One would think that a two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, who was once one win away from claiming a national championship, would have all the answers on how to be successful in a weaker conference.
According to Bobcats coach Frank Solich, though, anyone's guess is as good as his.
I think it's going to take awhile for me to get a real good feel for the conference and what it's going to take to win conference games
Solich said in his Mid-American Conference coaches' teleconference last week.
The hard-nosed style of the Big 12 is different from the aerial assaults seen from most of the MAC teams.
Solich was quick to point out the differences between his old teams at Nebraska and what he has geared up to face in his first season as Ohio coach.
Certainly everybody in the conference appears to have the ability to put points on the board Solich noted.
I'm used to having some strong defensive games and not having it have to be 35-32 kinds of games
and it wears the coach out
he jokingly added, referring to the Bobcats' close 35-32 victory over Kent State two weeks ago, his first conference win as a MAC coach.
Solich will have to prepare himself as the Bobcats face offensive juggernaut Bowling Green. Falcon quarterback Omar Jacobs has thrown for a total of 1,432 yards so far this season, which is 278 yards more than the entire Bobcat offense (1,154 yards) has managed in its first four games.
Defense shows prowess
The Bobcat defense might have given up 32 points to Kent State, but their ability to make things difficult for the Flashes' quarterbacks was applauded by Solich.
We knew we needed to pressure (Kent State quarterback Michael Machen) and get him to throw quickly
and I thought our line did a great job of that
Solich said.
I feel really good about our defensive line coming along as well as it has in a pretty short period of time
Solich added, also noting how the staff was forced to throw in three true freshmen on the line throughout the course of the game.
As for the secondary, Solich was very happy about its progress.
Our guys are getting to where they're breaking on the ball much better
he stated. Six interceptions - that's an awful lot of turnovers...we came out ahead
and I think that was big and very critical to us in terms of winning the game.
There is little doubt that the defense will have to bring its best effort Saturday to stop Jacobs, wide receiver Charles Sharon, and the rest of the explosive Bowling Green offense.
The Byrum watch
The only thing that kept cornerback Dion Byrum from intercepting another pass this weekend was the bye.
His four interceptions puts him and a host of others in a second-place tie for most interceptions in the country.
- Jason Fazzone
