ATHENS, Ohio – The alternate black jerseys donned by the Ohio football team Saturday were a surprise to fans – and to the players.

The jerseys were kept a secret from everyone, even the players, until just hours before game time.

“We had our pregame meal and told them to go right up for team meetings,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said. “Usually they stop in the locker room prior to that for a few minutes, but we locked that up and had them go right up to team meetings.”

Before every game, the Bobcats watch a pre-game motivational video, and it revealed to the players the jerseys they would be wearing against Marshall.

“There was tremendous excitement once they figured it out,” Solich said.

The black jerseys featured green numbers in a white outline. The shoulders were green with rows of arched small Ohio logos. Black pants also were included.

“Putting these jerseys on means a lot,” Ohio wide receiver LaVon Brazill said. “We haven’t worn black uniforms in a long time, and I think it was a good day to bring it out and show off the new jerseys.”

Whether the jerseys had anything to do with it cannot be said for sure, but the Bobcats played inspired, capturing a 44-7 victory in the Battle for the Bell for the team’s first 3-0 start since 1976.

Linebacker Noah Keller said Ohio had to do more than just wear the special jerseys to look good on the field Saturday.

“I think it’s exciting doing something like that, but I think there’s a little added pressure with these black jerseys where you don’t want to go out and try to do something out of your element and not be able to back them up,” Keller said. “We made sure we could walk the walk, as well.”

The jerseys came from Russell Athletics at no cost to the university. Many people played a part in the opportunity for the Bobcats to put them on, but ultimately, Solich had the last say about them.

However, Solich said it was not a difficult decision to allow the jerseys to be worn.

“As a coach, if it’s good for your players and it’s good for recruits, you’re OK with it,” he said. “Those new uniforms were good for those two groups, so we’re glad to be able to do it.”

The uniforms will not be worn routinely, but Solich said there is a good possibility they will be worn once more this season.

“As far as down the road, our original thought was to maybe break out those same uniforms maybe once more and just to use them sporadically throughout the season, but we have not come to a real final conclusion on that,” he said. “I don’t see us coming out three or four or five times a year with new uniforms. We’ll be pretty much traditional in most of our games with maybe these uniforms being used.”

Harden impresses, but gets hurt

Senior running back Donte Harden was given the opportunity to carry the load as the featured back this year, and he showed why in the first half against Marshall.

Harden rushed for 42 yards on nine carries, added three catches for 45 yards and had a 74-yard kickoff return all before be forced out of the game win an injury.

“I thought he had a tremendous half,” Solich said. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen a back perform quite that way, in terms of broken tackles. Then also on the kickoff return. Hopefully he’ll be ready for this next game, but we’ll see. He couldn’t continue or we would have stayed with him in the second half.”

Instead, Ryan Boykin took over and continued the bruising running effort with 130 yards on 25 attempts.

Solich said the injury was nothing new, but rather something that had been bothering Harden all week, causing him to miss two days of practice.

“He was a little bit questionable as to my mind whether he was going to be able to hold up this game, and it didn’t play out that he did,” Solich said. “I think it’s not necessarily a new injury; I think it’s a combination of things.”

The Bobcats averaged 4.9 yards per carry in the game. Harden has 217 rushing yards and is at 6.0 yards per carry. Boykin now has 168 rushing yards with an average of 4.5 yards per carry.

Hershey takes off for the first time this year

Punter Paul Hershey had a 13-yard run for a first down for his first carry of the season.

Last year, he had four carries for 48 yards.

This one came late in the third quarter on fourth down and 12 just across midfield and with Ohio in the lead, 37-7. Hershey got 13 yards on the play.

“He just made it,” Solich said.

Hershey has the option when he rolls out to punt to take off if the there is enough open field ahead of him to get a first down.

Earlier the same drive, Marshall was penalized for running into the kicker, extending Ohio’s offensive possession. Solich said he hoped that was not a factor in Hershey taking off for the first down marker.

“Paul knows he better make it if he goes,” Solich said. “Paul actually thought he was roughed, not just ran into.”

Weller sets school record

With the final of three field goals Saturday, junior Matt Weller tied the school record for field goals in a career with 38.

He tied the mark held by Kevin Kerr during his career from 1999-2002.

Weller made field goals of 20, 21 and 34 yards. He has made six of seven attempts this year.

“He’s a very consistent, excellent kicker,” Solich said. “He was hurt a little bit last year. He kicked last year with a little bit of a hip problem. He probably kicked too much. He kicked all summer and fall camp and came up to where he was not 100 percent last year. It’s good to see him back at 100 percent. He’s a tremendous kicker, and I like the fact that he’s athletic, too, and a competitor. We’ve got some pretty good things going on special teams.”

Tettleton continues to progress

Redshirt sophomore starting quarterback Tyler Tettleton has impressed even his coach with another strong game.

“He’s been impressive this year,” Solich said. “I think he just keeps getting better.”

Tettleton went 20 of 29 for 285 yards and three touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks. He also ran the ball nine times for 53 yards and a score.

“He runs the whole package,” Solich said. “We had a draw in there, too, where he could have thrown it, but the draw call was there. He’s a good runner. He’s a very physical kid. … He’s such a smart player for the little bit of experience that he has. I’m just so happy for him, and I hope he keeps it up.”

Through three games, Tettleton has completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 577 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception. He has carried 23 times for 97 yards and three scores.

“I feel like I’ve adjusted really well, and those guys have given me a great chance to do that,” Tettleton said. “We always talk about giving our playmakers the ball, and when we do that, they’re going to make plays and get the ball in the end zone. They make everything so comfortable for me and allow me to sit back there and relax and make my reads.”