‘The Post’ breaks down what you may, or may not, see from Ohio Athletics in 2015
The best fall sports team …
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Charlie Hatch | Sports Editor: Volleyball. The ‘Cats nearly went undefeated in 2014. No offense to the other OU sports teams, but no one is remotely close to their dynasty. Plus, there’s always sweet promotions (food, flags, misc.)
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Luke O’Roark | Sports Editor: Volleyball. Last year was no joke and 2015 will be no different. There was hardly any changes to the Bobcats’ roster and coach Deane Webb knows his squad is the apex team in the Mid-American Conference. Go get free McDonald’s and watch Ohio roll through the MAC.
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Tony Wolfe | Senior Writer: Volleyball. There’s reason to get optimistic about the football team, and field hockey can *only* improve from last season. But Ohio has turned into a legitimate powerhouse in volleyball, and this fall, it will absolutely be the team to watch. All that, of course, depends on whether you consider hockey, which starts its season Sept. 18, to be a fall sport. If you do, then substitute hockey in there, as Ohio will look to make a national title run in 2016.
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Wynston Wilcox | Staff Writer: Volleyball. Deane Webb is good. The team is good. Good team + good coach = great season.
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Jordan Horrobin | Staff Writer: Volleyball. Undefeated in the conference last (regular) season, several returning starters and a fiery fit of rage to redeem themselves in the conference tournament should be a strong enough mixture to make this team the best of the green and white this fall. Volleyball’s only risk of struggling is its strong non-conference schedule.
Dark horse sport …
CH: Men’s cross country. This is iffy, but some of it depends on coach Clay Calkins. He used to coach the women’s program too. Ohio finished fifth at the 2014 MAC Championships, and three of the top five runners from the event are back, so “loosely” place your bets. ...
LO: Football. Yeah, they were middling last season, but fans should have some reasons to stay past halftime. The defense looks ludicrously fast and the offense should be just good enough to squeak by some wins. The Bobcats are projected to play a bowl game in Hawaii and we’re wishfully thinking.
TW: Football. The defense was disappointing last year and still found a way to turn in solid numbers at season’s end. The Bobcats front seven may be the best in the entire conference, and the secondary is an extremely fast and physical group. Don’t expect many shootouts at Peden this fall, but expect the Bobcats to be bowl eligible again, maybe even more.
WW: Soccer. Aaron Rodgers sounds like he has a plan for this season in the third year of his contract. From what Charlie reported about the exhibition match against Wright State, soccer might have a chance and making it to the MAC tournament.
JH: Hockey. This often forgotten club sport has had 27-straight winning seasons in the American Collegiate Hockey Association and finished last year as the No. 6 ranked team in the nation. Two junior goaltenders will keep most pucks out of the Bobcat net and the returning top line of forwards will continue to fill the opposition’s net.
Best case scenario for Ohio sports…
CH: One team is really successful and everyone rallies around the program. This sounds vague, but it was great to see the support the women’s basketball team deserved for making the NCAA Tournament. I’d love to see that happen again.
LO: Football makes a bowl, volleyball gets revenge for last season and Ohio sports get some recognition.
TW: Football competes for a MAC East division title and earns itself a trip to somewhere sunny and 75 in late December for their sixth bowl berth in seven years. Volleyball wins the MAC and makes a deep run in the national tournament. Field hockey makes a baseball/women’s basketball-esque turnaround and becomes Ohio’s next cinderella program.
WW: Easy, all teams have a winning season and as a university, we have at least two MAC champions.
JH: If football can make a bowl game, any missteps of other fall teams will be forgiven. If not, a national tournament appearance for the volleyball team would be an excellent consolation prize.
Worst case scenario for Ohio sports …
CH: The football team goes to the Bahamas Bowl, but I can’t afford to go. Call me selfish, but I’d love to cover the team in a bowl — if it’s affordable! Christmas time in the Caribbean (insert sunglasses emoji).
LO: Renovations to Chessa Field come to a halt, volleyball is disappointed in the MAC Tournament and football falls prey to mediocrity.
TW: The football team’s offense can’t stay on the field, and the team loses to Bowling Green by 200 (!) points for the third-straight year, marking the lowlight to another 6-6 campaign. Volleyball gets shocked at the MAC tournament and doesn’t get to make any national noise. Field hockey is below average again, and someone steals the “Hags and Kisses” doormat from Luke and I’s house.
WW: Vice versa of the best case scenario; all teams have a losing season and have a losing record in the MAC.
JH: Football loses at home to Southeastern Louisiana and misses a bowl game again, volleyball sweeps the conference regular season and falters in the tournament, and early snow storms force the golf team to cancel its entire season.
The most unlikely thing to happen at an OU sporting event this fall …
CH: People stay the entire football game!
LO: Rufus the Bobcat throws a 50-yard touchdown pass to Sebastian Smith, … who am I kidding? This is Athens, anything can happen.
TW: Me challenging Tarell Basham to an arm-wrestling competition, and emerging victorious.
WW: Volleyball getting a sellout.
JH: School officials start enforcing breathalyzer tests to all students entering football games.
