Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Official Game 12 Thread: Northern Illinois
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L.C.
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Posted: 11/20/2015 10:38 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
. . .
If Ohio wins....this would arguably be the best MAC win in 11 years of Solich era.....and quite possibly up there with the win at Penn State. . . .
Aren't you forgetting several key wins over excellent Temple teams. a previous win over NIU, the 2009 win over BG, and some others?

I agree, OCF. It would certainly be a good win, but I can't picture it as the "best MAC win in 11 years". I'd put all of those that you mentioned ahead of it, though it's true that, as we saw in the polls we had on the "best win", the longer a game fades into history, the less people remember it.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 11/21/2015 6:38 AM
L.C. wrote:expand_more
. . .
If Ohio wins....this would arguably be the best MAC win in 11 years of Solich era.....and quite possibly up there with the win at Penn State. . . .
Aren't you forgetting several key wins over excellent Temple teams. a previous win over NIU, the 2009 win over BG, and some others?

I agree, OCF. It would certainly be a good win, but I can't picture it as the "best MAC win in 11 years". I'd put all of those that you mentioned ahead of it, though it's true that, as we saw in the polls we had on the "best win", the longer a game fades into history, the less people remember it.
It would be the best win to hush the naysayers.
Bcat2
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Posted: 11/21/2015 7:33 AM
colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
. . .
If Ohio wins....this would arguably be the best MAC win in 11 years of Solich era.....and quite possibly up there with the win at Penn State. . . .
Aren't you forgetting several key wins over excellent Temple teams. a previous win over NIU, the 2009 win over BG, and some others?

I agree, OCF. It would certainly be a good win, but I can't picture it as the "best MAC win in 11 years". I'd put all of those that you mentioned ahead of it, though it's true that, as we saw in the polls we had on the "best win", the longer a game fades into history, the less people remember it.
It would be the best win to hush the naysayers.
They would just turn it to NIU never having been that good anyway. Or, some fluke circumstances, Ohio under Solich never to be allowed credit. Still would be without MACC after all.
bshot44
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Posted: 11/21/2015 9:50 AM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
. . .
If Ohio wins....this would arguably be the best MAC win in 11 years of Solich era.....and quite possibly up there with the win at Penn State. . . .
Aren't you forgetting several key wins over excellent Temple teams. a previous win over NIU, the 2009 win over BG, and some others?
The Temple win was at home

2009 win at BG was over a team that was 1-3 at the time and finished 7-6

NIU win in 2009 was at home vs a team that finished 7-6 (5-3)

I'm sticking by my statement that beating NIU on the road, where they've won 34 of 35, in November, where they've won 22 straight, would arguably be the best MAC win in the Solich era
bshot44
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Posted: 11/21/2015 9:53 AM
Bcat2 wrote:expand_more
. . .
If Ohio wins....this would arguably be the best MAC win in 11 years of Solich era.....and quite possibly up there with the win at Penn State. . . .
Aren't you forgetting several key wins over excellent Temple teams. a previous win over NIU, the 2009 win over BG, and some others?

I agree, OCF. It would certainly be a good win, but I can't picture it as the "best MAC win in 11 years". I'd put all of those that you mentioned ahead of it, though it's true that, as we saw in the polls we had on the "best win", the longer a game fades into history, the less people remember it.
It would be the best win to hush the naysayers.
They would just turn it to NIU never having been that good anyway. Or, some fluke circumstances, Ohio under Solich never to be allowed credit. Still would be without MACC after all.
Yes. We would definitely classify a road win in November vs NIU with all those great wins over Akron, Kent, UMass, EMU, Buffalo & Miami over the last four years.

C'mon.
Last Edited: 11/21/2015 9:54:05 AM by bshot44
71 BOBCAT
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Posted: 11/21/2015 10:05 AM
Just heard that they NIU has another injury in the DT spot. So now they are missing their #1 QB, #1 WR, & a starting DT.

2 big questions that need to be answered?
Will Vick get the start if he is able to go? Will Frank go with the hot hand in Sprague?

WHAT DOES EVERYONE ELSE THINK?

For me I would go with Sprague. My concern is if Frank goes with Vick it could be construed as favoring the senior in his final regular season game.


GO BOBCATS
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 11/21/2015 10:40 AM
71 BOBCAT wrote:expand_more
Just heard that they NIU has another injury in the DT spot. So now they are missing their #1 QB, #1 WR, & a starting DT.

2 big questions that need to be answered?
Will Vick get the start if he is able to go? Will Frank go with the hot hand in Sprague?

WHAT DOES EVERYONE ELSE THINK?

For me I would go with Sprague. My concern is if Frank goes with Vick it could be construed as favoring the senior in his final regular season game.


GO BOBCATS
I'd go with Sprague, not just because of his "hot hand," but because I doubt if Vick can be at 100%, especially as to running.
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Posted: 11/21/2015 12:06 PM
Two statements that I abhor in regard to our football team.

One is "well we just weren't ready to play tonight" which has been replaced by "we did not execute".

Two is "we have several players nursing injuries" has become "we are really banged up"

Since Tuesday nigh is our season finale it would be nice to beat NIU so we don't have to hear either.

Like DA it will be my first visit to DeKalb and complete my travelog to each of the MAC stadiums of the present teams in our league.

My most impressive stadium visits were not to nearly empty Gillette (UMASS) or actually empty Lincoln Life in Philly (Temple). But to our own smallish, old and tiny video boarded Peden. Toledo would be my favorite MAC road stadium.

Sorry to digress. Go Bobcats!
Pataskala
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Posted: 11/21/2015 12:39 PM
It's been five years since we beat a MAC team that eventually won its division (Fiami 2010) and six years since we beat an upper-tier MAC West team (NIU 2011 finished second). Beating an elite MAC team like NIU would be huge, not only for this season but maybe for next year, too.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 11/21/2015 4:23 PM
bshot44 wrote:expand_more
The Temple win was at home
There were three Temple wins of note, all in mid to late November:

2009 35-17 in Athens, Temple season record 9-4, 7-1

2010 31-23 in Philly, Temple season record 8-4, 5-3

2011: 35-31 in Athens, Temple season record 9-4, 5-3
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 11/21/2015 10:13 PM
71 BOBCAT wrote:expand_more
Just heard that they NIU has another injury in the DT spot. So now they are missing their #1 QB, #1 WR, & a starting DT.

2 big questions that need to be answered?
Will Vick get the start if he is able to go? Will Frank go with the hot hand in Sprague?

WHAT DOES EVERYONE ELSE THINK?

For me I would go with Sprague. My concern is if Frank goes with Vick it could be construed as favoring the senior in his final regular season game.


GO BOBCATS
Judging by the way Vick was hobbling during Senior Night, would be surprised if he is healthy enough to play vs. NIU.
L.C.
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Posted: 11/21/2015 11:32 PM
Go Bobcats. A win Tuesday would most likely make Ohio 2-1 versus MAC teams with winning records this year, and 3-1 against all teams with winning records.
Pataskala
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Posted: 11/22/2015 11:28 AM
It's hard to measure the effect of injuries at a given position on NIU. They just seem to be able to put in replacements who are just as good as the starters. It's that way throughout their team. The coach/QB combination is probably the most important part of any team. I think in the last six years they've had six different coach/QB combinations and they just keep winning. Haven't seen anything like it at the college level.
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 11/22/2015 4:07 PM
Neihbor: Can I borrow your axe?

Neighbor 2: I'd like to lend it to you. But I'm using it to wash the baby.



Any excuse if you're willing. Injuries happen to all teams all the time. It's sad; no one wants the players to get hurt. But it's no excuse. What happens and who plays is what happens and who plays. That's life, that's the way it is.


How do you defend against injuries? Well, you backstop by player development. Hold those in charge of player development responsible. Then quit leaning on injuries.
BobcatSports
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Posted: 11/22/2015 7:08 PM
We open as 13.5 pt underdogs
OhioBobcat
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Posted: 11/22/2015 11:35 PM
BobcatSports wrote:expand_more
We open as 13.5 pt underdogs
OU - 30
NIU -27
71 BOBCAT
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Posted: 11/23/2015 8:53 AM
ON ANY GIVEN DAY ANY TEAM CAN BEAT ANY OTHER TEAM.






GO BOBCATS
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 11/23/2015 10:36 AM
71 BOBCAT wrote:expand_more
ON ANY GIVEN DAY ANY TEAM CAN BEAT ANY OTHER TEAM.






GO BOBCATS

Is that technically true?
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Posted: 11/23/2015 11:13 AM
OhioBobcat wrote:expand_more
We open as 13.5 pt underdogs
OU - 30
NIU -27
Wow, that's steep. I would think more like 7-8 points.
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Posted: 11/23/2015 11:18 AM
C Money wrote:expand_more
NIU's starting QB is out for the season. They made their way past Buffalo by 11 and WMU by 8. For this reason I believe we'll be competitive on Tuesday.
And no Tommy Lee Lewis. Somehow NIU is able to withstand injuries to their starting QB and top offensive playmaker without losing by 50? That's crazy. SARCASM
Clearly, they execute better.
I think that was kind of his point.
I took his point (which I agree with) to be that we find excuses ("we just need to execute better") to justify our shortcomings, while NIU overcomes.
AHH. Good call.
L.C.
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Posted: 11/23/2015 4:17 PM
Line is steady at 13.5. I like Ohio with the points, and I think they have a reasonable shot at winning.

Go Bobcats!
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Posted: 11/23/2015 9:02 PM
Was the victory over BSU a break-out game for Sprague or an aberration, that is the question! Steady improvement game over game or a jagged upward trending line?

Now facing a top opponent, some areas that were exploited last week will be taken away Tuesday; can he adapt and take what the defense offers?

Does Sprague have this type of comfort with the OHIO offense, this type of vision? Taken from USA Today article on 11/17 in a piece about BG's Matt Johnson, titled, "Johnson Isn't Just Flinging It", here is an exert. "Johnson audibles and adjusts. He changed the Falcons blocking package three times on a single play against OHIO on Nov. 4, responding in kind to the Bobcats' defensive shifts--and then threw a touchdown pass." I have the paper but no link, the article gives insight into how in sync the coach, the QB and the receivers happen to be to run what Babers calls, "Speed Chess", his offense.

GO OHIO!
Mark Lembright '85
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Posted: 11/23/2015 9:11 PM
Prediction:

Northern Illinois - 28
Ohio - 17
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 11/24/2015 3:25 AM
MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more
Was the victory over BSU a break-out game for Sprague or an aberration, that is the question! Steady improvement game over game or a jagged upward trending line?

Now facing a top opponent, some areas that were exploited last week will be taken away Tuesday; can he adapt and take what the defense offers?

Does Sprague have this type of comfort with the OHIO offense, this type of vision? Taken from USA Today article on 11/17 in a piece about BG's Matt Johnson, titled, "Johnson Isn't Just Flinging It", here is an exert. "Johnson audibles and adjusts. He changed the Falcons blocking package three times on a single play against OHIO on Nov. 4, responding in kind to the Bobcats' defensive shifts--and then threw a touchdown pass." I have the paper but no link, the article gives insight into how in sync the coach, the QB and the receivers happen to be to run what Babers calls, "Speed Chess", his offense.

GO OHIO!

Uh, you can call me repetitive, but this is just more evidence that we are facing a deficit at the coaching level. We're not even in BG's league. It shows in their approach above and it showed in the scores against them the last years. They're playing modern football and we're playing predictable, arch-conservative, 1970's ball.

Thinking it will change next year with the same staff in place is quite wishful.

Think my repetitiveness is a problem? A better view may be how we keep repeating the same lousy ball.
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Posted: 11/24/2015 9:54 AM
I've said it before...but this is a huge litmus test for OUr program tonight.

Can they stop the run? Can they keep up with a dominant program in the MAC...on the road.

We'll be banged up (Vick, Patterson, defense, etc)....but so is NIU (#1 QB, #1 WR, etc for them are out)

I'm not as optimistic as some here....13' seems about right on the spread.

If Ohio can cover....I'd be surprised based on recent history.

They have not performed well in this spot the last four years.

A similar result....and we're right back to questioning where exactly this program is headed.

A win (or something close) and I'm a little more optimistic going forward into the bowl game.

I think this is one of the most interesting football games we've played in a while.....very interested to see how it transpires.
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