How do you defeat Marshall? Just ask Ohio University.
By Jason Arkley Messenger Staff Journalist
Frank Solich often refers to himself as "boring" when talking to the media.
He never issues bulletin board type quotes, isn't flashy and doesn't display the kind of personality in public that would earn him a television commentator's job whenever he decides to stop coaching.
In a nutshell, his philosphy is simple. Play the games one at a time, and prepare for each game the same way. Don't get too high or too low. Work hard, do the right things, and be tough.
That kind of 'boring' approach has served Ohio well in recent years in its non-conference rivalry with Marshall. Where the Thundering Herd is flashy, dramatic and prone to wild swings week-to-week, you have a general idea of what you're going to get when Ohio takes the field.
Marshall coach Doc Holliday tried to reinforce that notion to his team last week. Defensive coordinator Chuck Heater tried to explain how, when at Temple, Ohio would find a way to beat you despite a supposed advantage in personnel.
And yet on Saturday night in the annual 'Battle for the Bell' the Bobcats issued their rivals from Huntington another reminder. You can beat the Bobcats, but they aren't going to beat themselves for you.
Ohio played solid, consistent and relatively mistake-free football. The Herd did not. And that is why for the third year in a row the Bobcats handled Marshall another humiliating loss.
The Bobcats didn't turn the ball over. They didn't blow a multiple mental assignments. Despite missing 10 rotational players and seven week one starters, the Bobcats didn't flinch. When the game was tight, they found a way to execute and stick to their core principles: run the ball, be poised, fly to the football and be tough.
Marshall, so eager to finally pay the Bobcats back, was often unhinged. Fumbles on the Herd's first two drives let Marshall know right away it wasn't going to be easy. Defensive linemen jumped offsides to enable Ohio's first scoring drive. A botched kick-off return.
The whole dynamic was illustrated by the team's quarterbacks. For Ohio, Tyler Tettleton found a way to make plays and remained a steady influence whatever the time and score indictated. Facing a must-score drive in the second half, he converted a third-and-long by escaping pressure, biding his time, and then finally flipping a shovel-pass ahead for a 10-yard gain.
Marshall's Rakeem Cato, when he wasn't screaming at coaches on his own sideline, was terrific. He's athletic, mobile, has good arm strength. He runs the no-huddle offense efficiently.
But with the ball and a chance to engineer a game-tying drive in the fourth quarter, Cato instead fired a pass to no-one in particular on the right side after his receiver had fallen down.
Most will argue that Marshall has the better team. That if not for some mistakes, some turnovers, then it would have won the game.
Most will argue the Herd has better athletes ? on the whole ? has more team speed, more pro prospects. And they would be right in that regard.
But if the goal of any team is to be a greater sum that the collection of its parts, then it's no contest. Being a team requires more than a bunch of guys with good 40 times. Cohesion, toughness, discipline, trust. Those are the things good teams have, and create within.
And just like the previous two years, Ohio proved it was the better team again on Saturday night (see link for full article)
On September 13, the Bobcats will travel to Marshall for the annual Battle for the Bell contest. And once again the Herd will be favored to win just like it was last year. With all the starters Ohio lost from a year ago, I expect Marshall to end its losing streak to Ohio. But if the Bobcats make it four in a row, Jeff Brohm should put in a call to Frank Solich for advice.[/B]
FINAL: Ohio 34, Marshall 31
