-  When you consistently lack a running game on offense an entire year it means your quarterback has to be great—and that was way too much to ask of essentially first-year starter Theo Scott.

-  It’s interesting to see how Ohio played after each of its losses this season.  The ‘Cats played poorly but escaped North Texas with a double overtime win in week two.  After a good showing in that 34-23 loss to Tennessee, the Green and White again escaped Bowling Green by holding on late.  Ohio’s worst loss of the year—20-11 to Kent State—was followed by another escape-like performance in the ‘W’ in front of Ball State.  Ohio did not escape Marshall, as we found out.

-  Ohio’s opponents winning percentage in 2008: 47%.  In 2009: 41%.  You can’t deny the fact that an easier schedule has led to more ‘W’s.

-  The ‘Cats are now 0-4 on ESPN.

-  Which was more of a head scratcher: Rick Minter going for it on fourth-and-one at Ohio’s 4-yard line late in the second quarter, or Frank Solich going for it on fourth-and-one at Marshall’s 25-yard line in the early moments of the third quarter down 21-7?

-  Punter Matt Schulte’s 2009 line: A 36.5 yards per punt average and two separate suspensions.  The guy is more an embarrassment to the program than he is an asset.  Then again, punters do not grow on trees.

-  While I realize punting is more than just about yards booted—hang time and coffin-corner punts are great, too, obviously—it’s still worth noting that 36.5 average puts Schulte 96^th of the 98 FBS punters that qualify for the statistic.

-  Think Noah Keller likes Ford Field?  33 tackles between two games this season in Detroit.  Is he worth the price of admission or what?  Scary thing is, his effort versus Marshall was arguably his third best game of the year, after outsmarting the triple option from Cal Poly and slowing down the Central Michigan offense.

-  Speaking of studs, Marshall’s Mario Henry sure impressed.  Kid can play and may continue to do so in the NFL.

-  Ohio started the game 0-8 on third down conversions, and finishes 3-14.

-  Tailback Donte Harden is one player that I just cannot seem to figure out.  One week he’s making players miss left and right, the next he is running with his head down and shoulders scrunched up.  There was not a ton of optimism heading in to 2009 with the running corps, and I don’t know if there is any more going in to 2010.

-  Defensively, there is a TON to like about next year.  How many teams in the MAC return their top interior cogs on the line of scrimmage and a 155-tackle guy at middle linebacker?

-  Tough way for Lee Renfro and Patrick Tafua to go out—not only the loss, but I’m sure both would be the first to admit it was not their best individual performance either.

-  It will be interesting to see who fills that SAM linebacker spot played by Errik Ejike and Shannon Ballard next year.  While Ballard is back, he may be needed more as a natural cornerback, and his run-stopping skills are less than ideal.

-  Ohio needs better production from its tight ends next year.  Period.

-  Heck of a year, David White.  Your stability up front will be missed.

-  Speaking of the offensive line, that group should be just as strong next year, if not better.  Losing White and Chris Rodgers are blows, sure, but not insurmountable ones.

-  Here’s a tell-tale stat: the Thurdering Herd ran the ball on first down 22 of 25 times.  Wow.

-  Of their 46 total first and second down plays, Marshall ran it 37 times.

-  This story about the struggles of NFL kickers this season makes me wonder two things: 1. How easily forgotten the outstanding field goals unit was for the Bobcats this year and 2. Is it too early to predict Matt Weller will be playing on Sundays in a few years?

-  Here’s a good story on a good guy, L.J. Flintall.

-  I hope everyone is having a great holiday season with family all over Bobcat nation.  Now it’s time to turn our attention to Bobcat basketball.

-  Much more to come.

-  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.

-  Initially the Temple contest at Peden Stadium was going to be on a volunteer basis for the band since Dr. Suk had asked the band to come back to Athens before school started and play during the UConn game.  But with the team’s success, that changed.  “It’s important for us to be there, especially if the championship is on the line.  I just told the band, ‘I know I put volunteer on the schedule, but I’d like for us all to be there.’”

-  The band listened.  Suk said he was missing just three musicians during the Temple performance.  “After the game everybody was very happy they showed up,” Suk said.

-  The band has about 100 members who typically live in dorms, and while Suk reserved 10 hotel rooms for some of the underclassmen to stay on Thursday night, those rooms were cancelled because everyone pitched in and hosted other members.

-  As for the Rose Bowl Trip, “We have every day planned.  We still have some money that needs to come in, so we are stilling working on that.  But every time we’ve done a big trip, the money has come through so we hope this does as well.”

-  The band would not be able to make it to the International Bowl if the ‘Cats land there.  Suk said it would cost about $150,000 to fly the band from California to Toronto in time for the game.  But the band would be in attendance for a trip to Mobile or Detroit.

-  Suk pointed out something I was unaware of as well.  He said that by this time (Dec. 1) back in 2006, he already had knowledge of where the football team would be playing in its bowl.

-  Check back soon, I’ll give my insight on what I know about Ohio’s possible bowl destinations.

-  Backup offensive  guard James Davis has been ruled out with his ankle injury.

-  Long snapper Kyle Robbins is questionable, but will be with the team at the very least on an emergency basis.  Jeremy LaVoie, who usually handles PAT and FG long snaps, would do the punting duties for the second week in a row if Robbins cannot go.  The problem is that Robbins can snap, but cannot run down field, Solich said.  Still, there is optimism his knee sprain would improve by the end of the week.

-  Safety Patrick Tafua practiced Sunday despite his nagging shoulder injury.  He will play but will be battling that injury the rest of the season.

-  Starting left guard A.J. Strum is questionable, Solich said.  He did not practice Sunday and is not expected to practice today either.  Vince Carlotta would in all liklihood get the start if Strum cannot go.

-  So what about the health situation of WR LaVon Brazill and QB Theo Scott? “Neither practiced yesterday–questionable,” Solich said quickly.  He would not offer up any more information.

-  If Brazill (leg) does play would there potentially be a situation where Brazill would just play wide receiver and not return punts to limit any further injury?  Solich said no–Brazill will either completely play or completely not play.

-  Remember, QB Theo Scott told reporters after the game he would play versus Central Michigan.

-  Solich talked at length about how it will be difficult for his defense to force CMU to turn it over.  Chippewas QB Dan LeFevour has thrown just five interceptions.  It’s a combination of LeFevour being great and smart with the football paired with CMU’s short, high-percentage passing offense that I would assume reminds the Bobcat defense of Bowling Green’s attack.

-  As expected, there is high praise about LeFevour from Ohio’s fifth year coach:  “I truly believe that everytime they talk about quarterbacks on national TV and announcers talk about awards that his name should be in that mix.”

- Solich on if he knows where the ‘Cats will playing in a bowl game:   “I’ve talked with (Ohio A.D.) Jim (Schaus) a couple of times and it’s kind of ongoing and changing.  We don’t know for sure, but I think we’ve had–Jim has had communication with people and the communication has been positive.  As to which direction we will be headed, we don’t know.  I know I don’t know.”

-  The ‘Cats coach also said he does not necessarily think the outcome of the Ohio-CMU MAC championship game will impact what bowl Ohio would play in.

-  More to come.