A Husker in Bobcat Green
Editor's Note: Bart Eastwood is a loyal BRN reader living in northern Ohio. This is his report from the sideline of this week's Ohio-Buffalo game that matched up former Husker coaches Frank Solich and Turner Gill.
It is a Fall Saturday, I am wearing green, and not watching the Nebraska vs. Texas game. Yet, I feel like a bigger Husker fan than ever. Recently I have been working with the team physician for Ohio University, Ray Tesner, and have had the fortune to cover the sidelines with him for the last couple of games. Todays game is one that had many branches from the Nebraska family tree as Solich and Ohio U took on Turner Gills Buffalo Bulls. The combined coaching staff has 12 members with significant ties to the Huskers.
All in all it was not much of a contest as OU’s stifling defense shut down Buffalo 42-7. OU was able to get the run going again with over 200 yards of rushing and Kalvin McRae again topping 100 yards three weeks in a row. The passing was limited but effective as Everson(11-17) hit Norwood for two TDs. Buffalo never really did get anything going on either side of the ball, and was obviously frustrated as they commited four consecutive personal fouls in the second half. OU won with a crushing defense, a commanding rushing attack, and dictated field position. Sound familiar?
Solich has really drawn his team together in his second year. They are 5-3, yes bobcat fans I said 5-3. Such a tally of wins has not been totaled in several years. Solich has circled the wagons and survived some criticism from the media and put his team in position to lead the MAC East if they are able to defeat Kent State next week. Gill on the other hand has his work cut out for him in the next few years.
More importantly the Bobcats have started to shed their losing culture. The facilities are top notch, they have been completely upgraded or are new. They have a scenic stadium, field turf, mega screen, sky boxes, and the potential to have a rabid student section with over 28,000 students attending OU.The atmosphere is intimate with the fans seated close to the field and the players accessible to the many kids wanting high fives and autographs. After each game the players go to the stands to thank the fans, sing to the band, and stop to mingle with the many children wanting their attention. No one in the media has bothered to actually go down to Athens to notice all of the positives emerging from this program on the rise. What I am trying to say is I am impressed and recruits should be too.
Editor's Note: Thanks Bart! We always welcome reader contributions. Let us know if you have something you'd like to get off your chest.
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Related Stories: Former Huskers, Frank Solich, Turner Gill
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