1. PERSPECTIVE
OSU Football isn't nearly as important as we all make it. We ought to spend more time with our families and should fill our lives with more meaningful things....
Nah, still a bunch of drivel.
So let me start by saying the most important thing that needs to be said right now.
Get over it.
IT'S MICHIGAN WEEK!!!!
2. WHAT HAPPENED
Sometimes I would just as soon be wrong, but I did have this to say last week:
I was wrong on two counts. Benn only touched the ball once (although the threat of Benn was a factor in the game) and they did indeed have a supporting cast.
Yeah, there was the uncalled fumble. There were the interceptions. There were the injuries to Wells I and Wells II. It could have been different, blah, blah, blah...
But Illinois was the better team pretty much all day. They have an offense that is very hard to stop when it is run properly - and in particular when the QB is throwing the ball well.
Williams wasn't supposed to be able to throw the ball well. But he did. His second TD pass was as pretty as it gets. And two of the others were as open as it gets (evidence perhaps of how little emphasis we put on their passing game and how much we respected Benn).
On Saturday Williams threw to 8 different receivers. He had thrown 8 TD passes all season - and threw for four Saturday. He had thrown for more interceptions than TDs this season - prior to Saturday. But unfortunately we didn't play him earlier this season - we played him Saturday.
But it is even more difficult to stop their O - or any O - when you are being manhandled. I expected a lot of what I saw. I didn't expect them to deliver the blow. I didn't expect them to move people out of the way. I didn't expect them to keep Lauriaitis from making the play he needed to make when we needed it most. I didn't expect them to take over the game in the fourth quarter. They didn't run out of gas like Wisky - but completely dominated for that entire quarter. THE quarter.
I saw earlier in the week that some BTN talking head had been trumpeting Illinois - athletes and said they were the equal of ours. We of course had a lot of fun with that. (Truth is we could put together a fairly humorous thread right now with nothing but comments from some of our more revered posters having fun leading up to this game - but it would go over as well as a joke about domestic violence.)
It is tough to argue athletes right now. I still think ours are better. But they weren't Saturday.
This game had elements of the Florida fiasco. We played pretty hard. They played damned hard. We had a pretty good game plan - early. They had a great game plan - throughout. Then they made adjustments while we kept trying to prove our original game plan was the right game plan. We were unable to recognize either our QB or our D from their play on the field.
The brilliance of Zook's offense, particularly with a team like Illinois who is still trying to stock their shelves, is that they put you on your heels. We are an attacking D. They want you to attack. Then they exploit your aggressiveness. They neutralize much of your strength, athleticism, and especially your speed. To play them well, you must slide along the LOS and react. And if that is not your nature the right reactions at the right time can be hard to find.
When we went to Happy Valley their starting LBs got 41 tackles - and our O still rolled. Saturday we got 37 tackles from our LBs - and the Illinois O still rolled. Ours were tackles from behind. Tackles after a gain of four on third and short.
And where was the depth? Not a single non-starter on D had more than one tackle.
I love Heacock. But when it's your turn in the barrel - it 's your turn in the barrel. Game plan aside, Illinois delivered the blows on Saturday. I wasn't expecting that.
3. QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSEY
In the last 59:37 of the game Boeckman had 91 yards passing, three interceptions and was sacked twice.
Illinois was good. But not that good. But Zook was. Boeckman looked afraid to throw and I can only assume he was confused by the coverages (I won't pretend I can accurately decipher coverage schemes during live action - even from C deck).
And when at last we were beginning to move the ball on the ground, when we had gained 49 yards in our last 6 rushes, he again threw into coverage on what was to be our last offensive play of the game.
He had some great runs - I would go so far as to say he looked 'fast' at times. But otherwise he was not a good quarterback Saturday.
He IS a good quarterback. But not Saturday.
So take your pick on when you want to visit the barrel, 'cause Todd gets a turn as well.
4. SHARING THE BLAME
But certainly it wasn't all Boeckman. Our running game was sporadic at best. And on that side of the ball Illinois was delivering the blow as well. Moving our linemen. Applying pressure. Shooting gaps and getting to the ball carrier before he left the backfield.
We went seven consecutive drives without scoring and six of those were five plays or less. The last, longest, and most painful of those drives went 13 plays before ending - not with the score we needed to cut into a two TD deficit - but with an interception. Tipped it was - but tipped by a defender who could have made the interception himself. A poor decision thrown into coverage when we could least afford a mistake.
When you are on D the other team decides the point of attack. A well executed O with good athletes can be tough to stop regardless of how good or athletic your D.
But when you are on O you get to do the same. Stretch the field. Power up the middle. Dink to the edges. It is your choice. Find your strengths, their weaknesses, and exploit them.
We didn't get it done for longer stretches than can be explained away by three picks. We scored twice in less than six minutes - and didn't score again for over 39 minutes. That is not getting it done in a very big way.
Just before the half I mentioned to my son that last year we did not score in the second half.
In the second half Saturday we had three possessions.
In the fourth quarter we ran THREE PLAYS.
That isn't 'not getting it done'. That is getting your ass handed to you.
But for all that, in the end it was the D that could not deliver. Illinois first down after Illinois first down in the fourth quarter. On the last drive alone, one conversion on fourth down and three more on third. Still unable to master a scheme we had battled all game. Still unable to tire them down and cast them aside. Unable to get the ball back for over 8 minutes. Unable to create a turnover the entire game (sorry, it wasn't called a turnover so it wasn't a turnover).
5. STATS - THE INTERESTING AND THE PAINFUL
There were three penalties in the game. (Illinois only held once. Honest. I looked it up.)
There were 10 punts and no fair catches.
There were four fourth down conversion attempts - all successful.
OSU averaged more yards per rush, more yards per pass attempt, more yards per completion, more net yards per punt and more net yards per kickoff than Illinois.
Illinois ran 14 more plays than OSU in the game.
Illinois ran 23 more plays than OSU in the fourth quarter.
Take away the 80 yard rush for a fumble, and Illinois averaged 3.5 yards per rush - perfect Woody Hayes football. Only two runs longer than 12 yards - yet they netted 260.
And most importantly, this ended OSUs 118 year streak of never allowing a TD to be scored by a player named Hoomanawanui.
6. MISSING PERSON REPORT
Just when it looked like he might be having his breakout game - at a time when we needed a breakout performance - Mo went down. And Beanie was rarely Beanie - be it from injuries, blocking, tripping over blockers, or the Illinois D.
So when I got home Saturday and reached for a carton of milk to settle my stomach, I should not have been surprised to see Brandon Saine's picture on the carton. This kid looked like he might take over the starting job early in the year. Sure, it was against the weak portion of the schedule (the first 10 games, I guess). But aren't we prized for developing young athletes? This is a mystery that I wish had been solved before Saturday. Perhaps we are still putting him on film for Lloyd.
7. POST GAME SCUFFLE
It probably looked bad on us on TV and it will probably be shown again on Sports Center above the heading: "Buckeye poor losers attack the Illini for exposing them".
But for those who weren't there, the Illini were celebrating on the O and our entire bench ventured over to chat about it. Lucky it didn't get nastier than it did.
8. MISERY? YOU WANT MISERY?
I have been complaining all season about the fatties in C Deck. Lo and behold this week two of the biggest women I have seen all year show up - sitting two seats to my left.
And they were loud.
And they are wearing bright frckin' orange.
And they were eating nachos.
Worked better than the patch. I ate three hot dogs instead.
9. TIME FOR AN IRISH WAKE?
No, this isn't about the Domers. Not going there this week. This is about us, and our streaks.
The streaks that ended yesterday - most consecutive regular season wins, most consecutive Big Ten wins - were records for a reason. It is hard to do. To go that many games without meeting a team who was playing lights out while you were having a bit of an off game. Where they had the better game plan and your QB was having a bad day. Where you committed one too many turnovers and the breaks didn't go your way. Where they, on that particular day, had the better team.
So in many ways it is like the funeral of the 95 year old patriarch. Sad, but not tragic. A time to look back and marvel at a life that survived a flu epidemic, a depression and a World War. A time even to celebrate a longevity few achieve. A time to start a new patriarch (these analogies always break down in the end).
Part of the tradition of a wake is to celebrate - tough as that is. But another part of that tradition, in fact the tradition from which wakes evolved so many years ago, is to stand over the body in hopes that the spirit will return and the person reawaken.
That should be our focus. To start a new streak. There is no time to mourn.
IT'S MICHIGAN WEEK!!!
10. SPEAKING OF STREAKS
That's two in a row for Zook. Last January we lost to his recruits under Meyer. Saturday we lost to his recruits under Zook. Florida may have been too impatient. This game was no fluke. Illinois is going to be a power in the Big Ten. And as much as I enjoy Buckeye dominance, God knows we need more good football teams in the conference.
(Of course any success by Zook only reinforces the SEC mantra - "fired SEC coach goes Big Time in Big Ten". He wasn't good enough for Florida, but he can win up North.)
11. FAN OF THE GAME
Again for those at the game, who did you vote for? The kid in the helmet, or the older guy who looked like he was going to spit on the kid in the helmet?
12. THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAY IN FOOTBALL
On the last drive of the game, when Illinois had fourth and short they didn't call time out to think it over. Tressel called the time out.
Let me say that again. They had their punt team on the field. There were almost seven minutes left in the game and we are getting the ball back with a chance to score. A chance to tie. But we had the wrong personnel, so we called time out. They were ready to kick the ball. But they changed their minds because we made them think it over.
And we never saw the ball again.
THEY HAD THEIR PUNT TEAM ON THE FIELD!!!!!
That was among the most frustrating experiences of my 40 years watching games in the Shoe. Knowing we could have had the ball when we desperately needed the ball and then watching them rack up first down after first down and run out the last 6:53.
AND THEY HAD THEIR PUNT TEAM ON THE FIELD!!!!!
13. OUR KICKING GAME SUCKS
I detailed it last week. It is not getting better.
Illinois kicked off 5 times and averaged 60.6 yards per kickoff. That means we fielded the ball at about the 10 each time.
We started those five drives at the 24, 24, 22, 26, and 24. That just doesn't impress me.
Little besides Trapasso has impressed me about our kicking game all year.
It has not been a kicking game that wins championships.
14. ADVANTAGE MICHIGAN?
I can't bear to go looking, but I am sure it has been a loooooong time since both OSU and Michigan lost the week before The Game.
And I fear we might suffer much more from the loss than they will.
Michigan gave up their NC hopes a long time ago. They have been focusing on winning the Big Ten and beating us ever since. Those goals are still out there.
We lost the NC Saturday evening. That has been our goal since the clock ran out in Arizona last January. How quickly do we refocus?
As I was walking to my car Saturday night I was amid a throng of Buckeyes and let out a yell with a voice louder than I thought I still had - "It's Michigan Week - Let's Go Bucks".
No response whatsoever. OK, the average fan may need more than six minutes to get over a loss like this. But like it or not - this IS Michigan week. And just like it works with the Vikings, we don't get a bereavement day to get over our loss.
I am guessing that Michigan was refocused before the clock expired in Columbus - and that the loss in Columbus gave them a large measure of what they needed to get over a loss in Madison.
15. BUT IT'S ONLY MICHIGAN
I feel about Michigan the way a lot of folks felt about Illinois coming into this week's game. The holes in their D that Wisky exploited are real holes that have been their all season. The inconsistencies in their O are inconsistencies that you are going to get with a true Frosh at QB and your stud RB on the sideline.
Michigan is arguably the fourth best team in the Big Ten right now. When ready to play we are the best. (Illinois is very good, but we really are better - when we are ready to play.)
And Michigan plays traditional power football. We still have the best D in the country against power football.
Next week we can get off our heels and attack.
Michigan's athletes won't be able to manhandle us - unless we don't come ready to play an OSU-Michigan game.
And Carr won't have the better game plan - unless, well... there is no unless on this one. He flat won't.
So I am confident.
Provided we aren't still licking our wounds. Provided we can put this one behind us and show up.
I am betting we do.
16. SUICIDE WATCH
OK, I will admit it. After I got home I was a little bit down.
So I called the suicide hotline. Guy who answers has a strong accent. Turns out he is in a call center in Pakistan.
I tell him I am thinking of committing suicide.
He asks me if I have a chauffeur's license.
17. STEP BACK FROM THE EDGE
Not many things in life get easier as you get to be my age, but watching your favorite team lose is one of them - at least for me. It comes from perspective. We didn't lose Saturday because we are really Minnesota and everybody just found out. We honest to gosh have one of the very best programs in the country with tons of good athletes and a wonderful coaching staff.
Kentucky beat LSU this year. Stanford beat USC. It is CFB. It happens. This week it happened to us. If you can't handle that find a new sport.
I picked this as a trap game because of where it fell in the schedule as much as who we were facing. That is usually when it does happen - when you aren't looking.
But we can still finish 12-1 as Big Ten outright champs. End up in the top five in the polls with yet another win over Michigan. Maybe we will even get matched up with an SEC team in the Rose Bowl and have a chance to quiet some of those critics.
So let's go up to Ann Arbor and knock those three guys who passed on the NFL to win an NC completely out of the top 25.
We are an amazing program with an amazing football team. I have been looking on with wonder that we were accomplishing so much with so few seniors - the supposed core of championship teams. Maybe that caught up with us a little. "Maybe" a whole bunch of crap. But the long and short of it is that this is college football.
If you watch an expert juggler they will purposely drop something on their hardest trick to make you appreciate the difficulty. There is no need to do that in CFB. It is hard to do well consistently and getting harder every season - what with this parity nonsense and all.
Nebraska went undefeated in 1994, 1995 and 1997. Look at them now.
From 2000 through 2002 Miami lost two games. Look at them now.
Notre Dame was once one of the premier programs in CFB (or so it says on the caves in Lascaux). Last time I was over on their board there was a post titled "Next Year Needs to be an 8 Win Season". How is that for managing expectations? Anybody on here looking for an 8 win season in 2008? Or are we thinking NC run?
I know it is still pretty close to the loss and all of those broken dreams to be spewing this Pollyanna garbage, but take a step back.
Almost no senior leadership. Six lost starters on D. A first year QB.
Do you criticize this team for failing to meet your expectations?
Or do you applaud them for creating those expectations in the first place?
This was not supposed to be a team that made a championship run.
You young whippersnappers (I love that word*) may be too young to appreciate it - but these ARE the good old days. Because next year we will be back at it with a load of seniors, an experienced QB, a score to settle with best team in the Big Ten that we won't be playing at home, and enough time to recover from a loss in LA should that horror occur.
Even then the odds will be long. But if it weren't so hard it wouldn't mean so much.
So drink a beer and get over it. Get your head up and celebrate being a Buckeye. Ignore the clowns throwing Gator Chomps in your face - they have their own agendas and no interest in our accomplishments of the past few years. They have been many and warrant pride and celebration.
Now is not the time you say? But it is the time. Because there is no time for whining.
THIS IS MICHIGAN WEEK!!!
(*for some great definitions of the term check here: Urban Dictionary: whipper snapper)
OSU Football isn't nearly as important as we all make it. We ought to spend more time with our families and should fill our lives with more meaningful things....
Nah, still a bunch of drivel.
So let me start by saying the most important thing that needs to be said right now.
Get over it.
IT'S MICHIGAN WEEK!!!!
2. WHAT HAPPENED
Sometimes I would just as soon be wrong, but I did have this to say last week:
I was wrong on two counts. Benn only touched the ball once (although the threat of Benn was a factor in the game) and they did indeed have a supporting cast.
Yeah, there was the uncalled fumble. There were the interceptions. There were the injuries to Wells I and Wells II. It could have been different, blah, blah, blah...
But Illinois was the better team pretty much all day. They have an offense that is very hard to stop when it is run properly - and in particular when the QB is throwing the ball well.
Williams wasn't supposed to be able to throw the ball well. But he did. His second TD pass was as pretty as it gets. And two of the others were as open as it gets (evidence perhaps of how little emphasis we put on their passing game and how much we respected Benn).
On Saturday Williams threw to 8 different receivers. He had thrown 8 TD passes all season - and threw for four Saturday. He had thrown for more interceptions than TDs this season - prior to Saturday. But unfortunately we didn't play him earlier this season - we played him Saturday.
But it is even more difficult to stop their O - or any O - when you are being manhandled. I expected a lot of what I saw. I didn't expect them to deliver the blow. I didn't expect them to move people out of the way. I didn't expect them to keep Lauriaitis from making the play he needed to make when we needed it most. I didn't expect them to take over the game in the fourth quarter. They didn't run out of gas like Wisky - but completely dominated for that entire quarter. THE quarter.
I saw earlier in the week that some BTN talking head had been trumpeting Illinois - athletes and said they were the equal of ours. We of course had a lot of fun with that. (Truth is we could put together a fairly humorous thread right now with nothing but comments from some of our more revered posters having fun leading up to this game - but it would go over as well as a joke about domestic violence.)
It is tough to argue athletes right now. I still think ours are better. But they weren't Saturday.
This game had elements of the Florida fiasco. We played pretty hard. They played damned hard. We had a pretty good game plan - early. They had a great game plan - throughout. Then they made adjustments while we kept trying to prove our original game plan was the right game plan. We were unable to recognize either our QB or our D from their play on the field.
The brilliance of Zook's offense, particularly with a team like Illinois who is still trying to stock their shelves, is that they put you on your heels. We are an attacking D. They want you to attack. Then they exploit your aggressiveness. They neutralize much of your strength, athleticism, and especially your speed. To play them well, you must slide along the LOS and react. And if that is not your nature the right reactions at the right time can be hard to find.
When we went to Happy Valley their starting LBs got 41 tackles - and our O still rolled. Saturday we got 37 tackles from our LBs - and the Illinois O still rolled. Ours were tackles from behind. Tackles after a gain of four on third and short.
And where was the depth? Not a single non-starter on D had more than one tackle.
I love Heacock. But when it's your turn in the barrel - it 's your turn in the barrel. Game plan aside, Illinois delivered the blows on Saturday. I wasn't expecting that.
3. QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSEY
In the last 59:37 of the game Boeckman had 91 yards passing, three interceptions and was sacked twice.
Illinois was good. But not that good. But Zook was. Boeckman looked afraid to throw and I can only assume he was confused by the coverages (I won't pretend I can accurately decipher coverage schemes during live action - even from C deck).
And when at last we were beginning to move the ball on the ground, when we had gained 49 yards in our last 6 rushes, he again threw into coverage on what was to be our last offensive play of the game.
He had some great runs - I would go so far as to say he looked 'fast' at times. But otherwise he was not a good quarterback Saturday.
He IS a good quarterback. But not Saturday.
So take your pick on when you want to visit the barrel, 'cause Todd gets a turn as well.
4. SHARING THE BLAME
But certainly it wasn't all Boeckman. Our running game was sporadic at best. And on that side of the ball Illinois was delivering the blow as well. Moving our linemen. Applying pressure. Shooting gaps and getting to the ball carrier before he left the backfield.
We went seven consecutive drives without scoring and six of those were five plays or less. The last, longest, and most painful of those drives went 13 plays before ending - not with the score we needed to cut into a two TD deficit - but with an interception. Tipped it was - but tipped by a defender who could have made the interception himself. A poor decision thrown into coverage when we could least afford a mistake.
When you are on D the other team decides the point of attack. A well executed O with good athletes can be tough to stop regardless of how good or athletic your D.
But when you are on O you get to do the same. Stretch the field. Power up the middle. Dink to the edges. It is your choice. Find your strengths, their weaknesses, and exploit them.
We didn't get it done for longer stretches than can be explained away by three picks. We scored twice in less than six minutes - and didn't score again for over 39 minutes. That is not getting it done in a very big way.
Just before the half I mentioned to my son that last year we did not score in the second half.
In the second half Saturday we had three possessions.
In the fourth quarter we ran THREE PLAYS.
That isn't 'not getting it done'. That is getting your ass handed to you.
But for all that, in the end it was the D that could not deliver. Illinois first down after Illinois first down in the fourth quarter. On the last drive alone, one conversion on fourth down and three more on third. Still unable to master a scheme we had battled all game. Still unable to tire them down and cast them aside. Unable to get the ball back for over 8 minutes. Unable to create a turnover the entire game (sorry, it wasn't called a turnover so it wasn't a turnover).
5. STATS - THE INTERESTING AND THE PAINFUL
There were three penalties in the game. (Illinois only held once. Honest. I looked it up.)
There were 10 punts and no fair catches.
There were four fourth down conversion attempts - all successful.
OSU averaged more yards per rush, more yards per pass attempt, more yards per completion, more net yards per punt and more net yards per kickoff than Illinois.
Illinois ran 14 more plays than OSU in the game.
Illinois ran 23 more plays than OSU in the fourth quarter.
Take away the 80 yard rush for a fumble, and Illinois averaged 3.5 yards per rush - perfect Woody Hayes football. Only two runs longer than 12 yards - yet they netted 260.
And most importantly, this ended OSUs 118 year streak of never allowing a TD to be scored by a player named Hoomanawanui.
6. MISSING PERSON REPORT
Just when it looked like he might be having his breakout game - at a time when we needed a breakout performance - Mo went down. And Beanie was rarely Beanie - be it from injuries, blocking, tripping over blockers, or the Illinois D.
So when I got home Saturday and reached for a carton of milk to settle my stomach, I should not have been surprised to see Brandon Saine's picture on the carton. This kid looked like he might take over the starting job early in the year. Sure, it was against the weak portion of the schedule (the first 10 games, I guess). But aren't we prized for developing young athletes? This is a mystery that I wish had been solved before Saturday. Perhaps we are still putting him on film for Lloyd.
7. POST GAME SCUFFLE
It probably looked bad on us on TV and it will probably be shown again on Sports Center above the heading: "Buckeye poor losers attack the Illini for exposing them".
But for those who weren't there, the Illini were celebrating on the O and our entire bench ventured over to chat about it. Lucky it didn't get nastier than it did.
8. MISERY? YOU WANT MISERY?
I have been complaining all season about the fatties in C Deck. Lo and behold this week two of the biggest women I have seen all year show up - sitting two seats to my left.
And they were loud.
And they are wearing bright frckin' orange.
And they were eating nachos.
Worked better than the patch. I ate three hot dogs instead.
9. TIME FOR AN IRISH WAKE?
No, this isn't about the Domers. Not going there this week. This is about us, and our streaks.
The streaks that ended yesterday - most consecutive regular season wins, most consecutive Big Ten wins - were records for a reason. It is hard to do. To go that many games without meeting a team who was playing lights out while you were having a bit of an off game. Where they had the better game plan and your QB was having a bad day. Where you committed one too many turnovers and the breaks didn't go your way. Where they, on that particular day, had the better team.
So in many ways it is like the funeral of the 95 year old patriarch. Sad, but not tragic. A time to look back and marvel at a life that survived a flu epidemic, a depression and a World War. A time even to celebrate a longevity few achieve. A time to start a new patriarch (these analogies always break down in the end).
Part of the tradition of a wake is to celebrate - tough as that is. But another part of that tradition, in fact the tradition from which wakes evolved so many years ago, is to stand over the body in hopes that the spirit will return and the person reawaken.
That should be our focus. To start a new streak. There is no time to mourn.
IT'S MICHIGAN WEEK!!!
10. SPEAKING OF STREAKS
That's two in a row for Zook. Last January we lost to his recruits under Meyer. Saturday we lost to his recruits under Zook. Florida may have been too impatient. This game was no fluke. Illinois is going to be a power in the Big Ten. And as much as I enjoy Buckeye dominance, God knows we need more good football teams in the conference.
(Of course any success by Zook only reinforces the SEC mantra - "fired SEC coach goes Big Time in Big Ten". He wasn't good enough for Florida, but he can win up North.)
11. FAN OF THE GAME
Again for those at the game, who did you vote for? The kid in the helmet, or the older guy who looked like he was going to spit on the kid in the helmet?
12. THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAY IN FOOTBALL
On the last drive of the game, when Illinois had fourth and short they didn't call time out to think it over. Tressel called the time out.
Let me say that again. They had their punt team on the field. There were almost seven minutes left in the game and we are getting the ball back with a chance to score. A chance to tie. But we had the wrong personnel, so we called time out. They were ready to kick the ball. But they changed their minds because we made them think it over.
And we never saw the ball again.
THEY HAD THEIR PUNT TEAM ON THE FIELD!!!!!
That was among the most frustrating experiences of my 40 years watching games in the Shoe. Knowing we could have had the ball when we desperately needed the ball and then watching them rack up first down after first down and run out the last 6:53.
AND THEY HAD THEIR PUNT TEAM ON THE FIELD!!!!!
13. OUR KICKING GAME SUCKS
I detailed it last week. It is not getting better.
Illinois kicked off 5 times and averaged 60.6 yards per kickoff. That means we fielded the ball at about the 10 each time.
We started those five drives at the 24, 24, 22, 26, and 24. That just doesn't impress me.
Little besides Trapasso has impressed me about our kicking game all year.
It has not been a kicking game that wins championships.
14. ADVANTAGE MICHIGAN?
I can't bear to go looking, but I am sure it has been a loooooong time since both OSU and Michigan lost the week before The Game.
And I fear we might suffer much more from the loss than they will.
Michigan gave up their NC hopes a long time ago. They have been focusing on winning the Big Ten and beating us ever since. Those goals are still out there.
We lost the NC Saturday evening. That has been our goal since the clock ran out in Arizona last January. How quickly do we refocus?
As I was walking to my car Saturday night I was amid a throng of Buckeyes and let out a yell with a voice louder than I thought I still had - "It's Michigan Week - Let's Go Bucks".
No response whatsoever. OK, the average fan may need more than six minutes to get over a loss like this. But like it or not - this IS Michigan week. And just like it works with the Vikings, we don't get a bereavement day to get over our loss.
I am guessing that Michigan was refocused before the clock expired in Columbus - and that the loss in Columbus gave them a large measure of what they needed to get over a loss in Madison.
15. BUT IT'S ONLY MICHIGAN
I feel about Michigan the way a lot of folks felt about Illinois coming into this week's game. The holes in their D that Wisky exploited are real holes that have been their all season. The inconsistencies in their O are inconsistencies that you are going to get with a true Frosh at QB and your stud RB on the sideline.
Michigan is arguably the fourth best team in the Big Ten right now. When ready to play we are the best. (Illinois is very good, but we really are better - when we are ready to play.)
And Michigan plays traditional power football. We still have the best D in the country against power football.
Next week we can get off our heels and attack.
Michigan's athletes won't be able to manhandle us - unless we don't come ready to play an OSU-Michigan game.
And Carr won't have the better game plan - unless, well... there is no unless on this one. He flat won't.
So I am confident.
Provided we aren't still licking our wounds. Provided we can put this one behind us and show up.
I am betting we do.
16. SUICIDE WATCH
OK, I will admit it. After I got home I was a little bit down.
So I called the suicide hotline. Guy who answers has a strong accent. Turns out he is in a call center in Pakistan.
I tell him I am thinking of committing suicide.
He asks me if I have a chauffeur's license.
17. STEP BACK FROM THE EDGE
Not many things in life get easier as you get to be my age, but watching your favorite team lose is one of them - at least for me. It comes from perspective. We didn't lose Saturday because we are really Minnesota and everybody just found out. We honest to gosh have one of the very best programs in the country with tons of good athletes and a wonderful coaching staff.
Kentucky beat LSU this year. Stanford beat USC. It is CFB. It happens. This week it happened to us. If you can't handle that find a new sport.
I picked this as a trap game because of where it fell in the schedule as much as who we were facing. That is usually when it does happen - when you aren't looking.
But we can still finish 12-1 as Big Ten outright champs. End up in the top five in the polls with yet another win over Michigan. Maybe we will even get matched up with an SEC team in the Rose Bowl and have a chance to quiet some of those critics.
So let's go up to Ann Arbor and knock those three guys who passed on the NFL to win an NC completely out of the top 25.
We are an amazing program with an amazing football team. I have been looking on with wonder that we were accomplishing so much with so few seniors - the supposed core of championship teams. Maybe that caught up with us a little. "Maybe" a whole bunch of crap. But the long and short of it is that this is college football.
If you watch an expert juggler they will purposely drop something on their hardest trick to make you appreciate the difficulty. There is no need to do that in CFB. It is hard to do well consistently and getting harder every season - what with this parity nonsense and all.
Nebraska went undefeated in 1994, 1995 and 1997. Look at them now.
From 2000 through 2002 Miami lost two games. Look at them now.
Notre Dame was once one of the premier programs in CFB (or so it says on the caves in Lascaux). Last time I was over on their board there was a post titled "Next Year Needs to be an 8 Win Season". How is that for managing expectations? Anybody on here looking for an 8 win season in 2008? Or are we thinking NC run?
I know it is still pretty close to the loss and all of those broken dreams to be spewing this Pollyanna garbage, but take a step back.
Almost no senior leadership. Six lost starters on D. A first year QB.
Do you criticize this team for failing to meet your expectations?
Or do you applaud them for creating those expectations in the first place?
This was not supposed to be a team that made a championship run.
You young whippersnappers (I love that word*) may be too young to appreciate it - but these ARE the good old days. Because next year we will be back at it with a load of seniors, an experienced QB, a score to settle with best team in the Big Ten that we won't be playing at home, and enough time to recover from a loss in LA should that horror occur.
Even then the odds will be long. But if it weren't so hard it wouldn't mean so much.
So drink a beer and get over it. Get your head up and celebrate being a Buckeye. Ignore the clowns throwing Gator Chomps in your face - they have their own agendas and no interest in our accomplishments of the past few years. They have been many and warrant pride and celebration.
Now is not the time you say? But it is the time. Because there is no time for whining.
THIS IS MICHIGAN WEEK!!!
(*for some great definitions of the term check here: Urban Dictionary: whipper snapper)
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