Sports
Ohio University Head Coach Eager for Macer to Join Bobcats
Cleveland native Frank Solich impressed with Twinsburg standout
Ohio University head coach Frank Solich was one of the greatest high school football players to come out of the greater Cleveland area. Solich starred at Holy Name High School, where he earned All-Ohio and All-American honors as one of the country's top running backs.
Solich went on to star for Nebraska, becoming the Huskers' first back to ever rush for 200 yards in a single game. He earned All-Big 8 honors and became the first Nebraska player to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.
And now Solich has high hopes for another talented Northeast Ohio player, , who joins the Ohio University program.
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"Aaron is a very mature young man, both physically and mentally," said Solich from the Athens campus of Ohio U. "He made good decisions through his high school career and played some outstanding football."
Macer will be joining a program that has been brought back as a perennial Mid-American Conference contender under Solich, who enters his seventh season this fall with a 40-36 overall mark and a 98-55 career record. At Nebraska, Solich took the Huskers to the Rose Bowl in 2001, when he was named Big 12 Coach of the Year for the second time.
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Ohio U looks to be strong again this season and Macer could well see some early action for the Bobcats.
"The tranistion to college will be much easier for Aaron than what it is for most student-athletes," said Solich. "We are excited to have him in the program and expect he will play very early for us."
Macer chose Ohio U over several other MAC teams that expressed interest and was impressed with the school's academics as well as athletics. The Bobcats will look at Macer at safety but he also has the athleticism to develop as a return man.
Macer was a key player for Twinsburg on both sides of the ball during his senior season as he was one of the top defensive backs in the state as well as an elusive quarterback for the Tigers.
"He will be a great addition to Ohio U as a student and an athlete," added Solich.
Area fans will have several opportunities to watch Macer if he does see action during the 2011 season as four Bobcat games are scheduled to be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.