I haven’t heard about our “abysmal” defense or how Solich can’t coach or recruit good players anymore. Lol
That’s why I have been arguing the opposite. Our defense is young and bound to struggle early. I knew they would improve. And I have no doubts as to whether Solich can coach and recruit.

We're still here. I'm still trying to pick up my jaw from that clinic last night I saw. Impressive W by the boys and are beginning to look like the team that many thought could be this year. Now do it against Fiami and make sure Chuck Martin gets canned officially.

From my sources in Oxford, they are ready to fire him once bowl eligibility is off the table. The buyout is ready, just becomes a question of when do they want to pull the trigger.

There is ZERO disagreement from me that the defense has improved exponentially the last few weeks.

I'm also aware it's against two of the worst teams in the league and a team that was starting a freshman back-up QB.

That is NOT backhanded compliment. It's just the truth.

But holding three straight teams under 20 points is nothing to ignore ... no matter who the opponent. Especially considering the well-documented run they went on to finish last regular season and the start to this one.

But let's be really, really honest here .... we've seen Ohio in this position before. Totally in control of their own destiny as we hit November.

That was the case as recent as last year ... and Ohio just threw up all over themselves.

(Be quiet bcat2 .... stop with your baggage nonsense)

Fact is ... Ohio has shown, at times, the inability to rise to the occasion when a title is on the line. (Or a big out-of-conference win)

It's all out there for Ohio .... win the next three and we'll see you in Detroit.

Same exact deal last year (in fact, it was even easier) ... just beat Akron and we'll see you in Detroit.

So as AWESOME last night was ... and it was ... I still have this pit in my stomach. A feeling that the shoe is going to drop over the next three weeks. A gut-wrenching loss at rival Miami to spoil things? A disappointing showing at home in a MAC showcase vs. UB? Or, god forbid, another laying of the egg at home on Black Friday against Kron?

None of those scenarios would surprise me!

So excuse me for being hesitant in crowning them just yet.

What we saw last night ... that was a preseason MAC favorite. That was a helluva performance all around. Maybe most dominant road win in Solich era considering WMU was 6-3 (4-1)

Just makes that NIU and UC loss sting that much more knowing they were a couple plays from being 8-1.

But that is water under the bridge ...

Three games. Three wins. Another shot in Detroit.

Simple.

But we know it never is.

It's almost as if fans complain when teams lose and are content when they win.

THIS IS A STRANGE DEVELOPMENT! WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE?

Quit making sense.

I don't disagree that it's risky, but at the time in 2016 and along with his recruiting I would have considered offering a longer contract.

I don't know off-hand if he did get a contract extension. What I do know is that they are ready to pull the trigger because of his epic meltdowns in late games.

...after a loss anyone who chimes in with anything that looks like a "half-full cup of hope" gets soundly reminded that "cheerleaders are not welcome on the message board". It's possible that the cheerleaders are choosing not to participate win or lose.

Go Cats! Win 3, meet up in Detroit and cheer for something together...

Speaking of recruiting....that win last night has to help.

A nationally televised game with those kind of results will help us in Ohio...Michigan...Florida...wherever.

Three blowouts over Ball State, BG and WMU don't erase 14 years. It's hardly a band-aid.

Yes ... things have been smooth sailing the last three weeks.

We'll see what happens when Ohio runs up against stiffer competition or is in a game that late-game decision making/play-calling comes into play.

That's where you earn your money. Not laying the wood to sisters of the poor.

It's amazing how two people can see the same situation in completely different lights. I find the opposite to be true. The smart critical voices around here were squeezed out long ago. We're left with true believers and uninformed critical voices (like me.)

It's a really stale, bad mix.

As long as nobody is calling out individual players when effort is being exerted, I think everything else is fair game when it comes to athletics programs that are funded by the students of our university. I have no interest in being a human Homecoming float.

No one was stopped from starting a celebratory thread. And if they felt that way, they need to start valuing their own joy over worrying about how others feel about a game. Celebrate! And if someone thinks the win wasn't all that impressive, blow a raspberry at your screen and keep celebrating! This isn't that hard.

Others' joy shouldn't limit criticism and criticism shouldn't limit others' joy. They can co-exist.

(modified quote above)

PPPPHHHHHWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWW

(blowing raspberry at screen)

Go Cats.

Definitely not a freak out, just an observation of human nature.

Some of the smartest stuff said here in a long time!