The game I’m now most concerned with is Ohio on October 8th

[BGSU33]

In the beginning of every season, I circle one game on the schedule as the “key” game for us to win the MAC. In past years it’s been Northern Illinois and that game the last three years was huge. The year we beat NIU, we won the MAC West and played in the MAC Championship game. The years we lost, we didn’t. This preseason, I circled the Miami game on November 15th for obvious reasons. On paper, the East was supposed to be decided between BG and Miami. And Miami has just owned BG in the last decade. Plus, the game will be played in Oxford.

Now, three games into the season with a 1-2 record with a lot of concerns about our defense, special teams and even our offense, my new concern is our game with Ohio on October 8th. I for one always stress taking one game at a time (and don’t want to overlook Temple), but in my opinion, this Ohio game is now our biggest of the year. Ohio’s defense is much improved, they are playing hard (which is a great compliment for any coach) with a lot of enthusiasm and confidence under Frank Solich, and the kicker off it all may be, they also have two weeks to get ready for us since they have a bye after this weekend’s game. More importantly, this is our next MAC game. And you can bet every single MAC opponent will be looking at the Boise State tapes as to how the Broncos simply dissected us on national TV. Ohio will not be afraid to play us on October 8th, I promise you that, and this will be a huge game for both teams.

I do think this Temple game is the kind of game that could be good for us at this time. I fully expect to beat the Owls, and we need to iron out a lot of issues in all aspects of the game and just feel good about ourselves. The team will have to sit on this loss to Boise State for a week and a half and that can’t go over well. The good thing is, after playing three consecutive road games to open the season, we now play four of our next five game at home.

As mentioned in other posts, we started 1-2 last year and had a great season. Also, Toledo started 1-2 last year after getting blasted in two non-conference games and simply went on to win another MAC Title. We can certainly do the same, but we’ve got to get better quickly against Temple before we have to strap it on against Ohio.

[FalconAwesome]

Ohio has scored 10 points on offense in three games. I am not too worried.

[BGSU33]

Ohio has scored 10 points on offense in three games. I am not too worried.

True, but Ohio hasn't played against a defense as weak as BG's either. Virginia Tech has a great defense and Pitt's is pretty good (unlike its offense). Northwestern's is okay. But my point is more geared towards the fact of the Ohio game being a MAC contest and that we can't think for a minute that we're going to run through the schedule until we get to Miami and Toledo. So until we play another MAC game, the Ohio one looms large in my eyes.

[Schadenfreude]

Ohio has scored 10 points on offense in three games. I am not too worried.

They match up well on paper, though.

They like to run the ball -- and our defense doesn't like that.

Moreover, they seem to have a couple of really good DBs.

And they really stuffed Pittsburgh's run, from what I saw.

[TG1996]

They like to run the ball -- and our defense doesn't like that.

Worst case scenario... our scary display of tackling allows OU to run the option all day, leading Solich to proclaim, "THE OPTION IS BACK!", but for the next five years, we tackle just fine, so does everyone else, and Solich takes his option and runs out of town...

[1987alum]

Ohio has scored 10 points on offense in three games. I am not too worried.

True, but Ohio hasn't played against a defense as weak as BG's either. Virginia Tech has a great defense and Pitt's is pretty good (unlike its offense). Northwestern's is okay. But my point is more geared to the fact of the Ohio game being a MAC contest and that we can't think for a minute that we're going to run through the schedule until we get to Miami and Toledo. So until we play another MAC game, the Ohio one looms large in my eyes.

Not to worry. Noah will be at the Ohio game. The Streak will prevail.

[BGSU33]

Ohio has scored 10 points on offense in three games. I am not too worried.

True, but Ohio hasn't played against a defense as weak as BG's either. Virginia Tech has a great defense and Pitt's is pretty good (unlike its offense). Northwestern's is okay. But my point is more geared to the fact of the Ohio game being a MAC contest and that we can't think for a minute that we're going to run through the schedule until we get to Miami and Toledo. So until we play another MAC game, the Ohio one looms large in my eyes.

Not to worry. Noah will be at the Ohio game. The Streak will prevail.

Noah had better be there then.....we need all the help (and luck) that we can get at this time.

[bgsufn]

Not to worry. Noah will be at the Ohio game. The Streak will prevail.

Can we get that boy season tickets?!? And tickets to every road game?!? Maybe even his own seat on the team plane?!?

Forget defense... forget special teams... we need Noah! (BTW, can he kick?)

[1987alum]

Not to worry. Noah will be at the Ohio game. The Streak will prevail.

Can we get that boy season tickets?!? And tickets to every road game?!? Maybe even his own seat on the team plane?!?

Forget defense... forget special teams... we need Noah! (BTW, can he kick?)

Sidenote: I got frustrated after the umpteenth Boise run for 8+ yards and said to Noah, "I think our flag football team could run BG this year."

He paused for a second and said, "you may be right."

FWIW ... we've been working on kicking, though he's an old-fashion straight-on kicker. Don't think that's allowed these days.

[pottereed]

Ball State has scored a total of 34 points this season. 31 came against us. That's 3 points in 2 games they've scored on their other opponents. Given that Ohio has scored more than Ball State, I'd be concerned!

[Falconfreak90]

'87,

Gimme a straight on kicker anyday!! I'll show the young nipper a few things on 10/8.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

Do you have any eligibility left freak? Maybe your current employer would let you move up here and take some classes to "improve their human capital".

[BGSUFootballFan]

Ohio could be scary bc they run the ball and we cant stop the run. Also we like to throw it and they are good at stopping the pass. 1 of every 6 plays in a football game is some sort of kick. We need a frickin kicker, and i agree that we let Noah walk-on for this season and make sure he gets a full ride scholarship by next year

[BGSU33]

Ball State has scored a total of 34 points this season. 31 came against us. That's 3 points in 2 games they've scored on their other opponents. Given that Ohio has scored more than Ball State, I'd be concerned!

Good point, and along the lines of why it is now, IMO, our biggest game. Because when have shown against Ball State that we can be beaten by any MAC school and Ohio has been playing hard and will now have an additional week to prepare for us. I still feel we should beat Ohio, but then again, I never imagined we'd be trailing Ball State in the fourth quarter either....nor did any of us on this board for that matter. BG trailed Ball State 31-28 in the fourth quarter with third and long in our own territory. If Omar didn't hit Sharon for that long gain that set up the go-ahead score, we're punting again and who knows what happens. We could be sitting here 0-3, 0-1 MAC.