It is hard to be a Buckeye fan these days, but I wouldn't trade them for all the titles in the world. I witnessed this year's disappointment first hand, but I had a great buzz the whole time I was doing it! Here is the breakdown on the game, the teams, and a little fore shadowing to get the ball rolling for next year.

The Game

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes the outcome and score of the championship game lends credence to the out cry regarding the perceived talent void between OSU and SEC teams. The score was lopsided and OSU was permanently out of the game after the 3rd quarter.  It is unfortunate because the result was not truly indicative of how OSU played in the game. Anyone who watched the game knows that OSU was more than holding their own in the game, and was well on their way to reaching a point total and that would enable them to implement “Tressel Ball” and play typical OSU ball control. Nobody does it better. The Achilles heal of this OSU team was that it was incapable of playing from behind against talented teams. The most talented teams that OSU played (not including a ####ed up Michigan team that obviously did not give OSU their best shot) were Illinois and LSU. They lost both games. My point here is that although LSU won the game, OSU gave them a lot of help at key junctures.

I am not making excuses here; LSU executed a better game plan and took advantage of the Buckeyes weaknesses within their own game plan (and lack of execution). Nobody is going to beat LSU making the mistakes OSU made. Boeckman proved again that his deep ball leaves something to be desired, and against lesser defensive backs under thrown balls usually go to the Buckeye receivers. However, it would be nice to see a streaking OSU receiver catching a Boeckman ball in stride. Small had Jackson by a step, but the fall was not far enough in front, and Jackson made Boeckman and the Buckeyes pay. Boeckman’s inability to get rid of the ball killed OSU. After the Tigers had a comfortable lead, the dogs were cut loose and the ball was bouncing around like a ping-pong ball. Even if the Buckeyes recover their own fumbles, in most cases it is adding negative yardage. The Buckeyes doomed themselves with far too many 3rd and long situations they could not convert. Five sacks and constant pressures rattled Boeckman to the point that he was no longer an accurate passer and it showed. All positives for the LSU defense and the job they did especially in the second half. Later in the half twice Boeckman was throwing on 3rd and short in four down territory. This is unnecessary when you have the type of backs OSU has in their stable. LSU never shut down the run, OSU simply had to throw the ball to save clock and of course LSU knew it. Having to block the Dorsey led Tiger D-line is hard enough when you are making them guess, but take away the element of surprise and you’re toast for sure!

The tide of the game turned when Robiskie dropped a sure fire touchdown. The play occurred at the other end of the field from where I was sitting, but I have since seen the replays and it is obvious that he dropped the pass without any help from Jackson. One play later a blocked field goal not only prevented more OSU points but permanently shifted the momentum and home field advantage back to the Tigers. It was a killer. LSU drove the ball in ten plays to take the lead that the Buckeyes should have had instead. The final nail was hammered home when trailing 24-10, at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, Austin Spitler roughed the punter on a forth and twenty three…..nice. LSU received more help a few plays later when Cameron Heyward committed the Buckeyes fifth personal foul penalty of the game, and LSU scored on the next play. LSU 31 OSU 10 and buh-bye title. If Robiskie scores it is OSU 17 LSU 10 and the game is completely different.

I obviously can’t say that OSU would have won just because OSU would have had the lead at that point, but at several key points in this game, the Buckeyes could have turned the tide of the game. Consider if the usually dependable offensive lineman Steve Rehring wasn’t flagged for a false start with the ball 2nd and five at the LSU ten and the Buckeyes score to put LSU down by two touchdowns? And then stop them on the next possession that was aided by two (one questionable) personal fouls? Robiskie scores and it is 21-3 going in to the half. I am not playing ifs and buts to make a case that OSU should have won, only that a lot of what contributed to the Tiger’s first half advantage was unforced and it made their job a lot easier defensively in the second half, which in turn kept the OSU defense on the field a lot more. All of this is meant to build up to the point that the Buckeyes were in this game more than people will give them credit as time passes. People are using words like dominate and inferior, even when OSU actually out-gained LSU in total yardage. LSU was the better team, but OSU showed up for the game. I know there were some worried Tigers out there when Beanie was running through the Tiger defense like it was wet Kleenex and the OSU receivers were burning the LSU secondary like Cajun blackened catfish. It did not look good and the purple & gold spectators were quiet. It was heaven…then it was hell. In the end it would be nice if people who actually watched the game and know anything about football acknowledged these things. The LSU fans who I walked amongst after the game on my way down Poydres Avenue certainly acknowledged that the game could have turned out differently had OSU continued to execute in the first quarter. Doesn’t matter now anyway.

LSU

Like any championship team, the Tigers clicked in all facets of the game and took advantage of the frequent Buckeye mistakes. Making an opponent pay for their mistakes is crucial in any game, but especially in a championship, when the talent is even and the ball can just as easily bounce the wrong way for you too. The experience and tough season definitely helped the LSU squad keep up the pressure for sixty minutes. The quick Buckeye start may have actually helped the Tigers, because I think OSU thought the game may have been easier than expected (false sense of security). When the Tigers settled down a bit and made some adjustments, the OSU mistakes began to materialize more often. The Tigers are a machine. Built for power and for speed, but it wasn’t speed that was the deciding factor in this contest, it was the power. Eventually LSU won the war in the trenches on both sides of the ball and that is the key to any game.

Matt Flynn played a great game. His numbers were good, but not gaudy and his leadership was superb. Two years, two veteran SEC quarter backs dismantle the Buckeyes defense. I think somebody wearing a sweater vest needs to take serious stock in the Buckeyes game plans going forward. Flynn was rarely pressured and his receivers don’t need a lot of time to get open. The Buckeye pass rush was ineffective and the LSU O-line was supposed to be one of the weak points in the Tiger armor. I don’t remember the total, but I think they gave up the most sacks in the SEC this season. Whatever, those guys were good and the Buckeyes rarely sniffed Mr. Flynn’s back side (ewwww! Who the f@#% is this guy?). Hats off to Matt and a commanding performance.  The SEC should hire me to write comments for their QB’s every year in the title game after they earn their MVP awards.

The defense was as advertised. And who the f#@% is Harry Coleman?? That is exactly what the Todd Boeckman will be asking themselves for some time to come. I am glad Dorsey got a ring only because he came back for his senior year, like Mike Doss, to win a title. I find that admirable in thi$ day and age.

OSU

Do I have to? Oh, all right. The Buckeyes started out great and had me and every other Buckeye in that dome crying like babies from the sheer joy of our team’s impending vindication. We couldn’t wait to get that Gator of our backs and chant “Big Ten” to the departing LSU/SEC crowd……

We have missile launch. All targets are acquired and destruction is imminent.

B to the O to the double O to the f%#@ing M !!!! 

Last one out turn out the lights, will ya? It was to be short lived jubilation. As quick as a Trindon Holiday punt return, the Bucks coughed up the lead and settled into an all too familiar role as SEC punching bag. Man it sucked. The worst part is that even today (Thursday) I am still hoarse from yelling at all the b*tch-#### boosters who were sitting on their giant, fickle a$$es, instead of cheering for the Buckeyes. I would like to specifically call out section 642, right behind the Ohio State end-zone, for a particularly alarming display of fan ####ude. I would officially like to copy-write the word “####ude” as well. Anyway, the bottom 15-20 rows (from the deck rail up) sat on their butts for most of the game. Even when things were good!!! It was like the second half of a non-conference basketball game at the Schott in early November against Coppin State (no offense to Coppin State, just sounds obscure)!!! If you just want to sit on you’re #### and refrain from cheering for your drastically outnumbered team, stay at home and sell your tickets to someone who will actually help the team! Makes me sick. I was hoping somebody would tell me to sit down. One lady in the row in front of us chastised my wife for using the word ####. Oh the horror. That was the wrong thing to do, because I suddenly turned 14 and dropped the F bomb as much as possible to offend her as she sat on her #### as the rest of us stood and cheered. I only sat down during commercial breaks. It embarrassed me greatly for our fan base. This is basically a blog in itself, so I will stop before I get carpel-tunnel.

The Buckeyes played like #### after the first quarter, with few exceptions. Some of the set backs were self inflicted, but the bottom-line is that LSU was the better prepared, more experienced team. That was the difference.

SEC Speed

I think that this can be considered folklore now. Beanie Wells, Mario Manningham, Adrian Arrington, James Lauranitis, Malcolm Jenkins, and several others proved that the Big Ten has some very fast players. LSU won this game with power and execution. They definitely have speed to burn, but they didn’t beat the Buckeyes because they were faster. Some will disagree, but it’s the truth. Problem is that OSU doesn’t have the right defensive schemes to compete with teams that have the speed AND power AND execution of teams like Florida, LSU, and USC. They better figure it out by September.

Next Year

Whether you like it or not, the Buckeyes have a good chance to return to the title game next year if they can get by USC. Michigan will be in serious re-building mode and they have to come to Columbus. Penn State and Wisconsin will be good challenges, but probably won’t have the fire-power to handle a Buckeye team that will lose only three senior starters (barring early NFL defections). Even with defections, the Buckeyes will be loaded. I know that pains the Buckeye haters out there to no end, but it is what it is. OSU will figure it out, and sooner than later. Each year the recruiting classes get better and better. Gee, I wonder why Tress is recruiting all that speed….hmmmmm?

This Year

OSU was supposed to finish no better than 3rd in their own conference this year, yet a series of events enabled them to overcome a late season loss and compete for a title. Many people say they should not have been in that game. From one perspective I agree, they should not have been in the title game. From the perspective that it was a complete surprise that they were able to have such a successful season after losing so many talented players from last year’s championship team, it was an amazing accomplishment. So the nay-sayers can say their nays, and the national perception of Ohio State as a team that can’t hang with SEC teams will endure, but nothing can take away the successes of this season or the accomplishments of the young men and coaches who worked so hard for the results. Playing in three title games in six years is special. Now they just need to start winning those games.

Thanks for a great college football season to all the teams who made it sooooo interesting. And thank you Buckeyes for making us all proud to be fans of the best program in the nation. We will be back.

May the best team win.....that of course will be THE Ohio State University Buckeyes