Former Nebraska coach named new Bobcat coach.

OptionQB · Post by **OptionQB** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:58 pm

He was actually above .700 or very near .750 if memory serves me correctly. I'll try and find it for sure . . .

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:39 am

Guys,
FWIW, Frank Solich had a pretty solid record, not "+.500" as someone indicated. I believe he was 8-3 or 9-3 in last season prior to being fired, but that's "not good enough" at the Nebraskas and OSU's of the world...ask Earl Bruce.
He's been around a LONG time as an asst. coach to Tom Osborne at Neb., and had the unenviable task of following a legend as a coach. Tough for anyone...
My biggest concern? He's a Cleve. Holy Name grad with supposed "connections" to the coaches in NE Ohio. Now that he'll BE in Ohio, I see him after a lot of kids from this area, which I feel will make OU a stronger program.
His "weakness"? His age ( comparatively speaking- from this "old guy's view". ( Think he's in late 50's at least)...and yes, he coached at Neb., where "throwing the ball" is NOT what you usually do. But name recognition alone should help the Bobcats.
Finally, I do understand that he'd applied for or expressed interest in the ND and Ill. jobs before, so OU might be the best available chance for him. Has a rep. as a "good guy".

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:26 am

No doubt, the rest of the MAC is picking up the pace to compete. This is how it always works. We built our program to get to the level of Marshall, and OU, CMU and Ball (at a minimum) are looking to break into the ranks and aggressively making steps. Its going to get very competitive in the next few years, which is going to continue to test our program--especially in recruiting.

Its good for the conference, and if we respond, it will make us a better team.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:42 am

I thought Solich did a good job at Nebraska...not good enough by the Husker nation.

We'll see what he can do....good name coach for the Bobcats, though.

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:04 pm

I've always said Ohio U. is the "sleeper" school in the MAC. OU has everything its needs to be a MAC power - good facilities, a nice campus, good academics. The one major piece missing IMO was a solid head coach. Solich would be a major hire for Ohio U in my opinion. I heard he was rumored to be a candidate for the Pitt job too, but if Ohio gets him, they get a steal.

MajorFalcon92 · Post by **MajorFalcon92** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:15 pm

Bleeding Orange wrote:Possibly a dumb question, but why the heck would Solich go to OU? I mean, I like our Bobcat friends, but geez...

Halloween.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 7:27 pm

MajorFalcon92 wrote:
Bleeding Orange wrote:Possibly a dumb question, but why the heck would Solich go to OU? I mean, I like our Bobcat friends, but geez...

Halloween.

Touche, sir!

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:25 pm

it's official. Ohio has hired Solich. He had a .753 winning percentage at Nebraska and this hiring should throw OU into the upper echelon of the MAC

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:30 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:it's official. Ohio has hired Solich. He had a .753 winning percentage at Nebraska and this hiring should throw OU into the upper echelon of the MAC

link? source?

BobcatFan · Post by **BobcatFan** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:20 pm

It's official...huge hire for both OU and the MAC:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1947232

Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Bobcats finished season with 4-7 record

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Pat Forde
ESPN.com

Former Nebraska football coach Frank Solich will be announced as Ohio University's new coach at a 1 p.m. ET news conference Thursday, ESPN.com's Pat Forde reports.

The Bobcats started the season 3-2 before losing four straight games to MAC foes. Ohio finished 4-7, 2-4 in the MAC under coach Brian Knorr. Knorr compiled a record of 11-35 in four seasons, with records of 1-10 in his first and 2-10 in his third year on the job. The university announced it will honor the final year of Knorr's five-year contract.

Solich, one of the most successful college coaches of the past decade was fired by Nebraska after the 2003 regular season despite a 9-3 record and berth in the Alamo Bowl. He posted a 59-19 record (.753 winning percentage) in six season at the Big 12 school, but took over for the legendary Tom Osborne.

The Cornhuskers won at least a share of the national title in three of Osborne's final four seasons, and Solich was unable to match that level of success.

Solich was 42-9 in his first four seasons. He was Big 12 coach of the year in 1999 and 2001, won the '99 conference title and his team played for the national championship after the '01 season.

Tommy Glantz Is A Sniper · Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:45 pm

It's either a huge coup for the Bobcats or another Gerry Faust situation like the one Akron had.

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a huge coup. But it's a big financial gamble, too, if things don't go well.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:52 am

What kind of money did they have to throw at him? I say after next year we give Brandon whatever the heck they're paying him plus a few thousand extra just to stick it to the Bobcats (and keep coach happy and here!).

FormerFreddie · Post by **FormerFreddie** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:32 am

Solich's career coaching record:

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/co ... achid=2195

My boss played football for Shaker Heights (OH) and claims that Solich, playing FB at about 160lbs, ran over him and knocked him out.

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:37 am

FormerFreddie wrote:Solich's career coaching record:

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/co ... achid=2195

My boss played football for Shaker Heights (OH) and claims that Solich, playing FB at about 160lbs, ran over him and knocked him out.

Freddie,
Your boss is probably NOT b.s.ing you on that one either..Solich was a scatback for Holy Name HS in it's "old" days (Read in Cleveland, not Parma) and had a rep for taking on guys much bigger than he was to get the extra yard. I'm glad that my memory banks were'nt clogged and that he WAS as good a coach as I'd posted earlier...just not good enough after following Tom Osborne....it's not easy to be the coach to follow a LEGEND...ask Bob Gibson about that.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:56 pm

Flipper wrote:He can be the OU version of Denny Stolz....only without the being fired in shame at the previous job for cheating stigma.

Huh?

Please explain. I became a fan during the Moe Ankney era (despite the long odds)