Category: Athens News

Reflections on the last four years of covering Ohio sports

Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the recent success of Ohio sports. People have grown accustomed to the championships, post-season runs and individual accolades, almost to the extent that we take them for granted.

Bobcats fans have been spoiled lately.

The past four years have truly been a golden era for Ohio Athletics. With post-season berths, national attention and individuals going on to play professionally, the Bobcats have enjoyed team and individual success on an unprecedented level for Ohio athletics.

June 9, 2010 | Athens News, Baseball, Basketball, Commentary, Football

Done with the MAC, Ohio men now face Georgetown in NCAA first round

It started with a surprising overtime victory in Muncie, Ind. It ended with cutting down the nets in Cleveland.

In between, there was plenty of excitement, as the Ohio men’s basketball team carved its way through the Mid-American Conference Tournament and punched its ticket to the Big Dance for the first time since 2005. Ohio is slated to play Georgetown in the Midwest Bracket on Thursday. Ohio is a 14th seed while Georgetown, which lost the Big East final in a heartbreaker to West Virginia on Saturday, is a third seed.

March 15, 2010 | Athens News, Basketball, Commentary, Game coverage

Ohio has a top-notch point guard

John Groce knew the kid had talent.

He had the raw skills — shooting, ball handling, quickness — but his understanding of the game caught the attention of Ohio’s basketball coach. It took only a couple of quarters, but as Groce watched from the high-school bleachers of an Illinois gym, he saw something special in the smooth point guard from Seton Academy.

February 18, 2010 | Athens News, Basketball, Feature Writing

OU star receiver boosts draft stock during bowl practices

Taylor Price knew he had to deliver.

As he traveled to the Senior Bowl last week in Mobile, Ala., the former Bobcat wide receiver had his future job on the line. The week of practice worked somewhat like a job interview, but instead of sitting behind a desk answering questions, Price had to prove himself to legions of NFL scouts who wanted to see if he could make it at the next level.

January 31, 2010 | Athens News, Football

Coach Solich delivers on promise

As time winded down during Ohio’s 35-17 victory over Temple Friday afternoon, some players snuck back to the Gatorade coolers to engage in the all-too familiar football tradition. They grabbed the bucket and waited for just the right moment.

Everybody knew what was coming.

November 29, 2009 | Athens News, Commentary, Football, Game coverage

Ohio back makes the most of playing time

Chris Garrett took the handoff and could see the hole in Bowling Green’s secondary. Once he broke through the line, he knew he had nobody stopping his path to the end zone, and Ohio’s senior running back scurried for a 37-yard touchdown for the Bobcats first rushing score of the season.
Finally.

October 9, 2009 | Athens News, Football

‘Cats need to deliver for Solich this year

Five years ago, Ohio surprised the college football world when it brought prestige — a coach named Frank Solich — to the mid-major program toiling in the cellar of the Mid-American Conference.

The highly touted former Nebraska coach came to Athens with expectations greater than any of his predecessors, and Solich was supposed to be the man who finally changed the losing culture of Ohio football.

September 3, 2009 | Athens News, Commentary, Football

OU junior steps up as big bat for Bobcats

The sparse crowd chats during a Thursday afternoon ballgame at Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium. Late-afternoon sunshine and comfortable temperatures make it a great day to sit outside, and the fans put more interest into their side conversations than the actual game.

Baseball is just the backdrop.

Then, the conversations abruptly quiet and the crowd’s focus shifts toward home plate.

May 21, 2009 | Athens News, Baseball, Feature Writing

Ohio coach eats, sleeps, breathes baseball

Nothing on Joe Carbone’s desk seems out of order. Everything has a place. The desk mirrors Carbone.

It is as tidy as he is.

Carbone relaxes in his chair with his shirt tucked tight into his pants. With his well-groomed appearance, Carbone reflects the same clean-cut image he demands of his players on the Ohio University baseball team.

May 4, 2009 | Athens News, Baseball, Feature Writing

‘Cats try, but can’t overcome epidemic of miscues

On a day when Ohio had seven fumbles, two unsuccessful field-goal attempts, two botched extra points, two personal-foul penalties and one interception, the Bobcats still only trailed Buffalo by seven points in the fourth quarter.

Despite the mistakes, the Bobcats looked like they might have a chance at the victory.

October 29, 2008 | Athens News, Football, Game coverage