.

PutnamField
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 1:26:13 PM

Nice ad hominem attack Swank. In Alan's world you need the proper "credentials" to challenge the regime, and everything has to be face to face.

Problem with that, the people with credentials won't do it, and they're the ones who get face time.

Last time Eisenstein asked Solich if there was a lack of positive intangible attributes that caused a loss (post-game Buffalo), coach got pissed and stormed off.

Friday night, Brian Boesch lobbed total softballs in the post-game. More vanilla than a Jim Nabors concert. Then Eisenstein gushes about Boesch conducting the interview with sensitivity.

Cut to the MAC championship post-game presser: A reporter asks Solich if he thought about calling a timeout with a minute plus left in the first half as NIU readied to punt. Solich says no, there was only twenty-something seconds left after the punt. THE QUESTION WAS WHY NOT CALL A TIMEOUT BEFORE THE PUNT WHEN THERE WAS A MINUTE PLUS LEFT ON THE CLOCK.

But there was no follow-up from any reporter to this apparent brain fart from the coach.

If I'm in the room I ask Solich why neither he nor anybody on his team has shown any emotion. Frankly, it's creepy.

Last Edited: 12/4/2011 3:39:57 PM by Jeff McKinney

Cats-22
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 1:55:56 PM

PutnamField wrote:

Cut to the MAC championship post-game presser: A reporter asks Solich if he thought about calling a timeout with a minute plus left in the first half as NIU readied to punt. Solich says no, there was only twenty-something seconds left after the punt. THE QUESTION WAS WHY NOT CALL A TIMEOUT BEFORE THE PUNT WHEN THERE WAS A MINUTE PLUS LEFT ON THE CLOCK.

Okay, well the answer is you may not want to add more plays to the game when you're up 20. I can see the argument for going for more points there, though, but it's highly debatable. Frank may have misunderstood the details of that question but probably his answer would have been about the same regardless.

Last Edited: 12/4/2011 3:41:11 PM by Jeff McKinney

BobcatSports
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 2:47:16 PM

I've been at this since 1968 and without question it is the most devastating, disappointing loss EVER.

I thought we actually put ourselves in a position to lose in the 1st half. This game had all the makings of the Marshall game where we put them so far out in the 1st half they had no chance to rebound. No. Illinois gave us that same opportunity, the score COULD have been 35-0 at the half. Obviously that did not happen and we left No. Illinois with a pulse.

The 2nd half collapse was complete. From the coaching, to the QB play, to the porous secondary, to the inane foolish personal foul penalties, to the collapse of our "rock solid" FG and punting there essentially was no stone left unturned in the contribution to the total unraveling.

It simply was beyond comprehension.

Bcat2
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 3:08:44 PM

bobcat695 wrote:

I have spent the last 20 years of my life faithfully following the Ohio Bobcats wherever they play. I have been fortunate to see some awesome games, and had to sit through some where we were painfully overmatched. Two days after the Debacle in Detroit (v. 2011), I am still in shin the second hafock over what happened.

Apparently, the MAC office went into our locker room at halftime and awarded the team the trophy. There is no other explanation for that 2nd half. The coaching was awful all the way around. Clock management, play calling, motivation and personnel issues all reared their ugly head. The players also performed at a level way below their potential in that half.

I have tried to think of a worse loss in any Bobcat sporting event, and I can't come up with one. We were never blowing out OSU in football or Florida in basketball, so those losses were not as shocking when they actually happened. Our bowl games have not really been close. Our NCAA basketball games have not really been close either. Shame on me for being fooled into thinking all those involved in winning the game would actually coach/play to the end. That is just not how the story ever ends for us. Why would Friday night be any different? I love our university. I believe we will be back in Detroit next year. I will be in attendance. The only difference is that I will drive north fully expecting to feel like a kick in the crotch is forthcoming.

695, We were definately watching the same game. Ohio 2nd half bore no resemlance to Ohio 1st half. For this I fault the coaches. Ohio jacked for 1st half, credit the Ohio staff, NIU jacked for the 2nd half, credit to NIU. I don't fault the play calling. Ohio had the personnel to execute every play called, but, it seems some other team came out for the second half. Coach Solich's record when leading after 3 is very good, though, the whole team failed to respect NIU in the second half and sadly a game well won was lost. In a loss like this, a team effort, I hope the team will resolve to never let it happen again. The season does not have to end on this note. Last season NIU lost in Detroit and then won the Humanitarian Bowl 40-17 vs Fresno State. In two weeks they can put the Debacle In Detroit (v. 2011) out of their minds with a bowl win.

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

Bobcatzblitz
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 3:50:28 PM

I've watched this game 6 times..and I after speaking with the players its seems there was no emotion and they also felt there was no confidence in play calling after halftime. I am hopeful that this rattles their cages enough and they perform (players and coaches) great in the bowl game but honestly what a waste of a MACC talented team I'm not sure thate we are a cold weather team either....next year we should be even better however I am excited for the red-shirt linebackers I think there are 2-3 great ones that will emerge. Either way people need to calm the hell down it was not that long ago that OHIO was AKRON.

Monroe Slavin
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 4:19:25 PM

We went away from our identity in the 2nd half when we got so very conservative. As it didn't work and NIU caught up and gained momentum, it snowballed and our spirit was killed. That self-check which destroyed our confidence was the key. CONFIDENCE is so important.

But, NOW, who cares.

O H I O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's time to get pumped up for OUr bowl game!!!

Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!

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SBH
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 4:23:33 PM

I've seen many "worst" losses. This is up there, but strangely I can't wipe that 5-0 loss to Utah State from my memory. And the collapse at NCSU is up there, too. And Knorr's opening game loss to Akron. And...

Pete Chouteau
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 4:38:02 PM

Having two sleeps, and some alone time on the roof (wife didn't want me putting up Christmas lights in my current state, but I did anyway.) has helped a little.

The Grunkemeyer shot was worse.

Not to say this was not suckitude to the seventh power. Just that I've taken worse.

mcbin
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 4:57:32 PM

SBH wrote:

And...

Northeastern?

OSU in 2008?

Grunkemeyer?

K-State in 1997?

NC State ~1998?

Marshall last year?

If you think hard, there are dozens of bad ones. This one makes a great case for one of the most painful ever.

Bobcat fans have to be some of the toughest around. Glutton's for punishment. So many heartbreaking losses, and relatively few glorious wins. (but it does make it that much sweeter when it happens) I've only been a Bobcat since the mid-1990's, I cannot begin to understand how the folks that went here in the 70's must feel. They've done it 20 years longer than I. Hats off. Bobcats will be back, and hopefully a win in a couple weeks will start the healing.

ben

Alan Swank
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 5:29:20 PM

bobcat695 wrote:

Sorry Mr. Stone, in the context of your post I did and I stand by my original post. You questioned whether the team and coaches played till the end. That in my opinion is questioning their integrity. This team hasn't quit all year and didn't quit Friday night.

Regardless, the game looked like a tale of two teams. Team first half played great, team second half didn't.

As for Putnam's "credentials"comment - not sure where that came from. We're all free to comment on/question anything that we want. I will agree with him that the local sports reporting crew often throws softballs or in some cases nerf balls. On the flip side, I don't necessarily need to know what coach X had for breakfast.

bobcat695
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 5:51:43 PM

Of all the ones listed, this was the only one for a conference championship. Every other game mentioned was painful in its own way, but this one would have lead to something that has not been accomplished in 4 decades.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

Pataskala
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 8:37:00 PM

Last year's bowl game vs. Troy. Outplayed from the get-go, with no enthusiasm for the entire game. I can see getting pumped up to start a game, taking an unexpected big lead into halftime and leaving all your emotion in the locker room. But it was obvious last year that OU's enthusiasm was back in the hotel or somewhere out on Bourbon Street.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

Bobcat Grad 86
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 10:19:25 PM

SBH wrote:

That NC State game still hurts and my gear is still drying out from the tropical storm! I remember our punt team making a nice play to tackle Torry Holt and then I saw that penalty flag on us and started to get a sick feeling before the blocked punt.

OhioCatFan
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/4/2011 11:00:42 PM

mcbin wrote:

SBH wrote:

And...

Northeastern?

OSU in 2008?

Grunkemeyer?

K-State in 1997?

NC State ~1998?

Marshall last year?

. . .

Good list, but let me add . . . Georgia Tech (basketball) 1959-60. The Yellowjackets were ranked #13 and Ohio had a 20 point lead at halftime. We lost 57-54 . . . as the rambling wrecks just cut the lead little by little in the second half until they finally took the lead themselves in the final minute or so of the game. I felt very much after this game like I do now after the Friday fiasco. This was a second-round NCAA game. We had beaten Notre Dame in the first round. After losing to GT, we were so down emotionally that we got creamed in the consolation game by WKU. I hope that's not what happens in the Spud Bowl. [For the record, I was a sophomore at Athens High School at the time and listened to this game on WOUB. I never thought a school nickname -- rambling wrecks -- ever fit a team better as they slowly rambled to a lead and wrecked the Bobcat train.]

Edit: To make sure that I remembered this correctly, I just looked up the 1959-60 Ohio record and found an amazing fact that should be posted on the basketball board. The game before we beat Notre Dame in the NCAA tourney we played an away game at Marietta College. We lost that game 74-66, which was the exact same score that we beat ND by six days later. We had beaten Marietta at home earlier that season 89-72. I have no explanation for that Marietta loss -- maybe Gentleman Jim played his second string so as not to have any unnecessary injuries prior to the tourney, since we'd already clinched the birth.

Last Edited: 12/7/2011 9:10:25 PM by OhioCatFan

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Mike Coleman
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/7/2011 9:40:17 PM

You make a point OCF that rebounding from the close loss will be Frank's hardest challenge. After the NC State loss, we went to Wisconsin, didn't show, and lost 45-0, then fumbled away a game at home to David Garrard and East Carolina. Of course, this was with a majority of the team returning from the 8-3 season the year before. I think the 97 team looked at the K-State loss as a moral victory whereas the 98 team looked at the NC State loss as a crushing defeat. I'm pretty sure everyone looks at the NIU game as a crushing defeat. If Frank can rally the troops to get OUr postseason win, it will be a great accomplishment.

Personally, I see the 44-0 loss to Buffalo in 2001 as the worst loss ever in Ohio football history. This was only a few games coming off a 7-4 season with wins over two bowl teams, and close losses earlier in 2001 to WVU and Iowa State. We had a WR get passed out drunk and miss the bus to Buffalo, then get driven by a staff member and actually put into the game, had a starting QB approach the AD during the game and say he could have done a lot better than this "sh$#," had a RB in the hospital with a brain tumor. And all of this to get crushed by a team who had never even won a MAC game. Ever. Rock bottom. Quit. Not sure why there is even a discussion. No one ever quit during the NIU game. We lost momentum and couldn't get it back.

MedinaCat
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/8/2011 4:49:12 PM

Mike Coleman wrote:

Personally, I see the 44-0 loss to Buffalo in 2001 as the worst loss ever in Ohio football history. This was only a few games coming off a 7-4 season with wins over two bowl teams, and close losses earlier in 2001 to WVU and Iowa State. We had a WR get passed out drunk and miss the bus to Buffalo, then get driven by a staff member and actually put into the game, had a starting QB approach the AD during the game and say he could have done a lot better than this "sh$#," had a RB in the hospital with a brain tumor. And all of this to get crushed by a team who had never even won a MAC game. Ever. Rock bottom. Quit. Not sure why there is even a discussion. No one ever quit during the NIU game. We lost momentum and couldn't get it back.

All great points....my worst loss is the next year getting shut out by Northeastern, who has since dropped football. When it comes to AD malfeasance, Boeh's firing Pat Hill pales in comparison to him retaining Knorr for 4 full football seasons.

L.C.
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RE: Worst loss I've ever witnessed

Posted: 12/9/2011 5:19:06 PM

I think there are some things we can all agree on - it was a nasty, painful loss. I have no doubt the players and coaches took it harder than the fans, too. Can they rebound to play well against Utah State? I don't know....

What went wrong? Did the players have no emotion, as some here suggested? My gut feeling is that it was the opposite - they had too much emotion, and they became tight. Their goal was in reach, and then they let it get away. As has been pointed out, it wasn't the failings on any specific player. Virtually everyone on the team can look back and say "if only I had..... then the outcome might have been different.". Whether it is missed blocks, missed FGs, bad punts, poor passes, dropped passes, missed tackles, or stupid penalties, it was all there, and it was stars and veterans making the errors. To me it seemed like every time something bad happened, the other players tried harder, trying to overcome the situation, and the harder they tried, the more apt something else was to go wrong.

The painful loss doesn't change in the least that this is a good Bobcat team, and I hope they take out their frustrations on Utah State.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

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