I have had some decent interaction on this board, though not as much this past week when it was getting a bit nasty both ways.  Anyway, I thought I would stop by now that things should have cooled and say congrats and offer some thoughts.  I did the same last year.

First, I am thrilled with this rivalry.  Your team has made this a rivalry that we both need.  All the credit to them for that.  My opinion on the game is that we have more talent at most every skill position (notice I do not say the lines), but Ohio is the superior team.  I genuinely don't mean that as a back handed put down.  You have the superior team.  This will be true week in and week out.  The biggest reason is that Ohio is the more complete team and has simply bought into what a very good coach is selling them.  We have a lot of horses at the skill spots, but we are not consistent, we get down on ourselves, and we are obviously one dimensional.  Ohio is a two dimensional team.  You also just never lose faith.  You just line up and run your stuff, boom, boom, boom, boom.  Same effort, same plan, over and over and over.  You are like a good pressure fighter.  The relentlessness of it just wears you down.  When we stopped some of it at times, you still ran it.  You just ran it and ran it until things broke and you waited on mistakes from us.  Your players are "all in" and you should be proud of that.

On the other side, we have a lot a very good players with great talent.  We are not a complete team though.  When you were running stuff that didn't work early (and at other points in the game), your coaching staff and players just believe in what you are trying to do and keep working at it.  Heck, Marshall abandoned half the playbook in the film room before the ball was ever kicked apparently.  That completeness is what makes you better than we are right now. 

I want to point out (and you have no reason to believe me) that we cannot run the ball because we have a horrific offensive line, not because of lack or RB talent.  That is what hurts.  If we could block even a little bit, we could be scary on offense because we have some real talent at RB.  But, hats off to your lines.  We just could do much with them.  I think we will continue to play good games in the future as Marshall (I would hope) upgrades the lines.

A thought on your obvious weakness and how this fits into the season.  While I say you have a "complete team" from the perspective of effort, execution, and offensive balance, you have some real liabilities in the secondary.  Even at that though, you kept running your stuff and made some adjustments and kept us off the board much of the game.  I just think that your secondary is what is going to keep people from wanting to put you in the BCS.  Those Boise State and TCU type teams did not have any one single glaring weakness.  That said, if you all go undefeated, you should shout from the rooftops that you deserve inclusion.  Why not?

I hope you win them all.  I do.  All of my compliments here can also be your undoing though.  This team needs your support to make this happen.  What I say now is not a disrespect.  But your team can be had by some inferior teams in league play.  Your team relies on this relentless, focused, consistent effort.  If you slip up it will be because you let that focus and effort slide and a were not able to mask some of your difficiencies through the intangibles and great team qualities you have.  You all need to pack your stadium every game, no matter who you play, to keep this from happening.  Check out Marshall's schedule in 1999.  The Kent game sticks out in my mind.  You can get in a close game when you lose focus.  You have to keep focused.  You won't see another passing attack like Marshall this year.  However, you won't see another team than run blocks so poorly either (kills me to say that).  Keep working and enjoy this season.  Don't take it for granted.  Believe me when I say that.  Do not take it for granted.

Good luck and see you next year in Athens.

That is a very accurate assessment - I agree with it completely. Just so you know, regarding the secondary, it wasn't supposed to be a liability. Ohio was supposed to have back this year two very good corners, one of whom was a probably draft choice and a Thorpe nominee. One corner had health issues that turned into grade issues, and he lost his eligibility. The likely draftee hurt his shoulder in fall camp, and he is out for the year. I believe he has applied for a 6th year of eligibility, so you may see him next year, but he also may just turn pro.  As if that wasn't enough, the next in line to start was also injured. That leaves Ohio very thin at corner, with a true Sophomore, and two redshirt Freshmen.

As for the lines, yes, both are very good this year. The O-Line right now has so much depth, it will be good for years to come. It took a long time to get there, but it is there now.

RELENTLESS! Where have I heard that before?

Thanks for the kind words, this game was a closer tilt than the game in State College.

Your skill position players were very good. Cato and the two tall WRs (numbers 3 and 9 I think) just cut us to pieces all day. They were just too tall for our corners to shutdown (see the above comments on our injury issues in the secondary). That being said, I feel like we did a good job shutting down the big plays. You are correct that our lines are VERY good, but you guys made a good showing in the trenches. I don't actually know how your guys are at run blocking, as they were practically never called upon to do so (though Cato gashed us the couple of times he did run for it), but your pass blocking was enough to shut us down. Watching fron section105, it felt like we only rarely managed to get any pressure on Cato (and it showed in the yardage numbers).

I feel like that secondary won't be exposed the rest of the way unless we face Toledo at Ford Field or Miami's receivers suddenly learn how to catch.

The secondary is also gaining great experience against some potent passing attacks.  They will improve week to week just to survive and I have no real complaints to date (well, OK that NMSU long TD still irks me a little)   There won't be any excuses about inexperience or depth come MACC time.

Looking WAY ahead... but... with all the reps those kids are getting... if Travis comes back next year... the secondary should be SCARY good...

I honestly feel he will come back, he has given his heart and soul to this team and I feel he would want to enjoy his senior season, especially with all the seniors next season on the team. Of course this also depends on his "draft stock" If he feel's it's too low or non-existant due to his injury he might want to come back to get his name out there.