62.

24.

That's not in the same league, area code, zip code, hemisphere.....

62-24
31-13
49-0
26-14
28-29 (Ohio wins on last second FG vs. 4-6 BG team)

Those are the last five games vs. BG

1-4

avg score 39-16

In what world is this "in the same league"

BG has absolutely owned us recently. And considering they are really the only competition Ohio has in the East.....we have an uphill climb to catch them.

Weather tonight should be typical Great Plains weather for November, cold and windy, with winds in the 10-18mph range. That will make running the ball, and stopping the run doubly important. Since both NIU and Ohio are set up that way, I think the weather is a push, no really helping one side or the other. I don't expect either team to pass a lot, and I'm looking for a score in the range of 27-24 or so, hopefully with Ohio on top. Note, passing is certainly possible on windy days, just a little less reliable.

Reality is Ohio is better this year than last. Reality is we can expect to be better next year than this. Reality is Monroe is not happy, what else is new?

Comparing the stats, the teams are remarkably similar in a lot of respects:

Points Scored: NIU #2, 35.8; Ohio #5 27.5
Points Given Up: NIU #4 24.7; Ohio #5 25.2
Total Offense: NIU #4 450.8; Ohio #5 428.6
Total Defense: Ohio #5 377.7; NIU #6 391.3
Rushing Offense: NIU #1 226.0; Ohio #4 183.6
Rushing Defense: NIU #5 152.1; Ohio #6 164.6
Passing Offense: Ohio #7 245.0; NIU #8 224.8
Passing Defense: Ohio #4 213.1; NIU #8 239.2
Pass Efficiency: NIU #4 145.2; Ohio #5 135.8
Pass Efficiency Defense: NIU #1 115.4; Ohio #3 119.7

I could go on down the list of stats, such as 1st downs, 3rd down conversions, etc, and they are always close. The only place they really deviate is in terms of Red Zone scoring and Red Zone Defense:
Red Zone Pct: NIU #1 92.9; Ohio #11 73.8%
Red Zone Defense Pct: NIU #5 82.4; Ohio #11 88.2%

They are hurt in Red Zone defense by 0 stops on downs. On the other hand, the Red Zone Defense Pct is a misleading stat because only one team, Toledo, has allowed teams in the Red Zone less times than Ohio. Also, your percentage changes depending on the accuracy of opposing kickers, something you have no control over (unless you actually block the kick). If you just look at the percentage of the time they give up a TD when the other team gets into the Red Zone, Ohio is #4 at 56% of the time, while NIU is #2 at 41%. To me that's a better stat.

Alternately you could look at how many times the defense allows the other team to get into the Red Zone and score a TD. NIU is #2 in that at 14, while Ohio is #3 with 19. My point here is that even though Ohio is near the bottom in "Red Zone Defense Pct", the stat is misleading, and while it looks like a problem areas, it's really not the problem. Ohio's problem has not been allowing other teams to drive the field, get into the Red Zone, and then score. Ohio's problem has been allowing long TDs. They can't allow NIU to score long TDs if they are going to win this game.

As for the offensive side of Red Zone Pct, it is less misleading. Ohio is hurt in Red Zone scoring by 4 red zone interceptions, compared with only 7 Red Zone passing TDs, a horrible ratio. Ohio has been very effective running the ball into the endzone from short range, but not effective at all passing it in.

Bcat2, that's garbage. I've very little addressed the players. Never said that I don't respect them.

I think the coaching is less than MAC average--something that you wouldn't admit if civilization's future depended on it.

Beside the example of BG's qb being coached to run a fast, dynamic, adaptable (play calls at line of scrimmage, etc) offense, read the following for how Coach Webb adapted after three bad losses...with the result being a MAC Conference Tournament Volleyball Championship:

http://www.bobcatattack.com/messageboard/topic.asp?FromPa...


Coaching matters. Good or superior coaching makes a difference.


Side note to DFC: See, I'm only repetitive (though most times with slightly different evidence or argument) on my initiative; it's almost always in response to dim, dismal assertion that there's nothing wrong here, that we're on just the right track. Hassle those guys, too.

I guess Accountants don't ever use statistics or have knowledge of such. So you cherry pick the fact we've not won a MACC in 11 years and thus conclude we're "less than average". You refer elsewhere to us as "mediocre" and "lousy". Of our fellow MAC competition are you implying that more than half have receive more post season bowl invites than us during Frank's tenure? That would be a logical conclusion since you state we're "less than average". I've not checked the numbers but I'd bet you're wrong.

But hey, anyone can support their viewpoint but selecting as narrow a slice of data as they wish to choose. Or slant it in the direction they want. Ever heard of biased Statistics? In your case they're not biased, just wrong. We're NOT less than average. But I'm sure your whining will continue until we're ranked in the Top 15 nationwide. I know I post infrequently but at times your drivel pushes one over the top.

These look very much -- in terms of color scheme -- like the uniforms we wore to beat Illinois in one of Frank's early years. Maybe that combination has some magic in the State of Illinois. Go OHIO!

Miami has won a MACC during the last 10 years, I'll take our record over Miami.

For the record: definitely not a fumble. Knee clearly down before ball knocked out.

Total domination thus far. NIU is shell shocked!

Random thoughts....

Came to play No. 1


Fumble on Smith could have went either way

Why did Smith jog short of the 1st down marker?

Do we have no other kickoff returner that can head up the field quickly with some purpose?

I am shell-shell-shocked

Unreal first 30 minutes.

Still 30 to go....

But wow!