It Was a Big Game, So Tressel and Ohio State Didn’t Show Up, Natch
College Football September 15th. 2008, 12:15pm
Didn’t see the game (wedding!), so there’s no point in waxing philosophic on Pryor or Boeckman, or how much of a machine USC may or may not be.
Hell, we didn’t even need the highlights after reading this gem from an OSU lineman: “I can’t believe we screwed up so badly. I feel like this is the national championship all over again, stupid penalties, stupid mistakes, roughing the passer, holding, offsides, personal fouls.“
If you want to talk overrated college football coaches, Jim Tressel has got to be in the conversation. When was the last time Ohio State showed up for a non-Big 10 game against a ranked opponent and played well? We all know OSU has the skill players, so why is the execution against top teams so poor? If not for a horrendous pass interference call in the end zone (seriously: How bad is that call?), he’s being compared to Tommy Bowden, and nowhere near the top of this list. We eagerly await the brave OSU fan who attempts to defend Tressel’s Stoops-like big-game coaching issues. (2007: Blown out by LSU. 2006: Blown out by Florida. 2005: Lost to Texas.)
The real bummer in all of this: OSU remains alive for the National title. If you’re going to lose, do it early, and then watch as everyone else chokes. After the Buckeyes deliver their yearly beating to Michigan on Nov. 22, they’ll wait a few weeks as teams fall in league championships … and hope the insane computers call their number. Then, four weeks of “we need a playoff!” talk will be interrupted by meaningless bowl games.
Guess the question for USC now is … who do the Trojans choke against? In 2007 it was Stanford, and in 2006 it was Oregon State and UCLA. Or might it not happen this year? We only ask that because the Pac-10 went a woeful 0-4 against the Mountain West Saturday.
Photo: Icon Sports Media
168 Responses to “It Was a Big Game, So Tressel and Ohio State Didn’t Show Up, Natch”
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September 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
OSU got their asses handed to them. Wells wouldn`t have made a difference
September 15th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Off topic but I understand now why Tennessee fans were whining so much. You lost to a team that lost to BYU 59-0 nothing.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
This was like watching the varsity vs. junior varsity. Two programs on two different levels. Embarrassing.
Howeva . . . if neither Stoops or Tressel are elite coaches, TBL, then your list must be very, very short.
And there is no way the AP writers/coaches will be voting tOSU anywhere near where they’d need to be to even get considered for a spot in the title game.
USC over OU.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I just wanted to emphasize that BYU scored zero.
Originally was sad I was going to miss USC/Ohio State, how silly of me.
Oklahoma beat Washington by 41, USC beat Ohio State by 32, pretty close.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
All i said was that Tressel isn’t a big game coach. Three years in a row he’s gotten worked in crucial non-Big 10 games. Not saying he’s a bum, or that he should be fired … but as Cooper, Hayes, etc proved, you can win easily at OSU in that league.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
USC looked like they had SEC speeeeeeeeed.
Ohio state looked worse than in either of their Nat’l Title games, wow, just overrated again.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
bout time we take away the big tens BCS spot
kidding
half kidding
September 15th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
As an OSU fan, there is no chance the Buckeyes have a chance to make it back to the NC game this year. Even if they win out and are #2 going into the final poll. Everyone knows they aren’t the best team in the country and pollsters will drop them. They have had their shot and shit the bed. It will take a couple of years for them to earn back national respect.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
If (Insert fortunate event that happens quite often) had/hadn’t happened then (Insert name of team/coach that benefited from lucky break) would not have benefited.
But it was called, and up until the last couple of years tOSU was pretty good in bowl games under Tressel. Also they beat defending champion Texas just two years ago to get the that National Championship game against Florida also.
(I won’t even get into the fact that the call should have been defensive holding, not pass interference so it would have worked out the same anyways, oh i guess I just did.)
September 15th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Also Tressel… STILL 3-2 in BCS games
September 15th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Clay Matthews III looked real good. Looks like he will turn out to be a good pro like his pops
September 15th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
i place the blame on bollman and heacock…they MUST GO NOW.
regardless…im fucking ashamed to be an OSU fan.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
one was against notre dame though, doesnt count
September 15th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
All i said was that Tressel isn’t a big game coach
He beat the U in a pretty important game. The U was as good as they get at that time. Tressel won that big game and won the NC
god i hate saying that
September 15th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I’m no where near a tOSU fan but let’s not go overboard on crucifying Tressel. Do his teams suck in big games, without a doubt, do they deserve to be in the BCS title game this year, hell no… but that doesn’t change the fact that there are tons of coaches in America would love to be as bad as them. Stoops and Tressel might not be “big” game coaches but they are still better then 90% of the 1-A coaches out there.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
USC is loaded on both sides of the ball. Ohio State is a good team but not on the level of USC. I think both Wisconsin and Penn State have a chance of finishing higher than the buckeyes. Not sure why so many people thought Ohio State would give USC much of a game. They barely got by THE OHIO bobcats and were missing their best player.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Ohio State got worked. The thing I dont understand is the whole changing QB’s virtually every play. I put in “Disturbia” after the pick six.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
@tbl—-cooper sucked vs. michigan, that’s why he got fired…
September 15th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
oh, one more thing…
pryor >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> boeckman.
sorry, TBL for knocking you when you said there was a QB controversy…well, there still isn’t one, anyone with EYES can tell Pryor is actually competent.
fuck boeckman
September 15th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
@jibbles
You like saying also a lot. Also.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Holyshit News week did a article on TBL
September 15th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Not sure why so many people thought Ohio State would give USC much of a game. They barely got by THE OHIO bobcats and were missing their best player.
Coach K, obviously because Ohio State was just hiding everything against Ohio, and they were just looking past them. Nothing should have been read from that game.
/sincere
September 15th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Also, how about those Michigan wolverines? Way to shit the bed against Notre Dame. All those fumbles and still had a chance to beat the golden domers. Is there a bigger douche in college football than Clausen? Even after he throws a TD pass his teammates go out of their way not to congratulate him.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
The problem with OSU is that their offense is so vanilla and even Rey Maluagaguguasudi said it, ” They didn’t do anything we didn’t see on film.”
Pryor was giving USC fits, but he kept putting in Boeckman. I won’t understand that.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Pryor’s a better option if Ohio State wants to win games against the rest of the country; Boeckman’s just as good for playing the Big 10, because the Bucks are still the class of the conference without Pryor’s speed.
Also, at what point does tOSU toss Tressel out? Aren’t 11-1, 10-2 seasons, beating Michigan and a seemingly long-ago national title enough? If not, what’s the step up?
September 15th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Also, at what point does tOSU toss Tressel out? Aren’t 11-1, 10-2 seasons, beating Michigan and a seemingly long-ago national title enough? If not, what’s the step up?
Yeah, teams should go 13-0 every year, what is wrong with Tressel?
Expectations for some of these schools are absolutely ridiculous.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Irish-never too early to start the bball talk…
September 15th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
tressel’s done that before…see 2005 Texas game where he kept putting in JUSTIN ZWICK over troy smith…
i know he’s a freshman, but how could pryor not have been in the rest of that game after Rey Rey’s pick 6?
September 15th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Tressel has a incredible playoff record (including 4 NCs) at Youngtown St. I would count those as big games… Also his bowl record is still good despite recent woes.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
OSU just ran into a damn pro team this weekend. That being said, in the last three big stage games, Tressel has flat out been outcoached. It doesn’t look like he makes any adjustments.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Also, how about those Michigan wolverines? Way to shit the bed against Notre Dame.
Michigan isnt even good I dont know why your acting like this is a surprise. OSU scoring 3 points is news. Oaklahoma State is the new OSU.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I live in Ohio. Tressel could throw feces at the pope and most likely keep his job. Highest paid(?) coach in the country.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
um…the day he stops getting top 5 recruiting classes EVERY YEAR and beating the shit out of our fiercest rival.
that’s so absurd, im almost offended.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Haha, it’s so funny to me that had Michigan beat Notre Dame we would have definitely been hearing all about it from Tampa, but since they lost let’s not talk about it.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
look at Bauserman’s reaction in the background to this 4th and 1 play call for ohio state—they need an offensive coordinator!!! everyone knew this play was coming.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGqciJEhEX8
September 15th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
the o-coordinator absolutely needs to be fired
as for tress he wont be canned until a lloyd/cooper losing streak makes its way to columbus
September 15th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
mmonast…not just bollman, heacock too. when is heacock going to realize that running the same zone blitzes DOES NOT WORK against competent teams? FUCKING MIX IN SOME MAN COVERAGE.
i swear to god, some of us could recognize this shit better than those two assholes. if tressel wasn’t so loyal to these guys, they’d have been long gone.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I said this on Friday and I’ll say it again. The problem isn’t just with OSU, it’s with the fact that voters give teams in the Big Ten a higher-than-deserved rating just because they’re in the Big Ten. OSU had no business even being considered for the National Championship the past two years because they played in a mediocre conference against mediocre teams.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Haha, it’s so funny to me that had Michigan beat Notre Dame we would have definitely been hearing all about it from Tampa, but since they lost let’s not talk about it.
True, lets not because OSU got faceblasted and only scored 3 points. I probably would have busted your balls once.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Coach K, obviously because Ohio State was just hiding everything against Ohio, and they were just looking past them. Nothing should have been read from that game.
Sorry, my bad I forgot that Tressell is a mastermind and a “big game” coach and that was part of his USC gameplan. To pretend to be inept offensively against the bobcats only to pull out all the stops enroute to the massive 3 they hung on USC.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
mmonast…not just bollman, heacock too.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Also his bowl record is still good despite recent woes.
Nothing more overrated than a bowl record, unless it’s for the NC, it’s just a holiday field trip and party time for the players
September 15th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Coach K, I hope you read the /sincere part of what I wrote.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Where as I do think the Big Televen is down, OSU definitely deserved to play in the Florida debacle. However, last year, no. There were, definitely, 2 teams that were playing better football at the end of the year.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
And there’s Tressel’s biggest weakness as a coach (IMO). He stayed with Zwick too long, he’s invested so much in Boeckman who has always sucked. Now he’s staying with his coordinators too long. He does this at other positions too.
Not that I don’t think he’s a top-5 coach, but if he has a weakness, this is it.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
despite getting shellacked…it WAS still a road game against the no. 1 team in the country without their best player. id love to see how many teams kick ass in that game.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Anyone know some OSU homers and what, if any, where thier biggest, lamest excuses?
September 15th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Hahahhaha, I love how the story changes.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Tressel hired the offensive coordinator and can overrule him anytime he wants. The shitty play calls, especially in the red zone (always a Tressel weakness), coupled with dumbass penalties kept this game from at least being close.
He still has a grace period for the NC and annually beating Michigan, but I’m done defending him.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
holy shit!!
September 15th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
The past few OSU teams are eerily similar to the Husker teams of the late 80’s/early 90’s I grew up watching. They blow through a weak conference save for one decent team, in NU’s case Oklahoma or Colorado, and get to a big game and get exposed.
I don’t think speed had much to do with this game. OSU’s OL and DL have not played well at all the last 2 games. I thought they weren’t going to have problems replacing Gholston?
September 15th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Perfect comparison NSR.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Mark Dantonio will bring MSU back to prominence and make the Big Ten proud. commence laughter…
September 15th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
OSU’s OL is ATROCIOUS against any team that doesn’t play 1970’s football.
alex boone is a 1st-2nd rounder? what crack is McShay smoking?
September 15th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
i just wish tressel would stop calling options with boeckman… it’s almost like he forgot which QB was in
September 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I’m sorry, I have seen no excuses on here. Us homers have said:
•Despite this loss Tressel’s still a good coach
•They were killed and it’s embarrassing
•Hey our coordinators sucked.
•Pryor > Boeckman
How is any of this an excuse?
September 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
yeah i got the sincere part. i just couldn’t help myself from piling on. i have a friend that is a huge OSU fan. i about died laughing on saturday night watching him scream and whine (like only a buckeye can) in his red sweater vest.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Um, what? Listen I hate Ohio state but they were unbeaten in 2006. They were the only BCS unbeaten team. Who did you want to hop them? They beat a Texas team that won 10 games on the road also that year. The debate that year was Florida and Michigan.
Yes, Ohio state has been awful the last few “big” games, but to say they shouldn’t have been in the BCS title game two years ago is flat out wrong and definite hindsight.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
NSR- spot on comparison. A Big 8 Championship followed by a Miami ass beating.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Jibbs, I wasnt talking about on here. Most people, like myself, just recognize an ass-whipping. I am talking about the absolute homers in Columbus? I havent talked to any of my high school buddies, but I know they have the lamest excuses ever.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
My friend the OSU homer in the first quarter:
“Tressel is a genius for subbing pryor and beckman on each play. They are shredding USC’s defense.”
My friend in the 4th quarter:
“Why do they keep pulling pryor every time he makes a good play? If Beanie was playing he would have broke that for a TD. Wait till they have to play us at the Shoe”
September 15th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Probably something like “the room service was tainted by the Hollywood elite” or “why did they have to play the game so late?”
September 15th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Those Boeckman option calls were the worst play calls I have ever seen. I think they ran one of them on 2nd and 23 or so, picked up a solid 2 yards.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Ohio State is going to lose at least 2 more games this season…Penn State is the best team in the Big 10, hands down. They hype surrounding the USC/OSU game was the most needless of any event in recent memory. OSU is a top 25 team, but they aren’t a top 10 team.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
SAS just called Boeckman a “petrified puppy” and said Pryor’s “breath smelled like Similac”. Funny shit.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Penn State is the best team in the Big 10, hands down
Wisconsin?
September 15th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Slow down there. Wins over the worst team in the Big East (Syracuse), Coastal Carolina, and Oregon St. tell us nothing. And now they play Temple. Ugh.
I think there is going to be some cannibalizing in a bad Big-10 this year.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
And why were they unbeaten? BECAUSE THEY PLAYED THE WORST TEAMS IN THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE. They had one good win in the season against Texas and a win against Michigan (who was totally overrated at number 2). If the voters had taken a realistic look at the teams in the Big Ten, they would have adjusted the rankings accordingly.
My whole point is that the Big Ten is not an elite football conference anymore. The teams in the conference shouldn’t be the beneficiaries of a high ranking just because they’re in the Big Ten.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
The Bucks played the #2 team in the country three times that year and lost once.
They deserved to be where they were.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
please…OSU is still the class of the B10, and you’re fooling yourself if you think otherwise.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I agree OSU deserved the NC game a couple of years ago. No question about that. Up until that game, they looked like a legit great team. Last year: No. This year: God no. Sad thing is, I don’t care what people say, if they go out and win the rest of the games on their pathetic schedule (minus maybe PSU), they are in the mix. And that’s why we need a new system.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
still better than the Big East, ACC, and overall still better than the Pac 10. so that leaves the Big 12 and SEC ahead of it. so they are the 3rd best.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
sportsgal…yet you have no problem with USC being no. 1 after beating up on Oregon State, Washington, Stanford (oops), Arizona, ASU, UCLA and Washington State?
give me a fucking break, that’s so retarded it hurts.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Not that I particularly care..but from what I understand tOSU’s priorities to be every year is
a) Beat Michigan
B) win a National Championship
They fired a National Championship coach over letter A) so Tressel’s team wins it’s “biggest” game of the year every year and competes for a title…plus he beat one of the most talented College Football teams of all time (I am not talking about well coached..just pure talent) The guy is a big game coach…he just doesn’t have top notch talent like the teams that have beaten him the last few years
September 15th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Wisconsin > OSU > Penn State
September 15th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Que?
September 15th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
hey, assholes…don’t worry, OSU won’t be in the NC game this year.
you’re precious NC game will be preserved and untainted.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Nick..Didn’t Cooper win a NC?
September 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Nick..Didn’t Cooper win a NC?
Bahhahahahahahahhaha, that’s funny Roman.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
stick to the pros, RWH.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I think the NFL Draft proves otherwise, no?
September 15th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
If you want to be a dick about it you could say Tressel stole his NC from Miami.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
cooper won jack shit with NFL roster after NFL roster…there’s a reason the entire state of Ohio is boycotting him getting into the College Football HoF.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Sadly, no. The ‘96 team was as talented as the Miami team you referenced, but we lost to Michigan 13-9.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Fine then…I will go back into my Barry Cofield loving hole as I am clearly wrong..but Tressel is a good coach…that is all
September 15th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
@Spencer-Are they seriously considering letting him in to the HOF?
September 15th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
The bottom line: In the last 3 Big Stage games, OSU wasn’t the better team. It’s as simple as that. Tressel could have made some adjustments but it wouldn’t have mattered. They were not winning any of those games.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
i love how everyone use to get on Cooper because he couldn’t beat Michigan. Now Tressel does this every year, and people get on him because he loses to the number 1 or 2 team in the nation. nevermind he has a NC.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Tampa…not considering anymore…he’s ACTUALLY in.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
NSR…tOSU guys are not at the level of the SEC and USC guys coming out..I am loving game two of the Ghoulston mediocrity in NY
September 15th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I don’t care about Ohio State enough to even look up their schedule from 06, but for you to even attempt to argue that Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa and Michigan State over the past 3-4 years are any better than the teams you listed in the Pac-10 is ridiculous.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Sportsgal, you’re toally wrong on Ohio state being in the title game in 2006/07. they destroyed teams that year and played in a BCS conference. I agree the Big Ten is not strong but give me a break. Please tell me who would have put in instead of them. Here is the final 2006/07 AP poll before the BCS games.
Please tell me which team you would pick.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex?seasonYear=2006&weekNumber=15&seasonType=2
September 15th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
sportsgal…see, that’s where you’re retarded. iowa, in 2006, was a year removed from being consecutive top 10 teams, SHOCKING i know. and if you think there’s ANY DIFFERENCE between the two, perhaps you should pay more attention.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I will be honest, I don’t like OSU, but rs27 is right. They deserved to be in the championship game against Florida.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Spencer-That’s recockulis from what I know about the man. I dont know everything about cooper but why is he in?
September 15th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Boeckman threw a pass left handed. If that doesn’t signal the lack of brain activity this team has in big games (against teams not named Michigan), nothing else does.
Poor line play + lack of imagination + panic = OSU needs changes.
They actually remind me a lot of the Bengals, just with a built in advantage that hides the shortcomings against all but a handful of teams.
I love Senator Tressel. He’s an excellent leader and a great representative for the university. But he needs to realize that the status quo is not working. The offensive and defense both need a philosophical overhaul.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
he has a sparkling career record. the overall record doesn’t show his giant 0fer in games that matter tho.
bottom line is, the dude had more talent during his OSU tenure than, arguably, any other college coach outside of Miami in the early 2000’s or 1995 Nebraska. some of his teams were so loaded it seemed unfair…yet it always resulted in jack shit.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
don’t forget 1994 PSU.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
spencer: Ehhhh, I don’t think that statement is true. Sure, they had some talented teams, but they weren’t any more talented than some of the Florida, Florida St., Tennessee teams in that period, and those are just off the top of my head.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Spence, keep calling me a fucking retard. It won’t change the fact that Ohio State sucks.
rs – How about USC, LSU or any team that played against Florida and made it a contest? You’re not even bothering to understand my point. It’s pretty evident that if Ohio State played in a better conference against better opponents, they wouldn’t have had their asses handed to them in two NC games.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Tennessee teams in that period
Sean Jean, Tenn? cmon
September 15th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
@gal: That’s hindsight bias, and it’s really wrong, especially in re: 2006.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Don’t take your anger out on these guys just because OSU laid another egg in a big game. OSU was exposed for what they are Saturday and that is a team that is built to handle Big 10 teams and nothing more. They own that conference and will continue to do so until PSU gets a better coach or Rich Rod fixes Michigan. OSU will be in this years’ Rose Bowl playing a non-Pac 10 team since USC will be in the title game and the rest of the PAC 10 is weak. Maybe they can get a rematch with Florida or a game with Missouri (whom I think they would hammer personally).
September 15th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
It’s not hindsight bias, I thought the same thing two years ago as I do today. By the way, how did that NC game work out for your team in 06? Clearly their performance proved they were the best team in the country, right?
September 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
SG-then you were a small minority. most people were not questioning OSU being there.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
That’s the fucking definition of hindsight bias.
There’ve been plenty of national championship games that ended in blowouts.
Florida got drilled by Nebraska. No one was in an outrage that Florida was #2 at the time.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
irish: Tennessee had the most players playing in the NFL of any NCAA team in the early 2000s. They were an NFL draft factory. This drop in talent has a lot do with why we suck balls. You know we won the NC right?
September 15th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
If there is one undefeated team at the end of the regular season, and that team is from a BCS conference, there is no way you can exclude them from playing in the national championship. It’s the system we have to live with. And given that fact, it’s amazing that we even get nonconference games like OSU-USC. Seriously, OSU could have put another cupcake on their schedule, ran through the Big-10 unscathed and found themselves back in the BCS Championship. We’re lucky this game happened.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
We’re lucky this game happened.
Those who watched it probably disagree.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
You know we won the NC right?
Tee Martin, i remember
September 15th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Irish, Nebraska and Miami start a home and home in 2014, can’t wait to talk to trash to you six years from now, haha.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I absolutely give OSU credit for scheduling one great Non-conference game per season (texas before and now USC), but the thing with that is, the rest of their schedule is so bad (and it is), that they essentially play a season of two games. They beat Michigan (usually Michigan is better), and they win the one non-conference game, and they are in the national championship. Hell, they can lose a game in between and they are still probably in. They essentially make their season a fraction of what it is for teams that play real schedules, and I just have a problem taking them seriously given that fact.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
What I mean is, we’re lucky OSU was exposed now, instead of in the National Championship game.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
NSR – I guess that’s the real issue here. I like to watch close, interesting football games, so I have a problem with the BCS system. I dislike Ohio State and got some enjoyment out of watching them get embarassed in the past two NCs, but I’d much rather see a competitive game than see OSU lose.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
But we can’t really blame OSU for their conference being so bad this year. South Florida may very well run the table in a very weak Big East. Thanks goodness they played Kansas (did I really just say that?) so we know they are at least a little bit for real.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
NSR: I’m not throwing around blame. I don’t care who is at fault. I’m simply stating the way I see it, regardless of who is responsible for it.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
yea i know…just cut me a little slack, ok? it was a BAD weekend.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
September 15th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Irish, Nebraska and Miami start a home and home in 2014, can’t wait to talk to trash to you six years from now, haha
Do you know who came up with that? Gov Osbourne or Pelini? this is the first i have heard of this
September 15th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Wow, can’t believe the stupid things you people are saying. So that UGA team that managed 7 hole points on offense would have destroyed USC, right? Or that Auburn team that managed 3 points, would have killed em, correct?
When USC is healthy, at home, and amped up for a game, they are virtually unbeatable.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Sean Jean…you’re totally blaming OSU for other schools sucking.
what do you want OSU to do…give half their recruits to other b10 schools just to level the playing field?
September 15th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
@Maggs-HAHAHA
September 15th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
If USF does run the big east, we’re going to hear a whole lot of this again just exchange OSU for South Florida. The Big East is worse than the Mountain West this year.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
The Mountain West is better than the Pac 10 this year, save for USC.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
True. And the BYU-Utah game cold be one of the top five games of the year–on Versus no less.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Versus has a history of getting really good games.
No idea Irish, it was on the Bottom Line Saturday.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
The Mountain West is better than the Pac 10 this year, save for USC
agreed. I couldnt understand how people were hyping up the Pac Ten as the best conference in the land. I think the Big XII is the best conference this year
September 15th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
spence: Well, yeah, maybe I am a little. I know you are probably pissed, and I’m not trying to piss you off more, but the bottom line is, I just can’t give a team that plays a weak schedule (and often barely gets through that weak schedule) a lot of respect. Whether that is their fault or not, it’s just the way it is. If you play that weak schedule and want some credit, pound the shit out of those teams and then go out and compete against the big boys. As of late, this isn’t happening with OSU, and I just don’t think they belong in the conversation. Simple as that.
And before you come back with something about Tennessee, save your breath. I know we suck. I’ll be the first to admit that.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
The UGA team that showed up against S. Carolina, probably wouldn’t have faired much better…wait, they definitely would have scored more than 3 points.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
irish: SEC is still better. Easily.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Actually I just checked. BYU-Utah will be on the Mtn. this year. Not good. This is like OSU-Michigan being on the Big 10 Network.
Okay, maybe not.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
sigh…i agree.
but don’t worry…you can bet your ass i’ll be back here screaming and yelling when Beanie comes back and Terrelle Pryor is our QB.
/mmm…ether, fucks you up proper
September 15th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
spencer: As you should. Those guys can play, no question.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Really, UGA hasn’t shown me anything, SoCarolina is not good and they struggled mightily. Auburn is downright bad, being in the top 10 is ridiculous. Bama overrated and will still lose 4 games. LSU/FLA are good but not great.
OK is easily #2 right now. I doubted Mizzou for a long time, but they can score a ton on anyone. If Tex or someone else can step up, absolutely Big12 could be better.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Yeah, in no other conference can you get 3-2 games.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Bhahahahahha, thanks for reminding me of that clown, what a joke.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
maggs-i think michigan just fumbled again…
September 15th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
coop- UGA definitely left a lot to be desired, however, if you have seen that game for the last 7 or so years then you know it always ends that way. However, UGA needs to get a lot better on the o-line or else they are going to have some problems and they need to get pressure on the QB.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I do believe I said on the 11th that usc would win by at least 30. so spencer096 go fuck yourself.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
If you think Missouri beating up on Nevada and whoever else the hell they have played is comparable to Georgia playing South Carolina or Auburn playing Miss St. you are smoking crack. Kansas got beaten by USF as well. Yeah OU looks great, but they haven’t played anyone yet either. The SEC has 5 teams in the Top 10 last time I checked. It’s not even fucking close.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I know more than the voters.
/sportsgal
September 15th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
consider it done.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Yeah yeah, I know, its the SEC so barely beating a 5 win team means your great and only scoring 3 points is actually very good because Miss St. would just destroy every Big 10 team. Fuck that.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Coop: They won. It’s hard to compare the two games because Missouri is off playing glorified Division 2 teams while the SEC schools are playing bowl teams from a BCS conference. A win is a win in that case. And you are comparing Missouri to maybe the 5th best team in the conference, while Missouri is the supposed 2nd best. What about Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Alabama? Who goes up against them? OU, Texas, Kansas, and who else? Texas Tech? SEC goes 3-1 in those games, maybe 4-0.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
MAC > ACC
can we just agree on that?
September 15th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
As a Terp fan, I can agree with naming any conference and placing it above the ACC. But hey, at least they beat Cal this weekend.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
So if you’re OSU, you have to pound the shit out of “bad teams”, but if you play in the SEC, even when playing bad teams its perfectly acceptable to look like shit. I see how this works now.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
They aren’t bad teams. Miss St. went to a bowl game last year and won 8 games. South Carolina was a top 5 team at one point last year. Comparing them to the likes of Youngstown St., Ohio University, Indiana, Northwestern, etc. is just ridiculous. It’s not my fault that OSU can’t compete with the better teams in college football the past few years and low level SEC teams can.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
South Carolina, 1-7 in the last 8 games. Louisiana Tech scored 7 times as many points on MissSt than Auburn could manage. Get over yourself.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Sean Jean…conference play is always different than OOC. all the SEC teams know each other, which is why SEC games are closer. just like how pac-10 teams can hang with USC when no other team in the country can come close. etc. etc. etc.
south crackalacki is not a good team. they have a good defense, but are offensively retarded (a spurrier team, inept offensively? 6 years ago, that’d be blasphemy). georgia shouldve beaten them soundly, but didn’t.
you can’t compare OOC games to conference games…who are you going to be better against: a team you face once in a blue moon or the team you face every year in and out?
September 15th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
spence: Yep, I’d agree with all of that. I do think South Carolina is better than their record indicates though, but I’m not hellbent on it. I can see the other side of the coin. The record speaks for itself.
coop: Whatever. The SEC is better than the Big 12, which was my original argument, and I truthfully don’t think it’s that close. I’m not hear to defend the quality Auburn vs. Miss St.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
And I never said it was, I said it could be because several teams currently ranked in the top 10 certainly don’t look very good. But of course simply questioning the toughness of the amazing SEC is blasphemy (UCLA looked good this weekend).
September 15th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
South Carolina has a god aweful offense. That being said, they scored 7 points on a busted coverage play. On the offensive side of the ball, UGA looked terrible. However, keep in mind, they had one dropped touchdown pass and two dropped third down conversion on cackolacky’s side of the field. The game could have easily been 21/28-7. Bottom line, UGA has to be more consistent on offense and can’t have mental lapses like the one that lead to the touchdown.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
UT never goes into the equation for the SEC for this year. We are garbage. Plain and simple.
You can question the SEC, I just don’t think their is much basis behind it.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
their = there
September 15th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Florida- good, will not be tested OOC
Georgia- good, has to beat ASU this week and beat them soundly after ASU’s loss
LSU- completely untested going into league play
Bama- looked great against Clemson, but it was Clemson. Perhaps the only team that shits the bed worse than my Buckeyes in the spotlight. Incomplete.
Auburn- talented, good D, in a similar spot to Michigan on offense. They have the wrong talent for the system. They’ll be exposed soon and it’ll take a few years for them to get “back”. Will be tested at WVU later on. Will probably get rolled.
The rest of the SEC blows. If it’s truly the best league, and it may be, it’s pretty close and really won’t be tested until bowl season. Keep in mind…the SEC was actually 1-2 vs the “JV” Big Ten in bowl games two years ago. Just 3-3 the last two years overall. It’s pretty even over time.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Addendum: Perhaps the issue is that the SEC has had the individual best teams the last two years…not that the league is so dominant overall. If it’s truly dominant over everyone else, the facts would show it. Show me some facts.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
lol @ Auburn being rolled by WVU. also lol @ saying Alabama destroying a preseason #9 team on the road as meaningless. Really unbiased rundown you have there. “The rest blows, except for, you know, half of the top 10 being from the same conference.” Good defense.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
longliverriverfront: Look at the rankings, and look at the National Champions. Those are facts. We typically end the season with the most ranked teams, have the most teams in bowl games and we win the national championship. I’m not sure what other facts you want. Bench press? 40 times? We have those too.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Bench press 225 pounds? 700 times./TBL-ified
September 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Sweet, spencer predicts Tressel is gone in three years.;)
\Hopeful Wolverine fan
September 15th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
And BTW, USC is a MONSTER. The rest of the country, including the vaunted SEC, is playing for second place.
I’m interested to see what people say when USC blows out Georgia/Florida/LSU in the national championship game. How about: “Georgia/Florida/LSU got fat on an easy SEC schedule. They beat Vanderbilt and 5-7 South Carolina, plus Miss. St. at home.”
Yeah, right, like we’ll ever see that commentary!
September 15th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
GYD: No doubt about it. At this point in the season USC looks virtually flawless. That being said, I still don’t think they’d blow out Florida, Georgia, or LSU. It’d at least be competitive, but they’d have too much for those teams I think. Keep in mind though, we are three weeks into the season.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I am way late to this event, and I don’t care if anyone reads this
1. Boeckman should not play another down at Ohio State, unless Pryor is injured
2. The Buckeye teams in the late 90s had some of the most talented teams in college football history. Walk through the Schott and look at those teams pictures and it is amazing that some of those teams ever lost a game.
3. I hope OSU runs the table and goes to the NC game. I wouldn’t even care if they got blown out by SEC speed. In fact, I would find it amusing. As people have said, Wisconsin and Penn State are big obstacles to that happening.
4. In the third quarter I asked the USC fans next to me that sold me their 2 tickets to me on StubHub about their 100% satisfaction policy.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
slc, I agree, Pryor ought to be taking all the snaps. And being a Michigan fan, I hope that happens so his eligiblity gets over quicker. The kid will make Vince Young’s college career look average if he plays and can even improve.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
How will that make his eligibility end quicker? Answer: it won’t. It’ll only make him a better player so that he’ll destroy Michigan at couple times.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I don’t care if Prior kills Michigan this year, as OSU will win anyway. It just makes it three years of him where he might destroy a good season, not four. And maybe only two if he gets the itch and leaves early.