For those of you who already want to condemn me for recent posts, get over it.

I'll be hosting a tailgate next weekend, green & white only are welcome.  If you want to join me (and many other OU alums) let me know.  That said:

• OUr o-line is awful.  In other news, OSU's d-line is really good.
• Boo is bad, whether he has time or not.  He will have very little to no time next week.  Not good.
• OUr pash rush is non-existent.  Hype or not, Pryor is kinda fast and extremely athletic.  He also likes to use his left hand to push aside linebackers from tackling him.  Noah Keller is the only guy we have who can even try to slow him down.  Unfortunately, he will be minimized.
• We do not have one player on our entire defense who will be able to contain Posey.  Look for a big game from him.

Again, for those who may be confused, I ABSOLUTELY WOULD LOVE FOR NOTHING MORE THAN AN OU VICTORY.

Prior to tonight's performance, I would have said OUr only shot was a near perfect performance on the defensive side of the ball.  However, after seeing what I just saw, it does not even matter.  OUr defense could be outstanding and OUr offense would still not generate enough against OSU's D to keep it close.

I'm sorry.  I'm still sticking by my 3 TD prediction.  I'm considering making it 4.  I see very little optimistic chances in this game, unless we score 5 TDs on special teams, which is the only part of OSU's game right now that appears very below average.

Will you be wearing scarlet and gray at your tailgate?

Thanks TR!

Now I have to go get some paper towels to wipe the coffee from my screen.

Hilarious

Where is Wes the moral police?

Oz, I would change course.  Go to Heineygate.  Nobody is coming to your party.  As a matter of fact, I would love to know where you are setting up, so I can be as far away as possible.  Also, T-Rodge you have a permanent invite to tailgate with us every game.  (note to self: never, ever bring mashed potatoes to Tailgreat Park again)

I cant read an OzCat post without "Scotch Scotch Scoth.  I love Scotch" going through my head.

Oz we may stop by but will pass on the mashed potatoes.

Realism is not a desired quality on here for some.  Those who tend to be practical get hammered, the funny thing is those of us who try and approach things in a realistic manner get hammered for being negative and then a week later we are too positive when the world is ending.

Of course we're the underdog. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the odds are stacked against us, but that doesn't mean its hopeless! Nothing is over yet! Was it over when the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor? [NO!] And its not over now! What we need to do is get ahold of Flounder's older Brother's car...

I've known Ozcat for quite a few years and I can vouch that he is in no way out to post negative things about the team just because. He has always been very blunt with his thoughts, and frankly, he's always been pretty on the dot with his predictions.

This is definitely going to be a tough, tough game. I want to see us pull off a win, but just as others have said already, I don't see how we can with the performance we posted last night. Saying that we will most likely not win is not being overly negative, it's realistic. OSU is good this year; OU is looking mediocre at best.

Do I want us to win? Hell yes.
Do I think we'll win? Not really.

I'm looking for a good game, though!

You cannot make objective, practical statements about athletics as a fan. It is paradoxical. The contradiction is explained by the force that compels us to the Green and White. There's no prize for making the most accurate judgment, posting the most in-depth analysis, or prescribing the best anti-biotic. We're all too old, not wealthy enough, or not in the right position in life to make changes to this football team or athletics program. The bond we share with Ohio University is irrational. We would all be checking QuinnipiacAttack right now had fate made us proud alumni of the other Bobcats. "Objectively" it would be more efficient to rotate your fandom from one national champion to the next.

The force is an emotional connection that we all can't properly put to words. It's a faceless,nameless, shapeless institution that at its core has always been apart of the human element. JCW would have chastised the Optimist for rooting for the underdog Ohio University gladiator team back in the first century (assuming this was possible at the time). The Romans simply possessed all of the intangibles and simply could not be upset. But it feels good to have a home team. It feels even better when you don't arbitrarily select that "home team". The Bobcats are an extension of ourselves. In some small way we're all playing Ohio State next Saturday. No matter where we go in life we're tethered to this university at least a little bit. If and how much we acknowledge it depends on what each of us considered important. I can't explain why I woke up at 6am the day after Thanksgiving to drive to a game I could have just watched on TV. But I will do it again if the opportunity presents itself. From a "realistic" view none of us should be on this message board. None of us should care to discuss the inadequacies of our offense, coaching staff, location, or whatever else is keeping Ohio University from it's glass ceiling. But we do care, some more than others.

Posting that we will lose by three touchdowns next week is either a product of someone who has been employed by ESPN or someone who has been let down by their sports teams too many times to count and has lost that youthful wide-eyed optimism. I felt like there was no hope for this team and school after last night's loss. But wins and losses are not what it's all about. It's just one exciting ride. Our hands have been dealt. To fold now by saying your hand has no chance is worthless. Even the most unfavorable combination of cards has a chance. We're 'All In'. Just put yourself out on the table and see what happens.

Is there a correct way to dance? Let it all hang loose; being a fan is a break from reality, not the SAT.

I think I'll skip tailgaiting saturday.

As an Ohio student, avid sports fan, friend of many student athletes, and die hard bobcat fan.  Me and my friends have been awaiting the osu game for over a year now.  I understand that many of my fellow students and Ohio alums do not agree with my thoughts.  I really believe even after sitting through all 4 quarters of the Toledo game we have a shot to take down osu.  I understand that no one outside this forum and the bobcats locker room will give them any type of a shot, and I understand the odds are low, but what keeps me going is sitting in that 100 thousand seat stadium around 4 o'clock in 6 days wearing my number 54 jersey embracing the biggest victory I could imagine.  I am from Cleveland and understand let downs and not winning, but any real bobcat fan needs to simply do this throw out all stats and just pray... hey it happened for us only a few short months ago...


Some food for thought:   A friend of mine interviewed J Posey the other day and I quote. "Ohio was created in 1804 well before osu was, they are our little brother.  I'm playing my little brother, I'm not scared at all i'm going to play a game i love and beat up on my little brother and my little brothers friends"

Two things-

1. Regarding being "realistic"- We're OHIO fans, nobody has delusions of grandeur on here,  we understand the odds. No one's objecting to discussing the challenges or short comings of our team either, but when its presented in a condescending way to suggest that any expression of optimism is futile and "unrealistic", well then that's when some of us have a problem. WE'RE FANS! Nobody on here was saying "I'll bet my child's college money that OHIO will beat Georgetown" but we also weren't saying- "there's no way that will ever happen, I'm just being 'realistic', and you all need to get over yourself if you think it will. But if we do win I'll celebrate just as much everyone else on here". That's the attitude of some of the people on this board, they'll cash in their chips and wave the green and white when we win, but the rest of the time they look down on other fans for not "being realistic". At work I tell my direct reports- don't come to me with problems, come to me with solutions. For example, don't just say "hey, the printer's broke", and walk away from it, say "the printer is broke, and I'm going to find a way to get it fixed." Same thing here, if you're going to call out our challenges, do it in a way that is not so damn condescending and it will add to the conversation, that's all.

2. Regarding being a fan of OHIO + OSU. Personally, I don't get it. If you have personal ties to both schools that's one thing, but most dual fans are just bandwagoners. My facebook news feed is littered with cheers for the buckeyes on saturdays from friends that went to OHIO and Fiami, but you never hear a peep from them about their alma mater (unless they win big). The problem with that is that they also put their $$ where their mouth is with game tickets and scarlet and gray gear for their kids, etc. That's money that's not going to OUr program. That's another generation being raised to think OSU is the only school in the state with an athletic department, and the imbalance continues on. Now specifically regarding dual fans on this board- when you claim to be a fan of both and then you make smug remarks about how inferior OHIO is and how as fans we need to "face the facts" and "be more realistic" you just come across as patronizing. It goes both ways, I've listened to enough buckeye fans ramble on over the years about their team in ways that weren't "realistic" either. But like I said, that's what fans do.

So if you want to root for OHIO, that's great. And if you want to share your concerns and insight about OHIO, that's great too. But if all you want to do is make smug remarks about how rooting for our favorite team is just "unrealistic", then save it, I don't want to hear it.