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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: James Ward and effect on 2015?
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AkronPride
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Posted: 6/29/2015 5:25 PM
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Just found out that James Ward is resigning due to personal reasons. Does anybody know anything about this? He was an old family friend and I've always rooted for him to go as far as possible through the program and into the MAC.
C Money
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Posted: 6/29/2015 5:48 PM
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Well that sucks, on multiple levels. Although it has to be something significant, especially given the timing, I hope it isn't a health issue. There has been too much of that lately in the Bobcat family.
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 6/29/2015 5:54 PM
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Not sure what might be up with James Ward, but I don't lend any credibility to that site saying Frank is on the hotseat. If the premise of your entire Web site is to determine which coaches are on the hot seat, then it's hardly going to make for good print unless you exaggerate the temperature at every turn.
The Optimist
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Posted: 6/29/2015 6:06 PM
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Personal reasons could mean just about anything. Hopefully all is alright with Coach Ward.

I agree with those above who don't put much stock into the site's statements about Solich.
AkronPride
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Posted: 6/29/2015 6:20 PM
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I'm not the biggest follower of the Bobcats but it does seem like Solich has done a decent job thus far and they seem to be meeting expectations. Just wondering if there's something going on behind the scenes...
L.C.
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Posted: 6/29/2015 6:35 PM
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There are a few fans that would like to see Solich retire, but I would say that the majority of fans are content to let him go until the end of his contract, which I believe runs through 2017, and he has good support from the administration. Since he just went through a rebuilding process triggered by massive injuries during 2012, and since they just had their three best recruiting classes yet in 2013-2015, Ohio is looking at several good years ahead.

Solich has an excellent staff, and it has been very stable for a MAC level program. I'm sorry to hear Coach Ward is resigning, and I hope the personal reasons are not too serious. He has done an excellent job for Ohio.

Considering nothing has been announced, yet, I think this whole thread may be questionable in terms of violating bobcatattack.com's rules.
Last Edited: 6/29/2015 6:44:34 PM by L.C.
Bcat2
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Posted: 6/29/2015 6:52 PM
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AkronPride wrote:expand_more
I'm not the biggest follower of the Bobcats but it does seem like Solich has done a decent job thus far and they seem to be meeting expectations. Just wondering if there's something going on behind the scenes...
In Phil Steele's 2015 Football Guide he rates the Ohio coaching as the best in the MAC. Full disclosure, he rates Ohio, Akron and Ball State all with a #1 rating.
Last Edited: 6/29/2015 6:53:13 PM by Bcat2
UpSan Bobcat
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Posted: 6/29/2015 6:57 PM
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The Messenger has a story on it, says he resigned last week.
The Optimist
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Posted: 6/29/2015 7:03 PM
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http://www.athensmessenger.com/sports/ohiouniversity/bobc...

“We appreciate all that James (Ward) has done for our program and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Solich’s statement read.
L.C.
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Posted: 6/29/2015 7:27 PM
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UpSan Bobcat wrote:expand_more
The Messenger has a story on it, says he resigned last week.

OK, thanks.
Speaker of Truth
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Posted: 6/29/2015 11:50 PM
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Seems like a rift between him and the staff, or a scandal. I'm sure Bobcatblitz will have the low down since he usually does with stuff like this.

This could be tough on recruiting. Having talked to coaches and former coaches at a few schools, they have all stressed the importance of having young African American coaches on staff that can relate to many of the top prospects. This on a personal level and also with their parent/parents. Young guns also have the grind it out drive.
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 6/30/2015 2:00 AM
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I've no idea why Ward left.

I do find it disturbing that, in light of recent on-the-field results (by which I mean about the last 2.5 years--an eternity) there's a rather grand consensus that Solich and staff are great coaches. Sports fans, there's a dis-connect.

Maybe this staff's knowledge is terrific, maybe it's teaching/motivating ability is superb, and/or maybe it's terrific at recruiting. But it's proving itself not to be top notch at all of these.

There's a hole somewhere. You can't call "excellent" in the face of the results. You just can't.


Look at it this way. If our guys are excellent, what would you call the staffs at such as NIU and BG?
Bcat2
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Posted: 6/30/2015 7:46 AM
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Monroe Slavin wrote:expand_more
I've no idea why Ward left.

Look at it this way. If our guys are excellent, what would you call the staffs at such as NIU and BG?
Well, Phil Steele, who spends a lot of time on such things has Ohio, Ball State and Akron together as the best staffs in the MAC. NIU, he rates 4th best and BG he rates the 8th best staff. You asked.
Bcat2
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Posted: 6/30/2015 7:56 AM
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Something tells me we might never know the why. If they choose to keep it in the family, I am ready to move on. Let us welcome the new guy. I am confident Ohio has the ability to replace Mr. Ward. Best wishes to him.
71 BOBCAT
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Posted: 6/30/2015 8:27 AM
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I'm quite sure that we will find out what the real story is.
Based on Frank's record with hiring coaches I would think that this was a JW decision not Frank's.







GO BOBCATS
rpbobcat
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Posted: 6/30/2015 8:49 AM
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For those of us,like me,who do not know,who is JW ?
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 6/30/2015 9:28 AM
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rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
For those of us,like me,who do not know,who is JW ?
Coach Ward
cc-cat
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Posted: 6/30/2015 9:42 AM
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Shame. But we don't know why - so it is hard to really evaluate the reason.

That said, many cite the recruiting coordinator and head coach when it comes to evaluating recruiting. The reality is the position coaches are most often the catalyst for signing. We have just come off of a very (most?) successful DB recruiting class. Hope the new DB players stay engaged given this change.
Last Edited: 6/30/2015 9:45:07 AM by cc-cat
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 6/30/2015 9:56 AM
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Bcat2 wrote:expand_more
I've no idea why Ward left.

Look at it this way. If our guys are excellent, what would you call the staffs at such as NIU and BG?
Well, Phil Steele, who spends a lot of time on such things has Ohio, Ball State and Akron together as the best staffs in the MAC. NIU, he rates 4th best and BG he rates the 8th best staff. You asked.
I know that you wouldn't question this staff if your life depended on it.

But did you ever think that performance on the field might be a better yardstick than someone's opinion.

You are over the edge. Credibility? Not a trace.
Bcat2
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Posted: 6/30/2015 10:07 AM
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Monroe Slavin wrote:expand_more
I've no idea why Ward left.

Look at it this way. If our guys are excellent, what would you call the staffs at such as NIU and BG?
Well, Phil Steele, who spends a lot of time on such things has Ohio, Ball State and Akron together as the best staffs in the MAC. NIU, he rates 4th best and BG he rates the 8th best staff. You asked.
I know that you wouldn't question this staff if your life depended on it.

But did you ever think that performance on the field might be a better yardstick than someone's opinion.

You are over the edge. Credibility? Not a trace.
Monroe, respectfully, it was Phil Steele's evaluation I provided. How am I over the edge? How is my credibility even in this discussion. Did you mean Phil is over the edge and without credibility?
rpbobcat
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Posted: 6/30/2015 10:08 AM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
For those of us,like me,who do not know,who is JW ?
Coach Ward
Sorry (face red),should have been able to figure that out.
GoCats105
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Posted: 6/30/2015 10:22 AM
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cc-cat wrote:expand_more
Shame. But we don't know why - so it is hard to really evaluate the reason.

That said, many cite the recruiting coordinator and head coach when it comes to evaluating recruiting. The reality is the position coaches are most often the catalyst for signing. We have just come off of a very (most?) successful DB recruiting class. Hope the new DB players stay engaged given this change.
This is exactly what I was thinking.
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 6/30/2015 2:53 PM
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I think the coach that has the geography has the better recruiting relationship rather than the position coach. I'll see if I can find which geography Ward had.

EDIT: Looks like he had Northern Virginia, Maryland, DC, Arizona and Nevada, So that shouldn't impact any of the 2016 verbals.

Last Edited: 6/30/2015 3:14:01 PM by Ted Thompson
L.C.
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Posted: 7/1/2015 12:09 AM
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It's worth pointing out that Ohio had a tradition of fine CB play that preceded Ward. Byrum, Wright, Parson, Posey and Turner all had some NFL time before Ward arrived. Ward was a good coach, but I think Ohio will find a way to be fine.
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