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[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Buckeyes on cusp of best half-decade[/FONT]
Thursday, October 5, 2006 [FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]
Quarterback Troy Smith is poised to lead undefeated and No. 1-ranked Ohio State to its second national championship in five seasons.
COLUMBUS - After winning the 2002 national title, Jim Tressel said he never stopped in mid-season to think something special was being created. He compared it to an artist stopping in the middle of a painting to admire a picture that isn?t finished.
Outside the Ohio State football locker room, though, it can be done. Let?s gawk.
The Buckeyes may be in the midst of the greatest five-year period in the program?s storied history. Tressel won?t address the issue now for obvious reasons.
The picture isn?t complete.
?We don?t talk big picture outside of the first day we report,? Tressel said during a break from preparing for Saturday?s game against Bowling Green. ?The only reason we talk big picture that day is it?s the first time everyone is together.?
Ohio State, the preseason No. 1, has done nothing to chip away at that ranking. In fact, OSU has strengthened its hold on the No. 1 ranking in the coaches? and writers? polls since winning at Texas and at Iowa.
Buckeye Athletics Director Gene Smith told players at that first meeting they had the chance to do something no OSU team has done: Go wire-to-wire No. 1. In the process, the Buckeyes would become the first two-time BCS national champion and finish with the best five-year winning percentage in OSU history.
In 4 1/2 seasons (2002-06), OSU?s .857 winning percentage is the second-highest in school history for a five-year period. Wins against Bowling Green on Saturday and Michigan State on Oct. 14 would tie this era with the 1972-76 and 1973-77 teams.
What we?re about to exam would make Tressel?s toes curl.
In order to win a second national title in this era, OSU likely would have to finish 13-0. Given that record, the Buckeyes would be 56-8 over the last five years, an .875 percentage, best in OSU history.
Does Tressel think about his spot in Ohio State lore in a private moment?
?First of all, you don?t have too many private moments,? Tressel said. ?There is so much to think about when you do get a chance to think that it has to do with the here and now.?
With seven regular-season games left, it is interesting to compare this 4 1/2-season winning percentage to those of the past. OSU?s record since 2002 is 48-8, including the nation?s current longest winning streak at 12. Between the 2002 and ?03 seasons, OSU had the nation?s longest winning streak at 19 before a loss at Wisconsin.
None of this surprises Ohio State historian Jack Park. He wrote a letter of recommendation to Archie Griffin and Andy Geiger when they were searching for John Cooper?s replacement. Park?s unsolicited letter supported Tressel.
?He was my choice from Day 1,? Park said. ?My wife?s family is from Youngstown, and they were telling me Jim Tressel should be the next coach at Ohio State five years before it happened. Maybe I?m a little surprised at the success this quickly, but I had a feeling when he got hired.?
Park said the fervor around Ohio State football is at an all-time high this early.
?Well, the 2002 season it was high,? he said. ?Not this early because 2002 was unexpected.?
The Buckeyes won the national title that year with quarterback Craig Krenzel and freshman running back Maurice Clarett. It wasn?t a great offense that won it; rather it was good special teams and a stingy defense.
Park points out the 1916-20 era is a contender for best five-year period. He is correct, but that five-year record is 31-5-1, a winning percentage of .851. Three other eras worth looking at are 1953-57, 1968-72 and 1972-76.
?In five of Woody Hayes? last six seasons, Ohio State either won outright or shared the Big Ten title,? Park said. ?That was an impressive era.?
From 1972-76 (and in ?73-77), OSU went 49-7-2, a winning percentage of .862. The ?54-?58 period had an .830 percentage, but won two national titles.
The 1916-20 era produced an .851 winning percentage, but World War I puts an asterisk in that period.
?It?s tougher to go undefeated and untied today because the schedule is much longer,? Park said. ?I don?t know that it?s any tougher to win a national title. Plus, the Big 10 was so strong in the 1950s; you had a tough game every week. For the ?54 team to go undefeated against what I think the toughest schedule an Ohio State team ever had is impressive.?
Park doesn?t deny this could be the most impressive five-year period in OSU history.
That depends on the Buckeyes. Tressel makes that point with his players each week.
?The question at hand is just how good would we like to get,? Tressel said.
Comment on this story.
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Buckeyes on cusp of best half-decade[/FONT]
Thursday, October 5, 2006 [FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]
Quarterback Troy Smith is poised to lead undefeated and No. 1-ranked Ohio State to its second national championship in five seasons.
COLUMBUS - After winning the 2002 national title, Jim Tressel said he never stopped in mid-season to think something special was being created. He compared it to an artist stopping in the middle of a painting to admire a picture that isn?t finished.
Outside the Ohio State football locker room, though, it can be done. Let?s gawk.
The Buckeyes may be in the midst of the greatest five-year period in the program?s storied history. Tressel won?t address the issue now for obvious reasons.
The picture isn?t complete.
?We don?t talk big picture outside of the first day we report,? Tressel said during a break from preparing for Saturday?s game against Bowling Green. ?The only reason we talk big picture that day is it?s the first time everyone is together.?
Ohio State, the preseason No. 1, has done nothing to chip away at that ranking. In fact, OSU has strengthened its hold on the No. 1 ranking in the coaches? and writers? polls since winning at Texas and at Iowa.
Buckeye Athletics Director Gene Smith told players at that first meeting they had the chance to do something no OSU team has done: Go wire-to-wire No. 1. In the process, the Buckeyes would become the first two-time BCS national champion and finish with the best five-year winning percentage in OSU history.
In 4 1/2 seasons (2002-06), OSU?s .857 winning percentage is the second-highest in school history for a five-year period. Wins against Bowling Green on Saturday and Michigan State on Oct. 14 would tie this era with the 1972-76 and 1973-77 teams.
What we?re about to exam would make Tressel?s toes curl.
In order to win a second national title in this era, OSU likely would have to finish 13-0. Given that record, the Buckeyes would be 56-8 over the last five years, an .875 percentage, best in OSU history.
Does Tressel think about his spot in Ohio State lore in a private moment?
?First of all, you don?t have too many private moments,? Tressel said. ?There is so much to think about when you do get a chance to think that it has to do with the here and now.?
With seven regular-season games left, it is interesting to compare this 4 1/2-season winning percentage to those of the past. OSU?s record since 2002 is 48-8, including the nation?s current longest winning streak at 12. Between the 2002 and ?03 seasons, OSU had the nation?s longest winning streak at 19 before a loss at Wisconsin.
None of this surprises Ohio State historian Jack Park. He wrote a letter of recommendation to Archie Griffin and Andy Geiger when they were searching for John Cooper?s replacement. Park?s unsolicited letter supported Tressel.
?He was my choice from Day 1,? Park said. ?My wife?s family is from Youngstown, and they were telling me Jim Tressel should be the next coach at Ohio State five years before it happened. Maybe I?m a little surprised at the success this quickly, but I had a feeling when he got hired.?
Park said the fervor around Ohio State football is at an all-time high this early.
?Well, the 2002 season it was high,? he said. ?Not this early because 2002 was unexpected.?
The Buckeyes won the national title that year with quarterback Craig Krenzel and freshman running back Maurice Clarett. It wasn?t a great offense that won it; rather it was good special teams and a stingy defense.
Park points out the 1916-20 era is a contender for best five-year period. He is correct, but that five-year record is 31-5-1, a winning percentage of .851. Three other eras worth looking at are 1953-57, 1968-72 and 1972-76.
?In five of Woody Hayes? last six seasons, Ohio State either won outright or shared the Big Ten title,? Park said. ?That was an impressive era.?
From 1972-76 (and in ?73-77), OSU went 49-7-2, a winning percentage of .862. The ?54-?58 period had an .830 percentage, but won two national titles.
The 1916-20 era produced an .851 winning percentage, but World War I puts an asterisk in that period.
?It?s tougher to go undefeated and untied today because the schedule is much longer,? Park said. ?I don?t know that it?s any tougher to win a national title. Plus, the Big 10 was so strong in the 1950s; you had a tough game every week. For the ?54 team to go undefeated against what I think the toughest schedule an Ohio State team ever had is impressive.?
Park doesn?t deny this could be the most impressive five-year period in OSU history.
That depends on the Buckeyes. Tressel makes that point with his players each week.
?The question at hand is just how good would we like to get,? Tressel said.