Another year and more BCS controversies to disect, hash-out, and haggle till’ the cows come home. BCS is definitely good theatre and I heard Todd Blackledge singing it’s praises during his broadcast last Saturday night. Many university presidents and coaches support the system and balk at a true D-I playoff, citing educational and logistical problems with that type of schedule. Really? You mean the kids will miss class because their athletic comittments will conflict with class and/or exam schedules? Who has ever heard of such travesties?! I think any red-blooded, die-in-the-wool college football fan knows that this is about money, right? One walk through the Les Wexner-Woody Hayes Football Training Facility at The Ohio State University will help you understand the kind of money involved in big D-I programs in this country. How about taking a tour of Nike HQ South out in Eugene,OR? Samey-same.
The point is that big-time college sports, mainly b-ball and football, make a lot of money for their respective schools, endorsers, and media outlets who promote the events. It is common knowledge and it is the way it is. And it is the way that it will always be.
Unless someone comes up with an idea that puts as much money in the coffers of the big schools and the business partners therein, then this is the system we have and this is what we will always have. The BCS may change and reinvent itself, but some variation of a system that provides the type of income to advertisers, manufacturers, referees, coaches, schools, and networks will remain in place indefinitely.
But playoffs would enable teams to add games at their home venues and networks would get more opportunities to air an increased number of quality games. What is the problem here? Sounds good on paper, but the bottmline is that the bowl payouts could not be garnered in a playoff system managed by the NCAA. The current deals are with the conferences, not the NCAA. I suppose each level of the playoff grid could be rewarded with ever increasing payouts, but it is doubtful that is allowable under NCAA guidelines. The network deals would be with the NCAA, and not the conferences, and therefore not with the schools directly. The crystal given away to the Division 1 “National Football Champion” each year doesn’t have NCAA wrtten anywhere on the hardmare. Most people just agree to acknowledge that trophy as the property of the national champs. Too many people make too much money in the current arrangement, and therefore it will not change.
So, this year we will see Ohio State play in one of the BCS bowls with two losses, while an undefeated Boise State team does not. Ohio State has an alumni base the size of Idaho’s entire population! Ok, that is not exaclty true, but I bet 440,000 equates to a large percentage of the Idaho state population. The perception by the bowl organizers is that the OSU fanbase will bring more fans and more money than the Boise State contingent. That is a safe bet. Also, Hawaii did the WAC no favors last year when they didn’t show up against Georgia. Well that was last year, and two years ago Boise did more than show up against Oklahoma. It doesn’t matter. Boise was Utah two years ago. The non-BCS conference schools get one in and that’s that.
I hope I’m wrong. That has to sound crazy coming from an Ohio State dieherd, but I think that Boise deserves the shot. It won’t happen, but it should.
The Buckeyes are in the midst of a mid-season renaissance of sorts. The team that was pre-season top five came out and stunk it up, so Tress went back to the drawing board after the USC beat-down. Now the question is how good is this Buckeye team? Penn State, on the other hand, has been dominant from the gate and eclipsed the pre-season expectations bestowed upon them by “those who are wise”. The only measuring stick we have for a prediction on this upcoming match-up is the performance of both teams to date, or at least it is the most accurate. Anyway you slice it, these two teams are playing for the Big Ten title this Saturday, and the best part of that storyline for me personally is that I will be there.
The Nittany Lions are playing with a purpose. Joe Pa is most likely heading out the door after this season, and even if he isn’t, his days and seasons are numbered, so this is obviously his best remaining shot at a title. His players and coaches know it, and they are trying to deliver for their legendary leader. Their history in the Horseshoe is devoid of many victories to date. It has been thirty years since Penn State tasted victory in Columbus, so the conventional wisdom says they are due. Those are the intangibles. The meat of the sandwich is the team itself. The offense is hands down the best in the Big Ten and definitely top five in the country. Clark has blossomed in to the kind of leader a championship team needs: athletically gifted, accurate passer, great runner, respected leader, and above all he makes few mistakes. The o-line gives him time and his arsenal is deep and experienced. Royster is the x-factor in this offense. He is no secret, but he is the reason that the receivers have been so successful. You have to account for Royster and Clark on every play. It is very hard to defend this offense.
The Lions defense is the key to their success in my opinion. The reason Penn State is scoring 45+ a game is definitely a product of their prolific offense, but the offense is on the field a lot more because their defense is getting it done. Nobody is scoring any points on the Nits defense. Illinois is the only opponent to eclipse 20 points versus the Nits stout D. The line gets a great push up front and the linebackers are great as usual. The secondary is considered the weak link, but I think most teams would be happy to have the Penn State starting secondary operating in their own defensive backfields. I don’t think the secondary is weak at all. Penn State is chalk-full of quality athletes and they are all playing (everybody together now) with-a-purpose.
This Penn State team is demolishing hapless opponents week after week. Some critics say that they haven’t been tested yet and that the Michigan game exposed their weaknesses. Really?! They put 32 straight on the hapless Wolverines in the second half of that game, so I think that argument is road kill. The Purdue game is the only contest that was different from the rest, as the Nits only scored twenty. I did not see that game, but I did see the OSU v. Purdue game, in which Purdue sold out defensively to stop the Buckeyes. My guess is they (Purdue) employed the same strategy versus Penn State. Neither resulted in wins for Purdue, but they held both Ohio State and Penn State down to some degree. So, Penn State really hasn’t had a bad game yet. Maybe a bad half or two, but not a bad game.
Ohio State on the other hand has had plenty-o bad games, halves, quarters, team meetings, practices, and any other team oriented function you can imagine. In my mind it is some what unbelievable that they are entering this contest with Penn State at 7-1. The “1” has been well documented. That game versus USC further cemented the public opinion that OSU cannot win the “big game” versus a quality opponent. Combine that with lackluster performances versus perceived lesser opponents, and nobody outside of Ohio is picking the Buckeyes this Saturday. I think based upon what has transpired thus far this season makes that prognostication perfectly logical. However, I must respectfully disagree with the pick.
The Ohio State team that is currently playing on Saturdays is a work in progress. Gone are the days when the talking heads were enamored by Heisman trophy favorite Beanie Wells, 20 returning starters back from a title game team, and all the other sure fire reasons the Buckeyes would be back sniffing the title game again this year. That team is buried deeper than a Texas game ball. The new look Buckeyes sport a rejuvenated Beanie Wells, best players playing, and of course that includes Mr. Terrelle Pryor. A freshman QB is running the show instead of a sixth year senior and he is 5-0 since assuming that role. He has not faced a defense, other than USC, that will challenge him like Penn State. That being said, he wasn’t the starter in the USC game, nor did he have eight games under his belt when he played against USC. The Buckeye o-line has been under fire the entire season. At times they looked great and more often they have been average to poor. Two of there heralded five-star o-line recruits (J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams) have been shelved for the season. Both of those guys were in the two-deep. The o-line has to give Pryor time and also open up running lanes for Beanie. The Buckeyes go as Mr. Wells goes. If he spends a lot of time in the second levels of the Penn State defense, then it will be a long night for Penn State. I am not confident that the o-line can handle the Penn State pressure up front. It is the key to this game when OSU has the ball. As much as I want to think that the MSU game last week was a statement game, in that the offense is finally finding its groove, I have to be honest and admit that OSU is still relying upon the run game far too often. A good opponent like Penn State will have the athletes to negate the run game if it is the only facet of the Buckeye offense. Pryor can only juke so many guys before he is going down. He has to throw the ball downfield and the o-line has to facilitate that option. I do think that the OSU receivers are good enough to exploit the PSU secondary, but that point is mute if Pryor is buried under a pile of blue and white before he can throw the ball.
More important than the Buckeye offense is the Buckeye D. This unit has played well for the last four games. They are playing fast, smart, and with that purpose I mentioned earlier. They need to keep the Spread HD off the field. If they do that successfully, then the Buckeyes win this game. A slow, ball control game plays in to Tressel’s hand and the victory bell will ring. Obviously pointing this out is not earth shattering, but I don’t think many people think there is any difference in the Buckeye defense between the beginning of the season and now. The defense is better…period. Besides, Jenkins is always good for a pick-six against the Nits. It’s like a tradition. This defense will limit Penn State more than any other they have faced to date. The pass rush has not garnered many sacks, but the disruption is there. They have been in the backfield a lot. OSU will spy Clark and Royster with Hines or one of the linebackers. Normally a mismatch, but not in this case.
The bottom-line is that Ohio State has the more talented athletes on paper. The real bottom-line is that Penn State has a better functioning team at this point. If the MSU game was indicative of how the Buckeyes will play from here on in, then with home field advantage they should win. If Penn State is really the #3 juggernaut that everybody says they are, then they should win. I think Penn State is a great team, and they are much better than I thought they would be this season. However, as I mentioned before, OSU has the better athletes and if they have really and truly jelled, then the Buckeyes will win on Saturday in the Horseshoe.
Yeah, UGLY, that is all you can say. Well, no I think I can think of a few more things to say. Putrid, disgusting, lackadaisical, awe-inspiring (NOT), ridiculous, constipating, flatulent, foul odorous emanation, Big-to-the-suck, and don’t forget erroneous perpetration of a Division I College Football power. I could break out more impressive adjectives to describe the Buckeye’s performance, but you all know it will take me wayyy to long to look up all those big words. The Buckeyes crapped the bed right before the biggest regular season game of their 2008 slate. I bet the ESPN folks are happy about this one. Let’s dig in to this enormous pile of dinosaur dung in an effort to understand how this could have happened.
Twenty returning starters…check. Heisman candidate and future first round RB…check. Senior starting QB with veteran offensive line…check. Two future NFL receivers…check. A much underused future NFL TE…check. Senior laden, dominating defense, with several future NFL candidates…check. Veteran coaching staff led by none other than best selling author and future senator Jim Tressel…check. Well now that we have run down a brief checklist, which could easily be expanded, of the positives that this year’s Buckeye squad has to offer we should be able to easily see how they could barely handle a MAC team at home, right? This will be harder than I thought.
There is no excuse for the way the offense played. The O-line looked like they were running in quicksand, and the receivers acted like the ball was a giant salmonella-covered tomato. Ewww, don’t throw that thing at me! The running game was pathetic, mainly due to the line play, until the fourth quarter when they finally realized they were about to lose at home to a bunch of kids that OSU didn’t want. Brian Hartline described the effort as “pathetic”. You got that one right Brian. If the Bobcats, excuse me, if the Mighty Bobcats hadn’t turned the ball over FIVE times, OSU would have lost this game. As it stands, they only lost their dignity. A few brave Buckeyes offered up the old “a win is a win”, but most knew better than to go there. Hell, Tressel didn’t even drop that old line. He came fairly close to actually blaming people on the team for the failure, but went Tresselesque with some “everyone could have done a better job” type statements.
I don’t claim to be a football expert. Hell, I can’t even tell you what some basic formations are when the boys line up for a snap. I can’t even say I played the game. However, I have watched enough football in my time, and know WAY more than I should about the Buckeyes, to the point that I can say with absolute certainty that the Buckeyes did not play their best football Saturday. Really? Gee, thanks for the update Captain Obvious! What I mean is that the Buckeyes are a team that could pound a team like OU without too much trouble and definitely were underprepared for this game. However, the offense is obviously a work in progress and that doesn’t make any sense. It is the same group they had last year sans one FB and one lineman. If anything they should be improved…unless they are as good as they are going to get. They could not protect Boeckman in the Illinois and title games last year, and they did a horrible job again on Saturday versus the Mighty Bobcats. One thing all three of those opponents had were lighter, quicker d-lineman (not including Big daddy Dorsey). You would think 323 pounds versus 275 pounds would be a mismatch every time, but it doesn’t work like that. In my opinion, Tressel needs to get at least two of the new freshman (Adams and Brewster) in the starting line-up right now, and don’t look back. Pryor needs to be utilized more immediately if the current lineman at the team’s disposal cannot give the lead-footed Boeckman an adequate amount of time to throw (and that assumes that the receivers actually catch the ball). This at least gives the offense a chance on broken plays. Boeckman is only good if he has time to throw. He makes very poor decisions when pressured. Many QB’s make poor decisions when pressured, so the key is to provide top o-line talent that can provide the necessary time for the QB to make a good decision when he unloads the rock. Not rocket science, but the whole concept comes crashing down when the supposed blue-chip lineman you have in the game look more like buffalo chips. It all starts and ends with line play, and right now the Trojans will win that battle based upon what we have all seen to date.
The defense is better and closer to “as advertised”, but the tackling on Saturday was horrendous. And let’s not forget that OU had their second string QB in the game from midway through the 1st qtr. until the final gun. He was, big shocker here, an elusive, running quarter back. The Buckeyes have traditionally had their problems with running QB’s and this was no time to break with tradition. Boo Jackson must not have been told that he was supposed to be tackled for losses and committed to three-and-outs like every other cupcake opponent QB who dares to enter the Horseshoe (in sinister, deep James Earl Jones tones). Many times the Buckeye defenders had him in their grasp, only to end up grasping at air and watch helplessly as he converted several third downs. It seems a lot like the Juice Williams disaster from last season, only Mr. Jackson was kind enough to throw four completions to the Buckeye defense. So, it would have actually been better if the defense had not driven the starting QB from the game in the first place. Regardless, MAC quarterbacks aren’t supposed to upset the Buckeyes at home…period.
The only optimism I can muster as the Buckeyes head toward their destruct…er I mean date with USC this weekend, is that maybe they were just looking ahead and did not game plan and/or prepare for OU. Other points the Buckeyes may need to cling to would include the possibility that OU played way beyond their abilities and were fired up because many of those guys were spurned by OSU coming out of high school, therefore they were super-motivated to play OSU. Combine that with OSU looking ahead and you get the stink bomb that was Saturday’s game. No Beanie. And this should not have mattered, but Beanie offers an intimidation factor that the other backs do not. Virginia beat lowly 2A Richmond very unimpressively, so one could gather that USC didn’t beat an average ACC team, but a really crappy ACC team who may not be much better than Ohio University or just about any other DI program. It remains to be seen, so it is a mute point really. Even if Virginia is equal or worse than OU, USC had no problems with Virginia, while it took OSU every bit of four quarters and five turnovers to beat OU. Last year OSU only beat Akron 20-2 and a week later b*itch slapped Washington when they finally woke up in the second half of that game. Obviously the Buckeyes will not be b*tch slapping USC, but maybe the Buckeyes will put it all together and at least be competitive this Saturday. Not much o####olden lining I’m afraid, so it doesn’t look good for the Buckeyes however you want to slice the cheese. Stinky cheese would be an improvement over the Buckeyes at this point me thinks.
So, on the record I will hold out some hope that OSU will work hard this week, get Beanie back at close to 100%, and play a competitive game at USC this Saturday. Considering those things, and because I am hard-wired not to intentionally make the Buckeyes a certified wood-shed loser, I am going with USC 28 OSU 20. Now if Beanie does not play or comes out early and it is obvious that USC can move the ball easily on the Buckeye defense, then it will be more like the debacle in the desert in terms of a final score. More like a 24 point margin of victory. The only way the Buckeyes beat the Trojans is if the defense plays the game of their lives and keeps the Trojan offense off the field. Or half the SC starters eat bad tomatoes and miss the game. Bad fish tacos anyone?
Why do I suddenly feel like watching Apocalypse Now…..Oh the horror of it all.
As the 2008 CFB season kicks off, the journey towards redemption for the Buckeyes also begins. Obviously making it to the title game two years in a row (and three out of the last six) isn’t good enough. Sure, actually winning the title games would be more impressive, and not losing so…well…ungraciously would have been better. However, three title game appearances in three years are impressive. Before the haters begin to spout forth their typical “weak conference” and “backed in” nonsense, try to focus on just the accomplishment of getting to a title game. The current system makes the journey one-part luck, one-part clout, and one-part performance for any would-be contender. Oklahoma has lost four of their last five bowl games, yet nobody is saying they will be eliminated from the equation if they show up for the party in December with one loss. Ohio State HAS to win every game this year, and do it convincingly, in order to be considered for another NC game berth. Why? Is it because the last two years they were less than victorious? Or is it because it is just time for somebody new to enter the fray?
The system is what it is. If Ohio State wins all of their games, or loses one along the way and is one of a handful of one loss teams (example) vying for one of the spots in a title game, why shouldn’t they be considered? Oh, the Big Ten is weak you say? Great, let’s punish a team for their conference affiliation. Wait, I know…teams should be able to switch conferences every year to the perceived “strong conferences” so they will have enough clout by selection time to be considered. No, I think a team’s conference, for better or worse, is a team’s conference. So let’s not include the Buckeyes because they can’t beat an SEC team, who will always be in the title game by default from now on apparently. I’m sorry, where was the line to receive magic crystal balls? I am certain mine would have shown the 2008 Buckeye team losing again to another SEC team in a title game, right? As much as people would like to chalk that one up, the reality is that the 2008 team is not the 2006 or the 2007 team. Do I need to offer proof? Time marches on and although I will readily admit that the SEC is a tougher conference top to bottom than the Big Ten and that the Buckeyes have lost convincingly to SEC opponents in back-to-back title games, I must ask the haters to admit that this year is a new year and has nothing to do with the last two. Additionally, they lost to the best SEC teams, not some middle of the pack squads.
Ohio State, USC, Texas, LSU, Florida, Oklahoma, and all the other perennial football powers all recruit the same athletes and the parity is only getting stronger. The winning programs must adjust to the times in order to compete. Ohio State has recruited more speed, athlete/DB position types, and slimmed down their linebackers and D-lineman in the past two recruiting seasons. Gee, do you think they might be making some adjustments in order to compete with fast, spread offense type teams? Nah, Tressel and his staff are a bunch of morons! They lost two title games and backed into another title because a ref couldn’t throw a flag fast enough. The program is second rate and should probably be disbanded or at least drop down to Division II. I can become a Columbus Destroyers fan no problem. Fire sale on Buckeye gear!!!
Sarcasm aside, the Buckeyes will be in the mix every year for a long time. Everything is cyclical and the Buckeyes are due. The USC game will be the measuring stick early on, but regardless of the outcome of that game, the Bucks will be lurking around for a third straight title shot come December. My request of the Buckeye hating world is that this year’s team be given the chance to prove on the field that they do or do not belong among the elite teams THIS season. Nobody is going to throw LSU down the well if they lose a few games this year and don’t repeat as champions. In fact, it is deemed a “re-building year” for LSU, so a title game berth seems a little far fetched. A bunch of their guys were drafted and they lost their starting QB du jour in Perriloux. So, if LSU has a miraculous season and “backs in” to the title game this year, will they be unworthy? Hell, they probably aren’t even favored to win their own conference.
It seems to me that I have heard that story before……
The Buckeyes have an enormous fan base and some well connected alumni in the sporting world. You can find a large fan base and alumni gathering spots in every major city in this country. The Buckeyes are good for business, so they get forced down a lot of throats. How many people hate the Cowboys or the Yankees? People despise success, especially when it is not occurring for their team. That is the real reason there is an anti-Buckeye groundswell in CFB. The 2006 team was super-hyped and got waxed by Florida. If that team had not been so heavily favored, the loss would not have been such a big deal. Bad timing last year, in that a young Buckeye team with a first year starter at QB has to play a veteran LSU (who they out gained in total yardage BTW) team IN New Orleans, contributed to another title game let down. The point is that last year’s squad wasn’t even supposed to win their own conference, let alone contend for a national title. If other teams had handled their business, then we aren’t even discussing an OSU v. LSU title tilt!
Well, trying to make a case for national respect with regard to the Buckeyes is akin to #### Cheney running the Boston Marathon (or around the block for that matter)…it just ain’t happening. My guess is that even with a victory over USC, the Buckeyes will still be odd-man out if the final choice comes down to three or four teams from the SEC and/or Big 12. It is unfortunate, but at this point it is all speculative as well. I intend to enjoy another roller coaster ride from August to January on board the best coaster in all of sports…College Football.
See you on the gridiron ladies.
Oh, and for all you _ichigan fans out there, I thought you might like a little shot to get the ball rolling.
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.
Not often will I feel compelled to compliment a rival, but in this case I feel it is warranted. I am referring specifically to the LSU fan-base and the city of New Orleans. I, and many other, Buckeye fans traveled at great expense to attend the BCS National Championship in New Orleans this Monday past. And with very few exceptions were treated very well. Allow me to expand and categorize:
LSU Nation
New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana and only 80 miles from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. So it goes without saying that there would be excellent Tiger representation in New Orleans for the game. Any Buckeye fan already knows that although we may not be to adept at actually winning title games, our fan-base will out travel any school in the nation hands down. That is a battle we will never lose, and it was the case again this year. At times
Bourbon Street looked as much Scarlet & Gray as Purple & Gold. Thousands of fans poured onto the streets to prepare for the game.
I arrived Saturday afternoon and was sitting in Pat O’s by three o’clock with Hurricane in hand. Almost immediately I was introduced to the favorite greeting that LSU fans have for their intended victims: TIGER BAIT. If I had a dollar for every time I heard those two words from Saturday to Monday, I could have paid for my hotel room and drinks for my entire stay! Annoying as it was, it was harmless and eventually I developed a retort of “second place”, which worked well until after the game of course. The real story here is that the LSU fans by and large were not only friendly but down right respectful. Much more so than their Florida counter-parts last year (based upon reports from my friends who attended last year’s game in Glendale), the Notre Dame fans I encountered in Tempe, Michigan fans in general (easily expected), or pretty much any other fan-base I have encountered over the years. It might have been the location, in that it was essentially a home game for LSU and many LSU grads probably stay in Louisiana after college, so they are proud of New Orleans. It really doesn’t matter why, but it was not lost upon my self, or the countless Buckeye fans that I talked to down there that we all had the same experience with the LSU fans. Many times a few chants of “Tiger bait” were followed with “Y’all having a good time down here?” and/ or “What are you drinking”, which would be followed by a drink in my hand. I was double fisted most of the time I was down there, and that is a good thing in my book! I had many respectful exchanges with the fans… and a few not so much, but every fan-base has their ####s (right, Buckeye fans?). Even after the game there was a lot of respect. Most fans even said it was a shame somebody had to lose and that the Buckeyes would be missed. They complimented the way the Buckeye Nation took over the town and partied with LSU nation as we shared our rabid allegiances for our respective teams. Ohio State may or may not have been the correct opponent for the Tigers, but we were the correct team for the city of New Orleans and the LSU fan-base.
I am getting a little long winded. The trip was great and I am proud of our team for the season they had, for the way Buckeye Nation represented themselves in number and class in New Orleans, and for the example that both fan-bases set forth regarding how to respect your opponent and embrace the love for college football that we all had in common.
In closing I will say that this trip, even with the unhappy ending for my team, was one of the best I have ever taken. And to sum up my experience with the LSU fans, I will refer to the end of the game. We stayed until the gun and began to leave as the purple and gold confetti began to swirl in the Superdome. As my wife and I reached the end of our row, and it was our turn to enter the aisle, my wife looked at the gentleman in the LSU shirt who had stopped to let here exit and said: “You are going to let a Buckeye cut in front of you?”
He simply smiled and said, “I’m from New Orleans mam, and it’s ladies first down here”.
Now that the less serious blogs about the big game are out of the way (link) and (link), it is time to assess the actual match-up on the field. Most non-OSU and Big Ten pundits out there in the CFB analytical world have it “no chance” for OSU. The ESPN Confidence Poll has it 78% for LSU. Perhaps a sample of the “confidence” would be prudent at this point:
“The BCS system isn't set up to give third chances, but the Tigers won't need another opportunity after they beat Ohio State in New Orleans.” – Chris Low, ESPN
“And when LSU beats Ohio State for the national championship, and that sense of finality sets in, you'll already be longing for the chaos of next season.” - Heather Dinich, ESPN
Well, we already know that the folks at ESPN are the authorities on who is better than who when it comes to anything related to competitive sports, so I guess the Buckeyes are wasting good booster cheese vacationing in the Crescent City. I will take a stand here and beg to differ. I waited until the outcome of the Capital One Bowl and Outback Bowls were known, so all the “conference comparing addicts” out there would have something to chew on that was tangible: on field performance. Michigan obviously put the SEC “speed” advantage folklore to bed with their domination of Florida. The same Florida team that limited a healthy LSU offense to 147 passing yards. They did allow 247 rushing, but Michigan just put up 373 passing & 151 rushing (Total 524). Just in case you’re wondering, OSU held Michigan to 91 yards…..TOTAL….FOR THE GAME! Granted, it was a wet field and Henne was ####ed up, but Mallet is no slouch and Hart was 100% for that game. Oh and by the way, that game was AT the Big House with all 100,000 plus screaming when the Buckeyes had the ball. I guarantee that the Super Dome will not be any louder than the Big House, Happy Valley aka The Beav, or Autzen Stadium in Washington. I have been to Death Valley for a game or two and it definitely tops on the decibel meter, but the game isn’t in Death Valley Monday night. My guess is there are at least 30,000 Buckeyes sitting in the dome at kick off. Further more, I recall LSU having more than a little trouble with UT a few weeks back in the SEC title game. Everybody keeps talking about how Flynn didn’t start and Dorsey was ####ed up, well if Dorsey is the whole defense than it is game over already. Last time I checked Highsmith, Steltz and the rest of the Tiger’s defense may take exception to that perspective. In terms of Flynn, I think it is quite obvious that Perrilloux is the better QB anyway. He is the type of QB that OSU has had trouble with, and he is the QB I expect OSU will see more of on Monday night. Back to the point: UT needed all of their magical powers to beat a Wisconsin team that OSU dominated. Maybe it means nothing…maybe it means everything.
The OSU defense has been stellar this year. They are ranked number one in total and scoring defense. LSU is ranked #3 and #21 respectively in the same categories. From what I’ve seen this year in SEC match-ups, with the exception of LSU, Auburn, and Georgia, the SEC has not played much defense this year. The scores have been a little more WAC than SEC in my opinion. LSU was lights out defensively in the first five games of the year. I assume this is when everyone was healthy, but it was also versus less than impressive teams. Virginia Tech is the obvious exception and a case could be made for Mississippi State too since they ended up in a bowl game. Florida came into Baton Rouge and ran for 156 and Ole Miss (currently ranked #83 in team rushing) dropped 201 on the Tigers. Of course D-Mac and the Arkansas unit blew up the Tiger run D for 385, but it was D-Mac after all. The same D-Mac that went for 105 in the Mizzou loss. To their credit, the Tigers limited the rest of their 2007 opponents to moderate or very impressive run totals, and only D-Mac broke 100 individually on the LSU defense. Impressive to say the least. OSU was similar, in that four opponents cracked 100 on the Bucks, with their most noticeable melt down coming versus Illinois when they allowed 260 yards. Ironic that both teams lost games where their vaunted run defenses #### the pooch. OSU also held Akron to 20 yards, Purdue to 4, and Northwestern to zero in the rushing department. The most formidable rushing attacks that the Buckeyes faced this season would be Illinois (R.Mendenhall, D.Dufrene & Juice Williams) 260 yards, Michigan State (Javon Ringer and J.Caulcrick) 59 yards, Purdue (K.Sheets) 20 yards, and Michigan (Mike Hart) for 44 yards. It is notable that Mike Hart ran behind the same line last year against the Buckeyes for 150+ yards and three scores.
The bottom-line is that both defenses are top notch. The Tigers may have a little more depth in the secondary and their tackles are better, but OSU holds the edge in linebackers and defensive ends.
The obvious epicenter of the match-up is the trenches. Can the OSU line provide enough protection for Boeckman to look down his progressions? Most of Boeckman’s 12 interceptions this year were caused by the QB trying to force the ball into coverage, and not by pressure. The LSU line is not the speed unit that OSU faced last year, but Dorsey and Favorite power their way into the backfield on almost every play.
Flynn tends to make bad throws under pressure. He has become much better in terms of either running the ball if all his reads are covered or throwing the ball away. However, Mr. Gholston arrives in the backfield shortly after the snap on most downs, so I expect a few mistakes will be made. Much like it is pick your poison between Dorsey and Favorite, the same choice exists with Gholston and Little Ironhead Heyward.
Of course you can’t pass if you can’t run, so the defense that is most effective versus the run will give their team the advantage. Beanie is a load and he has six 100yard and two 200 yard games in the garage already this year. The only games he was truly contained were the Akron and Illinois games. Almost every back on the team got carries in the Akron game, so it is not a good barometer for evaluation purposes. Illinois is the only team to limit Beanie under 100 in a competitive contest, and OSU was behind and throwing a lot in that game. Against Wisconsin and Michigan, OSU rode him to victory on 169 and 3 TD’s and 222 two TD’s respectively. No team that he has run against this year has provided the same challenge as the LSU defense. It will be tough sledding, but the LSU D-line has not seen an O-line like this one yet either. Three senior fullbacks and two excellent blocking tight ends pick up opposing linebackers if Beanie gets through the line. I know the LSU pundits are saying that it is highly improbable that Beanie hits that second level of the defense…they better hope they’re right.
I have heard at least 1 million and one times that LSU is the more talent laden team. Perhaps that is true from top to bottom on the roster based upon recruit rankings and evaluation methods derived from such rankings by the “experts”. If you consider only the starters and/or the players that will be playing the majority of the snaps in this game, then OSU has the same if not superior talent at many positions. There are three top twelve picks starting on the OSU defense right now (Lauranitis, Gholston, and Jenkins). LSU has only Dorsey in the top 12. I think if you go position by position, it breaks down like this:
QB- Edge: LSU
RB- Edge: OSU
FB– Edge: OSU
WR-Edge: LSU
TE – Edge: OSU
OL- Edge: OSU
DE- Edge: OSU
DT- Edge: LSU
MLB- Edge: OSU
WSL- Edge: OSU
SSL- Edge: OSU
SS- Edge: LSU
FS- Edge: LSU (Except in the nickel when Jenkins slides to FS)
CB- Edge: OSU
K- Edge: OSU
P- Edge: OSU
PR & KR- Edge: LSU
I think the special teams play, not including Holiday as a returner, is fairly even. I doubt that OSU will kick to Holiday. I know I wouldn’t!
I have it advantage OSU 11 – 7 on the position breakdown. Now this doesn’t project how the units match-up versus each other, so this is how it would look.
OSU O-Line v. LSU D-Line – Edge: LSU
OSU RB v. LSU LB’s – Edge: OSU
OSU WR/TE v. LSU Secondary – Edge: LSU
LSU O-Line v. OSU D-Line – Edge: OSU
LSU RB v. OSU LB’s – Edge: Even
LSU WR v. OSU Secondary – Edge: LSU
Special Teams:
Return Game – Edge: LSU
Kicking – Edge: OSU
So LSU wins this breakdown 4-3, with one category listed as a push. Just one man’s opinion obviously, but I have seen every OSU game this season, and replays of the Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan games. Additionally, I have seen LSU play VT, Mississippi State, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, and Ole Miss. I have seen replays of the Florida and Auburn games. Oh yeah, and the Kentucky game. I have watched many other SEC games as well and I must admit that the brand of football is very exciting. The big difference for me, when contrasted with Big Ten play, is that the SEC plays a lot more man-to-man and therefore the big play is more frequent. The zone schemes of the Big Ten prevent the big play more often than not, and create the “three clouds…” stereotype. The speed theory is not correct. It is based upon one game and I think (it bears repeating) that Michigan dispelled that myth a few days ago. So, basically I am saying that when these teams lock up on Monday night, I think most people will be surprised by the outcome. I expect OSU to win the game (shocker!). If LSU completely stuffs the run and OSU turns the ball over more than once, then it will be hard to beat LSU. Playing from behind in front of a pro-LSU crowd is not where the Buckeyes want to be. If they can move the ball effectively in the ground and control the clock and the tempo of the game, then they have a legitimate shot at winning the title.
Good luck to both teams and I’ll see you in New Orleans!
Just a little fun “speed” comparison somebody sent me to finish this one off.
Go BUCKS!!! BEAT LSU!!!
Oh, and maybe just one more:
Truth hurts sometimes.
I will be soaking it all in in The Easy for a few days, and will return to eat crow or serve it on Wednesday.
Now that the bowl match-ups have been decided by people much wiser than anyone who hangs out in here, we might as well talk about the games.
Obviously, I am going to talk about one game. The BCS National Championship Game between THE Ohio State Buckeyes and the Louisiana State Bayou Bengals. Perhaps you have not had to pleasure of reading any of my previous scribble, so I will reiterate that my mother is from Shreveport, LA. Thus, a good portion of my family pays tribute to the Purple & Gold. Amazingly some were even able to graduate from that very school. Growing up in Ohio has warped my mind and the Buckeye Nation swayed me to their side long ago, however I still pull for the Tigers from time to time.
This will not be one of those times.
Let me refresh the listening audience regarding all the reasons OSU will be beaten like an English school- teacher in a Muslim country….
OSU is a team from the Big Ten conference that doesn’t have a single athlete that can run anything faster than a 6.2 forty. LSU, on the other hand, is from the most masterful college football conference of all time…The Ssssss Eeeeeeee Cccccccc (ominous James Earl Jones echo).
Every player in the SEC, including the punters and long snappers, can run a sub 4.5 forty. Ok, forget it, put us in the Holiday Bowl and let The Greatest Team of All Time w/ 2 losses, USC, play LSU for the title. Give the people what they want!!!! Right, %#@& the people, give Pete_Nice what he wants, OSU in the title game.
Ok where was I…oh right… OSU has never beaten an SEC team in a bowl game (O fer 8 y’all!). Well it ain’t happenen this year either. As I mentioned before, their long snapper can out run our fastest guy, so why show up? Well the gumbo and the ####’s are real nice in Nawlins , for one thing. Hopefully the Buckeye receivers and defensive backs can crack 5.0 on their forty times by game day, and might have a chance to make at least three tackles if the LSU players trip or something.
Les Miles will out coach Jim Tressel…..ok, I can’t even say that tongue-in-cheek. Better chance of him coaching the Wolverines next season than out-coaching The Senator. I just swallowed my gum.
The game will be played in Louisiana. Well that sucks. I sure hope at least a couple of hundred Buckeye fans make the trip. Nothing like spending thousands of dollars and travelling hundreds or thousands of miles to watch your team get spanked like a Bill Clinton intern. Thank you sir, may I please have another!!!???
They have already engraved the trophy with LSU’s name and this game is just a formality. Gee, that sounds familiar….
Glenn Dorsey will be healthy again by game day, and he can tackle the entire OSU offense by himself! WOW, now that will be worth the price of admission.
The super-fast, diminutive Trindon Holiday will run so fast, you will hear a sonic BOOM when he returns akick or punt for a touch down. Chris Leak might show up and throw one more TD pass for old times sake too. The LSU offense may never have to see the field.
And the number one reason OSU has no chance of winning the title game this year is….
They lost to Florida last year.
Stay tuned for a more serious blog concerning how crucial this game is for the Buckeyes.
Until then, enjoy the season, enjoy the sports, and enjoy each other.
*The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, nor do they really mean I think the Buckeyes will lose the NCG. Actually, I am pretty sure they will win. I was pretty sure they would win last year too. I was also pretty sure that K-Fed would go platinum, Britney would graduate from high school, Barry Bonds could read, Howard Stern goes to church, and Don Imus would be the next president of the NAACP. What's the line?
Ahhhh yes, my favorite time of the year. Times have been good lately for the Buckeyes, in terms of their annual grudge match versus The Team Up North (TTUN). I have a lot of names for TTUN, but I will refrain from using most of them since little kids like Hoit, Flying Pig, and Blue 37 might read this post. I wouldn’t want them to get their mouths washed out with soap (or something worse) if their parents catch them repeating the unsavory names I could come up with for the University of _ichigan’s football team.
It seems like a thousand years have passed since the Buckeye nation had to endure the "Cooper" years, when OSU couldn’t buy a win in The Game. No offense to John Cooper or Tennessee (where Mr. Cooper was bornified!), but it takes a Buckeye to understand The Game and what it means to be a Buckeye. Enter "The Senator" aka Coach Jim "I Own You LLLLLoyd" Tressel, and it has been a flippin Mardi Gras ever since!!! Granted, a lot of that had to do with Troy Smith and his ability to slay wolverines at will. However, the tide has turned and OSU has the better players, and lets face it, the better coach right now. Sad little LLLLLoyd. Somebody give that guy a hug!! Hey , look somebody is giving LLLLLoyd a hug…and what looks to be a bit more! Nothing like a little Aussie man-love before the big game, eh Russell? I’m sure they are working on a "back door" trap play as we speak. Smoochie-wooooooochie Russell-poo. Please. Make it stop!!!!
I actually have a lot of respect for the _ichigan football program…er I did have respect, this just in:
Q: Where was O.J. hiding right before the famous white Bronco chase?
A:On the University of Michigan campus. That's the last place you would find a football player.
Amen.
Everybody knows that the only good football players the skunkbears ever have come from Ohio. Why do these kids go to scUM? I have no freaking clue, but I know they were probably brain washed by the _ichigan coaches or OSU just didn’t want them. Desmond and his pose??? Obviously he needed the attention. Chuckie Woodson and his stolen Heisman (everybody knows Peyton should have won that year)??? He’s from Fremont…if you’ve been there, you would want to leave the state too. Both these guys were recruited by Cooper….nuff said. Oh wait something else:
Q: What do you get when you cross a University of Michigan fan and a pig?
A: Nothing. There's some things that a pig will not do.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I love that one!!!
Now the scUM program does have it’s highlights….hold on I’m looking for something…####, ok check this out while you wait:
Q: Why don't University of Michigan fans let their kids play in sandboxes?
A: Because cats keep covering them up.
OK, here it is….The University of _ichigan football program has the most wins all time. Impressive. Now here is the asterisk: *Most of these wins happened before Custer messed with the wrong bunch of native Americans (hell yeah I’m P.C.). Another interlude:
