For those of us that yearn for the level of play from 2010 to 2012 I am happy to announce that we are back.
The difference is attitude, depth of talent and some amazing playmakers.
All hail our Bobcats. We are back!

Here is another point about importance the Akron game next week. Akron's games against the West are against CMU and EMU and they have Buffalo at Home. If they beat Ohio at home on Saturday then they might be able to lose at Bowling Green and hope that the NIU's and Toledo's of the world help them win the division.

You are exactly right. Ohio's MAC schedule looked bad at the start of the season, and now it looks worse. Ohio's four road games are Akron, Buffalo, BG, and NIU. The three most difficult foes at this point would seem to be Buffalo, BG, and NIU, and all of those are on the road, and Akron isn't far behind those three, based on how they played yesterday. Ohio needs to win every game at home, and then hope to steal a couple on the road.

I think your call of Ohio as a 3 point favorite may be right, but I expect betting to push it down to even, and it very may end up with Akron the favorite. Ohio's QB situation is too uncertain, with all of the top three hurt.

No, no, Monroe. We already know what is going to happen. El Gato Roberto forecast it before the season, and he's never wrong.

I'm going to pick up some marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars this week.

Victory--I'd say that's a reasonably fair assessment.

The problem is that 10 years and no MACC and we're just middling in a quite weak MAC.

And, I think that there are reasons for the 10 years of not-great, with not one MAC...reasons that are still core to what we are...and which are likely to keep us what we keep being.

Monroe, come on man. This Bobcat team has a real chance at a MACC...why do you refuse to have fun and just enjoy the ride?

I'd say Toledo, NIU, BGSU and Ohio are all about at the Top 40 level necessary to be a MACC contender. There is no real legit Top 25 team in the MAC this year. Toledo will drop 2 games in conference play. The key to winning to the MAC is getting to the championship game. Both Ohio and BGSU have the offense to take care of business in the east. The division could come down to who stays healthy going into that game.

When a team has has a great individual performer it often means they ran all the plays through him as the only go to guy in the unit. One great Offensive Lineman doesn't make a great OL unit. One great linebacker doesn't make a great defense. Think of Miami's team 10 years ago with Nande and Buffalo's from a couple of years ago with Mack. Great physical specimen linebackers that led their teams to win 8 games or so. The year they graduate Miami and Buffalo drop back to 3 wins. Ohio does not run all the plays through 2 or 3 guys because it has quality players across the entire first team so there is flexibility. In the example of a first team QB that is a little different because a really good QB is a difference maker but at most positions relying on one big playmaker is an indication you don't have a good unit. Kentucky basketball has guys scoring 8 or 9 points per game that are future NBA draft picks. The same guy plays for Auburn and he's a starter averaging 20 points per game. That is why I don't think those 1st/2nd team MAC list are useful in determining how much talent a team has.

Can you name me one person on this board who is "happy" about 10 years with no MACC? I'm serious..not being sarcastic. Just one. Not someone who is not as angry, depressed, obsessed and borderline psychotic over it as you are. I'm looking for one person who you identify as "happy" about it. Just one.

I'll let them confirm it for themselves, but I'm willing to bet that L.C. bcat2 etc, etc. etc, aren't plenty satisfied with the status quo when you include both the present state of the program and the length of time since the last MACC.

By my interpretation, there is a spectrum between being pleased at the present state of the program and being satisfied with the status quo/the 46 year duration without a MACC. I would posit that one and the other, while somewhat related, are actually mutually exclusive.

However, it appears our CPA will not allow people to hold that position, and one is completely dependent on the other.

And allow me to also state that I believe that grown men should not take the games that young men play and their outcome so seriously.

Let me start by pointing out that my background is somewhat different in that unlike many/most of you I wasn't a fan for all of the bad Ohio years, though I have also been a fan of other bad teams, such as Northwestern. On the other hand, I have been a fan of teams that won championships, so I've experienced that as well.

What I have learned from both rooting for teams that fail, and ones that succeed, is that it is their achievement, not mine. Having my team win is enjoyable, but ultimately doesn't impact me personally. Having my team fail is frustrating, but it doesn't impact me personally, either. Thus, I want the team to win championships, but not for me, for themselves. I want them to enjoy the rewards that they deserve for all their hard work. If it were just about winning for my benefit, a championship doesn't make that much difference. Here's something on point:
http://tinyurl.com/pukoaxs

What is important to me? I like seeing a program that is run responsibly, meaning they don't have a lot of arrests, they aren't fighting on the field, they are getting good grades in class, they are engaging in community service, they are learning to work towards goals, and to achieve them, and ultimately, that they are learning lessons that will help them succeed in life. I like, and expect to see individual players making progress, and also the program making steady progress, playing better, and attracting better players. The bottom line is that I want the team to represent the institution well.

Have my goals been met? Mostly yes. There were some rough periods, such as all the off the field incidents in 2006, but they addressed that, and got better, and it's never again been a problem to that extent, though there were still some bad incidents. The teams generally improved, too, from 2006 to 2012, so that was great.

Late 2012 was a definite disappointment, but was completely understandable given all the injuries. 2013 was a mess, and they never achieved what they were capable of. 2014 was simply a normal rebuilding year, and that didn't bother me at all. Now, here we are in 2015, and we have a great team, one that is playing well, has good student athletes, and who is giving their all. How can I not be happy with this team?

And, what about recruiting? Where is the program heading? Has the program peaked? Are the best times over? Recruiting steadily improved from 2005 to 2009 (but still was in the bottom half of the MAC most year). Then there were changes in recruiting coordinators in 2010 and again in 2011, and things dipped for awhile, with a horrible 2010 class, and a 2011 class that was highly ranked on paper, but a disappointment on the field. The last 2-3 classes, though, seem to have been the best yet, and rank much higher, in the top half of the MAC, plus they are performing on the field. That puts me back to a comfort level that the program is once again improving.

Am I disappointed that it took 10 years before they had a class like 2015? Absolutely. While I'm an optimist, I'm not happy 100% of the time. Recruiting has been my biggest disappointment. I would have thought that with the success that Ohio was having, recruiting would have picked up faster, but honestly, it really didn't improve until the IPF was built (and no doubt the new Academic Center will further improve it). For ten years we've seen Ohio typically finishing 2d or 3rd in the MAC with recruiting classes typically ranked about 8-9th in the MAC. It's a shame it's taken this long, but we're now seeing recruiting classes typically ranked in the top half.

So, am I happy? Content? I'm happy that the program is back on track, and once again improving. I'm certain that if the program keeps improving there will be a MAC Championship, most likely in the next three years, but I also recognize that there is a luck factor built in. If there is no MAC Championship, will I consider the program a failure? Not to me, because I believe that the program still represents the University well, and prepares the kids with lessons that will serve them after football.

So, while my answer is complex, I certainly want Ohio to win a MAC Championship, yet, if they don't, that won't automatically make them failures to me.

Is KENT back too? They barely lose to Minn and give up 104 on the ground and 184 through the air while OHIO gives up 204 on the ground and 264 through the air to the Golden Gophs!

KENT is a kickoff return stop against Marshall for a win in regulation and gives up 126 yards to Marshall on the ground and 151 through the air. While OHIO gives up 157 on the ground and a miserly 106 through the air. Looks like the Kent defense is not something to laugh at and I think there will be some challenging games vs teams that folks on here pre-season thought would be walks in the park. Marshall is OHIO's big win so far yet Kent was equally matched with the Turd.

We will be finding out on Saturday how good this installment of the Bobcats are against the once lowly Zips. Our boys had better be full of fire, with the instinct to put them away. Loved the no turnovers vs Minnesota and must continue to protect the ball.

This team has a pretty amazing attitude. Did not play well today but it never felt like we were not going to win.
I think this is a special group that is a play or two away from being 5-0 and on their way to being 5-1 after Miami.