I can't stand scUM. Their colors and winged helmets make me nauseous. There's no better feeling than ending the reg season with a win over them.
I have to admit that I am one of those OSU fans who believe that if scUM is good, that it's good for the B1G and Ohio State. I will also admit that I have occasionally felt sorry for their fans. That program lost traction after 2006 at the end of the Carr tenure, got worse under RR, had a one year resurgence in 2011 that was fool's gold, and then continued sinking deeper into the swamp of suck. I ran into a bruise and corn family while I was on vacation in Philadelphia last year, and they were just pitiful: full of doubt, anxiety, fear of more failure, etc.
When they hired Jimmy Weird, I knew they would get back to competing with Ohio State. Like most everyone else, I expected it to be a process that takes a couple of years. I've watched every one of their games, and I have to grudgingly admit that they are ahead of schedule. That defense plays really hard, and there are some major talents on that unit - and they are obviously being coached well. The offense is meh, but effective enough when combined with that defense. The weak link is the QB (and I think that OL still has issues). I don't think anyone up there wants to put Ruddock in a situation where he has to win games, but if they can play from ahead, and he doesn't make too many mistakes, they can beat almost anyone. The good news is that I don't think any scUM resurgence is going to last very long. They will overlook their strange coach as long as he is winning. When they hit a losing streak at some point, all of Jimmy's open-mouthed staring with those weird eyes, and very strange answers will wear on people. He will wear out his welcome in 5 years like he has everywhere else he has been.
But the most remarkable thing is these people win 5 out of 6 games, and they are no longer pitiful. All of that is gone, and here comes the hubris that made me despise them all of my life. I have a warning for them: congratulations for being a great team in Sept and Oct. For that you win... nothing. After they suffer the normal attrition you get over season of football, I want to see if they can still win games. I have my doubts about their depth, every defense gets had at some point, and eventually JR is going to have to win them a game. So, before we start declaring them the best team in the B1G, and playoff contenders, let's let a little more evidence come forward. We may find that they still have one foot stuck in the swamp of suck.