MidAmPub - Mid American Conference Basketball
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MidAmPub Headlines
| Ohio Extends Solich Through 2013 |
| Posted: 7/18/2008 9:20:24 PM |
Bobcats ink coach to long-term deal
Courtesy: Jason Corriher
Ohio Athletics
Director of Media Relations
ATHENS, Ohio-Ohio Director of Athletics Jim Schaus announced Friday that head football coach Frank Solich's contract has been extended through the
2013 season. Solich enters the 2008 campaign 18th nationally in winning percentage (.675) among active Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches with at least five years of experience.
"This may be the best news of the year for our athletic program," said Schaus. "I am elated to ensure Frank Solich being here for the next five years. It is historic to be able to make an investment in our future by having a coach of his ability and history of success. He has orchestrated a significant turnaround in our football program with more success than we have seen in a long time."
"It is a critical step for our program to become more competitive in our conference by retaining successful leadership," continued Schaus. "Despite our being behind in investment for football, this is the right, strategic step in our better positioning this program and our athletic department for future success. The future is bright under his leadership."
In his third year as the Bobcats' head coach, Solich led the team to its second consecutive bowl-eligible campaign, played an instrumental role in the development of defensive lineman Landon Cohen (Ohio's first NFL draft pick since 2002) and secured the Mid-American Conference's top-ranked recruiting class for the upcoming season according to MACReportOnline.com. Solich, a standout running back himself during his college days, also mentored Ohio star tailback Kalvin McRae. During the past three seasons, McRae completely rewrote the school's record book while securing the program's first Hula Bowl invitation since 2003.
All of this came just one year after guiding Ohio to its first MAC East Division championship, the program's first MAC title of any kind since 1968. Ohio's invitation to the 2007 GMAC Bowl marked the Bobcats' first bowl game since that same 1968 season. Solich was rewarded with 2006 MAC Coach of the Year honors, marking the third time in eight seasons as a head coach that he had won his league's coach of the year award.
"I want to thank Jim Schaus and President (Roderick J.) McDavis for continuing their support, not only to me, but our entire football program," said Solich. "I am very excited about the present and future of Ohio Football, but I also look forward to helping our student-athletes realize their dreams on and off the field for a long time to come."
After 11 wins in the previous four seasons, Solich has guided the Bobcats to 19 victories in his first three campaigns. Since his arrival, he has coached 17 All-MAC players, four more than the Bobcats' total from 1999-2004. His charges have also gained national recognition. In 2005, Dion Byrum became Ohio's first non-special teams All-American since 1968, and three rookies have been honored on The Sporting News Freshman All-America squads. In the past three seasons, Bobcat players have been named to watch lists for such prestigious honors as the Butkus Award, the Lombardi Trophy, the Lott Trophy, the Maxwell Award and the Nagurski Trophy. Byrum was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation's top defensive back, in 2005.
Solich is equally proud of his players' accomplishments in the classroom. In the past three seasons, the Bobcats have had seven Academic All-MAC selections and four players named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team. In his first two seasons, an Ohio player was named a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy, one of the most prestigious academic honors in college football.
Academic success is nothing new for Solich's teams. While head coach at Nebraska, almost 90 percent of his student-athletes earned their degree.
Seven times Huskers earned first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and on four other occasions, second-team honors were bestowed. Solich was named the Bobcats' head coach on Dec. 17, 2004. In short order, he assembled a talented and tested coaching staff, coordinated recruiting efforts to assure a steady stream of outstanding student-athletes to the program, supervised a highly productive off-season weight program producing dozens of personal bests and concluded all-business spring drills introducing his players to tried and true offensive and defensive schemes.
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| Bobcats Announce Home Football Times |
| Posted: 7/17/2008 11:49:17 AM |
Ohio-Akron game time still to be determined
Courtesy: Jason Corriher
Ohio Athletics
Director of Media Relations
ATHENS, Ohio-The Ohio Department of Athletics announced Thursday game times for four of its five home games.
After a pair of road games at Wyoming (Aug. 30) and Ohio State (Sept. 6), the Bobcats will open their 2008 home slate with a 2 p.m. game against defending MAC Champion Central Michigan on Sept. 13.
Following a road date with Northwestern (Sept. |
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| Women’s Hoops Opens 2008-09 Season In The Preseason WNIT |
| Posted: 7/8/2008 9:03:46 PM |
Courtesy: Ball State Athletics Release: 07/08/2008
MUNCIE, Ind. – For just the second time in program history, the Ball State women’s basketball team has been invited to play in the 2008 Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament first-year head coach Kelly Packard announced on Monday. The Cardinals accepted the invitation to participate in the 16-team tournament for the first time since the 2002-03 season.
“I am excited about the opportunity for our women’s bask |
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| Russell Picks Up Two Wins With White Sox |
| Posted: 7/3/2008 9:59:52 AM |
Former Bobcat righty wins twice in as many days
Courtesy: Cory Walton
Assistant Director, Ohio Media Relations
ATHENS, Ohio – Former Ohio University and current Chicago White Sox pitcher Adam Russell has worked 1.1 scoreless innings of relief against the Cleveland Indians in the last two days to pick up the first two Major League victories of his career.
The North Olmstead, Ohio, native captured his first career win on Tuesday night despite facing only a single batter. |
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| Ohio Athletics to Launch "Bobcat Renaissance" |
| Posted: 7/2/2008 1:13:53 PM |
Bobcats map out long-term strategy
Courtesy: Jason Corriher
Ohio Athletics
Director of Media Relations
ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio Director of Athletics Jim Schaus introduced "Bobcat Renaissance", a new long-term vision for Ohio Athletics, at a 1 p.m. press conference Wednesday in the Convocation Center.
"This program encompasses a series of tactical initiatives that will be a part of a long-term strategic plan, which will be determined shortly," said Schaus. "We wanted to let |
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| Swain Resigns Post as "Voice of the Bobcats" |
| Posted: 6/30/2008 4:19:41 PM |
Courtesy: Jason Corriher
Ohio Athletics
Director of Media Relations
Broadcaster accepts another play-by-play position
ATHENS, Ohio-Ohio's "Voice of the Bobcats" Warren Swain resigned his position Monday to accept a play-by-play position with Results Radio in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
"I certainly was appreciative of being able to come to Ohio University to be the Voice of the Bobcats," said Swain. "The opportunity that arose for me to move closer to my family and cont |
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