We are in agreement that he is a natural fit for CFL ....

So many things working in his favor there .... playing style and most obviously Canadian.

As far as Tettleton ... when and if we ever meet, I'll give you a first hand account of the CFL's impression on him. Let's just say it ain't pretty. And an opinion that many of us on here have shared in the past.

I just don't think Rourke will evolve into an NFL QB. That's some pretty hefty stuff ... like Roethlisberger, Batch, Cribbs, Leftwich, Frye, Gradkowski .... those were some special QBs.

There have been a lot of other special QBs that have floundered in the NFL or never made it from the MAC. LeFevour, Lynch, Davis, Terrell, Harnish, Johnson.

Let's see how Rourke's career plays out.

I'm excited to see him improve .... and not hit his peak next year and then just lay down the last year and a half like another QB we had here, cough...cough....cough....Tyler....cough....cough....Tettleton....cough

I will say this, this kid is a frickin' dynamo at quarterback. It's like watching the Crouch days at Nebraska when Solich had someone that could trigger an offense like none other.

Agree with bshot, this offense is going to be fun to actually watch and I can calm my "Fire Albin" threads. Permission to throw myself into Siberia upon watching the Wonderkid at QB?

Amen

Rourke's INCREDIBLE cuts and instincts running the option have been blowing my mind this season. I feel like he makes the correct decision on the option on 95% of plays, sometimes when I think he held it too long he pitches it perfectly to AJ at the last millisecond. You simply can't stop the option at the goaline with him in the game. It's nuts!

This kid is so much fun to watch. He made two great TD throws on Tuesday as well - the deep pass to Cope was perfect and the backshoulder trust pass to Papi. He can pass, run the option, and scramble out of a pass rush. Hard to defend against.

Pump your brakes, Sammy Boy.

I think we have drastically different opinions on what national attention is.

Just because you are on ESPN or CBS Sports Network doesn't necessarily denote national attention. It means you're on national television.

I'd say what we saw from Jordan Lynch a few years ago was national attention. What we saw with Khaili Mack was national attention.

Those were guys that were recognizable to the average college football fan .. at least by name recognition.

I don't think anyone outside of the MAC or maybe even the MAC East really knows how good Nathan Rourke is or even who he is. I'm sorry ... that's not slighting him. That's just reality.

Logan Woodside is the best QB in the MAC ... without question ... and I wouldn't say he's a household name.

So when you start throwing around that Rourke is getting national attention ... I obviously took that different than what you intended.

In your view ... Ball State and Eastern Michigan got "national attention" last night because they played on CBSSN.

I think you are looking to pick an argument here.

I agree that Rourke is something special ... but I'm just not ready to throw a crown on him and retire his #12 after 7 games.

I think he certainly has potential to be great at Ohio ... I'm just not in the camp that an Ohio player will ever receive Jordan Lynch-type recognition or national attention.

That's all my point was.

Rourke is OUr little hidden gem ... and I"m fine with that.

Ohio has had some really good players over the years that have achieved more than what Rourke has in his short Bobcat career. Kalvin McRae comes to mind. I don't think anyone knew who the hell he was outside of the MAC.

And to your Hustle Belt mention ... C'mon ... does anyone that doesn't religiously follow the MAC even know what that website is? That's far from national attention just cause some 22-yr old kid that makes $25 an article wrote something on the interweb.

Tyler Tettleton is probably our most well-known player recently and that was only because he was the QB when Ohio got ranked and was in Sports Illustrated. Getting in SI and having national publications/TV outlets spotlight you is national attention, in my mind.

I'm not sure Rourke will get us back in S.I. or onto the national stage like UCF, Memphis, Temple, Houston, Boise, WMU, NIU or some of the other programs that have broken thru into the national rankings/spotlight.

So I apologize for mis-understanding your definition of national attention. We just have vastly different views on that.

But please ... quit acting like I'm trying to bad mouth the kid or something. He's good ... but honestly, it's only been 7 games ...

As many have said .... Let's enjoy the ride and see where it goes.


..... and I'm sorry, I couldn't really hear the national TV announcers talk about Rourke because all I heard was them reminding us over .... and over ... and over .... and over ... and over again about the CFP rankings that came out. It's a Midweek MACtion tradition ... let's talk about "real football" while this other stuff serves as a backdrop to our discussion.

Have I mentioned I hate ESPN?

I guess we do have different opinions, and yes, Ball State and EMU got BAD national attention while Nathan Rourke and the Bobcats got GOOD national attention. I understand your position of wait and see because you are pretty cynical when it comes to our football program.. I'm simply one of the people putting it out there that he's the real deal. I'm saying he will be BETTER than Woodside when it's all said and done. And I'm saying he will prove himself to be the best quarterback to ever wear the Ohio uniform. (contingent upon staying healthy)
I apologize if I insinuated you were bad mouthing him. I'm sure that isn't your intention. But you do jump on the praise of him as too much or to early. I haven't been a fan as long as you, so I admit I don't have as many disappointing memories to influence my opinions. I respect your cautious position, but I think he will be All-MAC and quite possibly the first Ohio quarterback to go to the NFL. 2019 will be the year of the Bobcats.
Oh, and I think anyone who knows Scout.com, or 247 sports or bleacher report, knows who Hustlebelt is. Are they the best? lol no. But they are a national publication who I have followed for years. And I think it's a very good possibility that Rourke can get us back into S.I. by 2019.
If he plateaus and gets replaced by Kezei or Mischler I will eat my words and admit you were right all along. But I just don't see it happening. He's too good.

I'm surprised that no one watches College Football Final on ESPN. Nathan is mentioned almost every week. Including this week

But you do realize that a lot of people consider that national attention, right?

Please no. The last time we got that level of national attention, it was 2012, and the SI curse hit, and I don't want to go through that again. I'm perfectly happy quietly winning games without any fuss or target on our backs.

I see that the Manning Quarterback of the Week voting is going on now. Guess who is one of the nominees? But don't worry, that's not national attention.

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/fball/2017-18/releases/...

Nice logic. What does me not liking or watching ESPN have anything to do with them potentially giving Rourke national attention?

Just cause I don't watch it, it doesn't happen?

Watch who you're calling a "maroon"

The Manning Award is a heck of an achievement. Congrats to that young man He is getting some national attention. http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2017-10-21/coll...