HINYG8
You never come back from Copperhead Road
Time and change have been the hallmarks of Ohio State for over a century. But I have to stop and give special pause this week to the power and appropriateness of the phrase as it relates to The Ohio State University.
We are knee deep in the excitement of a new era and are more than ready for game day. At the same time we all see the state of the game across the country. The waters of college football have become increasingly difficult to navigate.
In college football every week is shark week....you have to be a killer to stay on top of the food chain. The challenges are myriad and daunting. So many programs struggle to consistently remain a national player. It is a very short list of programs that could take on water the way we did a year ago and not just stay afloat..but adapt..and grow stronger from the struggle.
Good lord...how is possible that Urban has put his mark on our program so clearly and has yet to coach a single game? It is truly remarkable. The potential has become mind boggling. Who would have dreamed that we could lose a man like Tressel to scandal and still be optimistic for the future? Who would have imagined that we could have reasonable thoughts about the next 10 years being at least on par with the last 10 after so much accumulated success?
But here we are.
Take a moment and appreciate all that has been achieved by all of the Ohio State coaches and players that preceded the 2012 edition of the Buckeyes. Then recognize that the power and promise of our past has been provided for into the future. Take note of how rare it is for a program to endure across time and change and give thanks that Ohio State continues to do so.
I don't know how we will do..but Woody said you win with people...and I think it is clear we have won even before the season starts. We have quality people and a rich tradition to carry us forward. Give that a moment of consideration before we run down the tunnel and onto the field that is the 2012 football season.
We once dreamed that if we were really good... the powers that be would let us be Buckeyes. Well, here we are...Buckeyes through and through. Here we are primed to sing Ohio's praise yet again. Here we are ready to push forward with the power of change on our side. Here we stand on the eve of a new season and a new beginning..eager to kick everyone's ass that had the misfortune of being anything but a Buckeye.
We are knee deep in the excitement of a new era and are more than ready for game day. At the same time we all see the state of the game across the country. The waters of college football have become increasingly difficult to navigate.
In college football every week is shark week....you have to be a killer to stay on top of the food chain. The challenges are myriad and daunting. So many programs struggle to consistently remain a national player. It is a very short list of programs that could take on water the way we did a year ago and not just stay afloat..but adapt..and grow stronger from the struggle.
Good lord...how is possible that Urban has put his mark on our program so clearly and has yet to coach a single game? It is truly remarkable. The potential has become mind boggling. Who would have dreamed that we could lose a man like Tressel to scandal and still be optimistic for the future? Who would have imagined that we could have reasonable thoughts about the next 10 years being at least on par with the last 10 after so much accumulated success?
But here we are.
Take a moment and appreciate all that has been achieved by all of the Ohio State coaches and players that preceded the 2012 edition of the Buckeyes. Then recognize that the power and promise of our past has been provided for into the future. Take note of how rare it is for a program to endure across time and change and give thanks that Ohio State continues to do so.
I don't know how we will do..but Woody said you win with people...and I think it is clear we have won even before the season starts. We have quality people and a rich tradition to carry us forward. Give that a moment of consideration before we run down the tunnel and onto the field that is the 2012 football season.
We once dreamed that if we were really good... the powers that be would let us be Buckeyes. Well, here we are...Buckeyes through and through. Here we are primed to sing Ohio's praise yet again. Here we are ready to push forward with the power of change on our side. Here we stand on the eve of a new season and a new beginning..eager to kick everyone's ass that had the misfortune of being anything but a Buckeye.
