I haven't posted for a little while, but have kept a close eye on the Cats each week.  Here are my thoughts:

It seems to me like the coaching staff and the players have finally come together and everybody is now on the same page.  The offense has really been rolling lately and I think it can be attributed to the players buying in to what the staff is preaching.  I love it.

Boo Jackson looks GREAT.  The two-QB system was odd at the start of the season, and I don't know if the players really knew exactly what the coaches had in mind with the system and how it was supposed to work.  But it seems like about 3 weeks ago it finally clicked and this team has been deadly ever since.  I'm not a fan of using two QBs in a system where both are expected to come in and throw for large amounts of yardage and run the offense as if they were the starters.  I think other players on the team get confused by different throwing styles, snap counts, tempo, etc.  Ohio's two QB system with Bates has kind of morphed into a hybrid QB/RB system where Bates is a very potent runner with an arm that can kill you if you sell out on the run.  That type of offense works a lot better because players have a much better idea of what to expect when Bates is in, but they have a true starter/leader in Boo to look to if the game gets close.

The turnover issue has taken a major step in the right direction.  The Bobcats seem like they have been on the right side of the turnover margin lately and it is reflected in the scores of their recent games.  The Cats are also doing a great job of turning turnovers into points.

Bowl eligibility is just one win away.  I think Ohio gets win number 6 this weekend, and I think it will look much like the games have lately: a big win.  The way the season started and the confusion that seemed to be present on both sides of the ball, I had major questions on whether or not this team would make a bowl game.  Not because of a lack of talent, but more because of coaching.  But like I've said, I think the team as a whole has bought in and really seem to be in a groove.  I think Ohio has a real chance at 9 wins this year, but I would be very happy with 8 as well.  There are tough games down the stretch but after what I have seen lately, I won't count them out of any game left on their schedule.


As for the Utes, here is a little update for any interested:

Utah is currently 7-0 and ranked 8th in the BCS (7th in the coaches).  Utah has played one of the easiest schedules of any team in the nation up to this point, and sadly that has kept us out of the national spotlight despite being undefeated.  However, starting this week the schedule takes a real step up in difficulty.  The Utes have remaining:
@ Air Force (5-3, were ranked 22nd but have lost two straight)
#4 TCU
@ Notre Dame (No, not your fathers ND team, but playing in South Bend is never easy)
@ San Diego State (perennial MWC dog, but are much better this year and are on the verge of the top-25 at 5-2)
BYU (the coogies are having a rough season at 3-5 this year to the delight of all Ute fans)

This increase in schedule difficulty COULD lift Utah ahead of Boise State by the end of the year if both teams stay undefeated.  Not to look ahead, but a 3rd undefeated/BCS season since 2004 would be unheard of.

Anyway, Go Bobcats, and Go Utes!  Here's to finishing the season strong and making a name for ourselves!

I wish there were a shorter answer to that question.  I apologize for the length of my reply, but reading this may teach you a little more about football in the MWC than you already know.

Sadly, yes that is the case.  A few years ago the Mountain West Conference got into a little tiff with ESPN about scheduling and game times.  The teams in the MWC (mainly BYU) were upset about football games being scheduled on Thursday and Friday nights, and basketball games being scheduled for as late as 10:00pm.  So the powers that be in the MWC got together and decided to form their own TV network, the first conference in the NCAA to do so.

The Mtn. as it is called has been a HUGE disappointment and frustration to all teams in the MWC.  The Mtn. was supposed to provide nationwide airtime for all teams, better game days and times, as well as more exposure for recruiting.  What it HAS been is a major letdown.  The Mtn. channel is not carried on all major cable networks, and has partnered with CBSC(CBS College Sports) and Versus in order to broadcast its bigger games on a wider scale.  The problem is, NOBODY WATCHES THOSE CHANNELS!  Quick, can you tell me what channel CBSC is on your channel list?  I'm sure you can't.  Nobody can.  So even the biggest games of the season, such as TCU @ Utah, aren't seen by nearly as many people as they would be if they would have stayed with ESPN.

Another major problem with The Mtn. channel is the fact that MWC schools get absolutely no love from ESPN, the premier sports channel in the country.  Have you noticed how much talk and air time Boise State has received on ESPN lately?  That's because Boise is in the WAC, and the WAC is still in broadcast partnership with ESPN.  So talking about Boise as the premier non-BCS school is just ESPN's way of promoting their product, even though everybody knows Utah was the FIRST team to bust the BCS, and has arguably a bigger BCS win against Alabama than Boise's win over Oklahoma.  Great for Boise State, horrible for TCU and Utah.

Besides the obvious benefits the Utes will receive from leaving the MWC for the Pac-12, one that a lot of people don't realize is the monetary aspect of it.  Sure guaranteed access to the BCS and an actual shot at a National Championship are great, but what may be even better for Utah is the monetary asepct of the move.  Utah, along with all other MWC teams, receive just $1.2 million per year from The Mtn. TV deal.  Teams in the Pac-10 currently receive between $7 and 10 million per year.  Teams in the SEC receive even more than that.  So financially, the move will be a HUGE positive for the school.

People not from Utah and not familiar with The Mtn. TV situation often ask the question of 'Why is BYU leaving the Mountain West Conference to go Independent in football next year?'.  The answer is its all about the $$.  BYU signed a new TV deal to get back on to ESPN next year and will now make roughly between $4 and 7 million per year.  The MWC has a lot of street cred as a non-BCS league, but financially the conference is killing its programs.  As conferences start to make more and more money from new TV contracts, teams in the MWC will slowly get further and further behind.  BYU made a move that they had to make in order to keep up with in-state rival Utah and other big time programs that they like to compare themselves to.


Anyway, sorry about the long answer.  The Mountain West Conference is an interesting entity.  If you have CBSC on your cable or satelite provider, I urge you to tune in next Saturday afternoon (2:30pm central kick off) to the TCU/Utah game.  It will be a GREAT game, probably an all-timer.  If you can't watch, DVR it and watch it later.  You won't regret it.

Thats good to hear.  Good luck in school.  When/If you get to watch the game, just make sure you cheer for the RED and not the purple.  Go Utes!

Just saw a spot during SportsCenter this morning indicating Time Warner would have a sneek peak at CBS College Sports coming up.  Didn't catch when it starts, but it is set to end November 7.  Coincidence?  Yeah, right.

Channel 24, as usual for these "digital cable previews."

So, looks like I get to watch the Utes next week (at least the majority of the game -- gotta watch the Bobcats take down Walsh in their second exhibition!).

Oh the delema I'm in this weekend..

I came soooooo close to going to the U for grad school (everybody tells me I'd fit right in Salt Lake), but have a TCU jersey hanging in my closet.