Welcome to our site!

Bates played QB in the spring game.  Odds are that he will end up as the second string QB this fall, unless he has an amazing fall camp or #1 Boo Jackson becomes injured.  Right now, I'm expecting to see a lot of Wildcat (or should we say Bobcat) formations with both Jackson and Bates on the field at the same time.  In the spring game, in which Jackson couldn't play because he was rehabing from surgery, Bates was the best looking QB.  But, Jackson was the QB in 2008, and looked very good, except for a lack of ball control when running (i.e., very untimely fumbles).   A fumble late in the CMU game, for instance, cost us the win -- after a remarkable scramble in which he ran 50 or so yards to near the goal line he fumbled the ball on the one inch line trying to extend it over the goal line with one hand.  If he had just fallen on the ball at the one, we would have had three tries to get into the end zone with the go-ahead TD.  Jackson did not play last year due to injury and was given an extra year of eligibility.  Most reports are that he's now nearly 100 percent.  Personally, I've been very impressed with what I've seen of Bates, and reading into the remarks from the coaching staff about what an amazing athlete he is, I can't see him sitting on the bench for long periods of time.  Also, this staff has always like to rotate in the second string QB on a few series each game -- and not just in trash time.  I hope this information is helpful.  

BTW, when Iowa State played here several years ago, and came home with a 3 point win, I thought your mascot "Cy the Cylone" was the best and most unique mascot that I've ever seen in person.   

After talkkng to coacn Solich at a Caravan stop I would say Bates role is going to be tough to define based on his ability and the Bobcats need. His ability seems endless with experience at wide receiver and quarterback. Ohio has real depth at wide receiver but I can see him being lined up at receiver from time to time giving the Cats 2 quarterbacks on the field. Who knows though he could play in the red zone at qb or get a series or two. That being said I could also see him playing running back as well. From every report I have heard he has that type of athletic ability.
For sure it is going to be exciting and interesting to see just how much he is on the field and he gives the offensive coaches another weapon.

Is Bates a senior this year, or was he able to use a redshirt year on the transfer? EDIT*  looks like the poster above me answered this question while I was typing it out. 

We never quite figured out if he got bad advice and therefore quit the team.....or had a rift with Chizik and didn't feel he was getting the opportunity he was promised in 2008.  He split time with Arnaud the 1st four games that year...with Arnaud starting all 4 and getting the majority of series.  Probabaly a 2-1 ratio for Arnaud during those 4 games.

Arnaud got injured in week 6 but still had to play through the injury for a 2-3 game stretch right after Bates left.  Chizik didn't want to burn a redshirt QB if at all possible so Austen continued to play.  Ironically Bates missed his opportunity to be the starter those weeks.  Had he just stuck around another week....... 

If Bates is unable to win the starting QB job, I hope he puts the team first and takes whatever role is given to him.  Hes a great athlete and needs to be on the field somewhere even if its not at QB.  I'll be following the Bobcats this year to monitor his progress.  
 

Bates seems to be fitting in with the team well and I don't get a sense of there being issues from him if he's not the starting QB this year. Here's a link with a video highlight of our QBs and he appears to be pretty loose and enjoying himself.

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-footbl/ohio-m-footbl-body.html

Tecom I am from the  mid-west  also and have been watching Bates out of high school.  Most people I know feel Bates was the BEST Q at I State when is was there.

There are no rumor about  Bates playing other positions.   He was NO# 1 in the spring.. He comp 61% of his passes this spring. Ran the ball very well, and was a very strong leader.

QUOTE TO NOTE

"He has all the physical tools to be a real weapon in the running game. Now, if we can get him to complete upwards of 60, 65 percent of his passes, well then he could be a real special player." -- Ohio coach Frank Solich on junior quarterback Phil Bates.

QB Phil Bates --
With senior quarterback Boo Jackson out all spring, Bates -- a junior -- showed he was capable of being the Bobcats' signal-caller. With terrific size at 6-2 and 224 pounds, Bates will be a weapon in Ohio's many option looks out of the "Pistol" formation. He also made huge strides this spring in his throwing accuracy.

He's very athletic -- another level," Albin said. "He's got a little more juice with his running speed."

Ohio placed four student-athletes on Steele’s honorable mention squad in quarterback Phil Bates, tight end Jordan Thompson, guard Eric Herman and safetySteven Jackson. Bates will see his first action in 2010 after sitting out his year in residency last season following his transfer from Iowa State.

I guess the others on the board don't seem to know what Ohio has right now, but they will soon know....Bates will be the starter...and rewrite the Ohio Record Books..Mac Champs...1th Bowl Win.

How does a kid who has not played in a year+ get HM from Phil Steele...Bates is the one to put Ohio into the TOP 25!!!!

           Wouldn't be surprised if we saw Bate's lined up in the "Wildcat"  short yardage situations, after all we are short on running backs,  Solich will find a way to use Bate's talent that's for sure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------


Dennis  "Gman"   DON'T   FLINCH   !!!