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

[NFBuck]

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?

Well put.

 

[ThirdGenBuckeye]

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.

I can agree with you're defenses there but I have a hard time simply accepting these reasons to defend losses.

Wasn't last year's team supposed to be talented and senior-laden?

Wasn't last night's USC team possibly considered in a rebuilding year with a young, still raw QB?

And while I don't like the mindless whining or lack of appreciation either, it's the fans that have made this program what it is and without them, even the venom-spewers, we wouldn't have anything to expect or be excited about and hell, we wouldn't even have the sport.

 

[scooter1369]

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.

I have tried to avoid talking about this game for almost a full day to let my emotions subside. I was pretty sure by now, I'd have calmed down. But I haven't. Tressel ball does not work against elite teams. In games like last night's, he needs to let his hair down and let the talent he recruits go out and play. The wrinkle he threw in last week of actually throwing to a tight end may have scared him a bit. He must have felt like he was getting more liberal than Pat Buchnan or John Hagee and had to check himself.

 

[jwinslow]

I have tried to avoid talking about this game for almost a full day to let my emotions subside. I was pretty sure by now, I'd have calmed down. But I haven't. Tressel ball does not work against elite teams. In games like last night's, he needs to let his hair down and let the talent he recruits go out and play.

So if Chekwa's tackle is 6 inches further upfield against Texas, then does Tresselball magically work again?

Tresselball dominated a superior USC rushing attack & offensive line for most of the game. If Joe McKnight doesn't make that special run on 2nd & long, then does Tresselball work?

It's a game of inches.

 

[NFBuck]

I can agree with you're defenses there but I have a hard time simply accepting these reasons to defend losses.

Wasn't last year's team supposed to be talented and senior-laden? Yep, and one of those Seniors was the QB who ended up playing himself out of a job. You can't win championships without a good efficient QB. TB, while a great kid, was neither.

Wasn't last night's USC team possibly considered in a rebuilding year with a young, still raw QB? Young, yes. Never heard him called "raw". They returned almost their entire defense, so not "rebuilding". Sanchez's play as the season went on showed he was indeed a very good QB.

Red.

edit- misread "last night" for "last year"

 

[jwinslow]

This isn't a great football team. It's a great defense with an alright offense. The quarterback has a world of talent, but still does not see the field that well.

I wish OSU had won, but this isn't a NC caliber team right now.

 

[NFBuck]

This isn't a great football team. It's a great defense with an alright offense. The quarterback has a world of talent, but still does not see the field that well.

I wish OSU had won, but this isn't a NC caliber team right now.

Shhhhhhhhhhh, every year's a NC year.

 

[scooter1369]

So if Chekwa's tackle is 6 inches further upfield against Texas, then does Tresselball magically work again?

Tresselball dominated a superior USC rushing attack & offensive line for most of the game. If Joe McKnight doesn't make that special run on 2nd & long, then does Tresselball work?

It's a game of inches.

The defense does its job, J. Its the offense. They leave more points on the field than I can count. Playing for field goals doesn't work.

If the offense had performed to the level they should, the McKnight play is irrelevant because we're up by a couple scores. Short yardage situations, where the hell is the QB sneak? You have a 6'6" 235lb QB. By himself he can go toe to toe with any LB and gain ground.

 

[jwinslow]

Shhhhhhhhhhh, every year's a NC year.

This team reminds me of 05, except this team is set up even better for the postseason & following year. This team won't lose their whole defense, a super bowl MVP WR, & 5 first round picks. Virtually everyone returns, other than Worthington, Spitler & maybe Gibson.

 

[NFBuck]

The defense does its job, J. Its the offense. They leave more points on the field than I can count. Playing for field goals doesn't work.
If the offense had performed to the level they should, the McKnight play is irrelevant because we're up by a couple scores.

It's also irrelevent if TP doesn't toss a horrendous INT to open the game. Last night proved the offense is still operating with a limited passer under center. That's gonna limit the playcalling which, in turn, should limit turnovers.

Short yardage situations, where the hell is the QB sneak? You have a 6'6" 235lb QB. By himself he can go toe to toe with any LB and gain ground.

From what I saw, USC was doing a pretty good job of stacking the box. My theory on Tressel's theory is that at least with the TB charging forward you have some momentum vs. just taking the snap and diving into a pile. Size doesn't mean as much when you have 8-9 guys diving at you.

 

[1926Buckeyes]

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.

Couldn't agree more with this. I was very surprised that OSU was a #6 coming into the season. They should've been #12. You don't lose the players OSU did and become better. OSU improved at QB (somewhat), OL, and DL (maybe safety) and that's it.

Also, agree with the spoiled fan comment. I'm very surprised when people talked about the '07 year as if it was a Tressel failure. That was one of his better coaching year. People thought it would be a 10-3 or 9-4 year with a win in the capital bowl and people said that they'd be overjoyed with a BCS game. Yet OSU gets to teh title game, players against a better team and losses, and the fans say that JT chokes and '07 goes on the list of bad coaching jobs by JT.

The problem is that JT set the bar higher than Woody did at the beginning of his '68-'75 run and now anything less than getting to the NC is a failure and suddenly JT has lost it. Tressel didn't forget how to coach. Neither did Hayes when he had his mediocre teams in the 60s.

Stick with Tressel and you'll get to higher peak than Hayes did in his 68-75 run. It can get much worse than it is now. If this is Tressel's low point in his coaching tenure I'll take it every time. Maybe I'm being too soft on him, but that's what I truthfully think.

Anyway, IMO, this team loses to PSU but finishes strong and wins a BCS game. That works for me. I was expecting a 10-3 or 11-2 season this year with losses to USC and PSU. Pryor didn't magically turn into Young like some thought, but he will be a great one and will get better and better over the year.

 

[NFBuck]

This team reminds me of 05, except this team is set up even better for the postseason & following year. This team won't lose their whole defense, a super bowl MVP WR, & 5 first round picks. Virtually everyone returns, other than Worthington, Spitler & maybe Gibson.

It is quite similar and I expect similar results...this time with a crystal trophy at the end.

 

[jwinslow]

If the offense had performed to the level they should,

How about if USC's offense performed up to the level they should? OR USC's defense not leaving WRs wide open?

I have my criticisms too, scoot, but OSU came within inches of two huge victories with Tresselball. If Chekwa's tackle is shorter vs Texas, or the ref maintains his original spot (where the ball was fumbled out of bounds), folks sing the praises of OSU's rebirth against a great team. Same holds true if McKnight was tackled like he was most of the night.

Instead, they show they can play with arguably the best team in the nation in Texas (like they did in 05 too), but because it's a loss, it is just added to the pile of ineptitude by College Gameday and much of OSU's fanbase. I didn't bother with ESPN after this game, but I'm sure they'll find a way to add it to the pile. They convinced the entire nation that OSU lost to the spread against LSU, so this should be a much easier sleight of hand.

 

[Bestbuck36]

What's your answer?

I'll let you know when I figure it out. If, I figure it out.

 

[osubartender23]

I have my criticisms too, scoot, but OSU came within inches of two huge victories with Tresselball. If Chekwa's tackle is shorter vs Texas, or the ref maintains his original spot (where the ball was fumbled out of bounds), folks sing the praises of OSU's rebirth against a great team. Same holds true if McKnight was tackled like he was most of the night.

.

Thats the thing it shouldnt have to come down to inches. OSU had both games in control and they let it slip away. If the offense is able to sustain a drive longer than 3 to 6 plays so the defense is able to get a rest, then the results would be different in my opinion. This team needs to have the killer instinct, and I am not sure I have ever seen that while Tressel has been coach here. How many times have you seen OSU seemingly have control of the game, only to let the other team back in it? Its happened numerous times, even against lesser opponents. Something needs to change, I just am not sure what. While its great that we have a really good D that can be counted on for the most part, at some point the offense is going to have to step up and take control. Short of 1 year, when has that ever happened under Tressel's reign? Dont get me wrong Im not thinking that we as fans are entitled to anything, because I am very proud of what the team can accomplish and has accomplished in the past. I just think that at some point the Defense needs to be rewarded and not have to carry the team every single game. This is a young team, but that doesnt mean the talent isnt there to win NOW. Sorry for rambling....Go Bucks