I’ll give this to the Ohio Bobcats college football program- they know how to make headlines for goofy stuff. Good, nuanced quirky stories are something they specialize in. First there was the mascot attacking Brutus the Buckeyes when they visited Ohio State. Then there was the punter tweeting about how much Boise sucks in the winter when they got sent there for their bowl game.
What wacky hi-jinx are in store this season? I don’t know what to tell you there; but I can tell you all about their 2012 on the field prospects.
2011 was: a step forward; they finished with 10 wins including a win in that Idaho Potato Bowl. They finished with a decent showing in every major important category: offense, defense, pass defense etc. but nothing that really exceptional in any of them. Well 23rd in total O and rushing attack was pretty awesome.
2012 will go smoothly if: The offense keeps it going under QB Tyler Tettleton. They could use a real go to receiver though in order to reach Ford Field for the MAC Championship game on Nov 30th. A talented group returns on defense with 8 starters who helped the school reach double figure wins for the first time since 1968. That’s also the last year they won the conference. And that’s got to be the goal this season.
2012 will be rough if: This team hung it’s hat on defense last year and the running game. There’s new starters to break in at tailback and all over the OL but there is athleticism and depth, if not star power. Defense looks stout again. Frank Solich, you recall him of Nebraska Cornhuskers fame, believes this is the best group he’s ever had.
BMOCs: Tettleton, RB Beau Blankenship (also a member of the team below), Carl Jones, MLB Keith Moore, CB Travis Carrie is a shut down corner, the back seven in general is very solid
All-name team: NG Antwan Crutcher
Bottom Line: There are a plenty of answers on both sides of the ball, so reaching a bowl is a very likely possibility. They might just be the best team in the MAC, even though it’s a weak conference.
Rankings: Athlon- 59 Lindy’s- 68
All the 77s
#67 Southern Miss
#73 Kansas
#76 Minnesota
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Chicago Tribune.com, Fox Sports, MSN, Walter Football and Yardbarker
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too