Ohio Bobcats football
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ohio Bobcats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
| First season | 1894 | ||
| Staff | |||
| Athletic director | Jim Schaus | ||
| Head coach | Frank Solich | ||
| 4th year, 19–18 | |||
| Stadium | |||
| Home stadium | Peden Stadium | ||
| Stadium capacity | 24,000 | ||
| Stadium surface | Field Turf | ||
| Location | Athens, Ohio | ||
| League/Conference | |||
| Conference | Mid-American Conference | ||
| Division | East Division | ||
| Team records | |||
| All-time record | 485–503–48 (.490) | ||
| Postseason bowl record | 0–3 | ||
| Awards | |||
| National titles | 1 (College Division) | ||
| Conference titles | 11 | ||
| All-Americans | 15 | ||
| Pageantry | |||
| Colors | Green and White | ||
| Fight song | “Stand Up and Cheer” | ||
| Mascot | Rufus | ||
| Marching band | The Ohio University Marching 110 | ||
| Rivals | Miami University, Marshall University | ||
| Website | Ohiobobcats.com | ||
The Ohio Bobcats football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team represents the university as a member of the Mid-American Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision level. The Bobcats have played their home games in Peden Stadium since 1929.
Ohio Bobcats football began in 1894 with an 8-0 loss to Marietta College. Since that day, the Bobcats have posted a 485-503-48 record over their 112 year existence and a 191-232-11 record over their 60 years in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats have won 5 MAC Football championships in 1953, 1960, 1963, 1967, and 1968, and a MAC East Division championship in 2006. Prior to joining the MAC, the Bobcats won 6 Buckeye Athletic Association championships in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1936, and 1938. In 1960, the Bobcats were crowned National Small College Champions after compiling a 10-0 record under Coach Bill Hess. The Bobcats have appeared in three bowl games, losing 15-14 to West Texas State in the 1962 Sun Bowl, losing 49-42 to Richmond in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl, and most recently falling 28-7 to Southern Mississippi in the 2007 GMAC Bowl.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] 1892-1923: Beginnings
In 1892, Ohio University became a member of a four-school conference—the Athletic League of Ohio Colleges—which included Otterbein College, Wittenberg University, and Marietta College. A schedule never materialized, however, and the league dissolved before even a single game was played. In preparation, though, a team was formed on Ohio’s campus and H.R. Higley was elected captain. He soon began coaching the team, according to the student newspaper, the Panorama. For the first time, the football team was given space in the Athena yearbook in 1892. The entire team was listed, by position and name. The first intercollegiate football game involving an Ohio University team was played in Athens in 1894 against Marietta College. It was the only contest played that year by Ohio, with Marietta winning by a score of 8-0. The next year the Bobcats faced a five game schedule, under the leadership of coach Harvey Deme. The 1895 squad was 2-3, with wins against Parker High School and Lancaster High School, and losses against Ohio Wesleyan and Marietta College (twice).
From 1896 to 1905, the football program was in a state of flux, with a new coach taking over the reins every year. The coaches during this time period included Frank Remsberg, Warwick Ford, Peter McLaren, Fred Sullivan, Karl Core, Art Jones, Henry Hart, Joseph Railsback, and Harold Monosmith, with Sullivan being coach in both 1899 and 1903. The best records of this time period were forged in 1897 and 1901 under Warwick Ford and Art Jones, respectively. The ‘Cats were 7-2 in their 1897 campaign, and posted a 6-1-2 record in 1901.
Beginning in 1906, the Bobcats began to assert themselves as a more permanent entity on campus with the hiring of Arthur McFarland as head coach. The 1906 squad exploded for a 7-1 record, with wins over respected programs such as West Virginia University and the University of Cincinnati. The program tailed off considerably in 1907, however, and would not post a .500 record until 1911 under coach Arthur Hinaman. The 1911 squad outscored all opponents 88-44, but only managed to post a 3-3-2 record.
Arguably the greatest Ohio team of the early era was Mark Bank’s 1915 squad. This storied club posted an 8-1 record and outscored all opponents by a combined 175-33. Beating such teams as the University of Cincinnati, Marshall University, and Transylvania, the Bobcats’ only loss was a 13-6 affair versus archrival Miami University. Following the explosion of the 1915 team, the Bobcats experienced a period of success during the late 1910’s. The 1916 team posted a record of 5-2-1, and the 1918 squad went an undefeated 4-0-1, with wins over the Ohio State freshman team and Denison University. In 1920, Russ Finsterwald was hired to lead the ‘Cats into a new decade. His tenure, however, was marked by relative mediocrity, with records of 4-3, 4-4-1, and 5-3 in his three years at the helm. F.B. Heldt was named coach in 1923, and posted a record of 3-5-1. His lack of success against challenging opponents lead to a quick dismissal, and ultimately forced the hiring of Bobcat legend Don Peden.
[edit] 1924-1946: The Peden Era
Through its football history, Ohio University has had 28 head coaches. Of these, Don Peden has the longest tenure, 21 seasons. Over that period, he compiled a record of 121 wins, 46 losses and 11 ties. To this day, his .711 winning percentage is by far the best of any Bobcats coach with more than twenty games of competition. As part of Peden’s legacy, the Bobcats’ present-day stadium (known as Ohio Stadium in Peden’s time) now dons the name Peden Stadium.
Peden’s tenure began rather unceremoniously in 1924, with a 4-4 record. The next year, however, Peden led the ‘Cats to a 6-2 season, and wins over the University of Cincinnati and the University of Toledo. From 1926 to 1928, the Bobcats posted winning records every season, with the 1928 team forging a 6-3 season and a marquee 66-6 victory over the University of Cincinnati.
Peden oversaw one of the Bobcats’ best-ever spans—seven seasons from 1929 through1935—in which Ohio compiled a cumulative record of 49-9-3. In that period, Peden’s squads won four Buckeye Athletic Association championships and enjoyed three undefeated seasons. In 1929, the Bobcats moved into brand new Ohio Stadium, and celebrated with a 9-0 record and just 7 points all season (a lone touchdown to Ohio Wesleyan). The 1935 team upset the University of Illinois in the season opener, 6-0, on its way to a perfect 8-0 season. That year, the Bobcats were led by All-American Art Lewis, a sturdy tackle who was a first-round selection of the New York Giants in the first-ever National Football League draft in 1936. Lewis would go on to become a very successful college coach himself at West Virginia University.
Peden continued his legacy of success following the graduation of Lewis and the other seniors of the 1935 team. He won a Buckeye Athletic Association title in 1936 and another in 1938, with the 1938 team being one of the best under Peden. That team upset the University of Illinois yet again, and also earned victories over Xavier University, Marshall University, and arch-rival Miami University.
The Bobcats would never win another Buckeye Athletic Association title under Peden, though he still led the team through many winning seasons and thrilling victories. His storied 1941 team posted a record of 5-2-1 while outscoring all opponents 108-42. Bobcat football was interrupted by World War II, with Ohio not fielding a team in either the 1943 or 1944 seasons. The 1945 team was 3-4 while struggling to recruit new members after the war and facing a challenging schedule. In his final year as head coach, 1946, Peden steered the Bobcats into the Mid-American Conference as a charter member. Today, the Bobcats are the only team still in the conference from the original 5 team league that included Butler University, the University of Cincinnati, Wayne State University, and Case Western Reserve University. The 1946 squad was 6-3, and posted impressive wins over Western Michigan University and Murray State University.
[edit] 1947-1957: A Decade of Change
With the retirement of legendary coach Don Peden in 1946, the Ohio athletics administration knew that it would be challenging to find a worthy successor. The man chosen was Harold Wise, who lasted only two seasons and posted 3-5-1 and 3-6 records. His teams were competitive, but struggled to face the challenging schedule presented by membership in the MAC. His 1948 team, though only 3-6, is best known for its 37-7 demolishing of Case Western Reserve University. In 1949, Carroll Widdoes became the new coach of the Bobcats following a successful two year tenure at the helm of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Widdoes led the team to a 4-4-1 record in his first year, and made noise with an opening day upset of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Widdoes’ 1950, 1951, and 1952 teams all posted winning records, and were led by All-American linebacker Vince Costello. Costello would go on to a highly-decorated professional career with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.
The 1953 squad won Ohio’s first ever Mid-American Conference title, while posting an impressive 6-2-1 record (5-0-1 MAC). The 1954 squad failed to disappoint as well, posting a 6-3 mark against a challenging gauntlet that featured perennial power Harvard. The 1955 Bobcats were 5-4, but in 1956 and 1957 Ohio was 2-7 and 2-6-1, respectively. With two losing seasons in a row, Widdoes resigned as coach and became Ohio’s athletics director. Widdoes handpicked a successor in Bill Hess, who had spent seven seasons as an assistant to Woody Hayes and brought a similar philosophy back to Athens.
[edit] 1958-1977: The Hess Era
If one Bobcat coach can rival the success of Don Peden, it is certainly Bill Hess. In his 19 seasons at the helm, Hess had a 108-91-4 record, placing him second to Peden on Ohio’s all-time wins list. His winning percentage is .542, and he is responsible for bringing 4 MAC titles and one National Championship to Athens. He also took the Bobcats to two bowl games, and oversaw countless winning seasons and exciting victories along the way.
The 1958 season under Hess ushered in a new level of Bobcat success. Against a grueling schedule, Ohio was 5-4, and amassed a thrilling 23-6 upset of the Louisville Cardinals. That team outscored all opponents by a combined 159-102, but was only a precursor of the impending prominence. In Hess’s second season in 1959, Ohio went 7-2, finishing as runners-up to an undefeated Bowling Green Falcons squad. The following year, 1960, the Green and White enjoyed what many argue was their best season ever. Behind the powerful running of Robert Brooks and the blocking and tackling of two-way standout Dick Grecni, the Bobcats went a perfect 10-0. In the process, they claimed the National College Division championship. Grecni earned All-America honors and was one of five standouts on that team who eventually played professionally.
Two years later in 1962, Hess led Ohio to it’s first-ever bowl game, a matchup with West Texas State in the 1962 Sun Bowl. Jim McKee kicked a 52-yard field goal to put the Bobcats ahead early but they trailed at the half 7-3. In the third quarter, three time all-MAC performer Skip Hoovler intercepted a pass and ran it back 91 yards for a touchdown. Ohio led 14-7 late in the game before West Texas scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion to win 15-14. Hoovler was named Lineman of the Game, and his 91-yard interception still stands as a Sun Bowl record. Ironically, the Bobcats did not win the MAC in that 1962 season but did go to a bowl. The following season, Ohio won the league championship but was not invited to a bowl game.
From 1964 to 1966, Hess’s teams struggled, with the low point being a 0-10 season in 1965. The ‘Cats were far from a disaster, however, and in 1967, Hess would claim his third MAC championship (shared with the Toledo Rockets). That team also raised eyebrows with a 30-15 win over Kansas, runners-up in the Big Eight conference that season. It was a performance that hinted at even greater things to come.
In 1968, the most explosive Bobcat offense ever stormed its way to a 10-0 regular season, a MAC championship, and an invitation to the Tangerine Bowl. Along the way, they racked up 418 points in 11 games. That average of 37.6 points per game stood as the MAC record until 1997. The amazing pass-and-catch combination of Cleve Bryant and Todd Snyder, coupled with the sturdy running of Dave LeVeck and Bob Houmard, proved to be nearly unstoppable. The 1968 season also marked Ohio’s first-ever appearance in the Top 20. On the heels of a 28-27 victory over the Bowling Green Falcons in which the Bobcats scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes, Bryant led the way to a 60-48 win against the Cincinnati Bearcats. Sports Illustrated called it an “insane circus” and it helped to land the ‘Cats at 18th in the United Press International coaches’ poll and 20th in the Associated Press writers’ poll. Ohio would cap off the season at the Tangerine Bowl against the Richmond Spiders and to no one’s surprise the contest was another shootout. Bryant threw four touchdown passes and Snyder caught 11 passes for 214 yards. But it wasn’t enough, however, as Richmond prevailed for a 49-42 win.
The 1969 season saw the Bobcats begin to tail off a bit, with the team only posting a record of 5-4-1. That team did score several impressive victories, though, with a 46-6 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats and a 35-35 tie against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Hess’s squads would not enjoy a .500 record again until 1973, when the ‘Cats were 5-5 with a 14-12 upset of the Northwestern Wildcats. The 1974 and 1975 teams were 6-5 and 5-5-1, respectively, and built up to the successful 1976 season. In Hess’s second to last year, Ohio managed a 7-4 mark, including a 6-2 record against MAC foes. Hess would also coach the 1977 team while fighting a battle with cancer, leading the team to a 1-10 record that included numerous close losses to challenging opponents.
[edit] 1978-1994: A Struggle to Compete
The darkest era in Bobcat football history followed the passing of legend Bill Hess. Hess’s successor was Bob Kappes, who lasted only one year and posted a 3-8 record. Kappes was replaced by Brian Burke, who brought the program back to a reasonable level of respectability. The 1979 and 1980 teams were both 6-5, with the Bobcats managing to beat Miami both years. The 1982 squad also managed a 6-5 mark, with a key 20-0 win over Miami and a 17-14 upset of Toledo.
Following a 1984 season that saw the ‘Cats go 4-6-1, Burke was replaced by Cleve Bryant, an Ohio legend who was responsible for quarterbacking the 1967 and 1968 MAC championship teams. Bryant proved less successful as a coach, however, and led the team to a 2-9 record in his first year. He followed that up with 1-10 campaigns in 1986 and 1987, leading to his best year in 1988. That year, the ‘Cats were 4-6-1, and beat Miami for the first time in 4 years. Bryant’s team fell to 1-9-1 in 1989, though, and Bryant was subsequently relieved of his duties as coach of the ‘Cats.
The 1990 season saw the arrival of Tom Lichtenberg to coach the Bobcats, though the results on the field were similar to those seen under Bryant. The 1990 squad was 1-9-1, and that was followed up with a 2-8-1 performance in 1991. Lichtenberg’s best year was 1993, in which he led the Bobcats to a 4-7 mark and a win over Miami for the first time since 1988. However, the 1994 Bobcats were winless, going 0-11 and leading to the dismissal of Lichtenberg and his staff.
[edit] 1995-2004: Resurgence and Regression
In 1995, Jim Grobe took over an Ohio program that was in great need of an overhaul. He brought with him a unique offensive and defensive philosophy learned as a long-time assistant coach at the Air Force Academy. While most of the college football world was moving towards a high-octane passing attack, Grobe took the Bobcats back to the basics of the triple option, with wildly successful results. Ohio scored over 300 points in both 1996 and 1997, going 8-3 in 1997. It was the Green and White’s first winning season in 15 years. Grobe’s squads were prolific offensive teams, in spite of the media’s ill-conceived notion of an “antique” offense. Kareem Wilson, the Bobcats’ fireplug of a quarterback, was voted the MAC’s Offensive Player of the Year following a 1996 season in which he rushed for 1,072 yards and a school-record 14 touchdowns. Meanwhile, fullback Steveland Hookfin was piling up 3,972 rushing yards during the same era to become Ohio’s all-time rushing leader. Wilson’s total of 3,597 yards still stands as the fifth-most ever by an NCAA quarterback. His 875 career carries are the most by a signal caller in college football history.
Following the success of the 1996 and 1997 campaigns, Grobe teams fell to 5-6 in both 1998 and 1999. In 2000, however, the ‘Cats went 7-4 and upset the Minnesota Golden Gophers for their first win over a Big Ten team in 27 years. Ohio finished that season with a win over Marshall, giving the ‘Cats two wins over bowl teams for the first time since the 1970’s. The 2000 team also set a new school record for total offense, piling up 4,599 yards. The total broke the previous mark held by the legendary 1968 squad.
After the 2000 season, however, Grobe left the ‘Cats to become head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. His appointed successor was Brian Knorr, who had been an assistant with Grobe while at Air Force and was Grobe’s defensive coordinator at Ohio. Knorr proved inept as a head coach, however, and posted a 1-10 mark in 2001 despite retaining many players from the 7-4 2000 squad. Knorr was 4-8 in 2002, and regressed to 2-10 in 2003. In 2004 a slight improvement was seen with a 4-7 record and a marquee win over the Kentucky Wildcats, but it was too little too late for Knorr. He was fired after the 2004 season and subsequently replaced with former Nebraska coach Frank Solich.
[edit] 2005-Present: The Solich Era
Frank Solich was named the 28th football coach of the Bobcats on December 16, 2004. Prior to coming to Ohio, Solich spent many years as a part of the University of Nebraska football program, as a player, an assistant coach, and later as the head coach. Solich was head coach of the Cornhuskers from 1998-2003 where he directed Nebraska to 6 consecutive bowl games, including the national championship game in the 2002 Rose Bowl. Solich's impact on the Ohio program was immediate, as plans were put in place to renovate Ohio's football facilities and increase financial support for the football program. Also, Ohio was selected to appear on national television 6 times for the 2005 football season, a record for the program. Frank Solich's first home game as coach of Ohio was a memorable one, as Peden Stadium brought in its largest ever crowd to watch the Bobcats defeat the University of Pittsburgh Panthers 16-10.
Under the guidance of Frank Solich, the Ohio football program enjoyed a return to national prominence in 2006. On November 16, 2006 the Bobcats secured their first ever Mid-American Conference East Division title and their first football championship of any sort since 1968 with a victory over the University of Akron Zips. They then advanced to the MAC Championship Game in Detroit, Michigan, where they were defeated by Central Michigan 31-10. On January 7, 2007, the Bobcats acted as the MAC representative in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, losing 28-7 to The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in a game nationally televised on ESPN.
Expectations were high for Solich’s 2007 campaign, with the Bobcats predicted either first or second in most national magazines. The ‘Cats faced a challenging schedule which included home games versus Gardner-Webb University, Wyoming, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Temple, and Miami. Road games featured Louisiana-Lafayette, Virginia Tech, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Toledo, and Akron. Ohio posted in 6-6 record in 2007, and was one of 6 bowl eligible programs that failed to make it to post-season play.
[edit] Present-Day Coaching staff
Since December 16, 2004, the head coach of the Ohio Bobcats has been Frank Solich. He heads a staff of 9 assistant coaches, two graduate assistants, and a director of football operations:
| Name | Position | Year | Former Ohio positions held | Alma mater |
| Frank Solich | Head Coach | 2005 | University of Nebraska 1966 | |
| Tim Albin | Co-Offensive Coordinator-Running Backs | 2005 | Northwestern Oklahoma State University 1989 | |
| Jimmy Burrow | Defensive Coordinator | 2005 | University of Nebraska 1976 | |
| Pete Germano | Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator | 2001 | Linebackers 2003-2004 | Ohio Wesleyan 1982 |
| David Brown | Defensive Backs | 2006 | Cal Poly 1996 | |
| Dwayne Dixon | Wide Receivers | 2007 | University of Florida 1985 | |
| Ross Els | Linebackers | 2005 | University of Nebraska-Omaha 1988 | |
| Gerry Gdowski | Co- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks | 2005 | University of Nebraska 1990 | |
| Kevin Lightner | Offensive Line | 2005 | University of Nebraska 1996 | |
| Steve Stanard | Defensive Line | 2008 | University of Nebraska 1989 | |
| Jason Grooms | Director of Football Operations | 2005 | Ohio University 2001 | |
| Brian Haines | Graduate Assistant-Offense | 2007 | Marietta College 2004 | |
| Eric Sholtis | Graduate Assistant-Defense | 2006 | Ohio University 2006 |
[edit] Bobcat football traditions
Ohio football is rich in traditions, and Coach Solich has since his hiring made upholding tradition a cornerstone of his program. Some Ohio football traditions include:
- Rufus the Bobcat - The school mascot, a fierce yet friendly looking Bobcat that always sports an Ohio jersey with a number "1" on the back.
- The Ohio University Marching 110 - "The Most Exciting Band in the Land" is widely regarded as one of the best in the nation and was ranked by Link Magazine in 1996 as one of the Top 10 college marching bands in the nation. They perform at every Ohio home football game and have marched at other events such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and numerous NFL games.
- "Stand Up and Cheer" - Ohio's fight song
- "Alma Mater, Ohio" - Ohio's alma mater song
- Salute to the Students - Following every Ohio home football game, win or lose, Ohio football players head to the student section to thank the Bobcat's most rabid fans for attending.
- The Cannon - After every Ohio score, an 1800s style military cannon is fired. When the Bobcats enter the field, the cannon shoots off a smoke "O" that can be seen for several minutes before fading into the air.
- The "O-Zone" - The student cheering section at every Ohio men's football game. Widely regarded as the best student section in the conference.
- Tail-Great Park - The park across from Peden Stadium is transformed for every home football game into "Tail-Great Park". The park features kid's games, live music, and tailgating everywhere the eye can see on gameday.
- Homecoming Parade - The annual homecoming parade at Ohio begins in downtown Athens and ends in the Peden Stadium parking lot just in time for the big game. Always on a Saturday afternoon, homecoming is always one of the highest attended games of the football season.
[edit] Rivalries
Ohio's archrival is Miami University. "The Battle of the Bricks" is an annual all-sports rivalry competition between the Ohio Bobcats and the Miami RedHawks athletic programs. The name "Battle of the Bricks" evolved from each school's reputation of having a campus of red brick buildings. Each varsity athletic competition in which the Bobcats and RedHawks meet including tournament play is counted as part of the years series record. At the conclusion of each academic year, the school with the most varsity wins takes the trophy back to their campus for the following year.
Another Ohio rival is Marshall University. The annual football game between Ohio and Marshall is called "The Battle for the Bell", with a traveling bell trophy as the prize for the victor. Due to Marshall's recent move to Conference USA, this rivalry game will not be played for several years. However, athletics officials at each school are working to continue this annual series in the non-conference season.
[edit] All-time records
[edit] All-time coaching records
| Head Coach | Period | W-L-T Record | Win % | Buckeye Athletic Association Championships | MAC Championships | MAC East Championships |
| No Coach | 1894 | 0-1 | .000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Harvey Deme | 1895 | 2-3 | .400 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Frank Remsburg | 1896 | 4-2-1 | .643 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Warwick Ford | 1897 | 7-2 | .778 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pete McLaren | 1898 | 1-2-1 | .375 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Fred Sullivan | 1899/1903 | 4-6 | .400 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Karl Core | 1900 | 2-4 | .375 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Art Jones | 1901 | 6-1-2 | .778 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Harold Monosmith | 1902 | 0-5-1 | .083 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Henry Hart | 1904 | 2-4-1 | .357 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Joseph Railsbeck | 1905 | 2-5-2 | .333 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arthur McFarland | 1906-1908 | 13-10-1 | .562 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Robert Woods | 1909-1910 | 2-10-3 | .233 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arthur Hinaman | 1911-1912 | 4-10-3 | .323 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mark Banks | 1913-1917 | 22-17-2 | .561 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Frank Gullum | 1918-1919 | 7-5-1 | .577 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Russ Finsterwald | 1920-1922 | 13-10-1 | .562 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| F.B. Heldt | 1923 | 3-5-1 | .389 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
| Don Peden | 1924-1946 | 121-46-11 | .711 | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Harold Wise | 1947-1948 | 6-11-1 | .361 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| Carroll Widdoes | 1949-1957 | 42-36-5 | .536 | n/a | 1 | n/a |
| Bill Hess | 1958-1977 | 108-91-4 | .542 | n/a | 4 | n/a |
| Bob Kappes | 1978 | 3-8 | .273 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| Brian Burke | 1979-1984 | 31-34-1 | .478 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| Cleve Bryant | 1985-1989 | 9-44-2 | .182 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| Tom Lichtenberg | 1990-1994 | 8-45-2 | .145 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| Jim Grobe | 1995-2000 | 33-33-1 | .500 | n/a | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Knorr | 2001-2004 | 11-35 | .239 | n/a | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Solich | 2005-Present | 19-18 | .520 | n/a | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 1894-Current | 479-497-48 | .491 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
Source: Ohio Football Media Guide
[edit] All-time Bowl Games
| Date | Bowl | W/L | Opponent | PF | PA |
| December 31, 1962 | Sun Bowl | L | West Texas State | 14 | 15 |
| December 27, 1968 | Tangerine Bowl | L | Richmond | 42 | 49 |
| January 7, 2007 | GMAC Bowl | L | Southern Mississippi | 7 | 28 |
| Total | 3 Bowl Games | 0-3 | 63 | 92 |
[edit] All-time MAC records
Over the years, Ohio has either won outright or shared 5 MAC titles. With a 7-1 league record after the 2006/2007 season, Ohio owns an all-time MAC record of 187-228-11 in 60 seasons of league competition.
| Opponent | W-L-T record |
| Akron | 11-12-1 |
| Ball State | 7-13 |
| Bowling Green | 22-35-2 |
| Buffalo | 9-5 |
| Central Michigan | 4-18-2 |
| Eastern Michigan | 14-11-1 |
| Kent State | 37-21-2 |
| Miami University | 31-51-2 |
| Northern Illinois | 8-9 |
| Toledo | 19-30-1 |
| Western Michigan | 28-29-1 |
| TOTAL | 191-232-11 |
[edit] Individual awards and achievements
[edit] Ohio's All-Time Players in the NFL
Russell Kepler—Halfback—1933-1936 Cleveland Rams, Boston Shamrocks
William Snyder—Guard—1934-1935 Pittsburgh Pirates
Lenny Sadosky—Halfback—1935-1936 Cleveland Rams
Art Lewis—Tackle—1936 New York Giants; 1938-1939 Cleveland Rams
Robert Snyder—Quarterback—1936 Pittsburgh Pirates; 1937-1938 Cleveland Rams; 1938-1941,1943 Chicago Bears
Paul Halleck—End—1937 Cleveland Rams
Len Janiak—Back—1940-1942 Cleveland Rams
Chet Adams—Tackle—1939-1942 Cleveland Rams; 1943 Green Bay Packers; 1946-1948 Cleveland Browns; 1949 Buffalo Bisons
John Fekete—Back—1946 Buffalo Bisons
Vince Costello—Linebacker—1957-1966 Cleveland Browns; 1967-1968 New York Giants
Robert Harrison—Back—1961 Baltimore Colts
Dick Grecni—Linebacker—1961 Minnesota Vikings
Robert Brooks—Back—1961 New York Titans
Alan Miller—Linebacker—1962-1963 Washington Redskins
Chuck Turner—Tackle—1966 Buffalo Bills
Todd Snyder—Wide Receiver—1969-1973 Atlanta Falcons
Jack Leveck—Linebacker—1973-1975 St. Louis Cardinals; 1976 Chicago Bears
Dave Green—Punter—1972-1975 Cincinnati Bengals; 1976-1978 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Green—Punter—1976 Miami Dolphins; 1977 Houston Oilers
Brian Bertoia—Offensive Lineman—1985 Cleveland Browns
Jason Carthen—Linebacker—1993 Buffalo Bills; New England Patriots
Darren Reese—Offensive Lineman—1994 New York Giants; 1995 Jacksonville Jaguars
Andy Canter—Offensive Lineman—1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Dave Zastudil—Punter—2002-2005 Baltimore Ravens; 2006-Present Cleveland Browns
Chad Brinker—Running Back/Returner—2003 New York Jets
Kevin Carberry—Defensive End—2005 Cleveland Browns
Chip Cox—Defensive Back—2005 Detroit Lions; 2007 Washington Redskins
Dion Byrum—Cornerback—2006-2007 Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers
Scott Mayle—Wide Receiver—2007-Present Buffalo Bills
Matt Muncy—Linebacker—2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008-Present Tennesee Titans
Voncarie Owens—Running Back—2007 New Orleans Saints
Rudy Sylvan—Tight End—2007-Present Detroit Lions
T.J. Wright—Cornerback—2007 Cincinnati Bengals
Landon Cohen—Defensive Lineman—2008-Present Detroit Lions
Todd Koenig—Safety—2008-Present Cleveland Browns
Kalvin McRae—Running Back—2008-Present Kansas City Chiefs
Ryan Senser—Running Back—2008-Present New Orleans Saints
All players in BOLD are current NFL players.'Names in BOLD are current NFL players.
[edit] Ohio's All Americans
Cleve Bryant--1968
Todd Snyder--1968
Ken Carmon--1968
John Frick--1966
Skip Hoovler--1963
Bob Brooks--1960
Dick Grecni--1960
Vince Costello--1952
Al Scheider--1951
John Kerns--1946
Danny Risaliti--1940
Art Lewis--1935
Lenard Sadosky--1932
[edit] Individual and Team Record Book
[edit] Sources
[edit] External links
- Official Ohio University Athletics Website
- Giving to Ohio Athletics
- Ohio Green & White Club - Supporting Ohio Bobcats Athletics
- Unofficial Ohio Bobcats Fan Website
- Mid-American Conference Sports Fan Website
- Official Website of the Mid-American Conference
- Ohio Sports Time blog - covers all 6 Ohio MAC schools
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