There are no more excuses, what-ifs or what could-have-beens left for Ohio.
The Bobcats face a must-win three-game road trip starting on Saturday. One loss and it will be yet another year of, Well there's always next year.
Through five games, Ohio has performed admirably against some very good teams. But the Bobcats are still just 1-4, with their only win coming against a Football Subdivision (Division I-AA) team.
Ohio played the likes of Ohio State, Northwestern and Central Michigan to closer than expected outcomes. They even led, or had chances to win, games against-
you're done linebacker Noah Keller said. We definitely feel like our team is a whole lot better than our record shows in terms of wins and losses. We've just been making mistakes here and there that have been costing us the game.
We still don't know what kind of team this is.
Ohio appears to have the talent to be much better than originally projected (sixth in the MAC East Division.) But the Bobcats' record is what it is.
When they return home on Oct. 21 after facing Western Michigan, Kent State and Temple, we will know exactly what kind of team Ohio is.
Sure, it might be a tough accomplishment to win all three, especially for a team that is just 2-7 on the road in the last two seasons. But the teams coming up aren't Central Michigan or Ohio State.
Western Michigan is 4-1, with its only loss coming in a 47-24 defeat at Nebraska. But its victories are not eye-popping: A three-point win at home against Northern Illinois, laughers against Idaho and Tennessee Tech and a 7-3 squeaker against Temple. With the Bobcat game falling on the Broncos' Homecoming, this should be the biggest test for Ohio.
Next comes a 1-4 Kent State team. The Golden Flashes have not come close in losses to Boston College, Iowa State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Ball State. Their only win came against Deleware State. This is a must-win.
The last game on the crucial swing is Temple. Temple is 1-4, but has played every opponent close, except Penn State. Once again, Ohio needs to win this game.
If the Bobcats come out of this stretch 3-0, the remaining schedule looks favorable. They will have three straight home games before ending the season against rival Miami.
Ohio has been in a position like this once before in the Frank Solich era.
The 2006 team started 2-3 before ripping off seven straight wins. It made it to the MAC championship game and lost to Central Michigan.
Senior Mark Parson was on that team and he said this team could do the same.
We feel like we can put it together Parson said. That would be great to win these next three away games and then have these stands packed for the next three home. That'd be great. That's our goal.
Players and coaches always say their goal is to win a conference championship. But in Ohio's history, only five teams have done it, the last coming in 1968.
Can this team contend for the school's sixth?
Check back with me on Oct. 21.
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Matt O'Donnell
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