Cat Fan

[CapitalFalcon]

Article from the OU Newspaper...

Road trip to BGSU might bring action

by Andrew Gribble

Brace yourselves everyone, for I am about to request something that may draw out the emotions of shock, disgust or absolute confusion.

I think everyone should drop their No. 2 party school activities for the weekend, find a mode of transportation and take a road trip to (gulp) Bowling Green for two exciting Mid-American Conference sports events between your Bobcats and those Falcons.

Now I recognize that most everyone's top reason for enrolling at Ohio was to have an excuse not to visit friends at Bowling Green because of the distance. I also realize that, for most of us, it was our 268th choice of colleges to attend - just in front of Miami - when we were seniors in high school. And, from what I've heard, the campus may cause trouble for even the strongest of anti-depressants.

None of that matters. There are only two places that need to be visited on this odyssey: Cochrane Field for Friday's match between the women's soccer teams and Doyt Perry Stadium for Saturday's football game between the top two teams in the MAC East.

Friday's soccer match promises to be highly competitive and entertaining. Even though the Bobcats record may not show it (3-7, 1-3 MAC), the team has shown it can compete with any team in the country. Since beginning its MAC schedule, two of the teams' matches have gone into the second overtime session and the other two have been decided by only one goal each.

No matter what the result, the match between the two MAC foes promises to go the full 90-plus minutes.

Now, I'm putting out this warning: the 24 hours between the soccer and football games may be extremely difficult. My suggestion is to find an empty parking lot, lock your doors and just catch up on all the sleep you did not get during mid-term week.

Saturday's football game is huge in every respect. It is a matchup that pins the MAC's best quarterback, the Falcons' Omar Jacobs, against the MAC's best cornerback, the Bobcats' Dion Byrum.

After a slow offensive start to the year, the Bobcats lit up Kent State for 35 points, showing that they can compete when the game turns into a track meet. It is arguably the team's biggest game of the season, thus far, and is yet another opportunity for the 'Cats to upset a highly-favored opponent.

I will not guarantee two Bobcat victories this weekend, but I can promise you that, no matter how dangerous or treacherous this journey to Bowling Green may be, it will be much more enjoyable than burning a couch.

- Andrew Gribble is a sophomore journalism major. Send him an e-mail [email protected].

[TG1996]

When our offense clicks, 35 points is hardly a "track meet".

And even though they have 10 picks, and there's no doubt that Byrum is a threat at CB (and probably moreso as a return man), their pass defense is ranked 100th in the country, giving up 280 yards a game through the air. (With the one "good" team they've played, Va Tech, coming in UNDER that average at 257.)

If Omar is Omar, making only the smart throws, I see no trouble with OU. I'm obviously more concerned about this game than I was at the start of the year, but I think alot of their "success" this year has an element of smoke and mirrors to it.

And an OU student ripping on BG? That just makes me giggle. All the hills and pretty changing leaves in the world couldn't get me to go to a school 50 miles on the other side of BFE.

[Redwingtom]

As far as I know, Toledo is the only visiting team bringing their band this year.

Great!

I can already hear that stupid:

DAH DAH DAH DAH <pause>
DAH DAH DAH DAH <pause>

That they play AFTER EVERY STINKING FIRST DOWN...ARGH!!!!!!!!!!

[michhiker28]

As far as I know, Toledo is the only visiting team bringing their band this year.

Great!

I can already hear that stupid:

DAH DAH DAH DAH <pause>
DAH DAH DAH DAH <pause>

That they play AFTER EVERY STINKING FIRST DOWN...ARGH!!!!!!!!!!

Easy. You would surprised how long it takes to get them to all play notes together. They've worked on it for months and are justifiably proud. Just smile and enjoy it. Kinda like a 3 year olds artwork. They are proud if they stay in the lines.




--MH

[bobcatgrad]

Wow, you can't seriously be ripping on the campus can you? I mean, I'll give you that you guys have had more success in your football program lately, sure...but c'mon, your campus? If you can call it a campus... All I know is that my friends who attended BG either transferred to OU once they visited and realized how much they were missing or they would visit 2x a quarter, just to get the experience. Anyway, back to your football comments. This very well could be a trackmeet. We have given up passing yards, nice job w/ the research. One of the reasons those numbers are inflated is our first game against NW, the same NW that was up on undefeated PSU last weekend until a late TD. We put in a new D and that was our test. We hung in there, but identified problems and have been correcting them. They are not a bad team. Also, we have switched to a prevent d late in both the KSU and Pitt games. This has been identified as a weakness by the coaches and part of the 2 weeks we've had to prepare has been spent working on this. The prevent in those 2 games gave up big yards, and even some points...but guess what? WE WON them, and thats what matters. As I said, and you quoted from the article, this very well could be a track meet...If you run the ball for 350+again (maybe you should do your research on your defense against the piss poor teams ((-wisky)) you played thusfar) you will be playing catch up or beat the clock. Again, I hope for a good game that is played injury free...and I have to say I enjoy the way some of you think you are going to walk all over us. This is a new team, with a new coach and a new mentality. You should never underestimate what confidence can bring to a program. And again....lol...just be jealous of Athens and lets try not to compare locations, thats just silly for you to attempt.

good luck yall

[1987alum]

Bobcat grad:

I think the inference was that there's nothing to do in BG, which is obviously not the case. I've been to every MAC campus and think Athens is quite lovely. However, there are just as many good bars and parties at BG as there are in Athens.

As for jealously, 'fraid not. BG's campus may not have the bucolic feel of Athens, but those of us who had arthritic knees in college loved the level ground!

[bobcatgrad]

Thanks for the reply 1987. I've read alot of your posts on here and sounds like you know the game well. I just had to get my jabs in;), I've visited BG on many occasions and always had fun...except on the deer hunting trips that I left w/ no deer! I think this could be a really good game this year...for the first time in quite a while this game means something to both teams which could make it quite special.

[TG1996]

Bobcat grad:

I think the inference was that there's nothing to do in BG, which is obviously not the case. I've been to every MAC campus and think Athens is quite lovely. However, there are just as many good bars and parties at BG as there are in Athens.

As for jealously, 'fraid not. BG's campus may not have the bucolic feel of Athens, but those of us who had arthritic knees in college loved the level ground!

Thanks 87. That's exactly what I was getting at. I've been to OU, and it's definitely attractive with colorful trees and old buildings and whatever, but everyone writes off BG as a school/campus/whatever, and they JUST DON'T KNOW. (As evidenced by the popular "one tree" joke.) I'm really not jealous of any other campus. I can appreciate others, but I'm still not trading the BG experience for ANYTHING.

As for the game, maybe the OU numbers have been inflated by late prevent defenses, but I'm still not all that impressed. BG has plenty to work on on their own, but I think that with the offense clicking, and playing at the Doyt, this one will be close, but out of reach in the fourth. Just my opinion.

[bobcatgrad]

I would be alot more afraid of playing you at home if it wasn't over fall break. From the sound of things, without the students there, it won't be much of a homefield advantage. Also, we've gave up yardage, but we have also made the big plays on D. Like I said before, I look forward to a great game on both sides. Hopefully this game will determine the east. If we can't win it, I'd much rather see BG than those fools down in oxford.

[TG1996]

...those fools down in oxford.

See? There IS something we can agree upon! (Or rather, "something upon which we can agree" )

I think even with student numbers down a bit from this past weekend, the home atmosphere means so much more for BG as a team. While the student numbers may be down a bit because of Fall Break, I don't think its a break where they kick kids out of the dorms for the weekend (or is it? ), so the underclassmen will still have the option of being in town.

And Omar is no Tyler Palko.

[transfer2BGSU]

I don't think its a break where they kick kids out of the dorms for the weekend (or is it? )

Only kick out It'sAJourney and NWLB. All others may stay.

[1987alum]

I would be alot more afraid of playing you at home if it wasn't over fall break. From the sound of things, without the students there, it won't be much of a homefield advantage. Also, we've gave up yardage, but we have also made the big plays on D. Like I said before, I look forward to a great game on both sides. Hopefully this game will determine the east. If we can't win it, I'd much rather see BG than those fools down in oxford.

Fewer students, but we're bringing The Streak.

[truth]

IF the bobcat running game is lights out.. there wont be 10 minute drives.. Ohio will score on the ground the way BG can through the air. However, I think that the BG defense is coming around, and the offense loves the home atmosphere.

I believe OU is going to hit some growing pains this weekend like BG recently has on the road in big MAC games. I think BG wins this one 52-27.

[Schadenfreude]

Also, we have switched to a prevent d late in both the KSU and Pitt games. This has been identified as a weakness by the coaches and part of the 2 weeks we've had to prepare has been spent working on this.

You really think the Bobcats are going to reach a point where they use a prevent against Bowling Green?

I don't.

[bobcatgrad]

first team to make a field goal wins? lol, we could be there for days!!!