I think that's what makes it so hard to see ... again.

Just like last year, Ohio was arguably the best team in the league ... but a few plays cost them a chance to play for the title, just like last year.

I think these were two of Solich's best teams .... and unfortunately he doesn't have a title to go along with them. I, too, hope he gets one! It would be quite a void to retire as the MAC's all-time winningest coach and NOT have a MAC title on the resume.

Love the grumpin.

Here’s a season where we didn’t lose to a team with a losing record. Of the teams we lost to, only one lost to a team with a losing record and that was Florida State. Not too shabby.

Would I like three of those games back? Hell yes. Would we beat UCF? I wouldn’t bet on it, but if we played up to our ability it would be fun.

Oh well, bring on North Texas or UAB or Marshall, cuz no way will we be paired with an opponent like App St.

I go from fan to someone who goes before the players all because of a comment. Is it go at Allen day? Did I touch a nerve? Sorry, I enjoy your post and didn't mean to rattle your cage. I just make honest assessments.

You might want to spell his name right. I am glad that Ellis proved me wrong, I wish the coaches would prove me wrong. Ellis had a good year, he gave up big plays and made big plays. He was a solid corner on a defense that finished 120th against the pass. Of course, I want us to be better than 120th against the pass, we were 114th this year and in both years we had weak schedules and face at least two backup qb’s or it may have been worst. In order to improve our pass defense, we need to recruit better corners or have a better defensive backs coach. I hate to put salt in your koolaid, but sometimes a reality check is in order.

I'm no Francessa fan, but I think you are right that the national reputation of Solich and Ohio is very, very high. I'm not sure they could honestly tell you if he's ever won a MAC title. I would even bet they assume he has. They know that Ohio is consistently a bowl-eligible team that wins year after year.

allen. Please. Coach was fired from Nebraska because of a 6-6 season. It took the AD til Solich was 9-3 the next season to get him out. Polini got to coach that team to a win in their bowl, becoming 10-3. You are correct most don't know he has not won the MAC. They are painfully aware their mighty Huskers have not won any since 99 with coach Solich. Again correct about their not keeping record of games that got away. News flash allen, most fans don't. What purpose does it serve? Most are aware generally that he has brought winning to Ohio, 105-77 or .58. Nebraska 2005 - present is 112-71 or.61. Oh, allen there have been wins in big games. The thing about big games is you are up against teams as good or better than you. In those you win some and lose some. If you can not deal with that you need to be an Alabama or OSU fan.

His record was 9-3. Solich is a good coach, he just needs to push some buttons and we will get that elusive MAC championship.

So bcat2 are you even an Ohio fan if Solich isn't coach? Are you a transplanted Nebraska fan? Just angry the way he was ousted in Lincoln?

I agree ... casual fans don't know Ohio's painful recent history of falling just short of championships. And most do know the brand name of Frank Solich. And that most certainly is a plus.

But for those that follow the program more closely ... spend hard earned money on season tickets and travel ... and precious time to support Ohio football I think it's okay to remember the tough losses and desire a championship.

This "be happy because Ohio wins 58% of their games" might be satisfying for you as a Solich fanatic ... but after 14 years, some would like to see something more. Is that wrong. According to you ... it is. SMH

Correct, Frank is 105-75, winning percentage of 58.33% and 30 games above .500.

lol

Thank you. Made me look at the 14 years before coach Solich. I get 50-104-2, winning percentage of 32% and 28 games below .500. 30 games above, not to shabby, when you came from 28 below.

Note. If Frost does not get Nebraska turned around soon coach Solich will have Ohio, see above, winning at a higher rate than the Huskers over the period since he left. That could be the result of consistency. There are those who would trade that for a single CC.

Note 2. But what matters is what have they done lately. It seems that a last five year comparison Ohio/Nebraska shows Ohio 38-25 and 63% while Nebraska is 31-31 and 50% on their fourth coach since Solich. So at Ohio 58% over 14 seasons and 63% over the last five seasons.

Well said both bshot44 and bobcat695. I agree.

I can remember the 1997-98 season like it was yesterday. It was Jim Grobe's third (3rd) year as HC for the Bobcats. For that matter, I can remember being in Peden during Jim Grobe's first season at Ohio when we beat Illinois State in Week 2 to break a 12 game losing streak during which the previous season we had went 0-11. I remember the students/fans rushing the field as the game ended. I can also remember the feeling of hope that perhaps Ohio now had a chance with a coach that could elevate the program. Back to that 8-3 season during Jim Grobe's third season, I was at Maryland in Week 2 when we beat the Terrapins and then listened to the radio broadcast the next week when we lost but went toe-to-toe with the 20th ranked Kansas State Wildcats losing 20-23. We then went 8-1 until we lost a brawl with Miami and were still in the hunt for the MAC East title when we went to Huntington the final week of the season to play eventual MAC East and MAC Champion Marshall. Actually, that game determined who won the MAC East that year. There was a huge Bobcat presence in the Joan that rainy/snowy cold afternoon. Even the 110 were present and put on a great show. There was also a certain buzz/excitement with Ohio fans realizing that for the first time in decades we were knocking on the door of once again being significant/relevant in football. In short, we had hope. Unfortunately, Marshall played that game with seven (7) players who would go on to play professional football (Chad Pennington, Randy Moss, Doug Chapman, John Wade, Rogers Beckett and John Grace). Even with the loss I left Huntington thinking that Ohio football was back. However more unfortunate was the fact that Jim Grobe left after the next season and then we were got Brian Knoor and the program tanked along with any hope/buzz/excitement about the program. That hope stayed away until 2005 when Ohio hired Frank Solich.

I was in a sold-out and packed Peden on a Friday night when the Bobcats took on Pitt in a nationally televised game on ESPN. WOW pretty much sums up the feeling in the stadium that night, especially after Dion Byrum's pick-six to end the game in OT. I again had the opportunity to watch as the students/fans rushed the field. After that game there was no doubt that hope/buzz/excitement were back amongst the Ohio faithful. I realized that Coach Solich would need time and resources to build the program but thought we finally had our man to take the program to a higher level. Because of that hope, I was willing to give Coach time to get us there and to increase my support for the program. However, after 14 years that hope is gone. As bshot44 is fond of stating, "wash, rinse, repeat". I stated early this season that I no longer have faith that Frank Solich can elevate the program any further. I still have that feeling.


We play in the MAC East which is one of if not the weakest division in FBS football. We also play a watered down schedule which pretty much guarantees at least a six (6), seven (7) or eight (8) win season but no MACC or national ranking.


I posted earlier in another thread figures which showed that Ohio spends the most in the MAC to fund its football program. I have no problem with that and would actually argue for increasing the spending if it would help us get a MACC and perhaps a New Year's day bowl game. After all, two (2) MAC teams have been able to achieve that goal (Western Michigan and Northern Illinois). If they can accomplish that level while spending less than we were/are, then why can we not achieve the same?


I have a feeling that there are other Bobcat faithful who feel the same way. Attendance/season ticket sales are down and are trending further in that direction. Traffic on this Board is down as people tend to stay away. In short and at least for me, hope is gone.


I appreciate what Coach Solich has brought to the program, but I just do no see him and his current staff elevating this program any further. I would have loved to see what Jim Grobe could have done with the resources/support we now throw at the football program.


Just like bobcat 695, not only am I staying away to a great extent from this Board, I am also channeling my giving/support of this program to something else. I dropped my normal season tickets and giving to the OBC this year. I did buy a Family package after listening to a sales pitch from the good people in the ticket office. I did this not because I could not afford my previous level of giving but because I no longer believe or have hope with this program. To me, fourteen (14) years speaks for itself.


Just my $.02.