Been to two OWU games this year, Wabash and Witt, and agree with the observations of The Bishop and Aueagle that OWU is an NCAC middle tier team at best.  I think Wabash destroys Witt next week because their running game dominated OWU and at times Witt had some problems with OWU's ground game.  On Saturday I was also amazed at quickly attendance has dropped at Selby, which proves you need to field a winner to get more then parents and die hard alumni at games....I know it was miserable conditions but Ohio State didn't play until 8:00 that night.

Heard from an OWU athletic employee that Ohio Stae QB, Braxton Miller, worked out last night in Selby Stadium.  He was with his personal QB coach who also coached Andrew Luck before last year's draft combine.  They allowed OWU QB, Mason Esinosa, to work out with them and I guess he held his own with the potential Heisman candidate.....obviously with his arm only and not his feet.  I was told the OWU coaches are very happy with Watts first recruiting class so lets hope last year wasn't a fluke and OWU will be competitive again.  My friends and I like to watch all of the Delaware County kids that play in the NCAC, OAC, GLIAC, and MAC but if Watts continues to win it's going to make it hard to travel anywhere but Selby.  Good luck Bishops

Good point Aueagle,

A friend of my grandson transfered to OWU from Ohio Dominican and was OWU's leading scorer this year.  I saw him over Christmas and he said he transfered to OWU for academic reasons.....ODU couldn't provide some classes he needed for his minor.  ODU is a perfect example of what a great coaching change can do for a program; they're only in their second year of NCAA D2 and Bill Conley coached them to 7 victories in the GLIAC, one of the best, if not the best, D2 conferences in the country.  The GLIAC is full of Central Ohio players, maybe the new coach at OWU can recruit from this pool.

Aueagle, Bishopowu, etc...I'm not drinking any Kool-Aid, just a local guy with an interest, so I'll be looking forward to your comments to my post.  Also, are you football alums of OWU....if so, when did you play, if it was after 1973, I probably saw you play.

Been to all of OWU's home games but Chicago, too cold and rainy, and definitely have seen a steady decline in performance; the Denison game had us all fired up.  My buddies and I have no vested interest in OWU (Not parents...not alums) other then we all live in the area and thoroughly enjoy watching games at Selby; we are true HS football fans and closely follow the OCC (Delaware Hayes, all three Olentangy HS's, and Big Walnut) and the MOAC (Buckeye Valley, Pleasant, River Valley, Highland, etc.) and OWU, along with it's opponents, usually have a handful of local kids we are familiar with, in all sports.  I like to read this forum because it gives me a good story line to go to the games with; I do the same for the HS games we attend on a similar HS site.  We almost went to the Capitol-Mt. Union game in Columbus but decided that OWU would have a better chance because of DePauw's down season, plus it was free admission for Community Day (Thank you OWU!)........WRONGGGGGGG...should have went to Columbus for a competitive game.  If you were at the DePauw game you saw OWU march down the field on their first two possessions, and score, and then completely fade for the rest of the game.  I was sitting close to two sets of parents who explained to me that we always start well but end up in a spread type offense and that's when things stall......QB can be a very good passer but has limited mobility (he wears a knee brace so I'm assuming that affects his running) which makes it very easy on the defense to key on receivers when we run an empty back field and don't really threaten with the QB scramble. 

I'm not as gifted of an observer of football as most of the posters on this thread ( Especially Wabash...you guys are great) but I'm starting to see some very obvious flaws in the OWU efforts.  I've mentioned before that I've met Coach Hollway and he is a kind and considerate man, I've met Coach Delaney at several girls HS basketball games over the years (his daughters were wonderful players at Olentangy) and he is top notch, and Roger Ingles is a Delaware County boy, who I've met many times, and is as big of an OWU advocate as they come, so please don't question their character, but as far as the X's & O's are concerned, I have to agree that maybe some fresh ideas, and possibly personel, are needed.  I find it hard to believe that a coach would knowingly make the wrong decisions but wally_wabash may have something with his Einstein quote.


We're going to do our one road trip of the season this Saturday at Kenyon (mainly because we want to see their new indoor facility and view the Fall colors in Knox County) and I guess if the Bishops are going to have a great day, this should be their chance.  We'll be easy to spot....3 or 4 obviously retired guys probably wearing Buckeye gear. 

One last thing I would care to hear, are there any posters who are parents of a current player?  I ask because I run into players all the time at the Hamburger Inn and they honestly come across as being enthusiastic and optimistic about this team.....don't get me wrong, they hate losing but have genuine respect for their coaches; at least the boys I've spoke to.  Please be honest, if your son isn't complaining let us know, or if he is, what about?  On a positive note, OWU's men soccer coach, Jay Martin, is featured today in the Columbus Dispatch for winning his 600th match and with seven more victories he will become the most successful United States soccer coach at any level. 

Aueagle........Who cares if they're moving the ball on the ground or not; for now I'm happy with the most exciting offence OWU has produced in many years and  they actually have a punting and kicking game to go along with it.  My crew of retired friends and I have made both night games and were thoroughly entertained with the entire product, on the field and off, especially the new scoreboard that featured live action as well as replays......we hope they start posting other NCAC scores during time outs......and the sound system is such a huge improvement.  Also, a big thanks to the Wittenberg tailgaters that provided the boys and I with a free beer and some friendly ribbing........your prediction was correct except it was a much closer game then anyone thought. 

Aueagle,

Have you seen the new scoreboard or heard the new sound system that were rushed into service in time for the track championship?  The scoreboard includes an enormous LED screen that has theater type quality which is just totally unbelievable.  My friends and I were bugging the contractor about when we could see it in use and he invited us to stop by this past Saturday afternoon when they were running it through all of the tests....what an amazing thing.....now the Bishops need to post some scores on the new board.  I'm a track guy at heart so I'm really looking forward to the next three days at Selby.

Thanks Aueagle, I'm glad I didn't bet on either project. 

A Delaware friend of mine was an OWU athletic trainer back in the 90's and I remember visiting him in the Selby training room and thinking "What a dump for such a nice stadium" so I'm sure any improvement to that area is a huge upgrade.

It sure would be nice for the Bishops if your Super Soph. comparison came true.  I remember the OSU '68 season very well and in '68 when I had two very young and healthy hips I couldn't run a 4.8 with the wind.

As always, thanks for the OWU info.

Aueagle,

With the break in the weather I've managed to resume my daily walks in Delaware and noticed a lot of construction activity at Selby over the past 4-5 weeks.  Do you have an idea of what they're doing?  They appear to be building a small structure next to the fence.....concession stand???....but the majority of the workers were going in and out of the west stadium; my walking partner and I thought it could be a locker room project.  At any rate, if you could satisfy our curiosity we'd appreciate it.  Last year's lighting of the stadium made a big splash around here, although a broken hip made it impossible for me to attend any of the college or high school night games.  Any news on next year's team?  According to the Gazette, that Frosh QB really found a nice groove towards the end of last season or was that a result of who they were playing at the time.

Black n Gold,

Great idea, in fact I'm now thinking about making both games myself.  What a wonderful opportunity to see some of Ohio's best D-3 players in the same day.

Black n Gold,

Wooster vs CWRU, at night, sounds like a great game to travel to on Sat.  What time do they start?...................Aueagle, did you attend OWU's first win of the season?  I know it was only by 3 points but what a wonderful Homecoming Weekend atmosphere with at least 3,000 in attendance at Selby, including some very fun LAX alumni I shared a few pints with that night at 'The Bag of Nails".

Aueagle,

Only managed about 45 minutes at OWU's scrimmage; the cold rainy weather was too much for my old bones, but I did see several promising offensive series against an Ohio Dominican team that had better size and speed at every position.  I almost fainted when I saw OWU's QB line up under center and throw a cross pattern to the TE for a TD....go figure that one out but I hope this is a sign that they plan to open it up some.  I heard several fathers saying the QB was a Frosh so keep your fingers crossed that this is the first of many for him.

Aueagle,

I walk on the new bike path by OWU's Selby Stadium everyday and from the small amount of players I've seen practicing it could be a longer season then you think.  Let's hope injuries are at a minimum.  There's a scrimmage at Selby tomorrow morning with Ohio Dominican I plan on attending, I'll let you know how they look.

Thanks Aueagle,

Hope more kids like the one from Florida show up on the roster this year; I've met Coach Hollway and he's a good person who deserves more success then he's had lately.  I find your perspective interesting because the local newspaper is as bad as it gets on any OWU athletics and since I've retired from the Postal Service I've made it one of my hobbies to follow local kids and OWU.  I agree that more local athletes should compete for OWU but I find myself traveling mainly to Otterbein, Urbana, Heidelberg, Ohio Northern, and Capital when I go and watch a Delaware County boy or girl compete. 

Aueagle,

Are you a Delaware, Ohio guy?  I'm a retired Delaware guy, and OWU fan, and have followed this site for several years and you seem to have your finger on the OWU pulse.  I really enjoy following the OWU team but there seems to be even less info. on this year's team then the little bit that has surfaced in the past so I have a question for about the future 2010 team.  My question for you is: Do you know a local HS senior named Erik Wall who's brother Mark played for the Bishops and just graduated in 2009?  I ask because I follow the local HS scene in Delaware County and love to follow the kids careers in college and I was told by my grandson that Erik is getting football looks from several D-1AA schools (He plays QB at Buckeye Valley Class of 2010) but also has received written interest from Wabash.  I  assumed he would follow his brother Mark to OWU but can't think of a better school then Wabash if it's not going to be at OWU.  My grandson said he's a good student so grades wouldn't be a problem and I guess he really wants to consider academics first and opportunity to play second, regardless of the NCAA Div. size.  He has a profile on scoutingohio.com you can review and I would be interested in your opinion of him as a future Bishop.......or Little Giant.