HINYG8
You never come back from Copperhead Road
Well, historically they have been pretty damn good, but I was surprised to see just how good the program has been at other times in the last few decades. It just boggles the mind that we have not won more NCs...and it is incredible to see the timescape of OSU's success, and how the last 6 seasons have extended the program and even managed to raise the bar.
OSU has gone 67-11 the last 6 seasons..that equates to a an 87% winning percentage. It is, of course, also linked to a NC and two other NCG appearances as well as two other BCS wins.
By contrast, Cooper's best 6 season stretch occurred from the 1993 season through the 1998 campaign. He put up 62 wins coupled with 12 losses and one famous tie (Should I put it in the win column, Gordon?). That is 85%...how on earth did we not get a damn NC out of that?
Well..we all know why..if it wasn't one team from that state up north, it was the other one. Still...Coop had a great run, one that just about any other program would LOVE to duplicate, warts and all. Plus JC threw in some big wins (LSU and ND come to mind), more than our share of tremendous individual awards, and one BCS win in the Sugar bowl. Beheading the snake was pre BCS for the Rose bowl, but props to JC for the Roses - even if the BCS didn't care about it.
Woody of course put together a lot of successful seasons...but I believe his best winning percentage over 6 contiguous seasons occured from '68 thru '73 but he had another great stretch from 72-77.
In the six year period beginning in 68 Woody won at just over an 85% clip...on par percentage wise with JT's recent stretch, put just a bit below percentage wise. He also put up a beauty of a NC in '68 and fielded one of the best teams in college football history in '69..only to have that second NC slip away in a huge upset that revived the football program up north.
From 72-77 Woody was also dominant, winning 48 of the 60 Buckeye games and tying two, but no NC (even after going 10-01 in '73). During this stretch WWH managed to keep some of the best teams in UM's history home for the holidays. This period included 4 consecutive Rose Bowls for OSU followed by an Orange Bowl win. Unreal, considering UM had several one loss seasons in the same stretch,never lost more than two, and were even unbeaten in 1973..but only made it to Pasadena at the beginning and end of this period.
So are these the best 6 consecutive seasons under a coach in OSU history? Maybe so...they are pretty damn good, but what is really amazing is the state of program heading into THIS season...and that JT's hot streak is still active. I didn't even mention the years around WWH's NC in '54 because I just got tired of doing math.
But some of you may have noticed that Woody's two 6 year runs actually over lap...and the reality is JT has some more work to do to eclipse the old man's sustained run from 1968 to 1977. Over the ten year war WWH won a NC (damn 'Bama and their 1973 title!) and 91 games long before the season was extended to allow for 12-14 game seasons. Only the 1971 season was a bit of a struggle as the Bucks went 6-4. Even with a 6-4 season WWH won over 83% of the games in these 10 years. Unreal... but unreachable?
Consider that OSU is poised for another 10+ win season in 2008 and the future beyond looks promising. At 67-11 with 4 years left to pile on the wins...JT needs only 24 more wins to duplicate the 91. I know that is not a fair tally as JT gets more opportunities per season..but I think it is safe to say OSU will average at least 6 wins/year over the next 4 years. The 91 mark is sure to be eclipsed. The NC tally is even...and each of them has seen their players collect numerous individual honors. But consider that JT has a VERY realistic shot at posting the highest winning percentage over a decade of football of any previous coach, including Woody, at a program that is already considered accomplished beyond all but a handful of schools. OSU is truly a traditional power, but is building on that history like no other storied program at this time. Of the 'traditional powers' only OSU and USC are stretching to heights beyond their legacy.
I know this was long...and full of what we all already know...but *knowing* it and actually *realizing* it are not always the same: these are miraculous times for the OSU football program. Yeah, I know other programs are enjoying a lot of success as well..but just focus on what has been accomplished at OSU under Jim Tressel the last 6 seasons..reflect and celebrate all the success for a moment before the NEXT great season starts; before OSU seeks even higher levels of sustained achievement and recognition. It is truly a GREAT TIME TO BE A BUCKEYE...these truly are glory years. Programs are built on streaks like this one...and kept among the elite even when the win totals starts to drop back toward something more reasonable.
Recognize the context of the new season...we are building on what has already been historic.
Done reflecting? OK now lets go kick some ass!
GO BUCKS!
OSU has gone 67-11 the last 6 seasons..that equates to a an 87% winning percentage. It is, of course, also linked to a NC and two other NCG appearances as well as two other BCS wins.
By contrast, Cooper's best 6 season stretch occurred from the 1993 season through the 1998 campaign. He put up 62 wins coupled with 12 losses and one famous tie (Should I put it in the win column, Gordon?). That is 85%...how on earth did we not get a damn NC out of that?
Well..we all know why..if it wasn't one team from that state up north, it was the other one. Still...Coop had a great run, one that just about any other program would LOVE to duplicate, warts and all. Plus JC threw in some big wins (LSU and ND come to mind), more than our share of tremendous individual awards, and one BCS win in the Sugar bowl. Beheading the snake was pre BCS for the Rose bowl, but props to JC for the Roses - even if the BCS didn't care about it.
Woody of course put together a lot of successful seasons...but I believe his best winning percentage over 6 contiguous seasons occured from '68 thru '73 but he had another great stretch from 72-77.
In the six year period beginning in 68 Woody won at just over an 85% clip...on par percentage wise with JT's recent stretch, put just a bit below percentage wise. He also put up a beauty of a NC in '68 and fielded one of the best teams in college football history in '69..only to have that second NC slip away in a huge upset that revived the football program up north.
From 72-77 Woody was also dominant, winning 48 of the 60 Buckeye games and tying two, but no NC (even after going 10-01 in '73). During this stretch WWH managed to keep some of the best teams in UM's history home for the holidays. This period included 4 consecutive Rose Bowls for OSU followed by an Orange Bowl win. Unreal, considering UM had several one loss seasons in the same stretch,never lost more than two, and were even unbeaten in 1973..but only made it to Pasadena at the beginning and end of this period.
So are these the best 6 consecutive seasons under a coach in OSU history? Maybe so...they are pretty damn good, but what is really amazing is the state of program heading into THIS season...and that JT's hot streak is still active. I didn't even mention the years around WWH's NC in '54 because I just got tired of doing math.
But some of you may have noticed that Woody's two 6 year runs actually over lap...and the reality is JT has some more work to do to eclipse the old man's sustained run from 1968 to 1977. Over the ten year war WWH won a NC (damn 'Bama and their 1973 title!) and 91 games long before the season was extended to allow for 12-14 game seasons. Only the 1971 season was a bit of a struggle as the Bucks went 6-4. Even with a 6-4 season WWH won over 83% of the games in these 10 years. Unreal... but unreachable?
Consider that OSU is poised for another 10+ win season in 2008 and the future beyond looks promising. At 67-11 with 4 years left to pile on the wins...JT needs only 24 more wins to duplicate the 91. I know that is not a fair tally as JT gets more opportunities per season..but I think it is safe to say OSU will average at least 6 wins/year over the next 4 years. The 91 mark is sure to be eclipsed. The NC tally is even...and each of them has seen their players collect numerous individual honors. But consider that JT has a VERY realistic shot at posting the highest winning percentage over a decade of football of any previous coach, including Woody, at a program that is already considered accomplished beyond all but a handful of schools. OSU is truly a traditional power, but is building on that history like no other storied program at this time. Of the 'traditional powers' only OSU and USC are stretching to heights beyond their legacy.
I know this was long...and full of what we all already know...but *knowing* it and actually *realizing* it are not always the same: these are miraculous times for the OSU football program. Yeah, I know other programs are enjoying a lot of success as well..but just focus on what has been accomplished at OSU under Jim Tressel the last 6 seasons..reflect and celebrate all the success for a moment before the NEXT great season starts; before OSU seeks even higher levels of sustained achievement and recognition. It is truly a GREAT TIME TO BE A BUCKEYE...these truly are glory years. Programs are built on streaks like this one...and kept among the elite even when the win totals starts to drop back toward something more reasonable.
Recognize the context of the new season...we are building on what has already been historic.
Done reflecting? OK now lets go kick some ass!
GO BUCKS!
