I am taking the liberty of attacking the Solich issue from a different angle,Completely understanding that mine will be a minority opinion and subject to intense criticism. I expect that and so be it. First, I have had the privilege of having played this game for a long time under many very good and memorable coaches. The best of which was no doubt Big Daddy and Bob Kappes. .But I would have been privileged to play for Coach Solich.I think public opinion lacks an appreciation of the total environment that Ohio University offers to todays student-athlete. And that impacts expectations in not a good way. Lets take moment to take a big picture view of our situation.
Athens. Scratch "big city" recruits. Realistically, the bricks, the 1804 stuff, and all that comes with it is not, I repeat not , attractive to most big city recruits that yearn for the limelight. Athens is arguably an hour from a real airport, a first class news outlet, a big time mall. Laugh if you will. But those things are important to a "big city" recruit. My point? Lets be realistic on exactly who we can attract to OU , coaches and student athletes, in todays world. And adjust expectations appropriately. Those that attended OU understand what the atmosphere offers. Others don't.
Lets touch on facilities for a moment. Ours are improving, and have improved, but still have a ways to go. Much of that improvement is dependent on the Bobcat Club. Are you a member for a reason other than a handy parking spot?? I hope so.
How about coach himself. He got fired by Nebraska, after a notable Nebraska player career, a spotless record, and a 9 and 3 record in his last coaching season. Has Nebraska gone 9 and 3, or better, since he was fired?
We have a clean program. With quality guys. A good record of graduating key players to the pro's. And graduating players in general. Real student-athletes.Rapidly improving facilities. (please take the criticisms of the paper towel holders pretty much where the sun don't shine) And of late....very respectable win/loss records. Not enough?
I love following OU football, Much more under the Solich guidance than what preceded his tenure.
Having said all that as well as being critical of what may be inappropriate expectations, lets enjoy what we have and appreciate the quality of the university, the town of Athens, the atmosphere of the school and program, and the uniqueness and wonder of all that is OU.
We are competitive on the field under Coach Solich. Our players , for the most part, are student-athletes proud of their choice to attend OU. My personal opinion is that he is likely to retire sooner rather than later.
He'll do it of his own volition because he's earned that right. I hope when he chooses to leave, OU can find someone of his equal, both on and off the field.
This is lower D-1 football. I appreciate what we have.
I'm done. Have at it.

The pitch of the grand stands in Peden is too flat. Even when there's a big crowd, noise is not concentrated on the field. The overall stadium experience is ordinary. Nothing too special. It's nice that it's an old stadium, and the new addition in the end zone looks nice, but I don't consider Peden as offering any sort of unique game atmosphere.

Having said that, I'm not lobbying for a new stadium. I just don't get your point that Peden is somehow unique and a big advantage. I guess that's your point.

Well have you been to Peden lately since they've installed the new sound stadium with speakers that direct sound down to the field level?

Solich has set the goals of Ohio as top 25 ranking, MAC championship and a bowl game. He has never achieved 2 or his 3 goals. He has set the expectations, the fans are only agreeing with him as possible goals. That’s not unrealistic if that’s what the coach is saying as well, is it? When will Frank realize that he can’t get it done and let someone else try. I agree he has earned the right to say when it’s time.

Well have you been to Peden lately since they've installed the new sound stadium with speakers that direct sound down to the field level? Sight lines are better with the slopes in the newer stadiums but they feel small. You never get a feel that Peden has too many seats in it like most MAC stadiums that is why its nice at 13k-14k. Then when its packed with the horseshoe/bowl configuration it feels like a big time atmosphere. For a G5 program its a solid stadium at this point and good enough for the program's aspirations. I question whether more facilities are even necessary. Better tailgating rules and donor levels should be revamped because its ticking people off.

What I don't buy at all is the idea that without Frank its a return to the Cleve Bryant years.

You're kidding, right?

Frank did break into the Top 25 in 2012, made the MACC four times since 2006 and has won four bowl games since 2011. One can argue he has largely delivered on the goals without a conference championship in hand. What I don't buy at all is the idea that without Frank its a return to the Cleve Bryant years. That was a far different era when the MAC had less scholarships than other FBS conferences, played on 11 game schedule, no online media ect. Part of Frank's consistency has to do with having more to entice recruits with like national TV, facilities, MACC in a NFL stadium, bowl opportunities that were not there in prior eras. The MAC has moved up while at the same time Ohio has moved up in the MAC which proves the underdevelopment was holding back the Ohio FB program for a long time.

How does Martin bolt when he has about a .380 winning percentage in six years at Miami? Win the MAC? I doubt he gets that done this year.

With some on here I feel like jealousy that we don't have what LSU has is driving the negativity. Clear path to the national championship. Joey Burrow at quarterback. 100,000 seat stadium and everyone talking about the game. We are not a large land grant university in the SEC. Ohio is a mid sized school that by virtue of its long D1 tradition and its location in a Top 5 recruiting state can project itself as a mid tier FBS program. Compare our situation to New Hampshire athletics and it looks impressive. Convo and Peden are huge relative to a campus that was designed for 15,000 undergraduates.

Peden is a quaint historic venue, but under no circumstance is there a big time atmosphere. Besides we never fill it anymore and won’t until we get better than 9-4. It’s been discussed in here for years about the decline in attendance causes so i’ll let that ride for now.( good student attendance the other day-it’s amazing what the results are when you give away something).
The add on sections just look so weird to me, they look so out of place and makes the stadium
disjointed. They’re upgrading it some, but it’s still antiquated in so many ways. Crumbling concrete, rusty pipes, and cracking paint all need updated. Since parts have been falling off, I’m not sure how “solid” it is. LOL. We can enjoy it what what is is because that’s all we got, but it doesn’t scream 21st century D-1 football to me.

I think you can look a lot closer than LSU for programs to aspire to, but that’s another story. I would rather compare to like positioned institutions like those in the MAC. Toledo, NIU, WMU, even BGSU have made more top notch waves than we have the past 15 years. Now on the plus side, we are probably more consistent overall which has value. Have the only 2 MAC bowl wins last 2 years. Used to lead the MAC in attendance, more years of bowl eligibility, etc. that’s all good. Give the players and coaches credit where credit is due. Also my all time favorite win -over Penn State in 2012-an event I will never forget. All is not bad.

Do you go to games at Peden stadium? Were you at games like Miami in 2015 when over 25,000 were in the stands? Do you go to attend games at other stadiums? I go to Navy games once in a while. They have 34,000 seats. When packed the atmosphere is not much different than Peden but when the crowd is low its cavernous. How is Peden not 21st century with the landscaping, press tower and sook center with a modern IPF siting right behind it? Granted it needs some maintenance but its an attractive venue from the outside and designed to flex for larger/smaller crowds.

With some on here I feel like jealousy that we don't have what LSU has is driving the negativity. Clear path to the national championship. Joey Burrow at quarterback. 100,000 seat stadium and everyone talking about the game. We are not a large land grant university in the SEC. Ohio is a mid sized school that by virtue of its long D1 tradition and its location in a Top 5 recruiting state can project itself as a mid tier FBS program. Compare our situation to New Hampshire athletics and it looks impressive. Convo and Peden are huge relative to a campus that was designed for 15,000 undergraduates.

Well I live 1000 miles away, but I do go to a few games there each year as well as usually 1 OOC game as well. Wyoming, NMSU, Minnesota, Missouri, Penn State, NW, Kansas, UMass to name a few as well as quite a few MAC sites so I kinda get the experience thing to compare to. I will say that I went to a UC Davis (FCS) game a few years back and it beat our vibe. Sook is nice and I usually use that when I’m there. Just walk under the stands and I get the feel of a prison(dark, musty) not a modern stadium. The indoor practice facility looks okay, but it’s pretty basic compared to others being built these days. That’s probably okay for us. And the flying stands just don’t make it look out of place to me. Makes it look like a put together place not seamless. The press tower seems just small and not a lot of inside seating for fans. Listen, I’m not for a new stadium and they continue to upgrade what we have with new scoreboard, sound etc. that’s okay. I accept Peden,etc for what it is, but I’m an alum. Not sure it impresses recruits.

Oh, stop, Frank is going to be allowed to go out on his own terms. Was the loss last night disappointing, even heart breaking? Absolutely, but this team has been disappointing since the beginning of the season. As for all the Hype leading into this season, it was just that: Hype. When push has come to shove, neither the Offensive Line of Ohio nor has our Defense been able to deliver in an impressive manner. Frankly, Miami won last night, because they simply wanted it more. Nothing more, nothing less. We will see how the Bobcats respond to all of this. Do they get angry and win out or do they just fold and prove all of us doubters right. Forget the MAC championship, it is obviously not meant to be for whatever reason. However, Ohio teams have always been known for their toughness and fight, so it is time to begin showing some of that. If nothing else for Pride's sake. As for Frank, he was an undersized player in his day, who gave it his all. I just wish we could see some of that from players other than Mr. Rourke. Unfortunately, I am not sure that is something that you can teach.

Well I live 1000 miles away, but I do go to a few games there each year as well as usually 1 OOC game as well. Wyoming, NMSU, Minnesota, Missouri, Penn State, NW, Kansas, UMass to name a few as well as quite a few MAC sites so I kinda get the experience thing to compare to. I will say that I went to a UC Davis (FCS) game a few years back and it beat our vibe. Sook is nice and I usually use that when I’m there. Just walk under the stands and I get the feel of a prison(dark, musty) not a modern stadium. The indoor practice facility looks okay, but it’s pretty basic compared to others being built these days. That’s probably okay for us. And the flying stands just don’t make it look out of place to me. Makes it look like a put together place not seamless. The press tower seems just small and not a lot of inside seating for fans. Listen, I’m not for a new stadium and they continue to upgrade what we have with new scoreboard, sound etc. that’s okay. I accept Peden,etc for what it is, but I’m an alum. Not sure it impresses recruits.

I'm not jealous of LSU at all. Ohio has never been at that level and never will, barring any MAJOR donation from an unknown source. And even then, the odds are still stacked against us.

We will never play for a CFP championship. But, we can aspire to be the best team in the MAC at the very least.

Sook has been open for a very short time. You go back 10 years of games and then state you usually use Sook That’s interesting, unless you’ve flown in for every game, you haven’t used Sook that often.