unsung hero, IMO.

First few games were rough, as might be expected with a new system, but D got better and better and, at times, was absolutely dominating late in the year.

Gotta agree…they have really grown up since the Kent game!

Looks, maybe offers, not necessarily accepted offers.

Pete Chouteau and I happen to have front row seats in the Phillips Club area at the defensive end of the sideline. Sometimes Deciduous Forest Cat sits with us and Jeff McKinney visits. It's been fun to watch this group of players and coaches grow together over the course of the season. The team stuck together early when things weren't going well.

Yes, Coach Nowinsky rode them hard, but the other assistants buffered that a bit and the players stuck together. As the scheme and execution improved the players took on more and more of the communication. The guys who aren't seeing snaps are engaged too. The whole sideline supported one another even after a tough play or bad series. They celebrate turnovers and stops with pure joy.

I didn't know if this culture would lead to the kind of excellence we've witnessed, but even during the Florida Atlantic and Fordham games you could see the possibility if the right personnel was on the field and the scheme was implemented as designed.

The sideline culture is that of a winning program. I've seen it from the sitting behind the visitors for years at Peden and as a former chain gang member at high school games. You can just tell when a program has players/coaches/staff that are bought in and on the same page.

I believe we'll beat Toledo next week. But if we don't, I know it will be that the Rockets were better that day. Our guys will be prepared to win and will not make excuses if they don't. Go, Bobcats!

I said that. I am an ass.

Prior to WMU, Ohio's defense gave up an average of 35% more yards than teams got against other opponents. Since WMU, only Miami managed to barely gain as many yards as they averaged against other opponents, but in fairness, that was a really, really low target, because Miami sucks.

As you point out, the defense improved a lot in pass defense, but where the defense improved the most was in run defense. In the first 5 games, Ohio gave up an average of 197 yards a game in rushing, 5.3 yards per carry. In the last four games, Ohio has given up only 59 yards per game, and only 2.6 yards per carry.

Stop the run, make them pass, and get after the QB. The BG game was classic in that regard. BG came out and tried to establish the run, and had negative rushing yards early. They were forced to pass, and Ohio got after their QB, and while he got some yards, he never looked comfortable, and threw 3 picks.