When I was a young man of high school and college age, Bill Hess was our head coach. I once thought that he was an old man who didn't know what he was doing and after a few bad to mediocre seasons I thought he should be fired. Then, the 1968 season happened, and we won all of our regular season games, were nationally ranked, and went to a bowl game. It was clear that I didn't know what I was talking about. Since Frank was hired, I have always seen a similarity in his approach to the game and Bill Hess coaching philosophy. Perhaps, neither are the world's greatest sports orators and both may have bland media personalities, but they are both very genuine -- what-you-see-is-what-you-get men. Further, Hess always stressed execution of the plays we practice and that our personnel are equipped to carry out rather than razzle dazzle type of gimmick plays. They both would throw these in every now and then, but not all that frequently. Like the direct-snap fourth down conversion yesterday. That's a two or three times a season play. Though the gambler in me always likes new and different exotic plays, and I sometimes get bored with BUTM type plays, I now realize that the coaches know more than I do and that sometimes the boring repetition today means better execution tomorrow, which can mean that next year's team -- like the team of '68 -- can be one of future legend. OK, you can now officially enroll me in the "Sunshine Boy" Club. Thanks for listening.

I don't know that what I've seen in conference play signifies a program that is improving, nor where we want it to be:

2009 - 7 MAC wins
2010 - 6
2011 - 6
2012 - 4
2013 - 4
2014 - 3

For the last three seasons, we're just an average team in conference play.

It's really quite a dramatic change from 10 years ago. The reason I became an Ohio fan in the first place was because this board was refreshingly different from boards like Ohio State or Nebraska. That's no longer true, however, and it's pretty much the same as everywhere else. On the positive side, at least it still has some fan interest, unlike most MAC boards that I have looked at, which have very little activity.

Wow OCF, let's not get carried away here. I understand where you are coming from and have some general agreement. But, there are some BIG differences. You were young then. But, as I recall Bill Hess was, maybe, in his 50s...not 68 so he just seemed really old to you:)! Second, Bill Hess took OHIO to the small College Championship (again as I recall)in 1960. And, he won at least one MAC Championship in his tenure. On the other hand, I believe he went 0-10 or 1-10 at least once. So, yes, there are some similarities but some differences too. Overall, I think their win per centages at OHIO are very close so I will give you that! And, I do agree their "old style" is pretty similar. Bill Hess ran the ball with LaVeck and Houmard in my days at OHIO. And, he ran out of the I with a lead blocker. He also had a mobile QB that he rolled out a lot. We now run out of the pistol and use the QB draw.

Just my 2 cents. I like(d) and respect(ed) both of these coaches very much. I just thought when we hired FS, a guy who led a team to a big college National Championship game, we would have won one or two MAC titles in 10 years. I think FS started out on the path but the last 30+ games we seemed to have lost our way. That is what is frustrating to many on this board. I only hope we get back on the road and win a MACC game real quick. My years, like yours, are running out...

Too much credit and too much blame is showered on coaches. This is like a physics lesson: water tends to seek its own level.
If you look at more than a five or ten year span not a lot has changed in the football landscape in the last several decades. Florida State is a notable exception and other Florida schools, like U of M, come close. Otherwise, we're still talking about the same group of "leading" schools that were there in 1960, 1970, 1980, etc.

To blame Frank or any head coach for failing to permanently transform a program is to ignore everything else that affects that success. Thinks like institutional support, population shifts, the NCAA itself and so on.

Let's measure Frank on what Frank can control - recruiting, hiring and firing, individual readiness and game management. I agree that we're seeing some stagnation in those areas and a review is needed but that isn't a wholesale condemnation of Frank's contributions to Ohio.

I do think that Solich has made some relatively permanent changes that do transform the program. As I have said before, I think his contribution in the area of program building and culture building exceed his contribution in terms of actual coaching. I think that culture change is reflected in the improved facilities, the attendance, and the whole atmosphere surrounding the games. It's even reflected in the negativity here on BA. If he hadn't raised the expectations of winning, who would have complained about a 6-6 season?

A more relevant question is, "is he done"? Also pertinent is, "When he can't take the program any further, will he know it is time to step down?"

My answer to the first of these questions is that, no, he's not done. If you look at the program, you see him still trying new ideas, not caught in a rut. They have new procedures for selecting Captains. They brought in various people last winter to advise them on better ways for "team-building". They tried a Navy Seal recruiter (now featured on the reality show "Dude, you're screwed"). The recruiting has improved the last couple years. All this doesn't add up to a stagnant program. It adds up to a program that is rebuilding from a core group of Seniors that left in 2011-2013, and which is now building a solid set of players that will lead the program from 2014-2017.

To the second question, my answer is that, yes, he'll know when to step down. I don't believe he's a Jo-Pa type. I think that while he's kind of mild-mannered and boring sounding at times if you listen only, if you look into his eyes you can see a competitive intensity. I have no doubt that he wants to win just as much as anyone on this board, and that if he reaches the conclusion that he won't continue winning, he'll step down. I also happen to think that he wants to follow his mentors, Bob Devaney, and Tom Osborne. Neither were like JoPa; both retired when on top. In Devaney's case, he won a National Championship in 1970 and 71, and then coached one more year and resigned after the 72 season. In Osborne's case, he won National Championships in 1994, 95, and 97, and then resigned. I think that Solich will win the MACC sometime in the 2015-2017 time period, and will retire after he does, probably at expiration of the current contract.

More importantly, I think that when he goes, he'll leave behind a strong culture. Hopefully that culture will be sufficient to attract a decent successor, and hopefully Schaus will choose wisely.

Monroe has a second job--providing Ant-Stupdity Service (he's an ASS)--so he can't respond now. This is a committee composed of Sarah Palin, Funky Winkerbean, and the goalposts which were torn down the last time that the Bobcats won the MAC title responding obo Monroe:

Any thread that mentions Bob Houmard is a good one.

Some of you old guys oughta stop being so old.

Oughtn't we to show a little creativity on the field (see the 'We Albin' thread) instead of showing it via new method of appointing captains, Navy SEAL training, advisors, recruiting improved from the abysmal that we did to ourselves 201 and, now, 2011.

The committee doesn't know--Maybe off-field creativity is the key. How about putting up a brick wall type of thing (Athens..bricks..get it?!) for the players to run through as they come out of the tunnel for the game.