The Bobcats' game against Missouri tomorrow marks only the 10th time in program history that the 'Cats have faced a Big 12 opponent and the first-ever time that Ohio has squared off against the Tigers.
However, Ohio coach Frank Solich and Missouri coach Gary Pinkel ' former Big 12 and Mid-American Conference football players, respectively ' have met before. From 2001-03, Solich won two-of-three meetings with Pinkel's Tigers as coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Pinkel's only victory against Solich came in 2003 and may have packed the biggest punch. With Nebraska winning its last 24 games against Missouri ' a streak that dated to 1978 ' the Tigers welcomed the Cornhuskers into Memorial Stadium and defeated them, 41-24.
It was Solich's only loss in six meetings with Mizzou during his time at Nebraska and one-of-three losses the Cornhuskers suffered that season. Nebraska athletic officials fired Solich in 2003, a year that saw the Cornhuskers finish 10-3 overall, 5-3 in the Big 12.
With his storied past in the Big 12 and efforts against the Tigers during his time at Nebraska, Solich is aware of the attention tomorrow's game will garner for both himself and his Bobcats.
(The game) will attract some interest
I'm sure for obvious reasons Solich said during Ohio's press conference Monday. But that's one thing that will not be a distraction for us. We try to make sure our players understand that this game is filled with distractions and
if you let those distractions start to bother you
then it affects your game.
We don't expect our players to be distracted by anything so I certainly won't be distracted by anything as far as going back and visiting with media. And I generally have had a good relationship with the media in the Big 12 area, so it's certainly nothing unfamiliar.
As for Pinkel
who holds a 5-0 record against Ohio created during his time in the MAC as coach of the Toledo Rockets from 1991-96
he acknowledged what football teams under Solich's tutelage are capable of.
I have tremendous respect for (Solich), Pinkel said. I always have and I always will, as a colleague and as a very well-coached football team that he has.",",17,Archives,Mark Shugar,",",",",",","
15054,2006-09-22 06:00:00,'Cats open conference play on road,",The Ohio soccer team looks to get back on the winning track this weekend when they begin Mid-American Conference play against Central Michigan this afternoon and Eastern Michigan on Sunday.
I think it's very important to set a tone, not only for ourselves but for the rest of the conference, coach Stacy Strauss said about having a strong performance in the first MAC game.
The Bobcats (2-5) will open up this weekend's slate against the 7-0 Chippewas. The past three meetings against Central Michigan have all gone into overtime
resulting in two Ohio losses and one tie
and those close match-ups won't be forgotten on the Bobcats' sideline.
It's certainly a great challenge to start off against Central Michigan, Strauss said. They were picked to win the conference and have had solid results thus far. Our games against Central are always tight.
Midfielder Amy Switzer
who was on the team in all three of those overtime games
is looking forward to another chance at redemption.
This is a big game, going into it; it's the first MAC game, she said. It's going to be a physical game, but I think we've held our own against some pretty physical teams in the last few weeks. They always come out with a lot of speed and intensity so we're just going to have to bring the same.
In Sunday's contest the 'Cats will take on another MAC foe
