The trite motto echoing in thousands of locker rooms around the world is often recited but rarely practiced. But in the case of Ohio University's football team, how can a squad be expected to show the same amount of fight against modest Wofford, a FCS (formerly Division I-AA) team coming off a 3-8 season, when conference rival Toledo and nationally ranked Ohio State loom in the upcoming weeks?

The Ohio Bobcats face this and other important questions heading into the 2010 season opener at 7 p.m. Saturday at Peden Stadium against the Wofford Terriers. Here are the three main questions Ohio faces this season:

Who will run the show?

The quarterback competition has been whittled down to two candidates: Boo Jackson and Phil Bates. The athletic pair have split repetitions with the first team throughout training camp, and as of Tuesday head coach Frank Solich had yet to announce a starter.

"This thing is not just about us; it's about the team," Bates said at the team's media day. "That's a big thing for us, not letting our battle overwhelm the team."

The battle pits similar yet very different styles against each other. Jackson, a 6-1, 202-pound senior, had a record-breaking year in 2008, gaining 2,688 yards running and passing, a school single-season record. But an injury last year coupled with the return of a healthy Theo Scott limited Jackson

Jackson is a capable runner who is comfortable in the pocket, while Bates' running ability may be his greatest asset.

Perhaps the best person to assess the quarterbacks is someone who plays against them in practice.

"Boo is one of those guys that can scramble around and make plays down the field," said senior middle linebacker Noah Keller, one of four defensive captains in 2010. "Phil adds another dynamic to the offense. I feel right now that Phil's one of the best runners on the team, running backs included," Keller added.

Bates, a 6-2, 224-pound junior, transferred to Ohio last year from Iowa State. The charismatic and talented junior's linebacker-like build masks his speed and play-making ability.

"At any time, I feel like I can take it to the house," said Bates.

His big-play ability has been on display this preseason, impressing onlookers during intra-squad scrimmages with his passing ability, but also with runs through the defense. "I haven't been timed in the 40 [yard dash] recently, but just ask the guys if I can beat them in a race," Bates said smiling.

Dual-threat quarterbacks have flourished traditionally in the Mid American Conference, with players such as Akron's Joshua Cribbs and more recently Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour putting up gaudy running and passing statistics. Bates could be the next running and passing hybrid to shine in the MAC.

Despite the competition between friends, Bates insists the team is most important. "Winning is even more important than who the starter is," he said. "We have been to the MAC championship game twice, and this time we want to win it, no matter how we do it."

Coaches said during media day that the competition could extend into the regular season.

Can the defense remain opportunistic?

Last year's defensive unit tied with Texas for the most turnovers forced nationally, causing 17 fumbles and intercepting 20 passes, but relying on turnovers can be a risky way to be a successful defense. Teams that look to force turnovers are often teams that take risks, leaving them more susceptible to big plays. For Ohio, those risks are calculated.

"Every single day, we have the turnover circuit... at the beginning of practice," Keller said. "While offense is running plays and doing stuff like that, and most other teams I'm sure are probably are warming up and doing stuff with their position coaches and individual drills, we're working as a defensive unit to force turnovers at all these different stations."

Statistically, however, Ohio has had a difficult time consistently forcing turnovers over the last five seasons. In 2005, Ohio ranked 41st nationally with a plus-four turnover margin, meaning they forced four more turnovers than they committed. In 2006, the margin was negative four, ranking the team 79th nationally. In 2007, the margin was plus two, 38th nationally. In 2008, the margin was negative 13, 113th nationally. Last year, the margin was plus 13, good for seventh nationally.

Translation: the Bobcats are not likely to put up such high turnover numbers again.

The defense does have the personnel to dominate teams without forcing turnovers, however. As any analyst will tell you, a strong defense begins at the point of attack, and the Bobcats return their top right defensive linemen this year. Keller is the only returning linebacker, and the secondary will be anchored be redshirt sophomore Gerald Moore, who ranked eighth nationally with six interceptions last season.

Can the Bobcats finally win a bowl game?

The short answer: yes. Will they win is yet to be determined.

Ohio is a pre-season MAC favorite, and the conference is wide open with the graduation of the aforementioned LeFevour, whose Central Michigan team dominated the MAC for the past four seasons. CMU won three MAC Championships during that span, two of them at Ohio's expense.

But Ohio has an experienced, and maybe more importantly, a more talented team than in previous years. Nowhere is that talent more evident than in the wide-receiving corps.

Despite losing Taylor Price, a third-round draft pick of the New England Patriots, the coaches heralded the current group as the most talented in the MAC during media day, and the players did nothing but embrace the accolades.

"We have a lot of receivers who are capable of making plays," said senior wideout LaVon Brazill. Brazill has received ample preseason recognition after a junior campaign that saw him lead the nation in punts returned for touchdowns. The 5-11, 188-pound Brazill, a Florida native, hopes to reprise his role as a punt returner, but also worked on polishing his receiving skills this offseason. "I just have to work on the little things, like blocking downfield and running better routes," he said.

razill, who wears number 7, will be flanked by fellow senior Terrance McCrae. The 6-4, 198-pound McCrae, who wears number 11, was a lethal red-zone weapon last year, leading the team with nine touchdown receptions.

"These guys are amazing," quarterback Bates said about the receiving corps. "And 7 and 11 man, they are open all day. Just like 7-11," he added laughing.

As dependable and proven as the wide receivers are, the running backs are that unproven. Senior Vince Davidson will start for the Bobcats, but he is the only running back on the roster who had experience last year. He has worked over the off-season to improve a running game that ranked 100th nationally last year with only 113 yards per game.

"My mindset has changed a lot. It's like everything's on me now," said Davidson. "I've been taking things a lot more seriously, and I think I've elevated my game to another level."

The team hopes to ascend to that next level and finally earn a MAC Championship and a bowl victory.

"Winning a bowl game is everything right now; it's all or nothing," said Davidson.