Tim Reed/THE POST Ohio tailback Jamel Patterson fights through an Akron player's tackle during Ohio's 28-14 win on Oct. 17. The team plays at Miami Saturday after having a bye-week last Saturday.

Peden Stadium and the practice fields located across the street at Trautwein Field have been quiet lately.

Last Friday through Sunday, not a snap was taken and not a player was in sight. Saturday was Ohio's open-date this season, and it was a chance for the team to recuperate physically and mentally.

Many players from local areas went home to see their high schools' football games and reunite with family members. Players from greater distances were invited to go along with local players. They were able to enjoy a weekend away from Ohio football. They were able to enjoy life and maybe even get a home-cooked meal.

"I think it helped our guys," Ohio head coach Jim Grobe said. "I think, any time your guys have an opportunity to be with their families, it kind of gets them fired-up again to come back. It helps especially if your season has not gone really well, and it can kind of help you regroup a little bit. You almost feel as if you're starting a new season."

The less-than-loaded offensive line

While most players were able to heal minor injuries, some major ones are far from being cured. The offensive line is most hurt by serious injuries.

In the first quarter of the Oct. 17 Akron game, starting senior right guard Mike Solominsky strained a ligament in his knee. He is listed as day-to-day with the injury. Grobe said if he's not 100 percent Saturday at Miami, he most likely will not play. Redshirt freshman right guard Nick Glowacki would fill in.

Starting freshman right tackle Erik Davis broke a foot during practice Oct. 12 when he stepped in a hole during sprints. He might miss the rest of the season. Junior right tackle Steve Gaydosz, who originally was a starter this season and is just coming back from straining a ligament, will start in Davis' place.

Redshirt freshman left tackle Clete Hawk has been fighting a blood clot for the past several weeks. He has been taking blood thinners and will continue to take them for six months. He will not return this season and might be ready for spring practice next year.

The urge-resisting coach

Just because Ohio finds itself mathematically eliminated from the Mid-American Conference title race, with just four games left, it doesn't mean every reserve underclassman will see considerable amounts of playing time. Grobe said current starters will remain starters.

The most tempting change is in the quarterback position, because senior starter Kareem Wilson will be graduating and freshman Dan Jordan will be the front-runner for the starting position next year. Throughout this season, Grobe has searched for times when he could put Jordan in and allow him experience. But because of Ohio's several close games, Jordan has not seen extensive time. Any one of Ohio's last four games seemingly would be the perfect time to get him more experience.

"The first year here, we played a lot of young players, and I think if you're in a rebuilding program, it's easier to do that, but I think we've kind of switched gears," Grobe said. "We're no longer in a rebuilding program, but we are still in a building program. When you're trying to build, you do that around winning, and we can't afford to have the same attitude now as we did three years ago.

"If I thought (Jordan) gave us a better chance to win, then we'd load up with him, and I'd be like, 'Let's go,' but right now, I think Kareem's been playing well."