Jim Tressel (National Champion, ex-President, Youngstown State University, CFB HOF)

[Bestbuck36]

The amazing thing is that even though the numbers havent been great the wins have been there. So are the players choking it up in big games or are they only winning the other games on sheer talent?

My opinion, is that they are winning against lesser teams on sheer talent alone which is why so many in the NFL. If put in a maximizing position to succeed at the college level as well, we might have an Ohio State juggernaut that is rewriting college record books. Do I personnally know what positions those are? Probably not but the positions they are being asked to perform in currently are not maximizing their potentials. Other than heart and will to succeed, the rest lies on the coaching staff to prepare these guys to win.

 

[bukIpower]

Wells its comical to me how its "execution" that always seems to be said... Because the coaching staff's PRIORITY NUMBER ONE is to teach these kids how to execute. However, in saying that the expression "we didn't execute" usually ties into the though of "well its not a scheme or strategy problem".... We've only been good-great on offense when we Had 3 first round recievers, and a hiesman winning trophy winner at QB.

 

[Buckeyefrankmp]

My opinion, is that they are winning against lesser teams on sheer talent alone

When we play against teams with equal talent (like Penn State and Texas last year and USC this year) we can't put the games away. If the talent is equalled to the teams we are facing, then it is how the talent is being used or not used that puts us at a disadvantage.

 

[Bestbuck36]

I've had the pleasure in my lifetime to play 4 levels of football, or at least practice at 4 levels. The things that are consistent through all of those levels that I can gaurantee are that 80% of the time the team with the best talent wins. 95% of the time teams who are better prepared with the same talent, win the game. The other 5% of games have something occur that allow the lesser team to win. What that is no one can really say for sure.

Looking at those games that buckeyefrankmp put up there in his last post, (PSU,Texas and USC) the only team that had more talent than us across the board is USC this year and thats maybe debatable. PSU didnt have it. We were better but we gave them the Pryor fumble. (See 5%). Texas didnt have it. They had a better QB playing in a system that maximizes his potential. He made the plays to win. USC, really, got dominated except for maybe 2 drives the entire game. Seriously.

Those are three losses that we've taken and had the better chance to win in all 3 games if we play to our potential. Unfortunately there are more than these 3 examples as of late. What gives? No, really sit and truly ask yourselves that question before blurting out the answer.

We have good kids. Very few issues off the field or in the classroom. I'm extremely proud of them and our staff for that. They practice hard. We all know that and even only catching glimpses of it has proven it. They are supremely talented and the facilities are second to none. So.....

What gives?

 

[fanaticbuckeye]

What gives?

What's your answer?

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

As long as we have a nasty defense that plays its butt off every play, I'm mostly content. You can't away with a lot with this fan, as long as you produce that type of defense. The past couple of years have been disheartening from the standpoint that the offense had to win games because the defense just wasn't there. That's in the past now, and I'm hoping this is a watershed game much the UT game in '05. The best part is that almost the entire defense returns next year, and that is a luxury that we didn't have in '06. In '10, I expect this team to have the offense from '06 and the defense from '05. As LJB said repeatedly, that should be our year.

 

[NFBuck]

People being all up in arms about this game is disappointing. Ohio State fans are simply too spoiled. How many teams can lose what tOSU did last year (great RB, both starting WR, 3 starters on the OL, 2 great LBers, both starting CB's including one all timer and their Punter) and come back with National, yet alone conference championship expectations? This is a rebuilding year, a lot of us have said it all along. The fact that they nearly beat a team loaded like USC is an accomplishment and I don't give a hot-damn if you aren't into "moral victories". JT has spoiled us beyond belief. Next year is when things *should* come together. If he stumbles with that team (that will be both talented and experienced), then you'll have some ground to stand on. Until then, take a step back and reevaluate your expectations for this year.

The worst thing that could have happened was that lofty preseason ranking. Should have started about where they are now.

 

[TheIronColonel]

People being all up in arms about this game is disappointing. Ohio State fans are simply too spoiled. How many teams can lose what tOSU did last year (great RB, both starting WR, 3 starters on the OL, 2 great LBers, both starting CB's including one all timer and their Punter) and come back with National, yet alone conference championship expectations? This is a rebuilding year, a lot of us have said it all along. The fact that they nearly beat a team loaded like USC is an accomplishment and I don't give a hot-damn if you aren't into "moral victories". JT has spoiled us beyond belief. Next year is when things *should* come together. If he stumbles with that team (that will be both talented and experienced), then you'll have some ground to stand on. Until then, take a step back and reevaluate your expectations for this year.

Just to play Devil's advocate, what about last year? They returned almost the entirety of a squad the went 12-1 and played for an NC.

 

[NFBuck]

Just to play Devil's advocate, what about last year? They returned almost the entirety of a squad the went 12-1 and played for an NC.

11-2. To be blunt, Todd Boeckman was not a very good QB. We saw that over the last 1/4 of 2007, we just hoped he'd improve. Unfortunately, he was a limited QB. JT maybe deserves some blame for not landing a better QB to play between TS and TP. Add on Beanie going down and being unavailable for the big game and there ya have it. Look, I'm not saying the man is perfect. But, there a very few coaches out there who I'd say are "better" than Jim Tressel. Urban Meyer, Pete Carroll...that's the list in my mind. Maybe winning a NC in his 2nd season is the worst thing that could have happened to him.

When he was hired, if I told you (not you specifically TIC) after 8 years that he'd have won 83 games, a NC, played for 2 others, gone 7-1 against scUM and won or shared 5 Big Ten titles...what would you think? This is just a spoiled fanbase.

How many programs are year in and year out considered among the elite?
USC
Texas
Florida
Oklahoma and
tOSU

 

[TheIronColonel]

Oh right, I blocked out that Illinois game in my memory. Alcohol is soooo useful.

 

[ThirdGenBuckeye]

11-2. To be blunt, Todd Boeckman was not a very good QB. We saw that over the last 1/4 of 2007, we just hoped he'd improve. Unfortunately, he was a limited QB. JT maybe deserves some blame for not landing a better QB to play between TS and TP. Add on Beanie going down and being unavailable for the big game and there ya have it. Look, I'm not saying the man is perfect. But, there a very few coaches out there who I'd say are "better" than Jim Tressel. Urban Meyer, Pete Carroll...that's the list in my mind. Maybe winning a NC in his 2nd season is the worst thing that could have happened to him.

When he was hired, if I told you (not you specifically TIC) after 8 years that he'd have won 83 games, a NC, played for 2 others, gone 7-1 against scUM and won or shared 5 Big Ten titles...what would you think? This is just a spoiled fanbase.

Those spoiled fans did their job last night.

 

[NFBuck]

Those spoiled fans did their job last night.

That they did. But many of them probably went home and spewed venom on the message boards. I'm not saying we have bad fans, I'm just saying that a lot of them aren't very appreciative of what they have.

JT has one strike in my book and that's the debacle in the desert. There's no excuse for that. What are his other "sins"?

-Losing to an extremely talented and senior-laden LSU team playing for a NC in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year?
-Losing at USC without his best offensive player and his average QB melting down?
-Losing to Texas, who could arguably be playing for the NC with a frosh QB and nearly pulling off a big upset?
-Losing again to USC in another rebuilding year with a young, apparently still raw QB?

All four of those games, the winning team was the significantly more talented and/or experienced team.

 

[scooter1369]

That they did. But many of them probably went home and spewed venom on the message boards. I'm not saying we have bad fans, I'm just saying that a lot of them aren't very appreciative of what they have.

What they have is a perenniel underacheiving team. Losing some of the big games is okay. Losing half might be acceptable. But getting humiliated in half, beat in a quarter and letting the other team win in the other quarter is unacceptable.

Playing for field goals and playing not to lose doesn't work.

 

[jlb1705]

Those spoiled fans did their job last night.

Damn straight we did. But being a good fan shouldn't give one a sense of entitlement. People seem to think that we are owed something more than what we've been getting. Who here would give up what we have as Buckeyes to be associated with another school?

 

[NFBuck]

What they have is a perenniel underacheiving team. Losing some of the big games is okay. Losing half might be acceptable. But getting humiliated in half, beat in a quarter and letting the other team win in the other quarter is unacceptable.

Playing for field goals and playing not to lose doesn't work.

I guess I don't see where we've really underachieved outside of the 2006 UF title game. 2007? Lost our Heisman Trophy QB, a 1,300 yard rusher, two All-Big Ten WRs and still played for a National Championship. Is that underachieving? Last year, yeah, maybe. But I think expectations were to high to begin with. Todd Boeckman was just not a very good QB. We should have saw that. After he flames out you turn it over to a very raw frosh QB and still win 10 games, beat your rival and go to a BCS game. This year, well, I already covered what we lost a couple posts up. Being ranked #6 in the country going in was ludicrous. I still think we'll win 10 games this year, maybe get to the BCS and I'll be happy. Different strokes.