Jason Arkley is the beat reporter for The Athens Messenger.  Brian Boesch is the Sports Director at WATH/WXTQ radio.  Rob Cornelius and Russ Eisenstein make up the broadcast team on the Ohio ISP Sports Network.  Will Frasure and Vince Nairn form the beat for the university’s student newspaper, The Post.  Allie LaForce is the TV host of Bobcat Blitz. Bryan Levin is the Sports Director of WOUB TV and Radio in Athens.  Ted Thompson is the owner of fan site BobcatAttack.com.

Who is the starting quarterback?

Arkley-  Boo Jackson. More polished in the passing game.  Phil Bates, however, will see time under center as well.

Boesch-  It has to be Boo. Last season, the ‘Cats really started to click when Theo took the reins behind center the entire year.  Boo has more upside than Theo, so letting him take the QB spot all year is key in my mind.  Tyler Tettleton and Bates should only be used sparingly for some gimmick plays.

Cornelius-  Jackson at season’s tip, assuming health.  But this will be a full on Dontrell Jackson/Dan Jordan deal with probably the fun of alternated series and several uncomfortable looking trick plays that result in minimal yards in September—assuming Tettleton gets the redshirt if the other two are healthy.

Eisenstein-  Jackson is the front runner for that spot in 2010.  With that said, there will be a battle.  Bates didn’t transfer from Iowa State to go down without a fight for first string.  Boo figures to be the favorite, and if he sees that all the way to Wofford, he will have earned it.

Frasure-  Jackson will start.  He has too much experience not to, plus Bates has to become more accurate as a passer to break in.

LaForce-  Jackson for sure.  He has the most experience, and they have really stuck with him through injuries.  He will at least get the first chance, and it is up to him after that.  Bates is talented but needs reps.

Levin-  Jackson.  While there may be a battle later on, I think head coach Frank Solich will go with Jackson’s experience.  Having more than one capable QB can put Ohio in a great spot, but it can also hinder them if a flow isn’t established.

Nairn-  Jackson.  I don’t think he would have tried to earn the medical redshirt if he wasn’t going to be the starting QB.  Then again, I don’t think Bates transferred from Iowa State to sit the bench, either.

Thompson-  Jackson will start and get most of the playing time. But Ohio coaches are drooling over the prospect of incorporating a running QB with the talent of Bates.  I think he’ll see dedicated series and be in on 3rd-and-short and goal-line situations.  If Bates can improve his accuracy or Boo can’t hang on to the ball, we may see Bates in there full-time.

2.  What will be the biggest surprise of the season?

Arkley-  For a third season in a row the Bobcats won’t have a dedicated tailback to turn to.  More running back by committee this season.

Boesch-  How well the Bobcats will play against a BCS squad.  Ohio will scare the Buckeyes again for a half and make it a game in the fourth quarter.  Solich will once again prove that he can scheme with the best of them when the talent is not equal.

Cornelius-  The biggest surprise will be just how good Ohio’s defense continues to be, despite key losses at LB and DB.  There’s no way to maintain last year’s sheer number of forced turnovers, but the questions at those spots won’t be questions by October.  This will be a better every-down defense, and more depth on the DL will make this team more dangerous even out of vanilla base sets.

Eisenstein-  Despite losing some pieces on the defensive side and on the offensive line, Ohio will keep the turnover machine churning, will get the running game moving and the QBs upright.  Even if two out of three occur, the ‘Cats will be in good shape.

Frasure-  The running game.  Everyone talks about what Ohio has at receiver and QB, but with Kenny Ashley and a decent offensive line, Ohio should do some damage on the run.  If someone fills in well for graduated center David White, the O-line should be pretty good.

LaForce-  The QB rotation.  It will be very interesting to see how Solich uses such different strengths and playing styles from his QBs.  It’s always a surprise who starts and who finishes the season, and often it seems expectations do not match up to end results at the end of the season.

Levin-  Last season, Ohio notched 23 TD passes but only 9 TDs on the ground.  Everyone knows there is a question mark at RB, but I think that TD imbalance will be greatly improved.  The Bobcats may not have a superb ground attack, but the team will stay on the ground to limit turnovers once they enter the red zone.

Nairn-  The defense.  The Bobcats proved they could score last year.  But since I’ve been in Athens, the defense has shown flashes of being very good but never sustained it for longer than a game or two.  I think that changes this year.

Thompson-  The re-emergence of the Ohio running game. This would appear to be the best offensive line Solich has had at Ohio. The running back spot is thin with just Vince Davidson and Ryan Boykin there until Donte Harden returns from suspension in game seven.

3.  The player most likely to emerge for the Green and White this fall?

Arkley-  TE Jordan Thompson.  He’s got the build, smarts and work ethic to be a top-notch tight end.  A year under his belt makes a difference this fall.

Boesch-  I’m done with expecting a running back to step up and be the man.  I look for WR Riley Dunlop to thrive with Boo Jackson under center.  The two are good friends, and with so many great wide outs on the offensive side, Dunlop in the slot will be a tough cover for any MAC defense.

Cornelius-  It will be whomever emerges at running back.  Someone will.  Could even be a converted receiver if the well is dry enough.  But simply regressing to the league or national rushing mean will be possible for whoever lines up behind a much deeper group at offensive line.

Eisenstein-  Boo Jackson.  The case can be made MAC Football 2010 is more running back dominated than quarterback heavy.  Despite that, the nation’s knowledge of this league centers on the QB because of the string of good ones we’ve seen.  With a talented receiving corps, if he irons out some mistakes and remains healthy, Boo has a chance to be the best in the league.

Frasure-  Riley Dunlop.  His shoulder injury shortened his season, but he looked back to form in the spring.  With so much attention given to LaVon Brazill and Terrence McCrae, Dunlop should be a top target for whoever plays QB.

LaForce-  Riley Dunlop.  He is very talented and has been the player in the shadow of the all-stars, but this is his year to emerge if he is going to.  Coming back from an injury, it will be vital for him to step up from the beginning so Ohio can use all of its hands on the receiving end.

Levin-  FS Steven Jackson.  The redshirt-senior had 24 tackles and 1 interception in only 4 games last season.  This year, the safety will once again by a top contributor for the defense.

Nairn-  Phil Bates.  It doesn’t matter if he’s playing quarterback, wide receiver—anything.  The kid is a phenomenal athlete and needs to be on the field.  If he gets the chance, he will shine.

Thompson-  Terrence McCrae.  The departure of Taylor Price to the NFL will open up a starting spot for McCrae.  With his combination of size and speed, ability to make plays on the ball in the air, the sky’s the limit for McCrae in 2010.

4.  Which game is most intriguing for Ohio?

Arkley-  At Marshall.  Similarly positioned program, rivalry game.  Bit of a revenge factor for the Bobcats after the bowl loss.  With the turnover in the offseason for the Herd, this is a game Ohio should win.

Boesch-  A week two home test with a Toledo team that can contend in the West.  Teams are still feeling themselves out this early in the season, and it is the team’s only conference game until Oct. 2.  Starting 0-1 in the MAC and not being able to change it for three weeks would be a frustrating start to the year for the Green and White.

Cornelius-  Toledo.  Though they appear depleted on paper, how well Ohio handles a rising West foe very early will be critical.  After that one, not a lot of games jump off the schedule as interesting until November.  Glad the Bobcats get UT early; national publications seem stuck on NIU.

Eisenstein-  At Marshall and at Temple. The rivalry with The Herd has been renewed, and for multiple reasons, Ohio needs to win more than its share against the boys from Huntington.  A realistic chance at a 3-1 record, barring an upset of Ohio State to make it 4-0, should be in play.  The division crown may be on the line again against the Owls.

Frasure-  At Temple.  Both teams are favorites in the MAC East.  If everything goes as expected, this game could be a de-facto championship game for the crown.

LaForce-  If all goes to plan it will be against Temple in Philly.  Temple is highly favored but Ohio is right behind them with the Bobcats defense returning many players.

Levin- At Temple on Nov. 16.  Ohio should be looked at as a top team in the MAC East and, on paper, shouldn’t have much of a problem with some of the early conference games.  However, there are always a few hiccups and a late season contest in Philadelphia will most likely have big implications.

Nairn-  Ohio State.  The Bobcats came very close to beating the Buckeyes in 2008 and are better now than they were then.  Ohio State has its annual lofty goals.  And I don’t care what the players are saying, there has to be just a little bit of revenge of their minds about that game two years ago.

Thompson-  At Temple.  The Owls are everyone’s pre-season favorite to win the MAC East.  They ran rough-shod over the East last year until they were manhandled by the Bobcats in the season finale.  Temple/Ohio could again be for the MAC East title.

5.  Finish the sentence: In order for the ‘Cats to become bowl eligible in 2010…

Arkley-  …be more consistent offensively.  You can’t expect Ohio to rack up 30-plus takeaways again this season.  The ‘O’ needs to avoid the hot-and-cold streaks it had in 2009.

Boesch-  …the team needs to play up to its potential.  This is a roster that, in reality, should have no problem getting six wins.  An experienced quarterback, a deep group of wide receivers, an opportunistic defense and some explosive special teams players.  Bowl eligibility should not be an issue, and if it is, then this team did not live up to expectations.

Cornelius-  …Ohio will just need to hold serve. The ‘Cats should be favored in all but maybe three weeks.  Anything less than eight wins and the almost certain bowl berth someplace would be a disappointment if there are not catastrophic injuries.  No season has seemed more obvious as a winning one with big expectations to come since 2001, but that one certainly didn’t go as planned.

Eisenstein-  …they must continue to win away from home.  That answer is more applicable to the question of: what will it take for Ohio to win the conference title?  Being bowl eligible again will be a good thing for this program, but sights are set higher than that.  Winning away from Athens for the second straight year would do wonders.

Frasure- …they have to generate turnovers somewhat like they did last season.  Thirty seven shouldn’t be expected, but if they still generate 25-30, they will be very successful.

LaForce-  …the Bobcats must first continue to build on the foundation that last year brought them.  With plenty of weapons back on both sides, the team should be more confident in utilizing these guys (Brazill, McCrae, Keller).  This year Solich will have a much better idea of how to utilize his biggest assets on both sides of the ball.

Levin- …the running game has to be established.

Nairn- …they need to avoid the post-bowl game letdown that happened in 2007.  They need to beat the teams they’re supposed to beat and win one or two as an underdog.

Thompson-  …they need to finish even in turnover margin.  The Ohio defense will be hard-pressed to duplicate the 37 turnovers it forced a year ago.  The Bobcats were beneficiaries of a +1 average turnover margin last year.  If they can just keep the turnovers even this year, that should be enough for seven or eight wins.

Now it’s your turn.  What do you think, Bobcat fans?  Send YOUR five answers to calebtroop@gmail.com.  I’ll run a list with some of the best responses later this summer.

Simply put, what do these NCAA Tournament upsets or bowl appearances mean to an athletic department that, according to a January article in The Post, runs a nearly $20 million budget?

Enter Associate Athletics Director for External Operations, Dan Hauser, who is trying to crunch the numbers to answer exactly those questions.  Problem is, it’s hard to put a finite number on just what good football and men’s basketball seasons can do for a department as a whole.

“You can’t just go in and find out the total,” said Hauser.  “We’re in the process of trying to put our arms around that.”

Some financial gains are easy to forecast.  In men’s basketball, the Mid-American Conference will get $2.4 million paid out annually for the next six years from the NCAA thanks to Ohio’s berth and upset win in this year’s hoops tournament.  That’ll mean about $400,000 to the MAC every year split evenly amongst its 12 basketball institutions.  In short, Ohio and all other 11 teams in the MAC will get about $33,333 annually for the next six years purely from the Bobcats’ success.

That number is easy to calculate, but the rest?  Not so much.

The most eye-popping data right now centers on the spike in visitors to the department’s website, OhioBobcats.com.  According to information gathered from host CBS Sports, the site saw a 109% increase in month-over-month unique visitors and a 77% increase in unique page views last March when John Groce was leading Ohio to a first round upset of Georgetown.  Subpages for the men’s basketball home page, roster, schedule, and NCAA Tournament Central accounted for four of the top six most-visited sites on OhioBobcats.com.

“Those types of numbers enable you to make more money,” said Hauser.  “So the ramifications of the NCAA tournament sometimes aren’t realized right away.  Some of those can be a giant increase in the web hits which helps you make your rate card on there potentially have a chance to go up.”

Hauser said the website, which sells advertising based on a revenue sharing deal with both CBS Sports and ISP Sports, has been and continues to be profitable.  But that’s just one area impacted by a great year between the lines.

Ohio Director of Athletics Jim Schaus travels the country talking to members of the university’s 200,000-plus living alumni, which surely have been much more enjoyable plane rides to visit possible donors after a fantastic 09-10 campaign.  The alums with deep pockets love wins, and Schaus said that’s starting to show.

“I think our fundraising numbers are up,” said Schaus.  “The fact that our annual giving is going to be up this year in an economy that is very difficult, I would say that is a very positive factor.”

GAINS FROM GREEN AND WHITE GEAR?

It’s not a question of whether Ohio will benefit financially in the merchandise department, it’s just how much.  That number appears to be a mystery right now.

Even when Ohio is barely mentioned on T-shirts like these, the NCAA tournament appearance pays dividends.  Furthermore, royalty fees pay out at 10 percent for Ohio gear sold at outlets like College Bookstore or Universitees, for example.  But these merchandise sales based on the 09-10 success don’t necessarily have an end point, making the benefit hard to calculate.

“There could be sales beyond the end of (a certain fiscal) quarter because (College Bookstore) is going to continue to sell that shirt all summer long, into the fall, next basketball season.—they’re going to sell it until it sells out,” Hauser said.

So if a fan comes to the Convo and buys a MAC Champions T-shirt before an early December game next winter, the revenue from that shirt means just as much as the shirt bought a day after the ‘Cats’ win over Akron in Cleveland.  The timeline in revenue-making is continuous.

One licensing area where Ohio will not benefit is in its contract with Russell.  Not even halfway through its 10-year agreement with the apparel company, the Bobcats won’t be getting a hefty raise anytime soon.

”The impact of winning can result in a greater deal in that, but the timing’s got to match up,” Hauser said.

The key financial gain with an apparel contract can come if a department has long term success or has a fantastic year like Ohio had one or two years away from the end of the current contract.

Hauser points out most apparel deals are long—five year minimums at most schools—so companies like Russell can implement apparel into the marketplace.  The same can be said with radio and television contracts.  The larger the investment for Nike, ISP, Russell, and others, the longer the deal.

PACKING PEDEN

Ohio may not be able to calculate revenue produced by merchandise, but ticket sales are often related to wins.  With high expectations for Ohio football in 2010 paired with six home games before November when the students are still on campus and, well, Schaus is hoping for good ticket sales.

“We’ll see this year if we see a bump in that,” said Schaus.  But even he admits there are a lot of factors other than last season’s success that play a role in whether a fan decides to either buy season tickets or upgrade current seats.  Things like the opponents on the schedule and the economy as a whole play a large role, too.

While it’s way too early to begin to calculate ticket sales for men’s basketball in 2010-11, Hauser is expecting most current season ticket owners to return to Peden Stadium this fall for football.

“Our target is a 92, 93 percent renewal rate.  That’s what we are shooting for,” Hauser said.

Right now the football program has nearly 5,000 season ticket holders, and Hauser notes the renewal percentages for those fans hits about 80 to 85 percent annually.  But the 90-plus percent renewal rate for 2010 is realistic, he says.

“We’re not going to accomplish (huge sales increases) in one year or a magic trick, but success breeds that.  Maybe 5,000 turns into 7,000 and 7,000 turns into 9,000.  Every time you start pulling that up, the challenge of single game revenues diminishes,” Hauser said.

“The chances of rain (at one home game) ruining a great huge chunk of your revenue becomes a non-factor.”

While he says sales are doing well, Hauser could not get into specifics with season ticket numbers for this fall yet because he says a lot of fans buy tickets 30 or 60 days in advance.  But one formula is simple.  The more season tickets they sell, the better off they will be.

“You don’t have to advertise your games. Your expenses are lower.”

THE BALL STATE EFFECT

More jerseys flying off the racks, more bodies flipping through turnstiles—it’s all great for that next season, but it won’t mean nearly as much if Ohio football and/or men’s basketball fall flat next season.

It’s the ‘Ball State Effect.’  The Cardinals followed a 12-2 football season in 2008 with an abysmal 2-10 campaign last fall.

“I’ll bet you their season ticket sales were up at the beginning of last season, but you have to sustain it,” Schaus said. “For some people to want to jump on board (and buy tickets), they want to make sure it’s safe.  They want to make sure it’s stable.”

Schaus will be the first in the department to point out winning increases exposure–between hoops and football Ohio had eight national TV appearances this year—which results in an improved Ohio University and Bobcat Nation brand.

But consistency is key.

“It’s all headed in the right direction.  Now, how dramatic is that?  I think we will see some noticeable benefit, but it’s going to take some time,” Schaus said.  “Our ability to string together multiple good seasons in our higher profile revenue producing sports, I think in the long run that will position us to have a more visible impact financially.”

But what about the people who cover the team in a different way?  What about the people who make sure you read a quote from Tommy Freeman in tomorrow’s edition of The Post or ensure ESPN’s play-by-play talent know the correct pronunciation of Adetunji Adedipe?

The life of a sports information director is a tad bit different than Joe Sunshine’s 40-hour work week.  But it’s a job Ohio Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations Jason Corriher enjoys.

“Our hours are a little bit different,” understated the 31-year-old China Grove, North Carolina native.  “I love traveling, I really do.  Growing up, I never really got to travel that much.  This job has given me a chance to see places and meet people and see venues I would not have gotten had I not had this job.”

Corriher spent more than 8,000 miles alone hitting the pavement with the football team, fueled by a pair of long-distance non-conference games and a few additional post-season trips.  While the Athletic Department looked to hire a third full-time SID this winter, Corriher added eight extra team trips on his schedule as the men’s basketball contact.  Tack on nine cities with the Bobcat Caravan this spring and there you have it.  From Ohio football’s rain-soaked trip to Denton, Texas in mid-September to Bobcat baseball’s upcoming short trek to Chillicothe for the Mid-American Conference tournament, Corriher will travel 15,289 round trip miles covering the ‘Cats during the 09-10 school year.

That’s a lot of hotel room keys.

Take this March, for example.  Odds are while you were busy wearing your green and white T-shirt before or after Ohio’s upset of Georgetown, Corriher was inside something with wheels.  Corriher’s wife, Kim, convinced him to make the trip to Providence for the game, even with Ohio baseball set to host a weekend series with Purdue the next day.  After that first round shocker, you better believe Corriher was up all night.  Not game-planning like John Groce and his staff, but traveling.

“I got a cab shortly after the USA Today‘s were delivered to the hotel (the next morning),” he said.  Following the upset, an early flight put Corriher back in Athens to cover the Ohio-Purdue baseball series later that Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.  Then, Saturday was spent scoring two Ohio losses at Bob Wren Stadium while keeping one eye on the Ohio-Tennessee hoops contest on his computer.  A long four days, but well worth it.

“To wake up and see Kenneth van Kempen on the front of the USA Today, that’s why we do this job,” Corriher said.  ” To be able to work and see the benefits of all your hard work–that win over Georgetown helped us realize that.”

Corriher also spent a month in Detroit.  At least it probably seemed like it.  One trip to the Motor City for the MAC title game against Central Michigan.  A return drive up a week later with wide out Taylor Price for the Ohio-Marshall Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl Press Conference on Dec. 12.  Then, Christmas with the ‘Cats as Ohio fell to the Thundering Herd at Ford Field Dec. 26.  That’s four weekends of December–three of them spent in Detroit.

“That was pretty unique, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that,” said Corriher, who argues the city gets more grief than deserved.

With a lingering southern twang and passion for N.C. State, the Carolina Panthers, Hurricanes and poker, Corriher is used to the tolls of being on the road.

“My staff and I talk about this all the time.  This job is very challenging in the sense that, depending on what games you have and your travel schedule, you may be able to go to sleep at a normal hour some nights, but you may have other nights if it’s a home football or home basketball game, you may not get to sleep until after 1 a.m.

“I have mastered the art of sleeping on buses,” he joked.  “I do utilize that time on the bus to, in a lot of cases, make up some sleep time.  Take the jacket and ball it up and try to knock out a couple hours there.”

The media relations work won’t get any lighter any time soon for the youngest head SID in the MAC.  Budget cuts mean his department will have just three staffers beginning next fall, down from the six he had when he arrived in Athens July 2007.  Corriher is proud of the work he and his staff have done professionally.  Personally, his goal is to get into better shape during his July-timed New Year’s resolution (“our lives are almost by the school year, not the calendar year”).

He enjoys his interactions with the media, coaches, administrators and student-athletes.  For Corriher, the travel is a bonus.

“It is a new area of the country for me, and this job has afforded me a chance to get around and see these new places and meet all the great people.”

-  Former Ohio guard Armon Bassett’s next court date is now June 15th after an assault charge a few weeks ago.

-  Congrats to Chris Holtmann and his wife, Lori, on the birth of their daughter Nora on Wednesday.  The former Ohio hoops assistant coach and new Gardner-Webb coach has been and will continue to be successful on and off the court.

-  Ohio women’s basketball assistant coach Karen Hewitt has left the program to pursue opportunities outside of basketball.  Director of Operations Simone Redd is leaving as well and returning to her hometown of Cleveland.

-  I’ve been trying to convince coach Semeka Randall to get on Twitter, but she won’t budge.  Yet.  I tried convincing her with this article about Kentucky coach John Calipari, but no cigar quite yet.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

-  Joe Ragazzo has been a fantastic sports editor for The Post this school year.  No doubt he will be great as the editor-in-chief next year.

-  Ohio defensive lineman A.J. Oxley remains suspended indefinitely from the football team.  His battle in the judicial system continues.  In short, nothing new on that end.

-  Expect the Ohio basketball schedule to be released in mid-August, like it has the past few years.

-  Ohio hoops senior-to-be DeVaughn Washington is expected in court Friday morning at 9:30 after his misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge last week.

-  I never personally met the late Dr. Steve Carin, but by all accounts the entire Athens community lost a true Bobcat and great friend.

-  Graduating Ohio senior Jake Young has accepted a job at WRDW-TV in Augusta, Georgia.  Young was the host of Bobcat Blitz this past season.

-  Jan Hodson, one of the biggest Bobcat fans in town and the wife of departing E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Director Tom Hodson, continues to fight a tough battle with cancer.  Her spirits are up, and she’s been able to get in a few hours of work per week at the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University.  We’ll know more about her progress the second week of June.  Keep the prayers coming.

-  Have you checked out what Ohio alum Tony Castricone is up to?  Go to www.TonyCastricone.com or www.40daytour.com for more information on his exciting adventures.

-  Marc Krauss is playing well at Class A Advanced ball with the Visalia Rawhide (CA).  His .329 average with 22 RBIs through 41 games is solid, but the 2-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio needs to be better.

-  On the flip side, not a good start to the season for fellow Bobcat alum Adam Russell with the Padres AAA affiliate Portland.  Russell carries a 7.71 ERA in 12 appearances out of the bullpen and has allowed 21 hits in 14 innings of work.

-  Anything you would like to see on Bobcat TV or this blog?  Shoot me an e-mail at calebtroop@gmail.com or tweet at me (@CalebTroop).

-  More to come.