...is what I'm hoping. Look, we're all disappointed that we had the best team in the MAC this year and didn't win the championship. I for one am just as disappointed that we we laid an egg and lost our last real championship hopes against an inferior, horribly coached opponent. We've covered this topic thoroughly, the horse is dead. Ànd, in case we didn't realize, Theres not a @#&# thing any of us can do about what happened in the past.

Let's engage in a more intellectually challenging discussion, because the current themes have become quite boring.

What are the next steps this team can take to improve to the next level? What holes do we have to fill? What recruits hold the most promise in terms of helping us get there? What teams are going to stand in our way? And lastly, Frank will retire some day, no one can go forever. What direction should the program take for the more distant future to give us the best chance of long term success?

Nothing against AJ and Maleek who are outstanding players, but losing Lowery and Anderson will be our biggest hurdle to overcome next season in my opinion. I believe if we can effectively fill the holes in the o line, then we will field the best team Ohio has seen yet. Rourke’s running abilities will keep the defenses honest and open lanes for the younger RB’s to exploit. The defense should only improve. Fully expecting to return to Detroit next year.

The more I hear various rumblings and wrap my head around the new (post McDavis) campus environment, I am convinced of 3 things I'd bet money on:

1. Solich will outlast Schaus at Ohio (not saying he'll be fired, just that he will grow weary of the current environment and opt to retire)
2. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least another 5 seasons out of Solich
3. Next coach will come from within, with the highest likelihood being Burrow. He'll be paid around Frank's salary or perhaps a bit less.

While I think for two years he was under utilized, replacing Papi White's explosiveness is something to put in this list for consideration.

Simple, it's like the days of the AP and old UPI, the Conference results are the AP (valid and accepted of the two) and BobcatAttack.com opinion poll is the UPI. We've won the UPI, MACC game!!!!! We get a banner, trophies and rings. In 30 years everyone will talk about the "Greatest Championship that Never Was". I suspect we will even see T-Shirts at the bookstore "2016 MAC's Best Team".

We had a good team, we had a team that I enjoyed watching, at no point did I feel this team was a MAC Title winner, but I did enjoy watching them for 12 weeks, and appreciate the effort of the players and coaches. But to claim we were the best when the results simply do not point to that...Yeah, do not get it!

The Bobcats need to keep trying something different until they find something that works. Statistically, they should eventually achieve their goals one way or another. I feel that the 'Cats are already making good adjustments, so I think that what has become obvious is that Ohio just needs to continue to take advantage of their natural exposure and recruit better and better players from around the country. This includes the necessity of getting better and better quarterbacks at Ohio along with better receivers. I also think that Ohio needs to continue to address the conditioning and injury issues that have plagued them in the past. In that particular regard, I think that Ohio actually seemed to get over the top this year in terms of being healthier and seemingly stronger than other programs down the stretch. I also think that the Graduate Transfer trend is here to stay, so I think that Ohio should take advantage of that by using Grad Transfers to address current weaknesses. Lastly, enough when it comes to playing weaker teams during non-league play. I don't think there is any advantage at all to the playing of SEC teams on the other end of the spectrum, but I do think that schools like Cincinnati and Virginia are good match ups for Ohio, win or lose, which will give us the tests that we need to thus prepare ourselves better for MAC Championship runs.

Was it just last season Alabama won the National Championship without winning their conference? So it is possible to be the best in the country without winning your conference, same deal.

Not from me. I’ve said for the last two years that I think next seasons team will be our best chance to win the MACC. I think we were good enough this year but we couldn’t get there.

Was Georgia better than Alabama last year?

This isn't a trick question. They might've been. They led for almost the entire national championship game.

But it is possible to be the best team and not win the championship. We all play the game in our minds and agree to the rules that whoever wins the game is the best because it makes us feel better about wasting three hours of our lives and livers every Saturday. But it's just not always true, especially in a sport that spans multiple seasons and includes so many injuries.

Bill Parcells can claim you are what your record is all he wants. It's just not objectively true. It's just something we all accept so we can crown champions.

You guys are attempting (poorly) to compare Alabama and the SEC to Ohio and the MAC? Wow...totally different situations.

Could not agree more. They don't give championship rings for woulda, shoulda, coulda!

Back on topic folks...drifting a bit...(shocking!)

Defense will be better next year. Losing a couple of good players (Crouch, Payne, Berger come to mind), but overall we're young on defense and they showed a lot of improvement over the year, so that could actually be the strength of our team next year.

Offense will be a bit more interesting...obvious losses on the OL and in the backfield. Never good to lose someone like Papi, but I believe we'll be OK in the receiver corps...lots of good young players there competing for spots. Will Elijah Ball try to come back? If he does, will he be able to compete among the stable of young receivers we have returning?

Losing Lowery and Anderson will definitely hurt. We have some proven returners in Meservy, Kitrell, Pleasants. We have some young linemen who are absolute loads! We may be bigger next year on the OL than we were this year. Rodgers, 6-4 313, Ramer 6-4 322, Gililand 6-5 316! coach those guys up and the best may be yet to come (given a little time).

Running back. Much depends on Ross next year. Anyone have info on how severe the shoulder was? We'll probably see a rotation of Ross, Allison, and Neatherton next year. Neatherton will be a pleasant surprise next year IMO. That kid was flying around knocking the crap out of people on special teams this year. I also like the fact that he was reportedly working out with Muncy in Miamisburg in High School. Only good can come of that. Now, about that haircut...

I honestly hope that we have Frank for a few more years. Even given the hole in his resume, I think we'll very much miss him when he's gone.

One more thought - do we become a bit more of a passing team next year with all the returning WR talent (minus Papi of course)? If so, what does that mean for Maxwell? I still feel he's the more natural passer, but no way we could bench Nathan after what he's been doing for us.