We've now reached the part of the show where we argue over whether we can beat a Kent State team that has the offensive capabilities of 11 squirrels running randomly all over the field. This is a sad part of the show.

Noticed the same thing. I don't think we would manhandle anyone in the MAC right about now. We may be able to win but it will not be a runway if status quo is in place.

I watched some of the KSU/UB game last night. KSU's QB's are horrible. Their defense is pretty solid but they're deer in headlights when they need to pass the ball downfield. Ohio wins this game comfortably.

I'm not sure Ohio wins any game comfortably.

I think if we are able to run the ball the way we did vs. BG, we stand a good chance.

But that will be easier said then done. Kent's defense is much better than BG.

That and a couple other things has me a bit concerned....

JD Sprague is not good. I'm sorry. He's just not. If it's him and not Vick on Tuesday, that worries me.

Also have to wonder if there will be any carryover effect from three straight total beatdowns? I wouldn't be stunned at all to see some dissension on this team. Whether that shows on the field, we'll see.

This is a winnable game...just like UB was.

This is almost a must-win to salvage a reason to keep Solich around. I still think it's time for him to hang it up....but a loss here could be the final nail.

If I was on the team and Irons didn't get a good number of prime time carries, I'd be quite peeved and have even bigger doubts about the coaching staff.

wht's Vegas's line?

I just got finished reading the coaches comments as part of his weekly press conference. Here are my take-a-ways:
1) He knows all the right things to say on all the topics. I will follow this up by saying that the questions asked were all soft balls with no surprises, so the coach was prepared. 1 follow up question I would have asked re: the question on the run game would have been," Why do you continue to run a small RB straight up the middle and not use your bigger backs? Also why is AJ not your lead back? What about the other 2 big backs that appeared to have played well in the time given them?
2) On he injury front...coaches were touting our depth all preseason and we don't see that helping us. Are our injuries that much greater than the average MAC team? Coach should have stats to compare our injury situation.
3) More on the depth front, it appears that this coaching staff is not playing some of the other talented underclassmen. Here is his quote with the asked question, you be the judge:
On if getting the backups more reps is a positive over the past three games:
“I guess you can look at it that way. I’m a day-by-day guy. I’m not looking to build our football team for next season. I’m looking to win the game at hand and to practice in a way every day that is going to allow us to be the best team we can be. I’m just a day-by-day guy and I’m not looking at how this will effect us next year.” Based on my comment in point 1 this quote is a typical example of coach saying the right thing. With the current situation and 3 games left I have become a little more of a doubter. Is this staff properly evaluating talent?
Our QB play is inconsistent. Even the coach in his own words says so, but he is always careful not to over emphasis these mistakes and adds in where the QB has "shown some good decisions". All 3 of our QB's, that have played this year, are not good enough in comparison to the elite QB's in this league. We should be giving others some looks in game situations. More importantly we need to find and get a real talent.
4) The key element in next weeks game, IMHO, will be whether our team is MENTALLY PREPARED. Frank stated the following; "I do not think our players have given up". Notice his choice of words, "I do not think". He could have said "Our players have not given up". I think this choice of words is very telling. So one needs to ask the question: If NIU can beat the best and nationally ranked team, in Toledo, after loosing their #1 & #2 best offensive player in a QB and WR why couldn't we have won some of these last 3 games?

In conclusion:
I am and will always be a supporter as I have shown since my days as a student and graduate in 1971. At the same time I am feeling that there is something happening here lately, over the last few years, that is of concern. Maybe, just maybe, Frank and the coaching staff is good enough at bringing a program back to respectability but just can't take it to the next level, i.e. 10 or more win seasons, conference championships, and consistent bowl victories.
In my mind we should be able to win this next game as Kent is not that good and we are at home.
I would like nothing better than to see this team rally around each other and win the remaining 3 games. This would be a great accomplishment and certainly a feat worth building on into the years to come.


GO BOBCATS

typo in my post....Ohio is listed with 17 injuries not 71!

We open as 7pt favorites

If you were on the team, I'd run Monroe up the middle.

Athens News says Poling has been cleared to play. That's good news, even if he isn't 100%.

 

FWIW, Ohio hasn't scored more than 17 points against Kent since 2008.

2014: 17
2013: 13
2012: 6
2011: 17
2010: 6
2009: 11
2008: 26