Caleb Troop

-  Bottom line thinking from the Central Michigan loss: If you told most people before the game that Ohio would force Dan LeFevour into an interception (he has thrown six all year), CMU would commit 80 yards worth of penalties, and the ‘Cats would keep the Chippewas out of the end zone in four of six red zone trips while hodling CMU to just 20 points, odds are those folks would have liked Ohio’s chances to win.

-  This game was there for the taking—CMU did not play anywhere close to its best game of the season.  But Ohio’s early season inconsistencies on offense returned, and the team just did not have enough gas left in the tank.

-  A bit of irony about the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl—the headquarters for Domino’s Pizza is just west of Detroit in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

-  True freshman WR Gary Fortune was not with the team in Detroit.  He was needed with the injuries to LaVon Brazill and Taylor Price.

-  Outside linebacker Erik Ejjike did not play at all versus the Chippewas.  Was that because of CMU’s spread look and Ohio’s decision to go nickel most of the game with Shannon Ballard as the fifth defensive back (career-best six tackles) or was Ejjike’s knee just too banged up?

-  Theo Scott’s 14-yard sack at the 9:19 mark of the final quarter—with Ohio down 20-10—turned what would have been a 37-yard field goal try into a 51-yard attempt by Matt Weller.  Of course, Weller missed the lengthy attempt, and CMU proceeded to eat up five minutes of clock to help seal the win.

-  Central ran the ball 18 times on first down.  Central threw the ball 18 times on first down.

-  Ohio was shutout in the fourth quarter for first time this year.

-  That was Terrence McRae’s coming out party—seven catches, 141 yards and his eighth touchdown of the season.  To me, it’s a ludicrous statement to think McCrae can be playing on Sundays in 2011.  Size, a big vertical, straight ahead speed—it’s all there.  McRae just needs to work on route running and improving his quickness.

-  The Marching 110 will be in attendance for Ohio’s bowl game, Dr. Suk confirmed Monday night.

-  Good showing by Bobcat hoops in a one-point loss to Marshall Sunday, though a mere two fast break points is a bit alarming.

-  The Armon Bassett for All-World MVP talk has simmered a bit.  In two games, Bassett is 2-16 from the floor, 0-7 from beyond the arc with six turnovers and three rebounds.

-  The good: two road games, 19 total Ohio turnovers.  The eight TO’s versus Tulsa is a low in the John Groce era away from home.

-  Opponents are hitting just 22.5% on three-point attempts against the ‘Cats this year, fourth best in the nation.

-  I asked this before the season and I’ll point it out again.  Who is Ohio’s team leader?

-  I sure hope we have not seen the end of the Bobcat volleyball dynasty.  There is still a strong nucleus that will return in 2010—Sue Jacobi, Meryl Bender and Michelle Jantsch—but it’s probably not unfair to say the future success will rely on Katie Post and Purdue transfer Mandy Nichols.

-  Ryan Theis and company are in the process of trying to get a redshirt for Jane Systma, who played in 12 of 34 matches.

-  The staff is extremely high on Lexie Hartnett, who redshirted this season.

-  More to come.

Filed under: 2009 Bobcat Blog, December '09 Blog Notes |