I have refrained from posting for quite sometime due to being incredibly irritated by a string of events ranging from the MACC, the bowl loss, misconduct by various players, etc.

However, I have been spending quite an amount of time considering what the OU program was like 15+ years ago compared to what it has been like since coach Solich arrived in Athens. And I can say that I'm finally understanding the consistency we've seen within this program over his tenure.

Frank has brought a level of continuity to Athens that I'm unsure if the program has ever seen. We attend bowl games nearly every season (granted it's easier than ever to be selected for one) it's still an accomplishment we don't see every other MAC school having. I recently read an excerpt from a coaching clinic that ranged from New Mexico's triple potion to coach Craig Bohl from Wyoming, who has ties to the Solich-Osborne era. His piece was primarily predicated on building programs and giving them the opportunity of consistent success.

I understand some people on this board *cough Monroe cough* demand a MACC, and I can completely understand that, and I too would love to see one and soon. However, it's important to acknowledge that the Cats are always near the top of the MAC East (yes, I know the division is terrible) is somewhat an accomplishment. I also think it's important to not have high-low seasons ex.) BGSU, and I believe we are about to see Kalamazoo take a nose dive. I would rather have back to back 8-9 win seasons and play for a MACC than 10-2 and then a 3-9 year. Establishing a solid program foundation for the future of the program is something I consider very valuable. Until considering what Frank has done for the program I was silly enough to think about replacing him. He's laying the foundation to bring in a pretty successful coordinator/ lower level successful coach in the future after he retires. At least that's my opinion.


Thoughts?

Seriously? So, won loss record and success in winning a conference title get no mention.

I'd love to see how that approach would be received if posted at other D1 football websites.




Wonder why I'm persistent? To counter this type of bizarre thinking.

I am glad we are not a door mat anymore, but we shouldn't be after 12 years of coaching, that would be a mediocre expectation. We now have to start winning big games, we have to stop playing not to lose and play to win. Solich was fired up last year, there were no Minnesota press conferences where we have to play our perfect game to beat them and we are praising unworthy Goliaths, we should only praise God. The press conferences last year made me believe could win, we expected to win. See players follow the lead and the leaders have to be bold and strong, you saw coach FS going for it on fourth down, questioning the play calls and questionoing the cushions, you saw players being sat, basically accountability. I love Dabo Sweeney's servant leadership, transformational leadership platform. He coaches players up and then lets them play, but he makes them believe that they are the best. He told anybody that would listen that Watson was the best and Watson played like it against a pro defense.
Now FS has to hold his coaches to higher standards and get them to go with him. He was upset after Texas State, he sat Maxwell and Windham when they looked like they did not belong and they both grew from it. I am anxious to see if we move forward in 2017. Finally, he recruited some outstanding athletes, our new receivers can run past people, our new corners are ready to set up a no fly zone. The ILB is a stud, The OL is big and strong and I believe if we played them right now, they could win a couple of games. The assistant coaches have to get it together. I am kind of concerned that we will be playing flag football this spring, but I will yield to the coaches on that one.

I read what you wrote: program building and coaching.

Mix in some splinter, irrelevant stats and you're quite satisfied with the program.


After 12 years, to be satisfied with that and not miffed (miffed) that this taff has produced not one MACC, well, yeah that's bizarre to hew to 'coaching' and 'program building.'


By the way, good to know that program building takes more than 12 years...that it's not built yet.

How many years, then...14, 17, 26, 43 ??


Sorry. Not gonna let that kinda of (non-)thinking prevail.

So you are saying they are the same thing? Do you also believe that Strategic management and operations management are the same thing? Do you believe that Empire building and empire management are the same thing? Or, to make it more general, do you believe that tactics and strategy are the same thing?

Ohio has managed to consistently gain National Attention during Solich's tenure here in Athens, Ohio. Both Solich's name and lineage have now become a part of the Ohio football fabric. Ohio is not going to be able to compete with the likes of Alabama anytime soon, but it now has legitimacy as a mid-level football program, which is a far cry from where it was 27 years ago.

Building any sort of program requires one thing and that is money and lots of it. To win MAC championships is going to require more investment into the program than already exists. This, in turn, should lead to better recruiting and stronger and stronger coaching staffs at the same time that Ohio's reputation and brand continues to grow, thus making it more attractive to future athletic prospects.

Now that the foundation has been laid, the leadership of Ohio needs to decide what sort of pack with the Devil that they are willing to engage in for the purpose of reaching the next Level, if, in deed, that is the ultimate goal. Already, the commitment made to Ohio football has not been cheap. Perhaps, the real debate here is whether it has all been worth it up to now, and whether such a commitment (investment) is continuing to pay desired dividends.

PS: There was some thinking many years ago of ditching football altogether in the interest of elevating the basketball program even further.

Nonsense.

Sometimes things are clear and simple.

Solich has been given sufficient resources and has failed in 12 years to MACC. Heck, failed to even have any seasons of less than four losses.




But go ahead. Keep on supporting mediocrity.



Still not gonna answer the question of how many years of this is enough--14, 17, 23, 47--are you?