Great posts Doc and Monroe, it certainly is nice to win in such a superior fashion. In addition, it is also nice to win a bowl game that I actually remember when I was a kid, and not some Johnny Come Lately Bowl. Games like this help keep the complainers away for just a little while (we could sure use a win like this on the basketball side of the equation to keep them at bay as well.)  I certainly hope everyone realizes that Lou Holtz was just engaging in a little humorous hyperbole in talking about the remoteness of Athens, which I believe in some ways is a great selling point. Coach Holtz is from East Liverpool and went to Kent State and loved both places, so he's hardly a guy who Mr. Cosmopolitan.

It was great to see Ohio, the MAC, and Coach Solich getting some much deserved kudos. I even thought the announcers did a reasonable job, certainly better than the type of crew we often when we play Big 10 schools. A great day all the way around, and a great way to end 2012 and look forward to 2013!

Yes, 71, you were right.  I was dreaming to think we could even come close to 49.

Ohio outprepped ULM, outcoached them and outplayed them.  Tremayne Scott showed that he is Ohio's most valuable defensive player.  He put on one helluva show.  Most everything clicked on offense, defense and special teams (I think Ohio blocked its first kick of the year today).  And when it didn't work (like the fake FG), it often led to something else good (Scott's INT that became a TD).  Beau set an Ohio bowl and Independence Bowl record for TDs and an Ohio bowl record for rushing yds.  This was a truly awesome way to end the season.

game replay tomorrow 8am espn2.

Taking this opportunity to weigh in with my post game observations. First off, congrats to the OU players and coaches for showing up and winning a game that a lot of people didn't think was possible. For me, all the frustrations of an unfinished season were erased. 

A huge shout out to everyone at the Independence Bowl and everyone in the Shreveport/Bossier City area for the great hospitality. These folks treated anyone with an Ohio shirt or hat with great respect and made us really feel welcome.

Driving 1,000 miles to a bowl game is tedious, but the team made it all worthwhile. The night before the game there was a great little parade down on the Louisiana Boardwalk where the Marching 110 hit a home run with the locals. They also put on a great halftime show where local Louisiana folks were actually filming their "Gangym Style" performance.

It's just my opinion, but I thought the weather was a huge factor for Ohio today. It was rainy in the morning then was cold and windy at the game. Now cold and windy are relative terms for Ohio folks, but in Louisiana anything cold is not some thing they handle on a regular basis. Their players looked and acted cold, ours didn't.

Clearly, the interception by our DL at their end after our fake field goal proved unsuccessful was huge. Also, their decision to go for 6 right before the half instead of the field goal to keep it a two score game was significant.

I thought our sophomore WR #8 out of Lebanon Oh (Cochron?) was outstanding. He was a backbreaker on that 68 yard TD.

I'll try to post more later about the whole bowl experience, but, so far, this has been an awesome trip. Great football, great fans, great hospitality and great food. And the Christmas Ales I brought with me are exceptionally good tonight! 

   


   

First off, great win by the Cats and the entire Cat Nation!  We opened up the playcalling, and our playmakers made plays.  Scott obviously was a disruptive difference maker.  Our collective emotion and intensity much better.   Two bowl game victories in a row, and opening and closing the season with major wins on ESPN is a nice bookend achievement.    And gotta love this NBC headline and little story:  

Ohio hits ULM with a heavy dose of MACtion in Independence Bowl: 
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/28/ohio-.../

Lastly, not a fan of Holtz's little cheap shot on Athens in post-game, or Holtz himself.   Holtz has zero credibility.  Just about every program he's been at, he's left it (or been fired) in shambles and NCAA violations and probation.   Holtz likes to act all folksy but ask people at Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina how he "ran" those programs.  At South Carolina, they were hit with 5 major violations and probation under Holtz, and he and the since fired athletics director ran up a $4 million deficit.  He was fired after he lost control of his team ... a post-game fight.  Hopefully most viewers know he's on the low end of the integrity/ethics scale...and will laugh at his cheap shot.

I think your theory is reality. I can't tell you how unprepared for 40 degree weather the locals seemed. And it was 40 degree weather with a nasty wind chill. it may just be my perception, but everywhere we went the locals looked like an ice age had arrived. Don't get me wrong, they were all great, but they were COLD. When I saw a lot of our players in short sleeves, especially in that TD drive after the 20 minute half, it was clear it was over. Sitting in a warm locker room for 20 minutes didn't seem to impact our kids. It seemed to take the life out of ULM. One local told me they don't really have "winter". What they have are a series of "cold fronts". I think this one, because of the storm, really hit them hard in an unexpected way.

Not suggeting the Cats wouldn't have won anyway, but I agree with your view that weather was a factor.    

And congrats to you on a great season.  You folks have a young team and a coach who's willing to roll the dice.  I expect you'll make a habit of bowl games.

Regarding the weather discussion, I was telling my wife that the ULM crowd was quieted a bit because they were trying to stay warm under the blankets.  One way Ohio Novembers proved to be an asset for Ohio fans.

Another thought: We discussed during November how T2 seemed to be uncomfortable with the receiving corps after injuries depleted it.  He must've worked hard with them since the Kent game because he wasn't bashful in throwing to Cochran or Futrell or in checking down to the second or third receiver.  No panic whatsoever out there today. 

71 BOBCAT wrote:

49 Points? Really That's dreaming! 24 if we are lucky! The team has too many injuries and they are some what demoralized by these injuries and the impact they have had on what started out as a dream season. We need to create turnovers if we are going to have a real chance to win this game. GO BOBCATS

Pataskala Wrote;

Yes, 71, you were right.  I was dreaming to think we could even come close to 49.

Ohio outprepped ULM, outcoached them and outplayed them.  Tremayne Scott showed that he is Ohio's most valuable defensive player.  He put on one helluva show.  Most everything clicked on offense, defense and special teams (I think Ohio blocked its first kick of the year today).  And when it didn't work (like the fake FG), it often led to something else good (Scott's INT that became a TD).  Beau set an Ohio bowl and Independence Bowl record for TDs and an Ohio bowl record for rushing yds.  This was a truly awesome way to end the season.

---

Well I was right about 1 thing...turnovers would help us.....and they did.
If you would have told me that the play calling would have been so aggressive I would have doubted you based upon our history. And this goes for the O & D alike.
We seemed to never take our foot off the gas which was a real change from past Solich teams. Kudos for the play calling as well as the execution.

GO BOBCATS...SAVOR THE VICTORY....FEEL GOOD ABOUT STAYING TOGETHER THROUGH ALL THE ADVERSITY......THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT A WIN UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Here's my take on why we dominated:

I heard Louisiana Monroe put their game plan together then took 2 weeks off. Meanwhile,  a week or 2 ago, on a cold, snowy & windy day, I could  hear our team  hitting at Peden as I went to the parking lot. A few hours later when I returned, they were still out there. 

Great fun. Ohio; the team, the 110, the cheerleaders and the fans all represented as well as anyone would want.

The team just overwhelmed La Monroe.  Ohio was prepared, obviously the coaches and players outworked their oponents.  Ohio was out early running drills with a purpose.  Ohio was more physical which served to multiply the  fact that they were bigger, stronger and faster. Ohio's playmakers were whole and healthy and making plays. The defensive stand before half removed any doubt of who would  win.  There would be no come from behind. At half Ohio's kickers were out as soon as the bands finished to prepare for 2nd half conditions. It  was wonderfull to watch T. Scott play cat and mouse with their QB. He would show himself off the line then be part of the rush at the snap.  Then to see the players share the trophy with the 110 was warming.  This bowl will be a lifetime high for me and I just watched.

The 110 with the cheerleaders distinguished themselves at the parade then at the bash they gave great energy and established an early Ohio dominance.  The finest band in the land set the table for the football team.  Even a band vs band dance contest was no contest.
 
The fans.  A great group.  Nuff said.  Not a stuffed shirt in the crowd.

Ohio provided the bowl all it could hope for.  As the traveling base grows bowls will be jockeying to get Ohio. 

I'll take that compliment to be included in such esteemed company......and it is not often that I am much younger than the folks with whom  I am being placed in the same sentence......

Jeff---The incorrect spelling (Kant Make Fair Analysis) got me for a minute also.