I have stayed out because the question really can be answered in many ways, depending on what you mean. There really isn't a "next step", but rather a journey that consists of a lot of little steps. In the years have been watching Ohio, there has been slow, incremental progress. There were improvements in fundamentals, preparedness, and creating an attitude and an expectation of winning. Also there was improvement in facilities, and implementation of a summer program. Slowly but surely the recruiting classes have improved, reflecting that attitude and expectation of winning, though there was quite a sizable jump in quality in the 2011-2012 classes from those that preceded them. That jump portends future incremental progress.
So, what about the choices? Two of the choices aren't really steps, but rather are outward signs of the many small steps that have already been made to date. Winning the conference championship is something that shows the huge progress that has been made, and I consider it inevitable. It will happen. It's just a matter of when. A BCS bowl would similarly be a mark of progress, but would show considerably more. Along the same vein you could add, beating the evil empire in a game in Columbus - again if that ever happens it will be an outward sign of the huge progress already made.
The other two choices are actual steps that would be deliberately be made. The only time it makes sense to expand the stadium would be when you reach the point that the existing stadium can be filled. The idea of "build it and they will come" really doesn't make much sense. Just look at Akron, that has a wonderful, empty facility. Therefore, building a new stadium will also, in a different way, be a mark of progress, because it will reflect gains in fan support. I don't have access to attendance figures, but it is my sense that crowds now are significantly better than 2003-4. They still have a ways to go before the money for a new stadium can be justified, but it isn't impossible. If the day does come when Peden is consistently sold out, though, it will indeed show that significant progress has been made.
The final one, moving to a BCS conference, is probably the answer that will change the dynamics for good in the minds of Ohio alums, because only then does Ohio really have the opportunity to consistently be relevant on a national scale. Miami was relevant for a few years in the MAC, Marshall for a few, too, but not in a sustainable way. This is the one thing that may be difficult or impossible to achieve, however. It is kind of a chicken and egg situation - without being in a BCS conference you can't be consistently relevant, yet, without consistent relevance, you can't have the kind of nationwide interest level necessary to be invited to a BCS conference. The best hope here is to slowly build fan support, to the point where Ohio does become an attractive addition to a conference.
My expectation is that there won't be a "next step", but rather a continuation of the journey, with many happy days, and a few not so happy days in the years ahead. As I said, the 2011-2012 recruiting classes are the best to date, so the potential is there for more continuing improvement in the years ahead.
Last Edited: 1/24/2012 1:22:45 PM by L.C.