Welcome To Party Town

Photo stolen from Ed Venrick, The Athens News

"Here in Party Town
Yeah yeah
We sure do party down
Yeah yeah
We drink all night
and all day"
--Glenn Fry

Ohio University gridiron coach Frank Solich was bapitzied into the Party School Town culture last week, when he had a few too many at Casa Cantina and wound up all over USA Today, CNN/SI, SportsCenter and other media when got charged with (and pleaded guilty to) drunken driving.

For those of us who left our hearts (and livers) back on Court St, this incident comes as little surprise, not because of Solich's nature, but because the atmosphere of Athens just has a way of bringing that type of behavior out in you.

For proof of what I mean, see photographic evidence of some unlikely party animals here and here. And some likely ones here.

Solich led the Cats to a 4-7 record, an overwhelmingly successful season, the crowning jewel of which was an emotional upset of Pitt, at home, on national TV.

The Cats and Solich have a long way to go. And despite the look on OU President Roderick McDavis' face in the above photo, the decision to stick with Frank was, I think, the right one. President McDavis himself was at the University sponsored early-morning 'kegs n eggs' gathering in Evantson just this Septempber when OU vistied (and lost to Northwestern). That leads me to believe that he is not against having a good time...

OU is not a party school. they are THE party school. And in this environment, responsible behavior is compulsory. Coach Solich will serve as an example that may someday save the life of a student who will think before they drink.

ROCK ON, OU!!!