Game Thread Game One: Ohio State 38, Youngstown St. 6 (final)

[MililaniBuckeye]

However, Florida's OOC schedule included BCS powerhouse (at least in perception) FSU. Playing The Citadel certainly hurt Auburn's case for making a BCS title game.

With how Washington has crumbled since they were scheduled, I think our schedule compares more closely to Auburn 04 than Florida 06.

1. IIRC, Auburn's playing The Citadel was either before, or just when, everyone was allowed a 12th game and games against I-AA teams would count. The "stigma" of playing a I-AA team was greatly lessened.

2. What does Washington's demise have to do with playing YSU? Zero.

If you want to point out other OOC teams being on the schedule as an "offset" for playing a I-AA team, take a look at our OOC schedule over the next decade (USC, Miami (Fl), Cal, VaTech, Oklahoma). No one can reasonably argue that our reason for playing YSU is to have a cremepuff on our schedule to avoid a potential loss to another I-A team.

 

[jwinslow]

2. What does Washington's demise have to do with playing YSU? Zero.

Hardly. Washington's demise means our OOC schedule is now very weak. If Washington were still a contender, it would compensate for any perceived cupcakes on our schedule, such as YSU.

If you want to point out other OOC teams being on the schedule as an "offset" for playing a I-AA team, take a look at our OOC schedule over the next decade (USC, Miami (Fl), Cal, VaTech, Oklahoma).

That's not what I'm saying. My argument is that most years no one would make a stink about a I-AA team when we're playing NC contenders also.

No one can reasonably argue that our reason for playing YSU is to have a cremepuff on our schedule to avoid a potential loss to another I-A team.

Even if they agree that our mediocre '07 OOC schedule was unintentional, it still is mediocre.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

with osu and tsun's debacles in the bcs games last year and with the mediocre-to-poor ooc games this year, i think the only way that the big ten gets much credit this year is if they win their bowl games. there is not a single ooc game against a bona fide national contender (for any big ten team). this would not normally be an issue.

the problem is that the leaders of the big ten had their asses handed to them in january. by extension, the big ten will be considered suspect until it proves itself in the bcs and other bowl games against solid competition. ironically, the bucks and the skunkbears, the very teams that have made the conference respectable, have forced the conference to earn respect.

as osu and tsun go, so does the big ten.

 

[LightningRod]

It pisses me off to hear so many of you faithful loyal Buckeye FANS talking down about the YSU football team beingon the schedule for 3 years and how deflating this would be to Ohio State Football. I have been around football more than alot of you will ever know about the game.

Jim Tressel built his life around Youngstown State University Football for 15 years. Youngstown Ohio is still a great city in the state of Ohio which alot of you know nothing about.
Times have changed and the city of Youngstown is going thru alot of trying hard times. Not only Y-town but alot of other cities in the Great State of OHio
are experiencing the same hardships. Alot of you so-called loyal buckeye fans
are blind to this fact.

When YSU comes onto the Horseshoe next year to face the Buckeyes, they (YSU) will be proud to have stepped onto the field regardless of weather they win or lose the game. I hope that my good friend (Miliani will back me up on this post. I usually don't go into a rant in posting but this one really got under my skin. I'm proud of where i grew up in Ohio and will always remain true to the good city of Youngstown and the people who still live there.

Don't let it get you down Kippy. The only man whose opinion counts on this matter is Tressel, and he is not overly concerned about what others think. YSU will have 3 nice paydays against the Buckeyes plus another at PSU, Pitt and Nebraska. Go Guins and Go Buckeyes.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Hardly. Washington's demise means our OOC schedule is now very weak. If Washington were still a contender, it would compensate for any perceived cupcakes on our schedule, such as YSU.

Key word is "now". UW's "demise" is beyond our control, and thus is irrelevent. We can only do so much in the way of scheduling.

That's not what I'm saying. My argument is that most years no one would make a stink about a I-AA team when we're playing NC contenders also.

Since when has UW been a national title contender? And what happens if Miami (Fl) sucks in four or five years when we play them?

Tressel's goal is to be able to compete for a national title every year...you think he'd schedule a I-AA team--YSU or not--if he felt doing so would jeopardize our chances?

Even if they agree that our mediocre '07 OOC schedule was unintentional, it still is mediocre.

It would still be mediocre with an in-state team other than YSU.

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Key word is "now". UW's "demise" is beyond our control, and thus is irrelevent. We can only do so much in the way of scheduling.

Beyond our control doesn't equate to irrelevent. You've been around long enough to see how the polls work. Playing a I-AA team has the POTENTIAL to be very relevent. It also has the potential to be irrelevent, depending on how the season plays out.

Since when has UW been a national title contender? And what happens if Miami (Fl) sucks in four or five years when we play them?

I'm sure he was referencing the future years, not the one we are in. What I got from that was playing a I-AA team doesn't seem as much of a deal when you have a NC contender on the schedule. Thus, this year having a I-AA team AND no NC contender in the OOC hurts us even more.

Tressel's goal is to be able to compete for a national title every year...you think he'd schedule a I-AA team--YSU or not--if he felt doing so would jeopardize our chances?

How much do you think Tressel plans on 3 teams going undefeated and it coming down to a "resume" to go? I'm sure he's sitting back thinking if they go undefeated we are in the NC. Others, on this site specifically, are talking about the chances being diminished if we are in said scenerio (more than 2 undefeated teams with us being one of them.)

It would still be mediocre with an in-state team other than YSU.

....true. Again, the perception is what is being discussed. Someone who isn't as familiar with the OSU schedule, or Youngstown St. will just look at the fact that it was a I-AA team instead of a Division I team. Thus the original point.

 

[bkochmc]

I don't know how many times we have to beat this into some people's heads...YSU is not just a "I-AA" team, but a perennial I-AA powerhouse that has played MAC schools dead even throughout their history (and no one complains about us playing Kent State, Akron, Bowling Green, etc.). And we've already covered ad nauseum how Florida's playing a I-AA team didn't keep them from making it to the national title game last year. Playing YSU will not effect our chances of making it to the national title game whatsoever.

Mili - I understand YSU is not "just another I-AA team" and you are quite correct they SHOULD be viewed on the same level as most MAC teams as they would definitely hold their own in that conference. With that said, unfortunately many people across the country not familiar with the YSU program will see Ohio State playing a "I-AA" team and like it or not that perception can possibly hurt Ohio State in a very close BCS race.

Also, I don't agree with the Florida argument... While the race for the second spot has been discussed many times, there were multiple factors in Florida making the title game... USC losing to UCLA in their season finale, "no rematch" against scUM, and Florida winning the SEC title game which neither scUM nor USC had a chance to do. In any case, this isn't the thread for that argument (and doesn't matter anyways since they cleaned our clock and deserved the NC).

I do understand the point you and kippy make and there are many Buckeye fans that agree with your point (myself included). The problem lies with perception outside of Buckeye Nation which includes media and coaches who have a say in the fate of polls and bowls.

 

[Zurp]

To hell with what the rest of the country thinks!

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I'm tired of referencing all the naysayers specifically, so I'll just reply to all you Rainman individuals ("Yeah...can't, can't play I-AA teams. Yeah..."), and say this one more time...playing YSU will not, in any way, affect our chances for playing in the title game one iota. Not one single relevent pollster will hold our playing YSU against us, seeing as so many other big teams play I-AA teams for their 12th game.

Live in the now, people...

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

I'm tired of referencing all the naysayers specifically, so I'll just reply to all you Rainman individuals ("Yeah...can't, can't play I-AA teams. Yeah..."), and say this one more time...playing YSU will not, in any way, affect our chances for playing in the title game one iota. Not one single relevent pollster will hold our playing YSU against us, seeing as so many other big teams play I-AA teams for their 12th game.

Live in the now, people...

So if 3 teams, including Ohio State, go undefeated and we are the only school to play a I-AA team it will be irrelevent?

Yeah, okay.

Also, I would imagine there are quite a few "pollsters" who aren't the most educated in all areas of college football.

People are just brining up a "what if" scenerio that COULD be relevent. COULD be, no matter how much you vehemently disagree.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

playing YSU will not, in any way, affect our chances for playing in the title game one iota.

if ohio state and two other reputable programs happen to go undefeated next year, ohio state will likely be on the outside looking in... and it won't be because of a game against a 1-aa school. what would hurt the most would be the shellacking on 1/8. the human polls won't be giving the benefit of the doubt to the buckeyes and the skunkbears next year. then again, many of the preseason polls have tsun rated near the top.

 

[jwinslow]

Not one single relevent pollster will hold our playing YSU against us, seeing as so many other big teams play I-AA teams for their 12th game.

Live in the now, people...

This is the case with many but not all schools. CFN's top-2 '07 teams USC, LSU* do not (I don't care to dig deeper).

* - You can certainly argue that LSU plays YSU-level opponents. But for the casual (read: lazy) voter, I could see them being hung up on the I-AA thing.

if ohio state and two other reputable programs happen to go undefeated next year, ohio state will likely be on the outside looking in... and it won't be because of a game against a 1-aa school. what would hurt the most would be the shellacking on 1/8. the human polls won't be giving the benefit of the doubt to the buckeyes and the skunkbears next year. then again, many of the preseason polls have tsun rated near the top.

Very true. One could also argue flip that argument around as well. With the widespread disdain of the b10 after the rose/fiesta, and the possible slow start with so many new QBs in the conference, the disrespect could continue. The b10 won't carry OSU as far in the polls, making a perceived chink in the armor (of our schedule), like a I-AA opp, more of an issue.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

I'm tired of referencing all the naysayers specifically, so I'll just reply to all you Rainman individuals ("Yeah...can't, can't play I-AA teams. Yeah..."), and say this one more time...playing YSU will not, in any way, affect our chances for playing in the title game one iota. Not one single relevent pollster will hold our playing YSU against us, seeing as so many other big teams play I-AA teams for their 12th game.

Live in the now, people...

what if I just don't want OSU to play YSU because I want them to be tested and learn from playing a real team?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

People are just brining up a "what if" scenerio that COULD be relevent. COULD be, no matter how much you vehemently disagree.

No they aren't just bringing up a "could be" scenario. Check these posts from this very thread:

Smooth Olaf

Christ, this is stupid. Remember when Auburn went undefeated but didn't play in the national championship game? Part of the argument was, "Don't play The Citadel, then."

Now that we have three games with this team, I wouldn't be surprised if it happens to us. Playing YSU once is bad enough, scheduling three games against them is pathetic.

ScriptOhio

I agree, we shouldn't be scheduling any 1AA teams. It significantly reduces your strengh of schedule.

tibor75

Pretty embarrassing that we're stooping to the level of the SEC and scheduling a non 1A school.

UpNorthBuckeye

I am in the camp that our schedule is too soft. YSU should not have been scheduled until they were 1A. Kent State in week four (or whichever week) is a no-win game.

I would love to see a much tougher schedule (like FL or ND in Kent State's slot) and then when you have multiple no-loss teams, tOSU might benefit from playing a tougher schedule.

These folks automatically think that playing a I-AA team for the 12th game significantly hurts our standing...there's no "could" in their statements.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

[off-topic]all i know is that if ohio states does play in the national championship game next year, they better play damn well and (probably) win.[/off-topic]