Coleman
"The Tiger"
Owen

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Coleman Owen's Biography

In the heart of Ohio University sports stands proud the stalwart Ohio Bobcats football team, who have built a reputation for unwavering dedication and an unquenchable passion for the game. In the national landscape, the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season will witness the compelling spectacle of the Ohio Bobcats representing Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference.

Led steadfastly into the football fray by Head Coach Tim Albin, in his fourth year at the helm, the Bobcats make their stand at the Peden Stadium – the hallowed and historic grounds nestled in Athens, Ohio where many epic battles have been fiercely fought and won. This revered stadium will pulse with the eager anticipation and roar of the enthralled fans during the home games.

Stepping into the 2024 season, the Bobcats carry with them the momentum of their two consecutive, hard-fought ten-win seasons, fresh off the euphoria of their sweeping victory over Georgia Southern during the riveting 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl that marked their fifth straight bowl win. Thus, for the first time in the rich annals of the Bobcats’ illustrious school history, they stand tall with back-to-back ten-win seasons, heralding an era of unprecedented success.

However, every victory on the field is tempered with challenges off it. The aftermath of the 2023 season saw Ohio grappling with substantial losses in the transfer portal, where a sizable contingent of twelve players took their leave, joining the ranks of programs in power conferences. This exodus left a significant void, with one of the most notable departures being the esteemed starting quarterback and 2022 MAC Player of the Year Kurtis Rourke, who transferred to Indiana University.

In the face of such adversity, the Ohio Bobcats’ resilience is tested, entering the season ranked an unenviable 133 out of 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in returning production, as determined by the revered SP+ rankings. The daunting task of rebuilding has meant recruiting afresh, with an infusion of talent in the form of transfers and freshmen. Consequently, the Bobcats enter the season boasting a fresh roster featuring 58 players new to the team since the previous season.

The challenge of reinvigoration has been met head-on by two standout performers from the last season’s bowl game – promising quarterback Parker Navarro and exceptional running back Ricky Hunt, who are expected to fill the critical roles vacated in the offseason. In the bowl game, their tenacity and skill shone brightly: Navarro threw 11 completions on 16 attempts for 120 yards while also clocking 71 rushing yards. Hunt, meanwhile, demonstrated offensive prowess by setting Ohio’s program record by matching bowl game record with 5 touchdowns in a single game.

The Bobcats kicked off the season with a memorable opener at Syracuse. Anthony Tyus III, a rising star in the running game, led the charge with a remarkable 203-yard performance. However, despite his on-field heroics, the Bobcats succumbed to Syracuse’s relentless aerial assault from quarterback Kyle McCord, who threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns, as the Bobcats fell in a 38-22 defeat.

The home schedule opener against South Alabama presented redemption, as Parker Navarro threw for 204 yards and earned 63 rushing yards. He engineered a 27-20 victory despite throwing three interceptions, as the stout Bobcat defense held Morgan State to just 211 yards in the following 21-6 win. This victory-solidified start to the season was followed by a mixed bag performance at Kentucky: an unsettling loss in which the Bobcats struggled to establish an offensive rhythm against the dominant Wildcat front seven.

Entering the subsequent MAC conference with determination, the Bobcats sailed to a promising 30-10 homecoming win over Akron, with Navarro making a triumphant return from injury, throwing for two touchdowns in the win. Maintaining the win column peak, they recorded a captivating victory over Central Michigan and a season-defining triumph over Buffalo. However, this winning streak was halted by Miami’s defense in the 100th Battle of the Bricks, as the Bobcats succumbed 30-20. Ohio retaliated, clinching a dominant 41-0 victory against a beleaguered Kent State team, tying for first in the conference.

In the preseason, however, the MAC coaches poll held a pessimistic outlook for the Bobcats, ranking them fifth in the conference and with no votes for the Conference Championship. But if history has proved anything, it’s that Ohio’s resilience is its greatest asset. As they regroup and strategize for the remainder of the season, the Bobcats remain determined to defy expectations and rise to the very top.