We were all sucked in with the preseason hype and being picked to win the East and the MACC.
Now after 9 games those preseason expectations have turned into disappointment.

When we look a little deeper in what caused all this we found the following;
1) We lost so many seniors to graduation that were in key positions on the O, like RB's, WR's, & O line players.
2) We banked on our QB to continue to improve to over come these losses as well as the new players to step up.
3) Unfortunately Rourke regressed, completion % down, same number of turnovers as last year, and the replacements in key positions did not step up.
4) The D has not improved as well.

Had the O just equaled or came close to last years performance we would still be in position to make the MACC Game.

Now, at best, we could end the year at 7-5, a step down from the past few years W-L records. We seem to be stuck in the 7,8, & 9 win seasons and no MACC.
What is the answer? We hear that our recruiting is good but never considered the best in the conference, why is that?
I have confidence in the coaching staff but if we are not recruiting with the best in the conference then there is only so much the coaches can do with mediocre talent.

I am a Bobcat fan forever and will continue to support the program but would like to see the programs, football & basketball, rise to the next level.


GO BOBCATS

Well said.

Regarding recruiting, I find it more useful to consider output vs input. The "input" is the rankings by the recruiting services. The "output" is the play on the field. Admittedly, I don't keep up with this stuff very closely (it bores me), but I have to believe when OU makes it to the MACC they probably still began the prior seasons without a high recruiting ranking.

Bottom line, is our team as talented as our peers? Overall, I would say yes, with a few areas that need improvement. For me, that improvement may be most severe on the OL. Rourke was running for his life against Miami. How many times was he under heavy pressure? To say he has regressed, without mentioning the OL, is not a fair assessment. I mentioned earlier that Rourke appeared nervous, uneasy. How much of that is true, and how much of that is due to his confidence in his protection?

At 7-5 at best and no MACC??? Ohio could still go 9-5 WITH a MACC "at best." Ohio has NOT been eliminated from anything. Not from a MACC, not from a bowl win, not from the possibility of 9 wins. It's baffling how many people continue to talk and act like Ohio has been eliminated from the MACC, when the fact remains, it has not. SMH....

Okay OhioBobcat, so even though we have only won 4 games out of 9 played so far this year, you are saying we can now run off 5 straight victories? Seriously? I know anything is possible, but I do not think that scenario is probable.

It's possible, but my comment was more directed at all this talk of Ohio like it has already been eliminated from the MACC, which its hasn't. I think Ohio has a great chance to win its last three games and believe its possible that Miami loses two of its last three. The key game for Ohio is obviously the WMU game. Ohio will have no problem whatsoever with BG and Akron. As for Miami, I think they'll lose to Ball State and beat Akron. The key game for Miami will be BG. If Ohio beats WMU and BG beats Miami this week, the outlook for Ohio changes drastically! This Tuesday and Wednesday will be very telling.

If this team finds a way to regroup and beat WMU, it will say a lot about their character and strength as a team. Keep in mind WMU defeated Ball State just like we did. A WMU win will go a long way to getting this team back on track regardless of Miami's record from here on out. Just focus on what you can control going forward.