redhawk was 2-10 last year. But they may have a coach who can.


Beefs--5-6 last year.


Take a look at NIU's last drive against us and our response/last drive against them. That's all you need to know about that game.



I don't know how you can see these games and think that way.

Great. You are realistic. How do you suggest we improve? What do we do about the current(last 2 1/2 year) reality that you talk about?

You're saying then, that since Love and Irving were hurt, and since the Cavs didn't win, their coach should be fired?

There are obvious weaknesses in the program that many of us noticed ages ago and are still true today. Almost all of them are fixable or have been partially corrected since we first pointed them out:

1.) Inability to convince a quality QB to attend Ohio. (still ongoing)

1a.) Inability to recognize that the QB issue *is* an issue. The fact that we're going to roll out Vick and Sprague this year is indicative of this. Or at least, we didn't bring in anyone to compete for the starting job. (still ongoing)

2.) Poor recruiting for several years...that lasted deep into the Solich era. We were winning the MAC East, playing in bowl games, etc... and still couldn't get into the top tier of the MAC recruiting-wise. Why? Well, things have improved since Haines took over in 2012 (as LC is fond of pointing out) BUT why did Haines take over in the first place? Was it because Solich recognized this as an issue and decided to replace Germano? Nope. Its because Germano left us for a better deal. (improved dramatically since 2012/13)

3.) Personnel decisions by the coaching staff do not always reflect the talent level of the individuals involved. Essentially, the guys on the field sometimes don't belong there. I'll leave it at that. (ongoing)

4.) Tenured OC and DC performing at an average or below average level. OC and DC for underperforming MAC football teams have not historically been 10+ year positions. (ongoing)

We need a shake up. Is Frank the guy to do it? I can't say I'm optimistic.

And yet Phil Steele rates Ohio's coaching as the best in the MAC. The notion that things need to be shaken up is based upon the opinion that the sky is falling, which is not supported by how the team finished 2014. At the end of the season Ohio battled NIU to a 21-14 loss. Later NIU thumped BG in the MACC 51-17. Between those games NIU beat WMU 31-21. Ask NIU which opponent gave the toughest game at season's end and I would wager they would say Ohio. Some see Ohio as a sell. Not me. I would be buying all the Ohio shares they care to part with. Guess I will go with Phil Steele. I really like the young men on Ohio's roster. Again, opinion Paul/Monroe or opinion Phil Steele? I am still going with Phil Steele.

Well, they have recruited probably a higher percentage of 3-star players or better at QB than at any other position. Jones, Bower, Scott, Jackson, Windham, and Duckworth were all 3-star or better. Febus, Sweeney, Tettleton, Vick, Snyder, and Bell were not. That's over half with a high rating, and I doubt that is true at any other position. Really, the QB play has been pretty decent most years, but the problem has been the lack of a quality backup. Last year that lack of a backup hurt. I think the QB play this fall will be fine, but if Vick gets hurt again, I'm not so sure. With a year of experience Sprague will be better, but to me Windham is the mystery - he looked very good at times, and I hope he keeps improving.


Well, they did bring in Maxwell and Krizancic, and I happen to think both will be very good. Neither may help in 2015, though, but unless Vick gets hurt again, I think 2015 will be OK.


To me it seems that the longer a recruiting coordinator is on the job, the better he does. That is probably because he keeps enhancing his relationships with the coaches. Germano's 2008-2009 classes were not that highly rated, but they were pretty good. When they changed coordinators in 2010, the quality dropped significantly. When they changed again in 2011, the rating of the class was better, but the class wasn't all that much better. By 2013-5, however, the recruiting classes were much better.

2008 included Bussey, Carlotta, Huynh, Futrell, Herman, Boo Jackson, Alphonso Lewis, Gerald Moore, Tremayne Scott, Tafua, Thompson, Weaver and Weller

2009 included Allen, Boykin, Dovell, Fortune, Hill, Hughes, Sam Johnson, Carl Jones, Lechner, Shaw, Tettleton, and Woseley


I'll have to do some digging on this one. I suspect that what I will find is that over the last ten years Burrow has averaged in the top 3 on defense, and the offense is much lower, but still in the top half.

L.C. Thanks for addressing all of Paul's misinformation. Wish there was a way to repay you for your lost sleep putting facts over off the cuff poppycock. It is Sunday so I am trying to be polite. Again, thanks for what you do.

Bcat2

Not a problem. It's really not a big deal. We all have selective memory, remembering things that fit the point that we are trying to make, and forgetting things that contradict it. That's human nature. That's why, rather than directly contradicting Paul, I went back to the real facts, to see if my recollection matched what really happened. In this particular case it did, but I'm sure that there are other cases where I'm wrong, too.

Happy Father's Day, to all the father out there.

Frank is nothing if he is not loyal. He's not going to change now. Besides, Frank is near the end of his time here. Who would he get, knowing it's a short term situation.

Hey, you pointed to Vick and OUellette injuries as saying that we should view the team as kind of better than what the record indicated...or, have more hope for the future. I'm just pointing out that it's no excuse. Every team has injuries. And for us to keep pointing to injuries...

ANd, I Blatt has been there one year. OUr coach has been there, uh, a lot more than one year. Uh, maybe not comparable, maybe not a fair comparison to suggest.

Your refusal to consider that we've been unsatisfactory recently is much more unrealistic than my position.

Maybe...I hope....that this year will be better.

But the incessant insistence that all is well...citing supposed recruit quality/improvement and predictions for this year...Well, Paul is much more accurate and reasonable when he wonders if the current staff can get MACC done in the face of a record of little achievement lately.

As I've said repeatedly, I'm not for firing anyone. I would love for The Old Ball Coach and his staff to get it done. But how many years do we give it.

I don't know the stats but I'll bet that about no one has turned it around after this many years of no championship--probably because no one lasts this long without a championship.

My goal is MACC. It's a reasonable, fair goal. If current staff can do it, I've no problem with that. But my goal is MACC, not staff tenure.

I was happy with the state of the program up until the collapse in 2012, so I'll start my analysis in 2009. Lets look at the QB recruits from 2009 to the present

2009 - Tyler Tettleton (no other FBS offers)
2010 - Kyle Snyder (no other FBS offers)
2011 - Derrius Vick (no other FBS offers) and Ronnie Bell (no other FBS offers)
2012 - Greg Windham (multiple FBS offers, mostly lower FBS and one from Cinci)
2014 - Joey Duckworth (multiple FBS offers, all from MAC schools)
2015 - Quinton Maxwell (no other FBS offers)

Add to that JD Sprague (no other FBS offers)

And don't get me started on the WR's that have transferred down to play QB for us.

So I count 6 of the 8 with no other offers.

Defensive ends are often classified as "Strong side" or "Weak side", so which side they line up on will depend on the offensive formation. Basham was less successful his second year (but not unsuccessful) primarily because the other teams were more aware of him, and double teamed him more. Of course, when they double teamed him (and Crutcher), that meant they had to leave other defenders unblocked, in this case, the linebackers, which is part of the reason the linebackers looked so good last year.