ElevenWarriors (Official Thread)

[kn1f3party]

Good 11W article:

It is, thanks for sharing.

I’ll put it here because I’m not sure it warrants a new thread but…

Others have mentioned the need for depth going in to ‘24 due to the possibility of a longer season with the 12 team playoff. That, coupled with the normalization of amateurism through NIL and the TP are starting to warp the rosters. I think there’s something to both Judkins and Henderson wanting to split carries and preserve their bodies for the NFL. I think players are mature in their understanding they don’t have to be THE feature back to go pro. More than years past at least.

All that to say I think the top flight programs are at an inflection point where recruiting and roster management are going to start looking more like it’s done in the NFL. I’ll probably boycott the sport if the day comes where we bench our starters for tCUN because we’ve locked up a bye in the playoff and the conference championship bid.

 

[Buckeye86]

I’ll probably boycott the sport if the day comes where we bench our starters for tCUN because we’ve locked up a bye in the playoff and the conference championship bid.

They need to move The Game to the first game of the year to avoid the “bench your starters” scenario.

It also avoids the scenario of playing in the last game of the year, in the conference championship, and in the twelve team playoff three weeks in a row (or at least two in a row and quickly for the third).

It will make the off-season anticipation off the charts, and it gives both teams months to prepare.

It will no doubt be messier football, but it will also be full of surprises as both teams don’t have film on the other.

Although I recognize this is a massive change that most people will not like at first, it is the lesser of two evils compared to resting starters and possibly playing multiple weeks in a row, in my opinion.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

 

[Zurp]

They need to move The Game to the first game of the year to avoid the “bench your starters” scenario.

First, I think that idea should be considered. If there's a situation where Ohio State takes The Game off, that's really, really bad. Or, conversely, if Ohio State doesn't take The Game off, and it hurts them down the road (maybe an injury, or they have to play against a good team that DID take a week off), that's also really bad. So moving it to September is an intriguing idea.
However, going undefeated, and then taking The Game off just to coast into the conference championship game isn't going to guarantee you a first-round bye. Case in point: Ohio State went undefeated until The Game, lost it, and was ranked outside the top 4 this year. If you have the CCG locked up, you might be able to win your way back into the top 4, but can you risk it at that point?
I'm with BN27. Don't touch it. Just because the playoffs are diminishing the importance of The Game doesn't mean we should further diminish it to the level of the game against Penn State.

 

[ScriptOhio]

For those that don't remember the 1972 Ohio State - scUM game:



The fourth-quarter goal-line stand was one of two in the game for the Buckeyes.

Entering The Game with a 10-0 record, Michigan needed only a tie to clinch the Big Ten championship and a trip to Pasadena. But Michigan coach Bo Schembechler said the Wolverines “never considered” taking the three points in those situations.

“I didn't want a tie. We wanted to win,” Schembechler said after the game.

Ohio State and Michigan finished the season as Big Ten co-champions with 9-1 records, but the Buckeyes were selected to play in the Rose Bowl – where they lost to would-be national champions USC – thanks to their head-to-head win over the Wolverines. Since the Big Ten did not permit its teams to play in other bowl games at the time, Michigan’s season ended with its loss in Columbus.

 

[Zurp]

For those that don't remember the 1972 Ohio State - scUM game:



The fourth-quarter goal-line stand was one of two in the game for the Buckeyes.

Entering The Game with a 10-0 record, Michigan needed only a tie to clinch the Big Ten championship and a trip to Pasadena. But Michigan coach Bo Schembechler said the Wolverines “never considered” taking the three points in those situations.

“I didn't want a tie. We wanted to win,” Schembechler said after the game.

Ohio State and Michigan finished the season as Big Ten co-champions with 9-1 records, but the Buckeyes were selected to play in the Rose Bowl – where they lost to would-be national champions USC – thanks to their head-to-head win over the Wolverines. Since the Big Ten did not permit its teams to play in other bowl games at the time, Michigan’s season ended with its loss in Columbus.

I was too young to remember, having been born in 1976. But that 3-year run for those 2 teams was awesome - mostly because Ohio State came out the "winner" in all three. (Yes, I know 1973 was a tie, but one team went to (and won) the Rose Bowl, and the other stayed home.)

1972 - from *ichigan fans' perspective, was stolen from them. I've heard them whining about how their back crossed the goal line, was pushed back, got back across, and then was pushed back again, before being tackled, and the referees refused to go against Woody. Maybe Bob Ufer helped fuel that fire. I never heard about how Bo went all-in to get the win. I figured he was just an arrogant jerk. But I respect the idea of not wanting the tie.

1973 - the tie and the whining that came from Bo (and can be seen on BTN's "tiebreaker" show) is awesome.

1974 - They insist they made the field goal, and that everyone in Ohio Stadium knew the Buckeyes should have lost. A regular on here says he was behind the goalpost and knew right away it was missed. I tend to believe that report more than *ichigan fans' whining about it, or the 1970's technology of the replay you can find on Youtube, which shows a really bad angle of the kick and it's so pixelated you can't see the ball hardly at all.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

I was too young to remember, having been born in 1976. But that 3-year run for those 2 teams was awesome - mostly because Ohio State came out the "winner" in all three. (Yes, I know 1973 was a tie, but one team went to (and won) the Rose Bowl, and the other stayed home.)

1972 - from *ichigan fans' perspective, was stolen from them. I've heard them whining about how their back crossed the goal line, was pushed back, got back across, and then was pushed back again, before being tackled, and the referees refused to go against Woody. Maybe Bob Ufer helped fuel that fire. I never heard about how Bo went all-in to get the win. I figured he was just an arrogant jerk. But I respect the idea of not wanting the tie.

1973 - the tie and the whining that came from Bo (and can be seen on BTN's "tiebreaker" show) is awesome.

1974 - They insist they made the field goal, and that everyone in Ohio Stadium knew the Buckeyes should have lost. A regular on here says he was behind the goalpost and knew right away it was missed. I tend to believe that report more than *ichigan fans' whining about it, or the 1970's technology of the replay you can find on Youtube, which shows a really bad angle of the kick and it's so pixelated you can't see the ball hardly at all.

1975 was the icing... It doesn't really fit with the others because there was no fake controversy for the wolverwhiners to cry about, but that is what makes it the icing. Archie's last game before receiving his second Heisman; his brother Ray has an interception and return that sets up Pete Johnson's game winning touchdown. And it was Woody's last victory in The Game IIRC.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Another great 11W (Ramzy Nasrallah) article:

 

[brodybuck21]

Another great 11W (Ramzy Nasrallah) article:

He's always on point