We'll never truly be a Boise while in the MAC. I think the point of that comment is that we can theoretically be a Boise when it comes to being nationally relevant.

Boise is part of the MWC....a solid league with much bigger TV deals/exposure.

While it took Boise decades to get to where they are today...I think if we can aspire to what NIU is doing (in our league, mind you)...that would be a realistic goal.

NIU is regularly a top 50 program and if their schedule breaks right, they typically get national recognition/votes in the polls, etc.

We have better facilities, bigger fan base, pay more in salary and have a lot going our way that NIU doesn't (but they have managed to overcome)

NIU has been the class of the MAC in football for some time.....and there's no reason why we couldn't be right there with them.

That would be my goal for Ohio football. Perennial MAC east contender...play for MACC every other year (if not every year).

I think we have the pieces in place to succeed.......except the coaching right now. I know...beating a dead horse....but the on-the-field product these last four years is hard to ignore.

Totally agree on that game. Were driving for game-tying TD late...but a fumble derailed the drive with about 2 mins to go.

Was quietly the best game we played last year.....

Wish we put that kind of game together more often. Shouldn't be a rare occurrence.

Only time in last four years we've been competitive with a team that finished above .500 in the MAC

While I agree (obviously) that recruiting well does have a big role in winning. I'm also in the camp with Bob Knight when it comes to recruits. Each year during signing day, he'd be ask about his recruiting class and he'd say "Ask me in four years and I'll tell you how good they are."

I hate analyzing a class before it sets foot on the field or in the middle of their time at the school.

On paper, things can look good...but the way it plays out is totally different sometimes.

AJ Ouellette is a preferred walk-on...and he might be our best RB these next couple year. Who knows?

We've had a lot of recruits over the years that come in with a lot of hoopla only to fizzle out and do nothing.

Yes...on paper, it appears Frank has recruited better. But if the results on the field don't get better, does it really matter?

I think that goes back to your excellent points on the facets of coaching success. Same goes for Chuck Martin. If you can't coach your "great" recruits, does it really matter?

I just don't know when enough becomes enough with Frank and this current staff? How long can we continue to fall behind the top of this league before we decide that's enough...time for a change.

But if Ohio is content with being the 7th/8th best team in the MAC and go 7-5, 8-4 and play in the Cameillia Bowl each year.....OK. Just let us know. I'll temper my expectations and enjoy the ride each year.

But if we're in the business to win MAC championships....the road we're on right now won't ever get us there in my opinion.

I completely agree with this. It does take 3-5 years to really know how good a class is. Yet I have reasons to have confidence in the group of players who are Sophomores this year because we've seen a lot of them, and they have played well. Conspicuously absent from that group, however, is a QB, and for them to be truly great, they will need to find a QB. Will that be Krizancic? Maxwell? A JUCO transfer? I don't know, but I know the coaches will try to find one, so I'm less worried than most people here.

Other than QB, though, the group looks pretty solid, which is why I have confidence that the years ahead will continue to improve. These players will be Juniors next year (a couple might get medical redshirts):
RB: OUellette, Brown
TE: Morgan, Mangen
OL: Preuhs, Anderson, Lowery, McCray, Murdock, Wood
WR: Brunis, Walker, Cope, C. Brown, J. Brown

DT: Aloese, Porter
DE: Robbins, Smart
MLB: Poling
OLB: Moore, Daugherty
CB: C. Brunson
S: Nelson, Quallen

So far as I know, the only player on this list that hasn't played this year is Murdock, though C. Brown and J. Brown haven't accumulated any stats. Unlike the 2010-2011 recruiting classes, there is very little dead weight in this group, or in any year from 2013-2015.

Comparing this to the "bad" classes, here are the players that never played much from 2010-2011:
2010 - Atwell, Grady, Jones, Kozak, Morales, Snyder, Stefanski, Tarrent (and that isn't counting players that got hurt such as Dietz and M. Smith)
2011 - Bell, Bennett, Curtis, Hammonds, Price, Welter (plus players that got hurt Haser and Russell, and a player with off-the-field, Fisher)

This, I presume, is one of those things where I suspect you believe that if you repeat it enough, it becomes true? There are things I don't like at times about Ohio's playcalling, but it's at the opposite extreme. There are times when Ohio's playcalling is too random. Unpredictability simply for the sake of unpredictability is no virtue.

Sometimes when you find a weakness you should continue to exploit it until the defense over-reacts, trying to stop it. Who cares if it is predictable? Sometimes I see Ohio moving along in a drive, getting 4-5 yards in chunks on the ground, and then inexplicably they will do something random, and if it doesn't work, the drive stalls.

I don't give a whit if the offense is predictable; I only care if it is effective.

When Sports Illustrated took the time and money to describe us in their magazine as the Next Boise, I did not hear you or anybody say they were crazy or on meth, but when I or others here bring it up, we are on meth. I suspect this is because you feel disrespected and hurt by my comments. I am just telling the truth and I believe. You are fighting the truth with childish defense mechanisms, you donate, now believe and be relentless in your belief.

You may some points, but you are dead wrong on the first one about game planning, we are out scoring others by 90+ to 30+ in first quarter. That's game planning. Wrong on that one.

Here's how I'm feeling today...

This season is just really boring. Last week I forgot we were even playing and only figured it out when I checked my twitter and saw Arkley tweeting about the game. Tonight I nearly forgot again and didn't even complain much when my wife recommended that we go grocery shopping instead.

I think clearly I'm not the only one; as BA was mostly filled this week with political fighting and meta-arguments about the state of the program.

When nothing is at stake - other than a trip to an exhibition game in some exotic locale - then what is there to get excited about? It just kinda sucks that BG has wrapped up the East, and did so so convincingly.

Here's another thought...I wonder how much any of this matters to those in the AD office. I've noticed that they care so much about getting to a bowl game. Its a big deal for them. But why? Well, one theory is that they can use that as an opportunity to raise money for athletic department projects like the IPF and academic center.

I would also guess that most donors don't follow the team like we do. A winning record and a bowl appearance looks great on paper and provides Schaus and others with the opportunities they need to get more $$$.

And with more $$$ we get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better facilities to keep up with the rest of the conference, which will help us keep raising more $$$ so we can get better.....

Sorry, stuck in an infinity loop there!

Winning 7 games a year for a decade at the G5 level which Ohio exists is a solid accomplishment. Its a good MAC program. Only Northern Illinois has been as consistent and more successful. Frank's program lacks the upside because of the conservative offensive schemes. That's the issue. I don't believe in getting rid of the guy early but I also don't believe in giving him an extension. Ideal if he could rid off into the sunset with a MAC Championship and finish up with a contribution to the university. Then bring in a coach that can give the Cats more upside. The athletic department is milking everything they can from the number of MAC wins Solich has to the amount of time he's had the same OC/DC. A big purpose of the academic center is to create additional offices for the staff. It frees up office space in the Tower and the Convo. A unique issue to this athletic department so its not a keeping up with the conference mentality.

We took care of bidness tonight. Good.

Colo66--A game is four quarters long. Must plan to adjust what we're doing if we consistently do well in the first quarter (first drive...as we have wonderfully consistently this year) but then have prolonged no-scoring stretches over rest of Q1 and Q2 and Q3.

Northern Illinois will try to stop our run game, so we have to prepare to open them up early with good play calling. We should be able to stop their offense, they are no where near as potent as BGSU. This game needs to be won mentally, we can not afford to play into their hands. Our DB's if healthy should be aggressive and we need to be prepared to stop the run early. Go Cats

What is this Revenge of the Nerds?