As the sun sets on my college career, I'm left with only an athletic dream about what might have been.
No, I'm not talking about my decision to stay on as a Post columnist for another year instead of playing for the Cleveland Browns (hey, I go where the big money is). I'm talking about new President Roderick McDavis' promise to improve Ohio athletics across the board, something that must have Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh doing cartwheels across The Convo offices (I hope he's being careful, though. The Convo carpet is likely to cause a severe burn if he falls).
So while I've spent the last four years writing cynical comments about teams that have floundered through the Mid-American Conference, there seems to be new hope on the horizon.
You say you don't believe in instant change? How about this: the football team is undefeated since McDavis took over. While that is something that probably won't last beyond a trip to Pittsburgh this weekend, it sounds kind of cool to say.
And, even though it is a daring prediction, I must say that the team will be better than last year.
Better than a 2-10 season? you ask.
Yes, better.
They have the most athletic squad they've had in years, and a new offense and offensive coordinator give the team a change of pace in a football conference where I think people finally were starting to figure out the option.
Now don't get me wrong -even with my excitement, I remain skeptical. Phil Earley's new system looked terrific during a 42-14 romp of Virginia Military Institute, but I know that I look terrific when I play my 4-year-old sister in basketball. Nevertheless, they are better, and they only will improve with McDavis' promise to give them help. (One side note -if indeed they do improve on last year's 2-10 record, don't give me too much credit; as I write this, they are 1-0.)
But I believe that the football team is just the first step in building a successful athletics program here at Ohio. The volleyball team, a MAC champion last year, already was building a first-rate team with the anemic budget allotted before McDavis' inauguration, and, with a little financial support, I believe that they could work their way into the upper echelon of national programs.
Both basketball teams also could use a bigger budget, and I don't mean in the way that Michigan basketball used its budget to recruit players such as Chris Webber. There are great players across the nation and I really don't think that Tim O'Shea and Lynn Bria have had the money to go hunting for them.
These are only a few of the sports that I hope will improve with some financial help and a rededication to those programs.
And while I'm not making any guarantees that Ohio will win a national championship any time soon (I am taking bets though, call my bookie for odds), I am jealous of what the incoming freshmen might get to see over the next four years.
-Cottrill is a senior English major who hopes President McDavis throws more recruiting funds his way. Send him an e-mail at michael.cottrill@ohiou.edu.
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Michael Cottrill
