First, I'd like to apologize in advance for any abrasiveness you might encounter below. I like to pride myself as a glass is half full type of guy, but right about now, the glass is precariously low and smells like piss.
Now, on to the topic at hand. I realize there's a small percentage of you that will wake up proud that your Buckeyes were able to hang with and lose a classic to the dominant team of this decade, but for the realists among the bunch, you're probably pretty damn frustrated.
I am as well. I just watched my once in a decade talent at quarterback get outplayed in his house by a true freshman. Chew on that for a second.
The crowd, the defense, and for the most part, the offense brought it Saturday night against as tough a team as they will likely face this season. But that's part of the problem. After getting completely embarrassed last season in LA, this was a game that was in reach -- indeed it was a game that should have been won, but instead we're left with the same turd-eating feeling that has become all too familiar of fans of this program.
The biggest question going into Saturday night was how the much maligned OSU offensive line would fare against the stout USC defensive front. While you can debate the effectiveness of playcalling in the ground game, when Pryor was put into passing situations, his line kept him clean and he flat-out did not get it done. The line, blasted by all comers for nearly 18 months came to play. Yet we're handing USC a gimme touchdown off a first quarter pick, bizarro delay of game calls (on the staff), a crucial intentional grounding call and a final drive you knew was headed for the cemetery before it even took off.
Pryor was given every opportunity to get his first signature win, but did not deliver. He will probably get it sooner than later, but right now he's the pet project of a coach that has a nice little string of big game flops going for him (six straight to top five opponents). And the pet project isn't coming along as quickly as it should be.
I mean how do you hold Joe McKnight to 3.8 yards per carry, keep the USC receivers out of the endzone and hold their true freshman quarterback under 50 percent for the night and still come up short? At home? USC gave the Buckeyes five points off a field goal that hit the cross bar and a high snap on a punt that led to a safety, the home crowd was about as incredible as you're ever going to see it and you still couldn't bring home a game that you led 90% of the time?
There are many positive takeaways from Saturday night and if your idea of an awesome season is dropping one here or there but still beating the Wolverines, then you might still have a good fall. But if you're the type that sees problems in the regime and watched the final drive in despair (Texas, anyone?), just knowing it would pay off for the bad guys, the next couple of days are not going to be easy.
Comments
Couldn't agree more.
You forget our coaching staff once again played it safe hoping that the other team would choke. Playing scared has become a Tressel staple. It is why he is a master of beating lesser schools and then gagging to the Big Boys that execute.
We have the players. Why do they never seem to get any better? Where is the growth out of Pryor? Or Herron? Why did Tressel stop throwing to Saine, even though USC had no answer for it during the one drive that the Bucks explioted the matchup? Why only 3 runs for TP? Why did the TE's disappear from the gameplan after one week?
Changes need to be made. This team needs some swagger.
usc looks to be a top 10 team but not a great team..believe they would make good gator bait..urban myers and the gators would show usc the way home very quick..now as for the buckeyes and the rest of the big so called ten...get a life your strictly second tier bunch of want-a-bees..your games are about as exciting to watch right up there with watching grass grow...my wife knows very little about football but can call ohio states every play..man you talk about simple..i see high school programs with a more sophisticated game plan...the buckeyes can recruit with the big boys and the last two years - 2008 & 2009 -have out recruited some of the big boys like usc and florida..they just can't coach them once they get them..enough said..from a ex buckeye who got rid of my season tickets and moved to florida after about the 4th season of tressel ball and please i have heard enough of he won the national title and he has a high winning percentage..give me a break they don't play anyone and the national title was with john coopers players who had a mean streak and some swagger..something they don't have now...thank you the exbuckeye now loving what football is all about in florida
I want bees.
Want-a-bees? Seriously? Wow.
The opinion poll should include Pryor. HE choked when the game was in the balance. STUDS excel in those situations.
Pryor and Tress should take the blame. How many times do you try and run up the middle and get nothing? We need a new QB coach - Pryor reverted back to his old ways of throwing off his back foot - I thought he said he watches film - of what? Terrelle has had two summers in Columbus and his mechanics have improved maybe 50%. Again we give the game away. I will be happy if we win out and win a bowl game. We are young and we don't want to mess with Florida this year. Moral victory - I guess - USC is not that good. We will see what we are made of when we go to Crappy Valley!
Frikken moron coach you guys got, most unimaginative big time college coach on the planet. You knew he was going to lose with ten minutes still on the clock, that's a creepy feeling. Even in the first half when he couldn't let his man-child QB take the ball and score from a yard out and then settle for a FG you knew he was doomed. Settle for a FG against USC you kidding?
To Jason and everyone at 11W, the poll question is simple: Should Tressel be fired? Yes or No. What a disappointment saturday night. I'm so pissed that I'm going to boycott the Toledo game and find something else to do. Anyone up for some poker?
l.e.harding, you are who we all call a fair-weather-fan who also has issues using commas and other punctuation. I'd rather watch ANY football game over watching grass grow, but maybe you're talking about that Mary J...
This loss was ALL on Tressel and less-so on the players. Not running out the clock at the end of the 2nd Quarter proved to be the 3 points that spelled the outcome of the game.
This game also put an LA-sized microscope on tOSU's dire need for an offensive coordinator. The stretch-option plays were terribly ineffective the entire game yet The Senator chose to run it 4-5 times. I agree with Jason's confusion around why Tressel abandoned plays that were successful (i.e. passes to Saine).
For a guy who thought OSU would get throttled at home, it was at least reassuring to see the team and fans show up and not get completely embarrassed on our home field.
NOTE** - just how significant was the loss of Carlos Hyde from this year's recruiting class????
I haven't watched the game yet on TV, and I hate to bring up this old and often voiced sentiment, but I put this one on the offensive play calling and whoever the offensice coordinator really is (i.e., Coach Tressel).
It's finally time for Gene Smith to sit down with Tressel and advise him to bring in a proper offensive coordinator who calls the plays. We are too predictable and unimaginative.
If Pete Carroll were coaching tOSU last night......we win !
I don't know how many more choke jobs I can take from Tress. Go back to YSU, please.
Agree 150%.
AAAUUUGH LOUD NOISES!
I expected a loss last night. But the Buckeyes continue to find new ways to rip my heart out. Bowl game against Texas, I thought "Hey we have a shot and we're playing lights out defense." - Heart ripped out.
Last night I thought "Hey we are going to win this thing" then watched an 86 yard drive to reinvent heartbreaking loss.
You're killing your father Larry!
Sure everyone's pissed, but fire tressel? Oh, poor us, we can't beat a top five team but we can beat every other team in America. That leaves us in what the top six? ten? When you find a better, proven coach, you let me know.
In the meantime, the challenge is clearly to find some swagger. It's not mechanics, but what was between the ears that held Pryor back. He got nervous for some reason and let the rest of it fall apart. Have you ever seen Pryor run while looking over his shoulder as much as he did last night? Or turn down some of the holes that were there? The team needs to get the swagger back. Lets be honest, that's what we're missing.
Tress does run a clean program - its time for him to step up and improve his offensive coaching staff. I liked what someone else said - turn the man -child lose at the goal line.
chill you're a loser aren't you?
I think it's time we understand that Tressel is really a lot more like Cooper than Buckeye fans would like to admit. Tressel's big claim to fame is his ability to beat Michigan, but was that really a Lloyd Carr problem rather than a Tressel credit?
Let's call a spade a spade. Tressel calls a predictable game every game and lets his depth beat the other Big 10 schools. That same game plan beat Miami when they lost their running back to a bad knee, and Clarett stole a turnover on a big play (what can't MO steal though). As soon as the Bucks step onto the bigger national stage, they can't win by hoping the other team will hand them the game. They don't out-depth or out-talent the big-time programs. On the contrary - they need inspired or at least inventive coaching to give them a chance and that's where OSU always seems to come up short.
I know many OSU fans are happy that we weren't embarrassed last night again, but look back at the Cooper years and tell me what bothered you back then. Let's not let this thing go 12 years before we find a new hero.
Repent your sins and get an offensive coordinator JT .
Well, hell. I can't say your analysis is off the mark. Your frustration is justified.
USC brought one of the weakest teams they've had in awhile, and this was a great chance to get them. Barkley's a freshman QB and he directed the game-winning drive. OSU's defense certainly played well enough to win. The game was in Columbus. Terelle Pryor had a year to seethe and prepare. Tressel had a year to seethe and prepare.
The Trojans will continue to improve and be at or near full-strength again next year.
Tressel's big game record is becoming a real problem. ABC showed stats at the beginning of the game highlighting all of Tressel's losses to BCS and big-name opponents... the Bucks have lost most of those. But he's 42-0 against everyone else. Sounds good, but how many other teams would also be 42-0 with the schedule, resources, and talent that OSU has year after year? My answer: any competently managed major football program.
If it's any consolation, it was a fun game to watch for a neutral observer with no vested interest in the outcome. Certainly, the two teams were much more closely matched than in recent years.
It is time to cut ties wwith tress, if we want to contend with the SEC , he is not the guy! We consistantly recruit in the top 5 in the nation but fail to devlop players because Tress is to loyal to assistants(Bollman,Heacock)! Bring Jon gruden-nick saban-urban meyer-bob stoops--- back home to there roots.....OH. Did you know the state of oh produces almost 20% of all college football div 1 coaches yet we fail to keep one who can win!
Leaving aside the Tressel issues for a moment...
I know you guys have swag to sell, but the "Pryor is t3h pwnz0rz" crap needs to stop until he actually does something. People need to accept that as of right now - stupendous athletic specimen that he is - as a quarterback, Terrelle is slightly above mediocre. Considering that he probably wants to go pro after his junior year, this kid is almost halfway through his career at OSU, and he has improved marginally. And that's nothing against him in particular -- presumably he is working his tail off and doing the best he can. But he is just not that good of a quarterback right now, and every time I read or hear something about how awesome he is, it strikes me as wild-eyed homerism.
Well.... I feel like everything I need to say has been said before... For the past 5 years... I hearby call for a change in the regime.... Hopefully, we don't come into next week completely unmotivated.... Because Toledo looks like they have some talent.... How embarrassing would that be? Maybe that's what it'll take to make a change in Columbus... Not necessarilly the head coach... But the philosophy ... Sheesh.. Who am I kidding... Tressel will be raving about the positives on Monday!
Has anyone noticed on ESPN and Fox Sports conversation that OSU is no longer fat and unatheletic, but great athletes with bad coaching?
Terrelle Pryor = Reggie Ball
Jim Tressel = Mack Brown pre-Vince Young. A
Anyone else notice that?
Is this your homework Larry?
Urban Meyer
Pete Carrol
Chris Peterson
Les Miles
I agree with everything you said. Major changes need to be made. I've already heard "he's better than Cooper" too many times since last night.
I'm going to ask a question that you all will probably bash me for but I don't care.
Can we PLEASE stop calling Pryor "LiC"
Seriously....the longer you keep comparing Pryor to someone who hasn't won anything in the NBA, the longer OSU will go without winning a championship.
It is Terrelle Pryor!
I don't want Miles. We're not gonna get Carrol or Meyer. But Peterson....he's the reason I was about to post. He's the guy I'd like to see the Bucks get. But the problem is, Tressel will be around for several more years, and by that time Peterson will have been snatched up by big program.
We're going to start finding out this year. Rich Rod has a program now, and it just so happens to include the one thing OSU can't stop...a dual-threat QB. What happens if Tress starts losing to TTUN? He has nothing going for him then.
Gruden...hadn't thought of him. I like that.
sigh. Where'd I put my pitchfork?
I agree - what big game has he won? None. Gave last years Penn State game away - opens up the USC game with an int to a receiver who wasn't even looking - had a bad arm in the Texas game. Maybe Matta could use him.
It seems all mediocre NFL coaches(head) turn out to be good college coaches.
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, at least since 2002 Fiesta Bowl.
We seem to be in the business of making other teams, and conferences, look good, and also launching the Heisman seasons of other teams' quarterbacks.
2005: Set stage for Texas to win NC.
2006: Launch Tebow's Heisman year, made SEC look good.
2007: Made SEC look good again (more so than all the pundits put together)
2008: Launch Colt McCoy's Heisman year (make Sanchez look like 1st round material)
2009: Put Barkley on the Heisman list for next year.
This.has.got.to.stop.
I'll gotta give the Buckeyes for a good game, in most areas. USC is as tough an opponent as they'll see this year (unless we see USC again in Rose Bowl). Pryor, in his sophomore season, is not yet Vince Young, but then Vince Young wasn't Vince Young until his Junior year. My patience may be very thin, but I don't have a choice here.
GO BUCKS!!
Clearly not a fan of the Spice Girls
Ah, it appears as if we have our first comment of the day from a fan who discovered Ohio State football in late 2002
Comment #2 from a "fan" who doesn't know what it was like to watch John Cooper
Agreed.
Something to consider:
Agree or Disagree:
1. Prior to the game last night what schools would you say have the most potent offenses in college football?
My picks: 1. Florida 1a. USC
2. After watching OSU vs. Navy most of the Ohio State / fan based polls predicted not only a USC victory, but a USC blowout of the Buckeyes:
My personal pre-game prediction: USC 42 OSU 7
I'm curious to see who honestly thought (after watching OSU vs. Navy) that the Buckeyes could even keep it close last night.
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Something to remember: BCS National Champions
2006 Florida
2007 LSU
2008 Florida
What did they all have in common? 1 Loss earlier in the year.
My recommendations:
1. Fire Jim Bollman as a offensive coordinator and replace him with an NFL caliber coach who is innovative and effective
2. Fire Jim Bollman as a line coach and replace him with an NFL caliber coach who knows how to teach players to be nasty in the trenches
3. Fire Heacock as a defensive coordinator and replace him with an NFL caliber coach who is innovative, effective and can teach players to be nasty in the trenches (although both the D and O line played better last night than I would have predicted prior to the game).
yep
A few things about last night:
1. Great game D - I know you couldn't get off the field at the end, but you should not have had to do it again. This is on the O and particularly the play calling (I know, a shock there)
2. Good job for the O-line, relatively speaking. Our inability to run was a problem, but the line played better than I thought it would, and that was not the reason we lost the game.
3. The D-line was awesome, again until the end. Heyward, Gibson, Williams, etc were incredible all night against as good a line they will face in college
4. TP was disappointing, no doubt about it. Not much left to say, everyone saw this performance.
5. NICE FREAKIN' drive to tie the game at the end, fellas. Jesus, at least you could have made it interesting .... there was more than 1 min left. this is the most frustrating part about the game for me. we had a f-in' chance and never even attempted a competent play.
BRIAN KELLY !
Couldn't agree more. Above all else, Pryor looked timid last night. He actually made 2 or 3 really nice throws, but for whatever reason, he looked scared.
Props to the defense for bringing it -- great defensive effort by all, and by the D-Line especially. It was refreshing to see them playing with an attitude once again.
So "better than John Cooper" is all we should hope for from a coach? Awesome. I'm looking forward to our continuing national irrelevance.
No, we shouldn't strive for "better than John Cooper"....but the fans who whine for a change in coaches clearly do NOT recall the day we fired an amazing man named Earle Bruce and replaced him with a guy who went 2-10-1 against Michigan.
You wanna repeat that mistake?
We saw the D-line get better and better as last year worn on and then we saw it perform really well in the fiesta bowl. Then again last night the D-line was great. The reason we have come from 2-3 Tds below the elite programs to practically even is the performance/improvement of the D-line over the last year and a half.
We will always have the athletes on the outside to compete with anyone, it has been the trenches that have sold us out over the last 3-4 years. One side of that problem is definitely fixed, IMO.
That O-line is the best we will see and the D-line played awesome against it.
This doesn't ruin a season for me. Hurts like hell but I haven't lost all hope. Tress needs to stay right where he is and I am slowly losing any hope for TP.
What a great game that didn't swing our way at the end. Why is TP so inconsistent? I was proud of every player on that field save for Pryor. He isn't the star everyone is making him out to be or I haven't seen it against good teams. He throws 2 decent passes a game and then what? Pouts over to the sidelines because he wants to go on 4th down. My six year old has better composure. Both of our lines stepped up, our play calling wasn't horrible; I know I couldn't have done as well. What happened to throwing to the tight ends and the no huddle we saw against Navy? Where was 11? Heyward IS a monster. Saine needs to get the ball more. I'm still headed to Cleveland to watch the Bucks improve.
I agree that firing a coach can be a tricky proposition, but I highly doubt that anybody we replace JT with would have a run like coop against michigan - it would be impossible. And I don't think that we should be afraid that we will ever face that situation again.
Firing JT is not necessary. But how about getting some offensive help. clearly the coaching needs upgraded and most fans are not calling for a complete overhaul, but some change.
Is it too much to ask for a real, live, breathing OC? in today's game, I think we have every right to want a great offensive mind primarily in charge of running the O ... like every other major team in America.
-Tress either needs to hire a NEW playcaller, or he needs to go period. My guess is he will go before he does that.
-Mack Brown figured out how to use Vince Young's abilities, we are trying to turn Pryor into Tom Brady, AINT GONNA HAPPEN!
-Any friggin' coach in the world could do what JT does with these resources, beating everyone else is NOT good enough. He hasn't beat a top team since 2006! And that was NOT a top team, they got their asses handed to them by USC!
-How long before recruits stop buying into JT's system and start going elsewhere?
-Cooper won 95% of his games, but could not win the big one's of his day, AND GOT HIS ASS FIRED!
-Pryor throws like a fucking girl, period. How is he a big time athlete? Big time athletes can throw, its one of the first things kids learn to do in their back yards, and he can't do it.
-Hats off to the defense, they gave the offense multiple opportunities to put it away, and they couldn't. Football is a team sport.
Im changing my avatar to reflect the ONLY thing that should matter to a TRUE Buckeye fan, not any 1 player or coach. THE PROGRAM IS WHAT MATTERS!
1.) Interesting rhetorical device, assuming that we would automaticallly hire someone "worse" than Tressel. If you frame your question as, "do you want to screw up?" then of course the answer is always "no."
2.) What in the name of all that is holy does something that happened over twenty years ago, among parties who are no longer involved in the current situation, have to do with right now?
3.) What I AM for, is OSU having a coaching staff that implements strategies designed to maximize our chances at winning football games, and not actively try to win every freaking game by a point. I don't give a damn who it is. But I have lost all confidence that Tressel is a man who will do that.
Here's the thing: Tresselball is a lousy lover. Yeah, you get laid, but it's never incredible and you're always looking for that incredible thing!
No, but not making a move because it may not work out is a good way to never improve.
BuckeyeChief, if that is the case then that is a good development where the Buckeye media bashers are concerned.
Of course there is Mark May who can't ever find a good thing to say about the Buckeyes.
For most of us this game was about us, as fans and not just the Buckeyes.
We the fans want to be able to talk smack once again.
We the fans want to shut the media up once and for all.
We the fans want to bang our chests about our beloved Buckeyes.
That's what makes college football the greatest of all American sports and what will make the Buckeyes winning it all in 2010 all the sweeter.
Thanks to Kirk Herbstreit...who after the game last night made mention of the Buckeyes as having proved themselves against top level teams (even in defeat against USC last night & Texas in last years Fiesta Bowl) and that might help to turn the media bashers a bit. If nothing else Herbie did his best to challenge the media to recognize that last night (and in the Texas game) that the Buckeyes played at a level most didn't expect. Maybe that will get OSU to the level of respect shown in the media for Oklahoma who has its own share of big game let downs of late.
Of course the media doesn't care that this is a young Buckeye team...but as fans we should keep that in mind.
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Now if Tress would just get a new O-Line coach, a new D-Coordinator and new O-Coordinator...Tress has to be loyal to the school and the program over loyalty to his pals Bollman & Heacock...not an easy task for him, but a step that must be taken...if not, his loyalty to Bollman & Heacock could become his undoing.
Good point
Early in the First World War, British generals decided to attack German trenches with an initial light bombardment, followed by infantry walking in close order across No Man’s Land. The result was tens of thousands killed in a series of military disasters, but the generals reacted with only small adjustments to their approach and essentially persisted in repeating the same mistakes for years.
Sound familiar?
My love affair with running QB's is fading. The reward is great if it works, but the risk is greater. And just how many running QB's have won an MNC? just one, and thats not enough.
Yeah, running QBs have pretty much only worked in the following situations:
1. the offense they run is a running offense - (e.g.,old Nebraska)
2. the running QB is Vince Young
This is why JT is trying to make TP into a passing QB with escapability and scrambling ability on 3rd downs to move the chains. The right move overall, but it is definitely a process
In the Dispatch the writer wanted to give the game ball to the Punter - he did do a great job - but the game ball to a punter - only with Tress coaching.
Need new blood in the coaching department - you can only walk on water for so long.
Did Tressell sell his soul to get #2?
You all can blame JT, or who ever, but TP just can get the job done throwing yet. How many opportunities blown, two incompletions in the endzone, plus he over threw Saine late in the game. TP is not ready to take us to where we want to be.
You make good points but we are talking about OSU from the Big Ten. Not LSU from the SEC.
There is no way on Earth or in Hell that OSU makes it anywhere near the NCG.
The Big Ten is down so far right now it is scary. MSU losing to CMU. Iowa needing to block two FGs to beat UNI.
Heacock and Bollman brought their A-game last night IMO. It was Tressel that laid a fat, smelly one on the sideline.
iball....good morning.
Looks like you are singing a different tune this morning compared to last night.
Welcome to the fold my friend.
Another thing these teams had in common:
Play more than 1 ranked team in conference.
Pryor will never be just a passer.
His game depends on his legs.
He will win big for us one day, maybe this year.
He will not work out as a QB in the NFL.
We need to utilize his skill set to win games NOW.
I just watched Pryor's post game interview, I fell bad for the kid. All these people like us, love him one minute, want him gone the next.
He's only a sophmore, and he's got a coach that still has alot to learn about how to use him.
This season is NOT over.
The sting will fade.
Dont lose hope, the program cannot survive THAT.
Calling for Tress' head is dumb. An OC is a def. MUST tho. No moral victories either. F that. We had optimum field position all night long. We cradled a 5 point victory like it was 28. Not against Pete and the Trojans. I mean c'mon. Really?!?! Im still proud to be a buckeye, have my shirt and hat on, and they are not coming off anytime soon, but if we dont get an OC this team can forget about next years MNC run too.
Thoughts:
-Couldn't be happier with the SILVER BULLETS. We will always have D, but they really stepped up.
-Brian Rolle and Cam Heyward get my players of the game. Rolle is going to be something special, what a player.
-Grant Schwartz was a half-inch away from being a hero we would never forget about. How did he not get any piece of that punt?!?! Not his fault, cuz kid is one hell of a special teams player, but just ONE more missed opportunity.
-Pryor throwing off his backfoot is unacceptable. Couldn't agree more about him not being Tom Brady. Why not run the kid and let him develop over the long run.
-Play-calling lost us this game, as has been pointed out to naseum in above posts. We started most of our drives on the USC side of the field, and couldn't score a fucking point. Im sorry about the language, I'm just very frustrated.
-Torrence stepped up in a big way and I was super impressed with him as well. His run stopping abilities were great. Hines at SS better stay for the rest of the season, cuz that D last night was lights out until the end of the game.
-Matt Barkley looked very much like a freshman to me last night. Dont give him the Heisman just yet.
-And Holy Shit, did Mark May say he was 'proud' of the way the Buckeyes played last night, or was I just drunk?!
If your vision of success is limited to beating UM and winning the Big 10 - then Tres is your man. I think the point is that we have increased our expectations. Tressel's success in the Midwest has allowed us to do so and for that we should be thankful.
However, without some changes we will always be a top 10 "pretty good" team that can't make the next step. Raise you hand if you think things would be the same if Tres had lost to Miami...
Buckeye in SC
I agree with you that this years team is not a NC caliber team.
The Buckeyes next best chance to win all comes in 2010.
Time will tell.
i don't understand why it is dumb to call for tressel's head. there is clearly a problem and tressel seems unwilling to adjust to address the problem. if he was willing to change up his style of game management occasionally, as circumstances dictated, there would be no need for fresh blood.
OSU was better than USC last night. OSU clearly has the players, its just the coaching that can't get it done...and has repeatedly not got it done.
...and another, they beat the team to take home the trophy
I watched the game with significant interest last night. Accolades to who's running this web site as it takes some kahoonas to actually call a spade a spade and for that I salute you. In GatorNation we had a website years ago called FireRonZook and it had similar tones but similar truths too.
Up to the third, I actually found myself in a place I'm not usually at: rooting for the Bucks. I replied to this blog last year and got some great feedback, there are a 'few' of us gracious Gators out here. And one thing Gators and this blog have is a true desire to fix what the frick is broken. I saw that intent last year on comments on this very site.
I loved your lead in title 'Moral Victory...." because that's all this was. I won't re-hash the bad but suffice to say, you've got to seal the deal. OU needs an offensive coordinator and OU needs some 'grit' in Tressel...the last comment about swagger is the ultimate truth. Ya'll had it under Woody and hell, I couldn't stand the man, but it was a begrudging respect; probably jealousy too.
I don't want to create a flame war here, just an obvious truth that it seems keeps getting swept under the carpet. Tressel has been great for ya'll, statistics-wise. But the game has changed and, here it comes: Tressel has to go.
I watched this game with the most open of minds. Make no mistake, I was expecting a 40+ shellacing of the Bucs at the Shoe. But, by God, for three quarters they kept Hollywood at bay. Almost looked like a Bucs team of years past; I really DID say that to myself.
But they didn't deliver. And already SI and the Dispatch have stories on how OU will gain credibility by this 'moral victory'.
Moral victories are NOT the stuff of Championships. Anyone on earth that is a TRUE Bucs fan should slap whoever even THINKS that. 11 warriors is the only OU site with the guts to face the problem.
It took us almost three years to ditch Zook and the Illini are feeling that pain now. Ya'll have GOT to get aggressive and quit the 'feel good' style of coaching.
Thanks for one of the greatest games played in history. That was an epic battle. You guys had us on the ropes. I'm very impressed with your Buckeyes. There's a lot to be excited about and to be proud. I really hope your team keeps it together, and you win out.
After the losses to Florida, LSU and us over the past 2-3 years, tOSU could have faded, but the games against Texas and SC showed that your program is up to the challenge. There are no moral victories, and saying you were a few plays away from winning both games makes it hurt more. But, the Buckeyes have nothing to be ashamed.
Fight On!
It's not dumb to call for Tressell's head. If anything, JT should either take the high road or get some talent in the qb and offense coaching side.
Guys, we endured Ron Zook for two seasons. His 'great recruiting' was our 'moral victory' swan song.
Keep putting that lipstick on the pig. Thank God we got rid of Zook.
Nothing to be ashamed of... hmmm
Does OSU have a two-minute-drill? The end of both halves was abysmal.
TE makes catch, Dane doesn't drop ball, sack doesn't happen and Tressel is considered a great coach in this game.
It is absolutely ignorant to be calling for the head of the coach. The expectations are as high as they are because of this coach.
What should be focused on is the complete and utter let down of Terrelle Pryor. Interception in beginning for 7. Only one run where he even looked like he had control of his own skin. Take a look at his other runs, he almost looked inept.
Only ppl who have no ability to process mechanics put this on Tressel. This was an utter failure by Terrelle Pryor, nothing else.
This is what happens when you find a stranger in the alps (edited for tv version)
First and goal and we run 3 straight plays up the middle. Has nobody on the staff learned that we have a QB that is as fast as any player on the field. SPREAD THEM OUT 5 WIDE AND LET HIM MAKE A PLAY!!!! That was my only grievance from the game. Our secondary was tremendous in coverage last night, the LB's with the exception of the final drive looked like the Silver Bullets of old. The offense though, vanilla. The game is on the line and we line up in an Ace formation under center with 40 seconds left????
Stoops? You be trading one big game choker for another.
I can process mechanics nicely, thank you. And I'm sorry if you think I'm ignorant about it, everyone deserves their opinion and that's why I'm happy you bucs have 11 warriors.
No doubt TP is the cause of last night's problems, in the biggest way. I still however stand by my assessment. Leadership starts at the top and JT has ran an a fine program. But the game has gone past him; that's my only point.
really!! qb sneak your 6'6 240 qb with a foot to go for the td. that was the ball game. that and the lack of faith in the kicker late in the game. The early int. didn't help but pryor came back from that. bottom line This play calling is getting old fix that and we start winning these games. Too close to the vest.
First off, fuck Mark May.
Second, you are mostly right. The killer instinct is there in the form of Luke Fickell. But, Tressel has to give up control of the offense.
"-Grant Schwartz was a half-inch away from being a hero we would never forget about. How did he not get any piece of that punt?!?! Not his fault, cuz kid is one hell of a special teams player, but just ONE more missed opportunity."
That is the first time I've ever seen a player get to the punter TOO quickly. He ran by the punter before the punt...
Tressel doesn't need to go....yet. But we have to get a REAL offensive coordinator or this will continue to happen.
Not just someone who calls plays, but someone who can teach the offense how to be offensive.
Our defense could NOT of played better, we had at least 5 chances or more to put the game out of reach.
Once we would have went up 2 scores, that would have made SC hurry, and I guarantee they would have made a mistake.
Carroll had 7 minutes and nothing to lose, and he wasnt afraid to let his offense play, but Tressel was.
play calling sucked. critical 3rd down and we line up pryor under center? You put him back in the shotgun and spread the field. USC came with the blitz and he didn't have time to throw because we didn't go shotgun. The coaches need to start taking the blame. We have the talent. We have as much or more talent as USC. The NFL guys know this thats why 77 players from Ohio State have gone pro since 2000. BTW thats more than any other team.
Gruden isn't mediocre are you 4real? He took the raiders to the super bowl what have they done since? He won a super bowl in tampa. Before he got there they couldn't get over the hump just like Ohio State right now. Im not saying fire tressel but he needs to take his hands off the wheel of the Offense. He's had his time. Gruden would be a hell of a pick up for the buckeyes.
I sucked last night...and so forth.
Dont count Meyer out. OSU is the only school he can break is UF contract. Yet I want to see UF without Tebow.
This game falls on Pryor. He had receivers open all night, and needs to start reading defenses better. On blitzes, he locks in on one receiver and misses open ones. If we had a good quarterback, we would have won that game by 2 touchdowns. Where was the QB sneak on 3rd and inches at the goal line?
Why is Nathan Williams not on the field all the time? All this kid does is make plays.
Agree with all of that, completely. Spot on.
Yeah, I agree totally in utilizing his particular skill set now as he improves with the other aspects. The coaches should put him in the best position to make plays and that position should change as he grows ... don't just throw him into a position that you WANT him to be able to handle, but rather the positions he can handle at the particular moment.
The understatement of the day, however - in all fairness, I have never had to bring a young QB along and JT has... so what do I know.
It hurts now, but the big game disappointments will end. Just as the cooper-era run against TTUN had to end, so must this streak.
nothing left to do but win the rest of our games. go bucks.
Interesting thoughts...
Tressel
Mack Brown
Bob stoops...
All these coaches are in the same catergory in my opinion.. They all have unbelievable records during the regular season, but all of them always seem to find a way to lose at the big stage!! Save for a national championship, they are all nearly identical... A rare 2 loss season, followed by a national championship run, with a few big losses sprinkled throughout! Maybe not as dramatic in Browns' case... Nonetheless, they are all nearly flawless when it comes to playing lesser opponents-- but when it comes to the big time opponents, they are all laughingstocks, with an unflappable determination that their philosophy in big games is the optimal for their respective teams success!! Arrogance!
Compare them to:
urban meyer
Pete Carrol
and to an extent Les Miles
(All with Ohio ties by the way)
-ALWAYS win the big games
-Have unconventional offensive and defensive schemes, that ultimately lead to their success!
-ALWAYS Find a way to lose to a lesser opponent early in the year, before ultimately bouncing back and dominating any opponent they face thereafter!!
ALWAYS win, convincingly, on the national stage!
POLAR OPPOSITES to the aforementioned!
So tell me, which style would you prefer?
I'm moving on.
I'm over last night. Everyone at that games knows why we didn't get it down.
On a positive note if this team plays like that on d the rest of the year look out. We controlled the lines on both sides of the ball against what everyone thought was the top O line in the country.
Penn st, Michigan, Wisconsin bring em' on.
ok...
First I want to say thanx to DickRod (the only time I will ever do it) for wiping that stupid smirk off the faces of Cheeseburger Charlie and Jimmy Clausen.... you have yours coming later. Also props to Urban Meyer for continuing to score when he had Troy beaten down... thats how you do it!!
Which brings me to Tressel: everyone here knows I have sang his praises since 2002... not any more. The game last nite went OSU's way after the Pryor pick 6..... Taylor Mays, McNight, and Barkley all get banged up. USC misses a filed goal, Barkley throws a pick, we get 4 or 5 possesion inside the USC 50 to start a drive, we get the ball twice inside the 5, USC's offense is held without a TD for the entire game (can't count the interception), etc... and we could not capitalize. Tressel was outcoached (again). Petey out Tresseled JT and this has become a recurrent theme. Les Miles, Urban Meyer, Mack Brown (x2), Ron Zook all outcoached Tress. The last minute drive to win or tie against OSU is also a recurring theme
NC State--2002 Drove to tie in the final minute when OSU had 2 TD lead into the 4th (won in OT)
Miami drives for the tying field goal in regulation when OSU had the lead going to the last 2 minutes (JT tried a fake field goal earlier) (win in OT)
Texas drives at the Shoe to take the lead late in the 4th when OSU had the lead in the 4th (OSU kicks 6 field goals that day and cannot convert TD's)
Illinois uses the entire clock left in the 4th and eats up the field in 2007 to take the upset
Texas (again) drives the length of the Field to take the lead after OSU gives them the ball with under 2 mins left in the Fiesta bowl
Illinois (2002) drives the field for the tie in regulation (win in OT)
OSU needs a last second Miracle to beat Purdue in 2002
Cincinnati drives the field (2002 ) to win the game and drops the TD in the end zone (escape with the win)
Navy drives the field twice and falls a 2-pt conversion short of tying the game
anyone see a pattern here??? If Tressel has all this talent and cannot score a
TD on any possesion of the 2nd half, then there is a problem. USC was on the verge of collapse and Tressel could not crush the Jugular.... that is the fact. Pryor was not utilized to his talents at all.. I formation.. run at the center?? Where was more option??? Pony formatio?? Reverse?? anything??? Tress curled up in his vanilla ball and sat on a 5 pt lead! A 5 f'in point lead!!!! That is bullshit. You can do that in 1-AA, but not in the big leagues.. Tress is out thinking himself... not running the clock to end the 1st ?? (results in 3 the otherway) and then he runs up the middle 4th quarter to eat the clock....
The game has passed this man by... I love Jim Tressel and he should NOT be fired, but it is time for him to go... he should retire in the next couple of years and lets get a coach who knows how to cut the heart out of his opponents and feed it to them.
how is it that the play calling with >2min in the first half allowed usc to get a crack at their field goal? theres 3 pts that should not have been as easily accessable as they were.
... and it was 4th and goal from inside the 1.... why not use a QB sneak to get it..... I hate field goals when you are inside the 5
so unfulfilled.
I am just as frustrated as all of you. A few points: Tress got out coached. What the hell is that play calling at the end of the half when your up by 3 and USC has no time outs. Run the ball and end the half. Dont give them any chance or momentum going into half time. ... Why call a timeout when USC is driving for a td at the end of the game and then the D has no idea how to line up...Bad coaching...
Second point: TP is not all world has everyone has predicted. Great athlete but not a QB. Cant read coverages, manage a game and marginal passer. He had two good throws all night. He threw off his back foot all game.
Lastly: Browning needs to get off the line. He cant run block to safe his life. Everytime we run to his side his man beats him off the ball and he is always standing looking for someone to hit (umm I mean get in the way.) Somebody else can run block better than that.
Bring on the Rockets! hehe
Palm Beach Buckeye--you put it well...the game passing the man. I did it too and 'J' deemed me ignorant. Tressel is a class act, I'll never argue that. But you are saying the same thing I did and even using the same words (watch out for flamers back!).
The game HAS passed JT by. He needs to take the high road and turn over the helm to someone more aggressive and more willing to gamble.
I have never seen you on this site before you must be an idiot.
I was at the game and you are spot on about Pryor. Pryor is NOT a quarterback. The hype is not deserved and being able to observe his mechanics,reads,footwork,throwing motion and decision making. I don't think he'll ever develop into a quarterback. His decision making is horrible. He's late on his reads, constantly doesn't pick up on wide open receivers, and carries the football like he's walking down High Street with a Six pack of beer.
IT WILL ALWAYS COME DOWN TO MECHANICS and DECISION MAKING, and Pryor is sorely lacking in both departments.
Again J you are right on the Money.
That was the most amazing game I will ever experience regardless of the outcome. The crowd was PHENOMENAL.
You can't blame Tressel because those kids played their hearts out. They gave it everything they had and they played with pride and a reckless abandon. That's COACHING.
Tressel is in command on the sideline.
Terelle Pryor is undeserving of the hype and unless he develops into a serviceable QB we won't win a big game regardless of WHO THE COACH IS.
Bottom line, Tressel can't call the plays when the Quarterback can't execute!!
Alright, for you negative nancies out there, there are two ways this season can go.
We can go 10-2 again and prove to you that there is nothing endemic about the problems in the system.
OR
We can go 7-5 or worse and you'll get your changes, guaranteed.
Make your choice.
I agree - what are the chances we run the table and play usc again?
OSU has no in game management. Clock-wise or play-wise. Clock: 2 delay of game penalties; again, an on-going problem (note: 2 more were on purpose. 1 burnt TO to avoid another DOG in the 4th. Play-wise: Tress seems to have a little problem deciding what play to call next so he most likely goes conserative and gets in in too late to change at the line of scrimmage. Pryor looked confused as hell on the last 2 or 3 series last night. This shit should have been worked out in spring, fall and pre-game practices. I'm Pissed!
quiet child, until you say something that makes sense.
Or we can go 10-2 and mask the problems by beating up on a terrible Big Ten.
As an M fan I can assure you i've had that feeling a lot during the carr years and Rod's first year. Nevertheless you guys need to count your blessings and the opinion leaders of the buckeye blog community ought to take a firm stance against any call for the firing of tressel.
He is a good coach and good for college football. As much as I enjoy your misery, I think the solution is to refresh the program with a more flexible and exciting offensive coordinator. And perhaps not putting all your eggs in one QBs basket no matter how highly rated he may be. I'm sure he'll be great but it might have been nice to light a fire under his seat with some legitimate qb competition.
It was 2 yards, not 1 foot.
Not improbable. Nor is it impossible - though highly unlikely - for Ohio State to find itself in the BCSNCG. As of this write, Ohio's only dropped to 11th in the AP. Considering the matrix of possibilities arising from the combined schedules of those ahead of the Bucks, I hope those boys play pissed and make this early-season, "quality loss" the turning point of their season - and Ohio State's national, narrative.
At any rate:
A one-loss, Big Ten Champion, Ohio State winning the Rose Bowl is... absolutely doable.
Fight till the end! (aka FTTE)
Notre Dame is also one of those schools, and he passed them up.
Alright, Jason, what is it that you want? New coordinators? Not gonna happen. New coach? Who?
10-2 who can beat us if we play that d the rest of the year? There won't be an offense we play with half the weapons of USC. We should be happy with the way the team played last night. All isn't lost and we might get another shot at USC at the end of the year.
We could be looking at a National Title team next year. If the play calling improves and Pryor continues to improve.
I feel this team can and will run the table 11-1 is a lock for the Rose Bowl and an Outside chance at the National Title game if USC runs the table and everyone else drops a game.
An Offensive Coordinator who CALLS the plays would be a nice start.
Nice to see Tatum, Mike Doss, Santonio and Jimmy Jackson in the house.
JHC was there as well. That's why we lost. (LOL)
Most of you are way overreacting with this "pryor is teh suck" and "oh noes fir tr3ss3l" nonsense.
And pray tell, what the fuck play did USC call that was so amazing? They ran the ball, and threw 10 yard passes. Even with the best Oline in college football, and the best RB, they managed only 2 scoring drives. What was so special about their gameplan? Why do think it was better than our coaching staff's?
Are you going to take Thadeus Maximus out for him?
The only way Urban Meyer is leaving Florida is if we make him the best paid coach in college football and let him bring his coordinators along. Ohio State has shown it's not willing to shell out money for big-name guys like Charlie Strong, so I'm not counting on anything.
Hey, we beat a top 5 Texas team in 2007. Sure, they didn't end that way, but in large part because we beat them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F...
Carroll also did not have the lead. Don't compare apples to oranges.
This isn't meant to be an actual point of contention, but I'm wondering where everyone's interest in this team lies. If it does well, chances are Tressel isn't going to change anything and these people will be outraged. If it doesn't, those changes just might happen but the team will suffer through a hellish season for it.
If those passes to the wide open WRs were on target, you'd be talking about what a genius Tressel is. If the players don't execute, it's not entirely the coaches fault. Hate on TP if you must, but Tressel called as good a game as Carrol.
Perfect world: Mendenhall and he convinces Chow to leave UCLA.
A Lloyd Carr problem? Didn't he Dominate OSU before Tressel?
Also, I don't hardly call beating Notre Dame "having a program" Notre Dame is not that good people. Michigan will not be as bad as last year obviously but they will lose at least 3 or 4 games, one of them to this Ohio State team.
Feel free to continue your boycott permanently.
Abso-fuckin-lutely agree. Last night was pathetic and embarrassing on so many levels.
Before the game I was fairly optimistic and thought it was our game to lose given the circumstances with SC and us having Pryor for an entire game. And we indeed loss the game OURSELVES. The majority of the blame falls straight on Tressel and the coaches.
In order to protect what is left of my sanity, I have decided to move out of state.
Jack;
1) Of COURSE we would end up hiring somebody worse than Tressel. If we fire the guy who spent his whole life trying to ascend to this job, no decent coach is going to touch this toxic position, let alone one who can compile a record better than 83-20.
2) What happened twenty years ago IS relevant. Those who do not learn from their mistakes are forever doomed to repeat them.
3) You can have a coach strategize his ass off, and if the players don't execute, it doesn't mean squat.
I rooted for Ohio state every big out of conference game they've ever played and my conclusion is simply that either tressel needs to go or he needs to become a CEO head coach and get a dynamic offensive coordinator. I know he has a great winning percentage and plenty of Big ten titles but he is a terrible coach. Lets break it down shall we?
He beat michigan but it was apparent the Carr had let the game pass him by (evident in his bowl record since 2001 and the app state loss), and he beat miami (with coopers players). The realization of this victory was that Coker was simply an even worse coach. (look at how he ran miami into the ground despite excellent recruiting classes) I mean how can you be content with losing the big game everytime and in most instances getting blown out? and last night theyre no excuse to lose that game. At home, true freshman, #2 reciever out and your defense is lights out. Tressel doesnt have the killer instinct or the innovation to beat top 10 teams. Isnt Ohio states goal to be the ummm idk THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY?
And I was mocked before on this site for saying how ridiculously stupid the nickname LiC is. I love 11W, but LiC as a nickname is about as creative as our offense.
I agree, one of Chow's boys has already commited, Taylor Graham.
Tress is just not using Pryor to his capabilities. He isn't a passer. Running is what made him such a big time recruit.
I'm seriously questioning Tressel's offensive coaching philosiphy. If he wanted a passer, then he should have recruited one.
If Pryor doesn't improve, we could see more of Joe.
i wonder if anyone watched the same game that i did. This game was called pretty well from coach tress. i will be the first to point out a bad play call and although i dont agree wth him not running out the clock at the end of the first half. I have to give coach credit for being aggressive
everyone on this post seems to contradict themselve. one second they say he is too consservative and the next he is too aggrsive.
are you kidding me???!?!?!?
if TP wants to be the man he has to step up and make a damn play. i wouldnt call intricate formations either if my qb has proven over and over again that he cannon execute them. seriously watch the games before you vomit the "kill coach tressel" out of your mouth. remember troy smith anyone?? he executed ,period, end of story!! Once TP does the same thing you will all miraculously say what a wonderful play caller coach tress is.
Some thoughts about the Bucks and last night's game:
1) The 'D' played great. Not only did the line have a good game, the linebackers looked good. They showed good speed getting to the edge, but then they weren't getting blocked at the second level by USC's O-line like last year. Major kudos to the front four. The secondary generally covered well and in a few cases USC receivers made catches with a combination of a great throw and athletic ability with a defender right on top of them. When you play great coverage and they still make the catch you just have to tip your hat to the opponent.
2) The running game was once again mediocre, but USC played to stop the run and contain TP. Essentially PC and staff said "Beat us through the air." We couldn't. I imagine the rest of the Big 10 took note.
3) The pass blocking was very good. But for whatever reason, Pryor looked panicky at times and made a number of mistakes in locking onto receivers, rushing and short-arming throws as well as throwing off his back foot when the Bucks were doing a good job of blocking the rush, including pickup of blitzes.
4) Pryor's play was the difference but consider that he missed spring ball his first year and then became a starter early last season. The coaches had little time to work with him during the season while prepping for games. This is really his first year with the coaches being able to work with him and it is only game 2. It should be clear that he came out of the high school environment much less polished than someone like Barkeley. He probably got away with all kinds of bad mechanics and decisions in high school that have to be undone. This "undoing" may or may not happen but I am not surprised he is at the level he is. At times the work they have done shows but under pressure (some self-imposed, I think) he seems to revert to old habits.
5) The offense must "play faster". Too many plays take far too long and this puts undue pressure on the offensive line. An offense that does this would benefit our 'D' as it would be practicing against the type of offense employed by the top SEC teams and other top teams instead of seeing it for the first time in a bowl game. Specifically, a shorter, quicker passing option is badly needed. Get the ball to a playmaker on the move quickly on first down to set up reasonable second and third downs with the possibility that a blown tackle leads to a huge gain or score.
6) One of the ways to speed things up is to go to no-huddle more frequently. It has many advantages, as we saw against Texas (another coaching blunder - why were we not ready for that with 50+ days to watch film and prepare?). Using a no-huddle approach might help TP out as he may be thinking too much. The modern game is much too fast to operate using the cerebral cortex exclusively .
7) 4th down has to be more than a punting and field goal down. One of the biggest differences was USC's confidence and willingness to try to keep drives alive or go for the score on 4th down. They and other elite teams have confidence that failure is not the end of world. We don't and I cringe at the message it sends to the team and potential recruits.
I remember back in 2000 how bad it was. Tressel was rumored to the Buckeyes fourth choice. Nobody wanted the job, the Buckeyes were that bad.
I am not ready to throw him under the bus yet. But he does need a QB coach. I held my breath every time TP dropped back to pass, it was almost as though I expected him to make a mistake. If I can not trust him, how can the coaching staff.
I agree when Tressel plays the aggressive card the fans complain, "it was at the wrong time." Talk about a contradiction.
I think TP is really handcuffing the coaches. Not only does he throw horrible passes he pitches the ball at the wrong time. Also, why didn't he check down to the receiver whom had a DB playing 15 yards off of him, that is poor QB play, not coaching.
We have all seen what can happen when we have a good QB. The problem is we haven't has one of those in three years.
Did anyone else at the game see the four @ssholes from the USC team mugging for the camera out on the 50 yard line after the game? I think that's the most upsetting things for me all night... Our offense handed you the game and you have the balls to prance around on our field like you own the play? F you. I didn't like USC before and I f-ing hate them now. Also, their fans/band are just as classless. All their cheering and chanting while our team is trying to sing Carmen Ohio at the end of the game was disrespectful. Can't wait to see USC choke against Washington or somebody in a couple of weeks.
USC will lose to ND. Washingto will give them a game.
One thing you have to admit - their Song Girls are awesome.
Very insightful comment -- I agree with just about all of that.
Up in the nose bleeds it's really hard to appreciate the Song Girls.
If you really think we'll do better than a national championship, five big ten championships, 6-1 against Michigan and a better than .800 win percentage over the next 7 years, you need to lay off the juice.
Not that he'd ever leave USC, but Carrol can't win every small one. You'd be on here bitching about how he always chokes against Purdue or something. Would Meyer really leave Florida, he's on his way to having statues put up for him. So I don't think he's gonna go start over somewhere else.
Chris Peterson and Brian Kelly are intriguing, sure but will you do better than JT? No. I'm as disappointed as anyone else, and yes we need a better offensive coordinator (how do you not keep throwing to Saine), but if you're gonna fire Tressel, you'll fire everyone who comes through here.
Finally, I know we want to win a national championship every year, but considering how loaded this team is with underclassmen, another big ten title and hopefully a bowl win is a damn good year.
Nah, I got swagger and I'm gonna help y'all get it back. Time to stop crying. (Fine cry for another day if you're a Bengals/Browns fan, but on Monday, lets get it together).
Not USC or Florida, or LSU... etc... But I admit, I'd rather lose a few of those and win the big ones.
Go root for Florida!
You too
Well, Jeff, it's good to know that you are satisfied with winning a shitty conference (almost) every year and losing to every good team we play. Nice to know where people stand.
Once again, I am not saying that Tressel needs to be fired. I am saying that what we are doing now is not working, and something in the way that our team goes about its business has to change. I would love it if Tressel simply adapted and stopped trying to win every game 9-7; however, I do not see that happening, and neither does anyone else. "2002 plus he beats Michigan" should not be a license to make the program completely stagnant.
And what the hell is he going to hang his hat on when RichRod starts winning his fair share of games in this rivalry? I don't know if you were paying attention, but the Wolverines have a better quarterback than we do, a more dynamic offense, and a defensive coordinator with two Super Bowl rings. I'm not saying they'll beat us this year, but it's coming. Will "he beats Illinois, Iowa, and everyone else in the Big Ten by one score, beats Michigan about half the time, and loses to every good non-conference opponent" still be enough? Oh right, it must be, because he "spent his whole life trying to ascend to this job." Who cares that we're a national punchline? Jim Tressel's in his dream job!
They ended up in the freaking Alamo Bowl and barely beat an Iowa team that went 2-6 in the Big ten that year. Also, it was 2006.
So, Jack, what's it like being angry and unsatisfied all the time? Must be a hell of a way to go through life.
jim, you're an idiot. Take off your scarlet colored glasses, and wake up to what's right in front of you. Ever since the Florida game, Tress is more scared to lose games than to win them.
Classic. Attack the speaker, not the message. Great job!
The message is horse dung. "BE ANGRY BECAUSE WE ONLY WIN 80 PERCENT OF OUR GAMES! GRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Straight winning percentage means nothing when your conference is as mediocre as the Big Ten has been the last few years. Maybe we should join the MAC and win 100% of our games. Wouldn't that be awesome?
If you're just going to blow it off by saying "lol Big Ten", then name me three coaches with a more impressive track record than Tressel. Carroll? Meyer? Miles? Now name one Ohio State has a fraction of a chance of hiring who will sustain the level of success Tressel has achieved.
Want to start with USC going for it on 4th down on Ohio State's 1 yard line?
Or the fact that they played to the strength of Barkley and used the ground game to mask his weakness? How many times did Pryor bootleg? How many times did the Bucks move the pocket and allow Pryor to force the defense to stop him?
Or the fact that they used Mcknight on our LB's for big plays, Tressel used Saine as a pass cacthing FB for one drive and USC had no answer. Tressel never used him again. Do you not see that? Tressel found a mismatch and didn't exploit it.
What about the fact that OSU had to go 25 yards for a winning FG attempt and USC BLITZED every down. I am not blaming the defense at all, but USC's coaching staff knows when to apply pressure and make the Bucks turn in a great play instead of hoping that they would make a mistake.
Name a player on this team that is better than the first time they received major PT. Pryor looks like the same QB that played against PSU. The coaching staff is not making these players any better.
If you don't see the difference, go back and watch week 1. Navy made the mistake to lose, USC didn't.
You are not comparing JT to Zook, are you? Please;
I'm glad you got rid of Zook. Now leave us alone.
Dissappointed...we should be. No moral victories here.
But if you are truly ashamed go comment somwhere else.
Maybe, and I'm just spit-balling here, (borrowed that line from "A Few Good Men" -- I love that movie) the play calling was conservative because that's all JT trusts TP to run in the offense? Maybe the kid's just not that bright....
A more sophisticated offensive set, a read-option, say, requires a QB who's got "it" between the ears, as much as in his arms and legs. TP is a physical freak of nature, but his inability to remain cool, calm and collected when the shit was hitting the fan last night exposed the weaknesses in his gray matter.
Let's not forget that TP was THE coveted recruit from the Class of 2008. His lofty scouting report was more than justified at the U.S. Army HS All-American game, where he made the other highly-touted recruits look like the HS players they were.
Net-net: maybe JT just doesn't have a QB with the smarts to do anything different.
That, or JT really IS becoming L-W-L-L-L-Lloyd Carr.
Pete and Urban are in a class by themselves but Miles. You are kidding right?
Then you're not paying attention very much.
Dear Jack,
Wherever you bought your crystal ball, take it back there. It's broken.
See if you can exchange it for some fair weather, so you can be a fan again.
Sincerely,
Reality
So "barely" wins don't count anymore, I see.
So start a death metal band. You'll sell dozens of albums with that constant anger.
Good
Wow, you're right. Desiring and striving for improvement is dumb.
If "barely" wins don't count, then neither do "barely" losses. Cheers to the 0-0 Bucks...
No, expecting substantial "improvement" over an 80 percent winning percentage is dumb. It just isn't realistic in today's college football world.
Again, I'm glad (almost) always winning a mediocre conference makes you happy.
Again, since you don't seem to be getting it: I AM NOT ASKING FOR A REGIME CHANGE. I am not saying that we should fire Tressel. I am saying that what we are doing is not working against good teams. We beat the pulp out of the dregs of the Big Ten; great. (and you can "blow off" the argument that the Big Ten is down all you want; it is a freaking fact, and all the actual evidence shows that it is true, unfortunately.) But our team, our leaders, do not perform at the levels necessary to sustain excellence at the highest level, which, last time I checked, is what our program aspires to. If Tressel is willing to adjust, then great. If not, it is simply akin to him beating his head against the wall, expecting that eventually the wall will break. You know what? Maybe it won't. Maybe - maybe - we should try something else.
That, I think, is entirely plausible.
Blame Bollman for that sh--.
I want to put it on TP. I really do. He's a great athlete, but it is NO QUATERBACK.
Put that on the O coaches for not putting a retard in a position to win. Yes a F---in Retarded person-- Do you fuc-- hear me! Thank God the defense actually gave them them a chance to win....
and F--- You God, Yes F--- You The Almighty, for letting them roll over when they needed it the most. WHAT?????? They played GREAT ALL GAME, then, ohhh...I need to be sick.
Maybe God does hate the Bucks? Is he from MI or the SEC? I don't know the answers to those deep moral questions. I do know Tressel is on the hot seat.
I do know that I can't really care what happens to the Bucks for the rest of the year.
I do know that my heart is broke as bad as when something really serious has happened.
Should I go away mad or just go away? F=== YOU TO HELL BUCKEYES! (There's your answer).
And no one will post my comments. Pussies. I'll put up a site for all you refuges. Send something to me at owowowen at the g .
LiC has won a big game.
42-7.
Go ahead....tell us how beating Michigan isn't big anymore. I dare you.
don't ever compare war to football again...
I'm a '97 alum so I remember Coop kindly. That tie against MI was a party to end all. Ahhh, expectations.
Now I'm... I don't know pissed, don't give a sh-t, watching from the perimeter.
Maybe that's a good name. Watching from afar or some shit like that. EA traffic!!
How about:
scarlettbleeders.com
haterademax.com (CM)
OU did not play last night, tOSU did. Bucs=Tampa Bay. Bucks=tOSU
Seriously? Dude, I wonder if God hates us as well sometimes, but sometimes you gotta put shit in perspective. I ain't jumping on the moral victory or don't lose faith bandwagon, but I do hold out some glimmer of hope for the future. (TP IMHO is handcuffing the coaching, and this team misses Beanie like the 03 team missed Mo'. Sorry, but that's the truth. )
The phone calls that did come in today ranged from:
"I thought you killed yourself" to "R U still breathing".
Like I said yesterday, I thrashed my Buckeye necklace, my lucky socks, my lucky Ohio quarter, my 2002 season jersey and t-shirt, Herbie's jersey, a thermal, Archie and Eddie's bobbleheads and my flags.
Honestly, I don't want to put myself in the position that I've taken with other teams of mine (the Knicks, Mets, Indians) but fuck this shit is killing me. And probably like many of ya'll, muthafuckers think, holy shit, that dude probably killed himself. (The joke after the Florida game, after I showed up 2 hours late for work was that the whole ship was watching the news to see if I drove off a bridge. Truth is, I woke up at 4:30 AM and couldn't get out of bed.)That's how Buckeye football is. It's like crack. You know it's bad, but you can't give it up. Fucked up right?
Death trumps the Buckeyes losing. Correct?
Time to buy new stuff.
Ditto.
That Texas team beat the living crap out of a bad Iowa squad. Great job, Texas! OSU beat a top-5 team on the road that year, thanks to your overrated asses!
Biggest win over a 3-9 team in OSU history. Surely.
I love it when you guys speak up about these comparisons. +100, and thanks for your service.
What game were you watching?
J, there was a penalty on that catch Dane couldn't hold on to in the endzone... so it wouldn't have made a difference. Tressel's play-calling is the main problem here. TP didn't play well, but his didn't do him any favors.
i agree with u... we just need a new OC... thats all I've ever wanted. Been saying even when Troy was qb. He is fine as a head coach... just not OC
Dan... clean ur fucking CRACK PIPE out man. That post was almost as retarded as Tress's red zone play calling.
Jim Tressel = Lloyd Carr. Discuss.
The more I see of Tress, the more I think the comparison to Zook is legitimate. Great recruiter, lousy coach in a big game.
Ron Zook is a lousy coach in most games.
Any competently managed football team? You mean like USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Penn State, LSU, or Florida? Teams that consistently lose at least 1-2 games a year to teams that aren't in the top five? I would like to remind you that we also have one of the rawest teams we've had in years, with a true sophomore quarterback, no big-time heisman-competing running back, and half of our defense taken in the draft.
I'm as completely pissed off about the last couple years and losses as anyone. I think Tressel needs to realize that he's much better at managing a program than he is at creating a competent offense, and bring in someone who can make a really good pro-style power offense work (you know, the kind that works so well for USC). I'm saying we should have some perspective.
Urban has not been around long enough to get an "always." He has two big championships at Florida, and that is amazing, but he also had a 9-4 squad that lost to a Michigan team that OSU handled easily.
Also, for those who think initial talent is really that equal - look at the actual recruiting rankings. The last two years are the only years in the Tressel era where OSU has cracked the top five. Little animal and Malcolm Jenkins were three star recruits - do USC and Florida have starters that are less than five? Personally I can't wait to see what happens the next two years as these players grow.
I agree so much with your TE statement. The TE is any young QB's best friend but neither of us can expect Tressel to suddenly realize how valuable the TE position can be to an offense. Look for anyone out there that does not think we need an offensive coordinator just look at the refusal to use the TE as a clue. TP was struggling in the USC game, some 5 yard out routes with the TE would have calmed him down nicely. But once again Tress refuses to back away from some gameplan that he has locked in his mind and live "in" the moment and make adjustments.
Waiting for great teams to make mistakes is no way to win ball games of this magnitude. Again we think playing the field postion game all night is going to lead to wins and it won't against most great teams.
I would like to pose one question to one of Tressel's weekly thoughts:
Tressel believes that if you play the field position game and make your opponent make a big mistake you will win a ball game.
Didn't USC snap a ball out of the back of the endzone at a big point in the game on Saturday? Why did we still lose Tress?
I say it to my friends all the time and it needs to be said after another big loss. Opting for Field Goals over TD's is not going to win big games on a yearly basis.
This team may need swagger I agree but it also needs a killer instinct that the head coach doesn't seem to have inside of him.
Terrelle Pryor = Steve Bellisari. Discuss.
WOLVERINES says:
09/14/2009 at 1:45amTerrelle Pryor = Steve Bellisari. Discuss.
Agree 100%. The kid gives me ulcers every time he has the ball. Just like Bellisari did when I was at tOSU. Panicking, throwing off his back foot, lacking conviction & moral strength.
He says all the right things after the game, but where was his leadership during the game? He was busy pouting on the sideline. After watching him all last season and the beginning of this season, I honestly think that Pryor will never become a good quarterback. He just doesn't have the mental strength for it.
I also would like to stop the LiC thing. How about Bellisari squared instead? Pryor has had 11 games now as starting QB to improve, and I honestly think he has gotten worse. Whether that is because of coaching, or his desire to become a prototypical "pocket passer", I don't know.
He only had one run the whole game where he even looked like he was confident. His best action was stopping the SC linebacker at the 2 yard line. If he had ran the ball a couple times and lowered his shoulder like he did on that linebacker, we might have one.
Not even going to comment on Tressel, because he's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Sorry, but I have to lawl at Ohio State fans, of all people, calling other fans classless.
Need a new young inovative O coordianator
HEY!! Leave Bronco out of this! He's OURS, he's awesome, and we want to keep him! :-)