Casper71, About the Penn State game. I also believed the team could beat Penn State, not because it was Ohio vs Penn State, but, because Ohio had Solich & Co to get them ready. In Penn State's history they have lost 3 times to MAC schools, Buffalo 1900, Toledo 2000 Pinkel's last year and to Ohio in 2012. Don't go "making excuses" for Penn State, not allowed you know. 2012 that year Ferentz wen 4-8, his 14th at Iowa I believe. You state "My point was not to be negative or anti FS&Co." Of course it was. Why else, yet again. The discussion has been presented again and again as if it is on your monthly/weekly/daily calendar of things to do.

Casper, I'll answer your question, too. In as much as about 2008 or so I predicted an undefeated year in 2011, followed by a win at Penn State to open the next year, obviously I expected a MACC. I still think that the beginning of 2012 team, before all the injuries, was Solich's best team yet.

On the whole, they have done a lot of good things, so while they haven't quite gotten over that MACC hurdle, they have also done other things, like being bowl seven years running, and still counting, which very few teams have done. They have also accomplished a lot of other things, such as getting away from off the field issues, building facilities, and building closer ties to high school programs around the state.

The place where I differ from some of the naysayers is that I don't see a program that has peaked. I see a program that is still improving. Yes there was a dip 2013-14, but 13-12 for those two years is better 10-14 during 2007-8. Now we're in the process of learning whether the 2015-17 years will be better than 2009-11. If it is, and I think it will be, we will have higher highs to go with higher lows. I just hope this crazy level of injuries dips.

Casper, during Coach Solich's tenure, Ohio has experienced winning beyond my expectations. Some, perhaps you, felt it would be as easy as Solich bringing winning to Ohio in his briefcase. Unfortunately, that's not how it works. Honestly, I did not expect Ohio would/could commit to winning beyond hiring a good coach. Happily Ohio has partnered with it's coach and improvements beyond my expectations have occurred. They have occurred in a reasonable and rational way, probably not as quickly as Solich would have liked. However, by 2014 Mr. Crutcher saw an IPF the coaches had been talking about for most of a decade. Make no mistake, to win like the big boys you must participate in the arms race. From my vantage point, far, far away, I did not see Ohio becoming the second winning-est MAC program 2006 on. Sure did not see Penn State going down?

Will go to his grave without admitting he thought Ohio would or wouldn't win a MACC in Frank's first 11 years.

Just the king of dodging the question.

I'll even go into areas where I have and haven't been disappointed. I'll start with the disappointments:
One disappointment has been depth at QB. For a decade it seems to have been an issue recruiting quality Freshmen, so Ohio has had to rely on just one freshman recruit (TT) and two JUCO QBs (Boo and T3) and a transfer (Bower) for the entire 7 years from 2006-13. Will QB recruiting pick up under Isphording? I'm excited about Maxwell, though Bobcatblitz seems to be the only other one impressed by him, so maybe the answer is yes. Still, there are no QBs in this recruiting class yet, so it remains to be seen.

My second, and biggest disappointment, has been the offensive line. At Nebraska they always has a boatload of O-line recruits, and a powerful O-line walkon program. I thought Lightner would replicate that at Ohio, especially when they started out in 2005 with I think 7 O-Line recruits. For whatever reason, however, it never materialized. The only walkon that I can think of that came in under Lightner, and moved up to start was McGrath. Every time depth started to build, injuries would take a toll. I'm impressed with Johnson's work this year, and maybe we'll see that Oline depth finally materialize under him.

The flip side, places where I haven't been disappointed:
After McRae, running back was a bit scary, but it has really taken off lately, and the position is stocked. Receivers were pretty lacking, other than Mayle, in the early years, but they have really been good since Dixon took over. Coach Williams has really beefed up the D-Line, too. Prior to Williams it was always an adventure trying to find good defensive tackles, but the last few years Ohio has actually had depth at the position. I'm also impressed by the job Coach Collins has done LB, though depth was a little lacking this year. Cornerback is the coaching position where they has been the most turnover, but it seems like everyone they have had has done a good job.

Now the irony... The two places where I have been the most disappointed are exactly the two coaching positions where Mason at Vandy took hio coaches. I think that switch might be a blessing in disguise, and Ohio may be better off as a result of both changes.

Read the post, your answer is in my first sentence.

+1

You are definitely, in my mind, a guy who askes reasonable questions and whose heart is in the right place. To blunt, I would add genuine and honest.

Perhaps if you sleep on it. Seemed very clear to me when I posted it. The way you are acting, is there a "gotcha" in this somewhere? :)

I would say "yes". Every so often you get a crack and sometimes win one. But we did get a few cracks and so did the Buffalo Bills. It's nothing to get worked up about. If you're in business you lose lot's of deals, it's just not in the papers. It doesn't mean you're not successful.

I'll just call you difficult.

It's a simple question that asks for a simple response.

It's multiple choice....yes or no.

It's not an essay test...it doesn't ask you to write up a response...and I don't care to read your "considered response" because you talk in vague "everything is wonderful" language.

The only thing I will listen to is "yes" or "no"

But you can't do that.

Giacomo gave a good response...he answered the question. And I agree with him. YES I thought we would have won at least one. But no, it doesn't mean that Ohio has been unsuccessful under FS&Co

But you can't do that. You can't give a simple response to a simple question.

If they have exceeded your expectations (as you've so eloquently stated)...then what were your expectations? Are you saying you did NOT expect Ohio to win a MACC?

It's such a simple question....and yet, you can't give a simple response.

So yes, I will label you difficult.

Haha! Yes, I did my friend. Nothing wrong with admitting you thought we'd win one.

Doesn't mean you've come over to the dark side....or that you're admitting Frank is a failure.

Just being difficult by avoiding a simple question with rhetoric instead of giving a simple answer

Keep being difficult...

Exactly. But he'll never say it in those terms. Never.