Senior-itis?

[muffler dragon]

I've read a lot of Op-Ed pieces by posters on this forum, and one point that I keep seeing come up ties in with a thought I've been having:

Is it possible that some of the Buckeye leadership is having Senioritis (or is there some sort of problem set upon the senior players)?

I've pondered today if it's better for players to move on when they have the chance. I find myself battling both sides of the coin in my mind with this question and pondering. I love having JL, Malcolm, Boone, Freeman, and the others out there. But I can't help but wonder if re-loading is better than keeping the trigger cocked so to speak.

Is it possible that new blood has that tendency to be more aggressive and interested, because the wait is over and the chance to display is nigh? Could the psyche of this particular senior class just be really decimated from the national let-downs? Just seems like there could be a LOT of weight on the senior players that it may have been better to go.

Just some thoughts.

 

[shetuck]

Interesting point... it's gotta be beyond difficult to keep up that level of focus and intensity at this level.

 

[fourteenandoh]

i said to some friends on sunday that i think there is some risk that the top notch seniors will mail it in (that's too harsh, but i couldn't think of anything else) and start looking toward the NFL.

that was just a thought though. i don't think it will happen. these are good kids that care a lot about the university and i would venture to guess they don't want to go down in history as the team that mailed it in.

 

[MrCodeDude]

I don't think you can have much of a case of senioritis in college sports, if anything, it's the exact opposite. Some players are gambled on because of their potential upside, but how you perform in your Junior/Senior season defines your draft spot and pay-grade for the first couple years out of college (if you are so lucky). There is no way Boone, Laurinaitis, Freeman and Jenkins are going to let up because they know they're going to the NFL.

 

[muffler dragon]

Interesting point... it's gotta be beyond difficult to keep up that level of focus and intensity at this level.

I would happen to agree. I know that it's something that appears to happen to players at all levels.

i said to some friends on sunday that i think there is some risk that the top notch seniors will mail it in (that's too harsh, but i couldn't think of anything else) and start looking toward the NFL.

that was just a thought though. i don't think it will happen. these are good kids that care a lot about the university and i would venture to guess they don't want to go down in history as the team that mailed it in.

I certainly hope for that as well. And I should remark that I'm not attempting to bash these guys at all. I just recall how much I was ready to move on with my life at the end of high school and college, and that had NOTHING to do with sports. I should also state that I don't think it's everyone.

I don't think you can have much of a case of senioritis in college sports, if anything, it's the exact opposite. Some players are gambled on because of their potential upside, but how you perform in your Junior/Senior season defines your draft spot and pay-grade for the first couple years out of college (if you are so lucky). There is no way Boone, Laurinaitis, Freeman and Jenkins are going to let up because they know they're going to the NFL.

Just as a reminder, there are over three dozen seniors on this team. I wasn't meaning to singling those four above out.

It just seems to me that our recent success in the last few years may be by getting new blood in there that is just roaring to get a taste of the action instead of the status quo.

I think you make a valid point though.