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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Been watching this site for 14 years, today is the day to comment
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Bobcatbob
2/10/2016 8:45 AM
I also extend my welcome. I think the biggest question has already been answered.

"Were the Knorr years really the complete disaster they appeared to be for OUr program?"

Apparently, yes.
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GoCats105
2/10/2016 8:47 AM
Peppering away, 69...

ExCat21: Usually us fans can tell when one athlete is just something we've never seen before. More or less, we can tell when there are those "freak of nature" type guys who just blow you away.

Here's my question: when you were at Ohio, was there a guy on the team who everyone knew was just better than everyone else? Was there a freak athlete like that us fans might not know about?
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 9:13 AM
Thank LC. I will definitely post when possible!
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 9:15 AM
Yes BuddyLee. Many athletes know about this site and read the comments. Some probably get their fuel to their fire hearing some as well. But there is nothing wrong with that.
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 9:30 AM
Thank you Monroe. I took full advantage of the degree. I recently left a job as a banker and now I work for Verizon as a Business Coordinator. Currently getting my Masters in Project Management. I was on the 10-15 year planning committee for USDA Wayne National Forest on the development of the new highway system around Nelsonville. It was the best internship I could ask for which has led me to go down the road of project management. I am more than thankful for my degree!
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 9:38 AM
Ohio needs to do two things to get to the MAC. First thing is to beat BG in my perspective. I'm not from Ohio but playing against BG is like that little thorn stuck in your side. Another thing is to have a signature win from a team on the West. I think our senior year our signature we in was a home game vs. Western Michigan and Chris Garrett took a punt return back for a TD. That explosive play carried on into other games. I also believe there has to be a play within the first half of the season that carries you into the next games as well. I would say TJ Wright's strip fumble recovery at Illinois against that really good receiver was the season changing moment. Every winning team has that moment somewhere in their season.
Last Edited: 2/10/2016 9:40:01 AM by ExCat21
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cc-cat
2/10/2016 9:42 AM
allen wrote:expand_more
This is an awesome thread! Thanks for coming online and sharing your insights!

Welcome aboard, I got to watch you play, I am glad you came to Ohio, you were very highly touted out of high school. I love the fact that you fell in love withe campus, and have stayed faithful to Ohio University football. I have some questions. What do you think that Ohio needs to do to win the MAC? How do we get players like yourself that can get us more explosive plays? The wideouts look pretty good and your group helped lay the foundation. How do we get to the next level?

As well as the ongoing question(s) that has divided many on this board of whether after 11 years of not winning the MACC (deemed making OHIO and Solich "mediocre" by some) whether Solich is deserving of his continued employment, and if he is the quality of coach needed to take the program to the "next level."
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 9:47 AM
The wideouts have been great since Knorr days believe me or not. Its how they were utilized before Solich came in. Pre-Solich....there were no screens...no jet sweeps....those things give offensive lineman a slight break from the norm in a play. Solich and Albin run those plays to wear down defensive lineman and linebackers. Quick screens and reverses also keeps defenses honest.

In order to win the MAC....we have to control the line of scrimmage. There were two teams that gave us fits when playing them besides BG. Western Michigan and Central Michigan. They dominate the run game so well they force you to pass early. In order to win those two games you have to have great field position and take advantage of mistakes when they make them.

Wideouts are only as good as the QB and offensive line. I truly believe the best it yet to come from those groups. We really have some good pieces in place for the future.
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 9:50 AM
OK. I can answer that question. Take Solich out of the equation for the last 11 years and what do you have? A program that has NOT been bowl eligible for the past 7 years. No MAC title appearances. No MAC East crowns. No bowl games. Yes the past few years have been complacent but look how far we have come in 11 years. Our board would be worse than Miami right now. No national exposure. That PITT game was only on ESPN because it was Frank Solichs first home game back as a coach after a 2 year break. Those fireworks going off and OHIO students face-planting themselves to storm the field did wonders in so many areas.
Last Edited: 2/10/2016 9:53:44 AM by ExCat21
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 10:00 AM
I think of two players that were really good but never played as much. I don't know why either. Maybe in the coaches doghouse for certain reasons. First player was linebacker Charles Terry. He had a quick first step...he could set the edge....and he never overplayed responsibilities. The second player that comes to mind is Matron Church. He was a defensive end from Florida that was soooo disruptive. In the Kentucky game he had 3 bat downs and a forced fumble and Kentucky ran away from him pretty much the whole game. His speed created nightmares for tackles. He was a big reason for that win against UK.
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L.C.
2/10/2016 10:44 AM
ExCat21 wrote:expand_more
... In order to win the MAC....we have to control the line of scrimmage. There were two teams that gave us fits when playing them besides BG. Western Michigan and Central Michigan. They dominate the run game so well they force you to pass early. In order to win those two games you have to have great field position and take advantage of mistakes when they make them.

Wideouts are only as good as the QB and offensive line. I truly believe the best it yet to come from those groups. We really have some good pieces in place for the future. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for those comments. That's exactly the way I see it. The offensive line failings against CMU and WMU the last couple years have been an immense frustration, but I truly believe that the pieces are in place to change that going forward.

[QUOTE=ExCat21]... Those fireworks going off and OHIO students face-planting themselves to storm the field did wonders in so many areas.

ROFL - That face plant on the Pitt video cracks me up every time I watch it.
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SBH
2/10/2016 11:39 AM
Please tell us about Tim Kish.
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Mike Johnson
2/10/2016 12:40 PM
ExCat21 wrote:expand_more
Ohio needs to do two things to get to the MAC. First thing is to beat BG in my perspective. I'm not from Ohio but playing against BG is like that little thorn stuck in your side. Another thing is to have a signature win from a team on the West. I think our senior year our signature we in was a home game vs. Western Michigan and Chris Garrett took a punt return back for a TD. That explosive play carried on into other games. I also believe there has to be a play within the first half of the season that carries you into the next games as well. I would say TJ Wright's strip fumble recovery at Illinois against that really good receiver was the season changing moment. Every winning team has that moment somewhere in their season.
My high school coach - deceased and long ago inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame - believed as you do. He believed that season-changing moments often occurred in season openers. And that's precisely what happened in my senior season opener. We opened at traditional power Lakewood St. Edward. We ran the opening kickoff back for a TD. That launched a season in which we piled up points by the bushel and gave up only 26 - for the entire season.
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 1:09 PM
Its so true Mike. Especially when you look at paper stats. My senior year we were in the top 5 in kickoffs. That year I believe we held opponents to start their field position around the 13-14 yard line. In football percentages, an opponent has less than 20% chance to score when starting field position is 81 yards or more. The only team that didn't bring the ball out of the end zone when Matt Lasher kicked it was Central Michigan in the MACC. Brian Kelly from CMU really did his homework on our special teams that game.

So I do agree with your former coach that there are unexpected plays that need to be made in order to change the course of the season. Austen "ACE" Everson did it against NIU when we played them and everyone thought Garrett Wolfe was going to put on a show after he balled out at Ohio State. They packed the line to stop Kalvin and Austen throws for over 300. We steal a game from the West on the road and that helped with confidence over the season.
Last Edited: 2/10/2016 1:10:38 PM by ExCat21
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 1:16 PM
Brian Knorr hired Phil Early from the Nevada Wolfpack the year after 2002 to help us receivers learn spacing. He had a 2000 yard receiver in Nate Washington I believe who currently is on the Tennessee Titans. He gave us a mental spark on route running we needed. Former teammate Chris Jackson had 12 catches at Pitt when we lost to them in 2003. But it was a turning point as well. His knowledge was passed down to other great receivers such as Chido, Terrance, Taylor etc. who became great route runners before Coach Mason and Coach Dixon's arrival. Not sure if you remember Phil Early.
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GoCats105
2/10/2016 1:34 PM
ExCat21 wrote:expand_more
So I do agree with your former coach that there are unexpected plays that need to be made in order to change the course of the season. Austen "ACE" Everson did it against NIU when we played them and everyone thought Garrett Wolfe was going to put on a show after he balled out at Ohio State. They packed the line to stop Kalvin and Austen throws for over 300. We steal a game from the West on the road and that helped with confidence over the season.
That NIU game is still probably the biggest MAC road win of Frank's tenure. I don't think anyone thought we had a shot that day.
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Deciduous Forest Cat
2/10/2016 1:37 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
Please tell us about Tim Kish.
I think 2001 was Mr. Kish's only season in Athens, then we brought back coach D for 2002.
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Bcat2
2/10/2016 3:10 PM
ExCat21 wrote:expand_more
GalliaCat, I made it to 4 home games this past season. You may occasionally see me on the sideline wearing shades and my 06 Ring. I love the home games and the excitement from 2002 to 2015-16 is amazing. To see the shirts made in 2002---"Athens Party town with a Football problem"------to now where we could possibly get an Under Armour contract or remain with Russell (in Bowling Green, KY near my hometown) is so great! Dontrelle Jackson's class wore Reebok and Adidas (horrible for football because they are heavier cleats) to now where they can wear Nike, Under Armour, Jordan etc. It's just all amazing to me how far we have come in less than 15 years. Our program is improving at the speed of cell phones in technology.
"It's just all amazing to me how far we have come in less than 15 years. Our program is improving at the speed of cell phones in technology."

I absolutely agree. However, the difficulty is the other programs at the top of the MAC are "improving" as well. No one is standing still making it easy to pass them. Is there a NASCAR analogy here somewhere?
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Bobcatzblitz
2/10/2016 4:09 PM
Re'Shan I spoke with Dontrelle last year I'm hopeful when the time comes we are in the picture for his son! Coaches have been great in evaluating talent me and a couple other Bobcats were crucial in "almost' getting Roger Lewis here instead of BGSU. We missed out on that one but I think we have some top notch talent and tbh the next Elite player could be in this years class on either side of the ball. Are you still playing for the Columbus Fire thats a pretty good Semi Pro team I played in Va and NC for several years best time mentally playing ball I ever had.
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 6:36 PM
Bcat2....my perspective speaks from coming to OU when the first night game was held the previous year. The scoreboard was not up. We had grass fields to play on. No structure existed behind the away side of the stadium. My concern is not with other programs. If I worry about other programs I'm not focusing on the positives of my own. What other programs are you worried about? WMU doesnt have a MACC? Just because they get these STARRED ATHLETES....they still have to win games. NIU doesn't care about stars. They find players that fit their scheme.
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 6:39 PM
Yes me and a former teammate and roommate Marcquis Parham tried to get Roger too because we both live in Columbus. A former GA Coach JABBAR was a coach for Pickerington Central were Roger was. So we had a good feel for him. BG just passes more per game. That fits his skill set.
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 6:44 PM
Yes I still play for Columbus Fire. We just won the 3A national title in Florida mid-January. Its good to still be involved in the community and for the family getaways. I play arena football as well. Deciding between two teams right now. I hope you had a great time playing in that area. Good football down there.
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ExCat21
2/10/2016 8:04 PM
Mr Kish was a year before I arrived. Coach Washington who is now with the Carolina Panthers was our D-line coach.
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Bobcatzblitz
2/10/2016 8:38 PM
I've known that many former and current Ohio athletes frequent Bobcatattack for a few years its great to hear from you and your insight on the past and present. It would not surprise me if President McDavis is on here he really loves Ohio.
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Bcat2
2/10/2016 9:23 PM
ExCat21 wrote:expand_more
Bcat2....my perspective speaks from coming to OU when the first night game was held the previous year. The scoreboard was not up. We had grass fields to play on. No structure existed behind the away side of the stadium. My concern is not with other programs. If I worry about other programs I'm not focusing on the positives of my own. What other programs are you worried about? WMU doesnt have a MACC? Just because they get these STARRED ATHLETES....they still have to win games. NIU doesn't care about stars. They find players that fit their scheme.
Again, I said, "I absolutely agree." And, again, with the above, I absolutely agree. I am not worried about the other programs, though, I acknowledge that they are worthy and if they make something happen my first reaction is not that some Ohio player needs to go under a bus. If you are here to focus on the positives, right behind you. Oh, and if you can make the obsession over stars go away I will buy you your next Ohio hoodie.
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