Just think OSU against Florida with Troy Smith and the gang.  Probably only 5 guys on either of the two Ohio teams (OSU against FL and us aginst Troy) could have started for the other team.  Talent alone would keep a game close especially when you are not making foolish turnovers.  Both of those big games for each of the Ohio teams resulted in total domination at every position by the opponent.  

I don't know what you'd be angry about seeing how they were displaying the most awesome vitals on the TV--go get some--more and enjoy the experience.

Merry Christmas!

We were hosting a Christmas Party that had been planned well in advance of the Bowl game announcement.  We had the game on and the general reaction was too many bowl games and teams that don't deserve to be in a bowl game.  Someone asked me who we had beaten and I said Miami.  After he realized it was Miami of Ohio he asked me who else we had beaten and I could not come up with anything.

This team did not show up for Kent State and nobody should be surprised that the players and coaches did not show up last night either.

Pete, great diplomacy or restraint or whatever you want to call it.

What you can say about the game is simply that we were beaten by a better team. In our "pick 'em" string, I chose Troy. I am not gloating. In fact, I woke up during the night only to relive the friggin' nightmare of this game -- and grateful that my work schedule didn't allow me to be in the Big Easy.

Troy is under most radar. Not mine. I'm familiar with this program since the days in the 1980s when they were a dominant D-II force. And as for the most recent version and why I was concerned about this game: They almost beat Oklahoma State; we almost beat Marshall.

I really hope nobody jumps to the conclusion that OUr team underachieved this season. They provided some thrills and made the season interesting right to the end. This was our follow-up to a benchmark year.  The last time we were in such a postion, we went 6-6. This time we went to a bowl and were 8-5.  This isn't so-called "spin." This is a fact!

With some luck (which everyone needs) and the right decisions concerning QB, 2011 really could be a great year for OUr 'Cats!

Out of curiosity, a question for those who were at the game: How were the bands? It's been years since I saw Troy's "Sound of the South" live and in person; when I did, they were impressive albeit very different than the 110.

That's the same comparison I thought of. In some ways, it actually softened my pain last night to think about the fact that even Ohio State had that happen to them, and in the National Title game.

Someone asked me last night what I enjoy more; the Bears winning (I have lived in Chicago all my life) or the Bobcat's? I thought about it for a few minutes before responding. I would rather see OHIO go undefeated, play in (AND WIN) a major bowl game than have the Chicago Bears win the super bowl. I believe part of the joy I get out of watching/following OHIO athletics is that they are SUCH underdogs... ALL THE TIME. When something grand happens, like last years NCAA Georgetown victory, it's overwhelmingly gratifying. AND, people come out of the woodwork to call or send a quick message telling me they were thinking of me while watching the game. Unlike rooting for OSU or the Chicago Bears, we are part of a select few that call themselves Bobcat fans. I've been a huge fan ever since 1980 when I first entered the college gates and let's face it people, it's not easy being a Bobcat fan. We look for the slightest bit of silver lining in every storm cloud that seems to hang over this school. As the post said above, Bobcat green runs in my blood, it's who we are. It's the reason why we wear the same old OHIO sweatshirt on Friday's, it's the reason why we convince our wives that instead of helping her finish the Christmas cards, it's more important for us to join some other poor suffering alumni at the local sports bar with the 7 ft screen in hopes we might watch that special moment, that special time where we get the payoff, a big victory on a national stage. Instead, we saw what appeared to be a shell of the former squad that dominated Temple (on national TV). Again, it ain't easy being a Bobcat fan, let alone the most obnoxious OHIO fan in the entire Chicagoland area, but at this point, it's just too damn late to switch. When does spring ball begin and when does the NCAA tournament start? In the meantime, I need to figure out how to respond to my stuffed inbox, all with comments on the enormous steaming pile that EVERYONE saw last night.

Good postings in this thread from everyone. What are the emotions? Anger, frustration, disappointment and embarassment are the first that come to my mind. The smug attitude of the ESPN studio talking heads was extremely hard to swallow because they were bascially making great fun of OUR Bobcats! True fans such as those on this thread will remain good fans by refusing to allow that chip on our shoulder to weigh us down. We will just come back stronger and hopefully wiser.

I disagree somewhat, and I think the NFL rosters would back up my disagreement. I also think people are exaggerating the talent differential between Ohio and Troy.

People overreact to bowl games. They are a different animal and produce a lot of strange outcomes.

Teams lose the season's momentum. Some teams lose focus. It doesn't take a huge loss of focus to get punched early and never recover from the momentum swing.

For instance: OSU v. Michigan '06. Check the Michigan D from that year and the NFL defensive rosters. It looks better than the UF D.

OSU was totally in-sync in the passing game, and much of it was timing routes. Michigan hit Smith a lot and many of his completions were thrown just before a hit.

OSU v. Florida. Ginn goes down. Deep threat gone. Coverage sits on the WRs. Timing in the passing game not in mid-season form anyway. Smith pass attempts go from the near-sack completions to sacks. Offense does nothing but put D in short-field situations. Will is crushed. No further effort. Game over.

Yet, the UT team that lost to UF by 1 was handled by PSU. The Arkansas team that played UF closely in the SEC Championship game handled by Wisconsin.

People get all hyperbole inside and make waaaay too much out of bowl games. Ohio will be fine, and if the game had been played during the season, would have played just fine with Troy.

To follow up on the initial thought of this post, my wife is not happy with me that I admitted I should not have gone to New Orleans. Her point is well taken. I'm pretty good at knowing I'm about to make a mistake, making it, and tell telling her how I made a mistake.

I'm an hour into my workday, and everyone has walked in shaking their head... my stories of the trip all end with the shot of The Greatest Irish Whiskey Ever Made comped by the Irish bartender at the Copper Monkey.

I wonder how it is for a guy like D.A., who has busted his ass on the East Coast to organize alumni and take the pole position on the actual work of the Convo remodeling.

I wonder what it's like for Robert Walter, who made a big splash Friday, and got a bedwetting Saturday.

Mark: For what it's worth, although you (and most of us who post on this board) are the minority, you are right and all the Ohio alumni who do not feel this way are wrong.  Think of the kind of program we could have if everyone who earned an Ohio diploma felt this way.

I went to New Orleans, flew all the way in from Cali and to be honest seeing the CATS go into this bowl game, I was excited to see them perform well.  We had our "best" QB coming into NO, albeit a few days late, but nonetheless, it should have been a much more competitive game than the score indicated.  Why in heavns name did the coaching staff leave Bates in the game, I will never understand.  Yes, TROY was extremely quick off the ball and the CATS were not ready for that at all. 

However, my greatest pride was seeing my nephew play in his FIRST college football game (he was on the punt team) and when all is said and done....That was ALL I cared about.

I hope the CATS are competitive for next year, but changes will have to be done on the coaching staff this year in order for this team to be better for next year.  JMHO (just my humble opinion)!

I'm still angry at Sivillo for framing me.

Burke: Nice beard.

Pete: At least you didn't have to sit among the students.