Team preview: Ohio

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(All information as of June 20, 2008)

Before the arrival of Frank Solich, Ohio football was not exactly synonymous with success.

Frequently relegated to the bottom of the Mid-American Conference, the program had only two winning seasons in the preceding twenty seasons BF (Before Frank). Eight times in that span the Bobcats had two or fewer wins in a season.

Two years after taking over the previously hapless program, Solich's squad claimed a MAC East title, made its first bowl appearance since the first term of the Nixon administration and finished with its most victories since running the table and finishing 10-0 and claiming the National Small College Championship in 1960.

Now entering his fourth season, Solich hopes that last season's 6-6 campaign was a mere hiccup along the way to establishing Ohio as a perennial contender in the MAC.

"We're certainly not the doormat anymore," Solich said. "We have built a belief among our players, staff and fans that every time we step on the field, no matter the opponent, that we can win."

Despite a .500 finish in divisional play last season, Solich is quick to point out that the Bobcats rebounded from a rough early-season stretch to finish only one game out of first, thanks to some strong team chemistry.

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