Frank Solich spoke with the media Monday to talk about Ohio’s big win over Kent State last Saturday and discuss the Bobcats upcoming game against Ball State.
— Solich did not tell Michael Farkas to kick the ball at the helmet of a Kent defender Saturday. Farkas, Ohio’s punter and kickoff specialist, went viral after he successfully drilled a Golden Flashes player with a kickoff aimed directly at his head. The Bobcats recovered the ball.
“We really called a squib (kick),“ Solich said. “In that, he will aim at guys and obviously, you know, hit one or so. I think he’s been pretty good at it. It’s not something I grab him by the shoulder and say, “Hey, hit that guy in the helmet.’”
— Solich was not surprised that Farkas was successful.
“The reaction is a little delayed until you see where the ball ends up,“ Solich said. “But in saying that, it’s not a surprise that he hit somebody. He’s pretty good at it.”
— Quarterback Nathan Rourke was named Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week after he passed for a career-best 342 passing yards against Kent. He was also named one of eight Manning Award Stars of the Week, which also included Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma and Justin Herbert of Oregon.
“It’s good to see a guy like him get the recognition that he deserves because he’s been doing this for three years,“ Solich said. “It’s never a surprise when he has special games. He doesn’t put undue pressure on himself. He’s a perfectionist, but he’s able to bounce back off things when something doesn’t go right.”
— Ohio utilized more defensive substitutions against Kent, and Solich believes that additional rest to starters ultimately helped the defense make key fourth quarter stops.
“I think we have to continue to find ways to do that,“ Solich said. “I think we’re a team that’s molding ourselves into the defensive unit we want to be and getting plenty of guys experience to where when you come down the stretch, if someone is banged up here or there, you don’t suffer too much from it.”
— Solich was complimentary of Ball State’s offense, which is ranked first in the MAC and has averaged 34.7 points per game.
“They have a very good offensive line,“ Solich said. “It starts there in terms of their running game and, obviously, pass protection, too. They the skills to go around that. They got good receivers who are physical and can block down field. They’ve got a quarterback that run and throw, which more people have been trying to get, and they got one.”
— From Solich’s perspective, Ball State appears to be a more complete team. Last season, the Bobcats defeated the Cardinals 52-14. Solich expects a stiffer battle this season.
“This one’s a complete football team in terms of the three units,“ Solich said. “I talked about us wanting to be good in all three units, and I see them as being good in all three units.”
— Solich is one win away from tying the MAC record for career wins by a coach. Solich, however, was unaware of that and isn’t concerned about it.
“I just don’t think about it,“ he said. “Those things come with the game if you’re around long enough. Some things are going to happen. I don’t dwell on that stuff and I don’t set a goal. It’d be great for the program to accomplish that during my time, (offensive coordinator Tim) Albin’s time, but I’m thinking of other things.”
— Solich did not rule any injured player out for the rest of the season.
