It'll be a test for us in every way imaginable.
Ohio coach Frank Solich made it apparent that he knows what his Bobcats will be up against when they take the field Saturday to face the fourth-ranked Hokies of Virginia Tech.
Taking on such a highly-ranked team on the road will be an even greater challenge for the Bobcats than their overtime victory over Pittsburgh last week. But Solich and the team hope that the win will provide some motivation in taking on Virginia Tech.
It was good to gather some confidence
to get a win under our belts Solich said. Hopefully we took some good lessons from our first two ballgames and are moving forward to try and get better this third week.
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer caught last Friday's game and, judging from what he saw, he said he is not taking the Bobcats lightly.
I was impressed he said. As I watched it I didn't think it was a fluke. I thought Ohio took it right to Pittsburgh
and then when you studied the tape
there was no question about it. That was for real. I think Ohio certainly deserved to win the football game.
Despite his team's success in the young season on the field and in the polls, Beamer emphasized that the Hokies' No. 1 priority is Saturday's contest.
I don't talk about getting (No.) 4 (in the polls)
he said. I talk about Ohio. What goes on here is totally about preparing for Ohio. You can spend your time talking about a lot of things
but the thing that we've got control of right now today is just practice
preparing for Ohio University
and playing the very best ballgame that we can.
If Virginia Tech plays its best football, Ohio will have its work cut out for it. After pulling out a tough 20-16 win against North Carolina State, the Hokies blasted Duke 45-0 last weekend. The Bobcat defense will have to deal with Marcus Vick, the most athletic and mobile quarterback that the team has faced thus far. The Ohio offense, which is still struggling to put together drives and score points, will go up against a stifling Hokie defense that held Duke to just 35 total yards last week.
When you take on a top-five team
it's a whole new ballgame
Solich said.
Whether we can get enough points on the board to make this thing a game
