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Topic: ESPN mentions

Topic: ESPN mentions

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UpSan Bobcat
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Member Since: 8/30/2005
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ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 2:30:25 PM

From the Rumor Mill on ESPN.com (complete with the error about being the regining MAC champions):

It may have been shocking enough when Ohio defeated Penn State Saturday, but the Bobcats may be in store for bigger and better things. The reigning MAC champions could legitimately develop into this year's BCS buster.

"Ohio's schedule going forward is very, very manageable -- with a trip to Marshall looking like the biggest hurdle standing in the way of a 12-0 season," Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com noted.

Boise State already took a step back to start the season. UCF is considered to be one of the top non-BCS teams this season, but it has to face Ohio State this week. Ohio just may develop into this year's top nuisance for the BCS. Frank Solich's squad has the potential to work its way into the Top 25 and earn a much better bowl than MAC squads are accustomed.

Another insider mention that you need a subscription for:
http://insider.espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8335729/notre-dame-fighting-irish-teams-increased-win-projections-week-1-ncf
Lised under promising starts:

Preseason win projection: 8.5
Updated win projection: 9.8

An Ohio victory over Penn State was a surprise, but not a complete shock, given the relative projected strength of both teams and the emotional toll of the offseason in Happy Valley. But the Nittany Lions were probably the most formidable opponent in Ohio's way to a potential undefeated season. It is still a long shot for Ohio to get to a BCS bowl game because it didn't start the season in poll position like other AQ breakthrough teams before it.

Still, the schedule does make the Bobcats a contender to break up the BCS bowl party. Ohio isn't scheduled to play another team ranked among the FEI top 60 and will face seven opponents ranked 90th or worse. It is the single easiest schedule in college football the remainder of the year. Despite not yet breaking through to the top 50, the Bobcats should still be strong enough to seize this opportunity.

Then one more:
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/page/BMOC-090412/big-man-campus-weighs-week-1-college-football
Some kind of top 20 list:

8. Ohio upset -- the aftermath

Students on the Athens campus have erected a life-size Lego statue of Solich and there is a movement to rename the stadium in his honor.

No, not really.

But the school did open its ticket offices on Sunday and Monday, all in hopes of getting a post-Penn State-upset sales bump. They got it, too.

The Bobcats, a member of the MAC, have a comfortable but modest football budget. That's why they bussed to State College -- six hours there, six hours back.

Here's guessing the return trip seemed much shorter.

Chuck_IV
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 2:40:18 PM

Geez, one game a a time here.

The MAC schedule is ALWAYS tough, no matter what the power rankings say.

Articles like those would be somewhat meaningful after a half a season, not after ONE game.

Class of 88

Donuts
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 2:58:01 PM

This is why football is so huge. Three games of actual play during the week, coupled with hundreds of hours or talk, speculation, hype, etc.

Bobcat110
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 3:56:13 PM

General question: Is there any open option within the MAC for something "in between" a BCS bowl game and the Pizza Pizza Bowl for the MAC Champion? I seem to have the understanding that the top 3 MAC teams are already fully committed to the Pizza Pizza, Go Daddy and then Idaho bowls respectively and that only a BCS bowl game could supersede those bowl options. It seems more possible that the 4th best team in the MAC goes to a higher paying/profile game than the top 3 teams. Does the MAC have any option to get their top team into a higher profile bowl game?

With OSU and Penn State not eligible this year, the Big Ten's already going to be thin for their tie-in bowls. So, it'd be nice to have the MAC's top team be able to slide up to play a bigger profile bowl game against a BCS opponent. Nothing against the Sun Belt, as I would think if they were given the choice of playing against a MAC foe in the Pizza Pizza bowl, or an SEC team in the Music City Bowl, they'd probably choose the latter.

GoCats105
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 4:53:43 PM

Bobcat110 wrote:

The invite would have to come from the bowl itself. And if it's better than a MAC tie-in, I'm sure we'd take it.

sargentfan
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:02:56 PM

Bobcat110 wrote:

I would assume the rules are written that only a BCS bowl outweighs our current bowl setup for our three bowl partners. However I wouldn't be surprised if something came about where if it was in the best interests of the conference and they had enough other good teams to cover their bowl slots they might try something. But I would assume that would be very hard, even Ball State when they went 11-1 still ended up in Mobile for their bowl game. However they showed why they didn't warrant better by getting beat by Tulsa.

perimeterpost
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:09:56 PM

a little off topic but speaking of ESPN- I rewatched the broadcast last night and noticed after the game they went down to the field to interview the LOSING coach?! In all of the hysteria in my house I missed that on the original broadcast. what a crock.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

Victory
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:13:52 PM

We have a contract with the three bowls unless the BCS comes calling. That doesn't mean that deals can't be cut. ESPN and some other bowl could shell out a little extra dough to the MAC bowls up front and try to match an unbeaten Ohio against 11-1 Boise St. or 12-1 UCF or something like that. There was some talk of that with Ball State a few years ago as the season closed. But they lost a game and you don't know if it would have happened or not.

To get to the BCS we would need to win them all, hope that the MWC and CUSA champs have lost at least one, that the Big East champ has lost at least 3, and then hope and pray that you are in the top 16 and ranked above all of those teams.

It almost isn't worth even thinking about yet. So much has to happen between now and then.

Last Edited: 9/4/2012 5:15:33 PM by Victory

OUbobcat9092
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:21:42 PM

UCF is Ineligible for a post-season bowl, barring winning their appeal...

Bring Back Men's Track & Field

Victory
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:31:17 PM

True, and Houston shockingly lost to Texas State. Southern Mississippi might be the team in CUSA that you hope loses one.

PalmerFest
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:33:09 PM

Beat NMSU!

The Optimist
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:36:09 PM

The biggest key is we go undefeated. That is the biggest limiting factor by far... If we win out it'll be close.

I've seen crazier things happen.

El Gato Roberto
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:54:06 PM

Now I love Kool-ade and crazypants predictions as much, if not more than anyone on this board, but I'm going to step up as the "designated dowser of ice cold water" on this discussion. It seems in just a few more posts we'll be posting hotel and flight information from C-bus to Miami for the title game against Alabama.

Beat NMSU!

oucs 1986
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 5:59:24 PM

The Optimist wrote:

The biggest key is we go undefeated. That is the biggest limiting factor by far... If we win out it'll be close.

Also known as, JUST WIN, BABY.

Winning cures all ills in sports.

-john

Go Bobcats!

CATman
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 6:10:35 PM

The Optimist wrote:

The biggest key is we go undefeated. That is the biggest limiting factor by far... If we win out it'll be close.

I think as far as the BCS goes it is really, really difficult for a team to go undefeated and NOT make it.

Especially when, in that scenario, Ohio would get the benefit of a 13th game via the MAC championship.

At 13-0, I honestly just cannot envision a scenario were the Bobcats wouldn't be in the top 12 of the BCS.

Last year, Houston (at 12-0) was #8 in the BCS before ultimately falling to So. Miss in the C-USA title game.

At that point (week 13), only 8 teams in D-1 had fewer than 2 losses. Just by way of the BCS mechanics, the two loss teams just can't make up enough ground in the computers, even vs. a smaller undefeated school.

As long is Ohio is relatively impressive (i.e. posting strong point differential) they'll almost be a lock as a BCS AQ, if they are undefeated.

Such a loooooooooooong way to go but if Ohio is undefeated, they'll be playing in a BCS game. The number of things that would have to happen, to keep them out, are so statistically improbable that I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Last Edited: 9/4/2012 6:11:44 PM by CATman

My high school basketball coach had an old saying.....There are two things that don't last: Dogs that chase cars and teams that don't make free-throws.

mf279801
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 6:50:02 PM

Would also require being the highest ranked non-BCS team.

BuddyLee
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 7:45:17 PM

Last Edited: 9/4/2012 7:47:21 PM by BuddyLee

BuddyLee
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 7:46:33 PM

The Optimist
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 7:53:16 PM

There are 2 magic numbers. 16 is #1, where we get in if the Big East Champ is bad... 12 is #2, where we get in despite Big East. I say Big East because that is the most likely conference to fail... This all assumes we are ahead of BYU, Boise, La Tech and the other BCS busters. Because of our schedule, if any of those teams go undefeated they will probably be ahead of us. Because of their schedules, I think we can see loses from them.
It isn't that crazy to imagine they all blow it and we take care of business. I've seen crazier things happen.

I'm full steam ahead on the Just Win Baby bandwagon.

I've seen crazier things happen.

OhioCatFan
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 10:41:18 PM

Though, I do believe we are truly getting the cart before the horse here, I will do my bit to advance the cart:

1. It would really help if PSU, Marshall, and BG had good records and pulled an upset or two. No against us, of course!

2. We need to not just to beat most of our opponents but to do so by wide margins. I'm not talking about running up a score, which Frank would never do, but winning games with scores like 36-0, 42-7, or 56-14. No 80-0 pastings, but solid wins that show we were in command the whole way.

3. I think if we are undefeated and points one and two are at least partially accomplished, we'll get that BCS bid because of the "Frank Factor." He's well known and greatly respected in football circles. He's one of the few non-BCS coaches who is a "household name."

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

whocaresgobobcats
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/4/2012 10:46:19 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Though, I do believe we are truly getting the cart before the horse here, I will do my bit to advance the cart:

2. We need to not just to beat most of our opponents but to do so by wide margins. I'm not talking about running up a score, which Frank would never do, but winning games with scores like 36-0, 42-7, or 56-14. No 80-0 pastings, but solid wins that show we were in command the whole way.

Aside from winning, this is the most important, imo. People love big offenses and putting up huge numbers will get us more attention then just winning. We have to score as much as possible.

It would also help getting some pub out about Tettleton. Obviously, has little chance of winning, but grassroots Heisman campaigns usually get some notice, especially on a College GameDay type setting.

Piney
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/5/2012 9:12:57 AM

Lord Wellington Fisherburn wrote:

OhioCatFan wrote:

Nope, the most important thing will end up being our opponents having decent records. An Ohio undefeated team will get the votes from the humans to get probably as high as #10. While blowing out teams would help achieve that, most human voters will see Ohio 12-0 and remember we beat Penn State and our coach is Frank Solich and they will move us up no matter what eventually... but human polls are only 2/3 of the formula. If we are ranked #8, if the computers rank us in the 20s-30s, we won't sniff the Top 16 needed.

We NEED Penn State to finish with 7-8 wins, we need Marshall to do well in CUSA, we need another east division team or two to win 8 games and it would be nice if the west division team we play in the MAC title game to be a 10-2 type team.

On another note... the downside of late season midweek games is College Gameday won't be able to come to Athens. Just imagine THAT potential scene. Just imagine... November 10th rolls around and that Wednesday night BG game was actually on Saturday. We are 9-0 and BG is 2nd in the east division at like 6-3. No other games stick out to college gameday that weekend (looking at the schedule that weekend the only possible Top 10 game is South Carolina v Arkansas, but both of those teams could fall flat) so College Gameday does what they try to do once a year, go to a place they never been to before that is off the beaten path. College Gameday travels to ATHENS... not Georgia... OHIO!

That is what I call dreaming... LOL

"If someone told me 20 years ago in my James Hall Dorm room that I would be the commencement speaker I would have told them to get out of here and make sure you put that towell back under the door"

- Matt Lauer '97 Commencement Speech

Bobcat36
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/5/2012 10:04:40 AM

New Mexico State

GoBobcats!!!! Always have been and always will be... Ohio's First and Finest!

El Gato Roberto
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/5/2012 11:41:45 AM

Bobcat36 wrote:

New Mexico State

This

Urban Bobcat
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RE: ESPN mentions

Posted: 9/5/2012 2:32:34 PM

ONE GAME AT A TIME!

BEAT NEW MEXICO STATE!!

GO CATS!!!

Last Edited: 9/5/2012 2:33:25 PM by Urban Bobcat

URBAN BOBCAT

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