Eleven Warriors

In today's Skull Session, Nicholas reported on Jim Delany's idle threat to move the entire Big Ten to Division III. I agree with Nicholas that it is a ridiculous proposition. He makes several points - bulleted, in fact...

Here are a few other problems with the supposed voluntary transition.

• Big-time college athletics improves a school's visibility and applicant test scores too. Without them, a school's academic reputation suffers.
• Schools with 100,000 seat stadiums are now stuck with them and whatever debt from them, with no way to make up the money.
• There would be just a few livid fans and donors if Ohio State administrators decided to deemphasize athletics. Ditto elsewhere.
• Even if the Big Ten Network isn't hamstrung by cable company charging changes, who's going to watch the equivalent of Oberlin vs. Wisconsin Whitewater each week?
• This would preclude any university that wants to stay Division I from joining the conference.

Four of those points make a lot of sense and generally shared by most college athletic fans. It creates a lot of troubling scenarios for large athletic departments like Ohio State's. These departments have debts to settle and leaving Division I would devastate AD budgets everywhere. Fans and donors would certainly be angry. It's just plain messy to imagine.

However, the first point misses a bit. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but improved visibility and academic reputations suggests a university would also take a big financial and academic hit due to lower admissions if they dropped out of D-I. I've heard this and similar arguments before in regards to Division I athletics - particularly football and men's basketball. These sports supposedly do so much for a university's reputation and income. The trouble is that this isn't true.

Before I continue to develop my thesis that will surely get me down-voted off the site or accused of trolling, you should know that I love Ohio State. I grew up in Ohio and lived for football season until it was over and I could cheer on the basketball Buckeyes. Since moving to Missouri for my wife's academic job, I have only grown into more of a die-hard Buckeye fan - even tattooing the great state of Ohio on my forearm. Although I don't comment as often on 11W these days, I still read it religiously. I'm a Buckeye, just like the rest of you.

Still, it is troubling how much major college athletics cost our beloved universities. In an age when education suffers financially at every turn, university athletic departments continue to grow at astronomical rates. Here in Missouri, the university is trying to keep up with the rest of the SEC and is struggling to find the funds. In the meantime, faculty salaries rank near the bottom of AAU universities while Gary Pinkel gets large raises for making second-rate bowl games and Frank Haith does the same for bowing out of the NCAA in the first round to a 15-seed. Missouri may not even be in the AAU in a year as they just aren't producing as much research or researchers as they used to. Still, the town, state, and university are wrapped up in SEC fever, talking expansion of the stadium instead of the academic programs.

Some will point to the millions of dollars that universities like Ohio State take in from TV deals or the fact that admissions are up everywhere. However, we are ignoring the cost to achieve these milestones and how disproportionate it is to the supposed profits.

Take the case of all those universities that lose money when they go to a bowl game. Consider the ever-increasing ticket prices. Why does tuition have to rise just to keep a university rolling in athletic profits from folding?

The fact is that big-time college athletics do very little for universities in regards to their primary function: educating the populace. 

I titled this post "I'll just leave this right here." because I wanted to leave a couple of studies we should all read. I'm not telling anyone how to think. I'm not suggesting we should quit being Ohio State fans. And I really don't want to get into an argument. I just think we should all be aware that there are different perspectives on collegiate athletics that don't match our own. The purpose is to have some dialog with people that actually care about collegiate athletics. I hang with a lot of academics who don't care about sports, particularly collegiate sports. I'd rather have this conversation with people who actually care.

• Academic Spending Versus Athletic Spending: Who Wins? http://chronicle.com/blogs/players/files/2013/01/deltacost.pdf
• What Does Intercollegiate Athletics Do To or For Colleges and Universities? http://www.accessecon.com/pubs/VUECON/vu10-w05.pdf
• College Sports 101 http://www.knightcommission.org/collegesports101/table-of-contents

The above are just a few reports and articles on the subject, but you can find many more articles within their references.

Again, I am not trying to start and argument. I just think we should be honest with what collegiate athletics means to universities and to our priorities as a country.

I was considering this idea before last night's game, but I still think it holds a lot of truth.

Maybe a bowl ban this year isn't so bad. I mean, there's a lot to be gained from a (potential) undefeated season even without the opportunity to play after The Game. Before you click away from this post, consider the following...

Would you really want to see this team in a BCS game?
As Buckeye fans, we've had to deal with more than our share of BCS heartbreak. Imagine this team against Alabama or Oregon. Versus the Crimson Tide, the defense would have to be called upon to win the game. Think about that for a moment.

Maybe the Buckeyes could put up some points versus Oregon, but would they really be able to keep pace with the Ducks? I mean, if Indiana dropped 49 (albeit 14 in garbage time), what would Oregon do?

This team is not ready to be a national title contender much less any BCS game. The bowl ban allows the Buckeyes another year before they have to compete at that level.

A weak B1G means an under-prepared OSU team with a pathetic SOS necessary to land in the BCS championship game.
The entire conference is down and that may help explain OSU's fast start and hopefully greater finish. However, the flip side of that is that an undefeated Buckeye team might not have enough points to even be considered for the championship game. And we've seen what happens when OSU walks all over a weak conference schedule and has to play a tough SEC team (or Texas) in a bowl game. A stronger conference means that Ohio State is stronger on paper and on the field. Most likely, the league will be much better next year. Expectations will be lower, so a few surprise non-conference wins will mean a whole lot more to the league's resume.

We don't want to depend on the strength of the conference this season to propel OSU to higher rankings. OSU's weak this season as is the rest of the conference. Everyone can be better next season in order to send what we believe is going to be a juggernaut in the 2013 team.

If the Buckeyes go undefeated, what will they have left to prove?
Alabama is still hungry this year because they didn't run the table or win their conference. A few years ago, they faltered following a national championship because they grew complacent (and had to replace nearly their entire defense). If OSU goes undefeated this season, there will be plenty left to prove. There will be a conference championship and a potential national title within their grasp. Honestly, I feel they will be contenders for the next two seasons with Braxton Miller at QB. Regardless of how much they accomplish this season, the 2013 Buckeyes will be hungry to accomplish more. 

2012 is basically a free year with no expectations and a year to work out the kinks.
A big part of the Buckeyes' struggles this year have to do with a new coaching staff. Additionally, they have to shake off the cobwebs that gathered during a 6-7 campaign. Now, there is inconsistency on offense and a defense that has forgotten who they are. This team needs a year to gel without expectations. At Ohio State, anything less than a Michigan victory, conference championship, and national championship are considered failures. Because of this year's postseason ban, they only have to worry about one of those goals. The pressure can begin next season. Let them get used to the new system and work on improving young players now in preparation for when things get real next season.

Finally, as Buckeye fans, we can get back to enjoying the little things that attract us to Ohio State football.
I'll be the first to admit that ever since the 2002-2003 season, I have obsessed over another Ohio State championship. Early season losses to Texas or USC put me in a foul mood for the rest of the season. Late or mid-season losses to Penn State or Illinois caused me to forget that a conference championship was still within grasp. Troy Smith's magical Heisman season will forever be tainted by his overindulgence-induced no-show in that season's championship game.

Lost were the times when I learned to love Ohio State football. I grew up during the Earl Bruce years where winning the conference title and beating Michigan were still a big deal. Even during Cooper's years, I obsessed over whether this team was truly ready to beat Michigan. The Rose Bowl victory in 1997 will forever be one of my most cherished memories as a Buckeye fan - right behind 2002-2003.

This season is our chance just to enjoy the games and players. Regardless of how terrible they've been at times this season, the Buckeyes are still undefeated. Braxton Miller really is something special and we'll most likely get to see him play for two more years. There's a coach that's changed the culture, injecting it with some juice. He truly loves being at Ohio State. This season has been fun, but it wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable had we spent every week worrying about what Oregon or [insert any SEC team here] was doing. 2012 is about the Buckeyes. It's about learning to love Ohio State football once again - especially after the debacle of 2011.

So, for me, the bowl ban is no big deal. I've come to peace with it and am just trying to enjoy the ride. How are you feeling about the ban? Do you wish this team had an opportunity to reap the benefits of an undefeated season with a weak conference slate? Or, like me, you are just trying to enjoy the ride?

We're back with Glass Half-Full, Half-Empty. This week we look at the scare in the Shoe provided by Cal and ahead to UAB - a game neither one of us really care about. However, John takes it so seriously that he trusts his prediction to a bunch of fourth graders.

Me: There is nothing wrong with 3-0. Sometimes a team has to win a shootout and that's what Ohio State did. When they had to score, they did. When they needed a stop, it happened.

Braxton Miller continues to amaze. The kid is getting some serious Heisman buzz and deservedly so. Miller is the offense and will be for the next three years. What's particularly impressive about this past game is that he made more plays on fewer carries than usual and he threw four touchdowns in the process. The deep ball is already looking better than in the past couple of weeks. It may not have been his best performance completion percentage-wise, but it was the best in the B1G for the week.

Overall, I love to watch this offense march down the field. There are two big play threats in the receiving corps in Smith and Brown. Plus, the next two guys aren't too shabby either in Stoneburner and Spencer. They are deep at running back. It will be particularly nice to have the 1-2 punch of Hyde and Hall at the same time, but this week will give Hall another full game under his belt before conference play. This doesn't even mention how much better the offensive line is playing each week. It's an amazing thing to have a dependable offense without Troy Smith.

The defense for once is a weakness, but I'm not worried. Here's why: The problem in the first two weeks was a lack of pressure on the quarterback. So, the staff adjusted their scheme and motivation to the tune of six sacks this past weekend. Right now, it looks like the problem is that too many bullets are going for the strip instead of the tackle. Like the quarterback pressure issue, this problem will be addressed and corrected. Besides, Hankins and Shazier are playing out of their minds right now. The defense will be fine.

All of this and this season's Buckeyes may have had their Tebow moment. After the game, John Simon went off in the locker room. From all accounts, Simon's speech lit a fire under the team. I expect a more focused bunch this weekend and moving on into conference play. The only difference between Tebow's speech a few years back and Simon's is that Ohio State actually won where the Gators lost.

A division championship and undefeated season are still within reach. That's not just glass half-full but it's reality.

John: There is nothing wrong with 3-0.  You know what's best about 3-0? The opportunity to go 4-0.  I'm paraphrasing Coach Meyer, but it is true. 

It may seem like this would be the ideal game for glass half empty guy to say, "See? I told you!" But I honestly feel markedly better than the first two wins.  This game represented many of my fears coming true and it still ended with a victory.  Several B1G teams fell to PAC12 teams but ours didn't.

But since my rationale as glass half empty guy is based not so much on the results of games but on the "hidden" clues within those results and how they project worry on future contests, let me dive into this game to cite what scares me about upcoming games.

Yes, Miller still amazes.  He is so fun to watch.  We have to enjoy these next couple years because he is something special that doesn't come along often.  The juke he put on to break that 55 yard TD run leaving #6 to pick up his equipment was poetry in motion. That will never get old and I know DVRs were getting worn out Saturday replaying it.

But the offense stalled at times.  The game plan obviously, and thankfully, called for less run plays out of Miller and looked what happened.  There were seven straight scoreless drives in the 2nd and 3rd quarters that allowed Cal back in the game.  Five drives were three and outs and three drives were for negative yardage.

Again, without Miller running it, the offense is not as great as it may feel.  As I stated before, Miller won't be able to run it in future games against the B1G despite how bad the conference has played thus far.  Many of the teams ahead are better than the teams we've played in the first three games.

I still saw indecisiveness from Braxton.  He is so much better when he just makes a decision and goes.

The game winner was on a blown coverage by the Cal safety.  Granted, he was biting on the Miller run which is one of those hidden luxuries (or positives) of our running QB, but still, it was a wide open play that felt like a gimme.  Had the safety stuck with his assignment, that TD doesn't happen.  At least on that play.  I acknowledge this could be debated though.  Classic half full v half empty. 

We still have not found that smooth offensive flow that I expect to see with these athletes and this coach in this program.  Hopefully we find it soon.

The defense truly scares me.  The poor tackling was sickening.  I assume that will be fixed, but it was so bad that I felt I was watching my beloved Browns.  Once again, the opponent was able to break big plays on our guys.  That is not acceptable and it will lead to more than one loss to even mediocre B1G Ten teams. 

Let us not forget the missed field goals either.  Those were makeable kicks that left nine points on the field for Cal.  We only won by seven.  Those nine points mean we lose.  One could argue Cal should have won that game.

Could of, would of, should of, but simply put, we mathematically should have lost.  To Cal!

But we didn't.  Some fears of mine came true like giving up big plays and a stalled offense but it was still a victory.  In the B1G season though, I anticipate that performance to be 2-3 losses.

Prediction: My class is making predictions every week and we average their scores for a class score.  The class score has been eerily close.  Off by 5 points or less for each team.  So I am going to take a page from my 4th graders and go OSU 45 and UAB 24.

Me: Ugh. It seems as if you're rubbing off on those poor kids. They are way off, but I want to address one of your points before making my prediction for this week's game.

You mention the missed field goals (and forgot to mention the TD that was called back). Just because those points were left on the field does not mean that they automatically change what happened. Cal makes those kicks and it changes everything. Maybe OSU dials up a trick play or streak Smith/Brown down the sideline for a back-breaking touchdown. There's no way to predict how the Buckeyes would have responded. However, from what I've seen the last two weeks, this team is resilient and they know how to answer a score. I suspect seven-straight scoreless drives don't happen with additional urgency.

Now, on to this week's game. I think no matter how dismal your outlook might be, we are in agreement that UAB has no chance this week. However, I see this as a big step forward toward a run through the B1G conference. I see the Buckeyes learning from the first three games and finally putting together four solid quarters of play. Defensive mistakes and schemes will be adjusted and the offense will come together to put a load of points on the board. I suspect the continued healing of Hall and Williams will shore up both sides of the ball. This game will be the final prep before Michigan State and they'll send a message.

I predict - with a straight face - that the Buckeyes will drop at least 60 points on Saturday. I'm thinking 73-3.

I'm changing my game a bit. I invited my friend John - the biggest glass-half-empty fan I've ever known - to share some thoughts on where the Buckeyes stand right now...

Me: Wow! What a great win over a solid opponent. The Buckeyes start out the season 2-0 with a two-score win over what could be a BCS-buster (sans NCAA sanctions) in UCF. Braxton was masterful once again, leading in both passing and rushing. The defense held ground and forced some turnovers. All of this added up to a win. What say you, glass-half-full-guy?

John: While this was a solid victory for sure, there are several glaring concerns. For starters, Braxton Miller scares me. He is so good on his feet, he scares opposing defenses as well. But the problem here is that we are quickly becoming overly dependent on his feet. On one hand, his TD runs are exciting and great to watch right now, but soon they won't come as easy. There are two reasons why this will happen. One, the likelihood of injury dramatically increases and while I like Kenny G, he is no Miller.

Two, the defenses we face in the future will be of better quality, better depth, better coaching and more film to prepare for the run Miller offense. Miller must improve his passing game. He still threw behind receivers and missed open guys on more than one occasion. Our wideouts saved him with nice catches on at least two receptions.

By the way glass half full guy, why aren't you mentioning how much better our wideouts have been this year compared to last when they seemed nonexistent?

Injuries are a concern. Both Hyde and Howard are vital to the success of the team.

The defensive secondary still let guys slip behind them. That is something I expect to be fixed, but two games now they allowed inferior teams beat them for big plays.

I would like to see this defensive line make more of an impact than it has and I worry as we enter the Big Ten season with larger offensive lines, they will be a non factor instead of the strength we expected them to be this season.

Not sure Cal is going to give our Buckeyes any trouble this week, but we better be careful because we could easily find an unexpected loss if Miller can't take a step forward and not have to rely on taking so many yards forward as he has been in these first two games.

Me: An unexpected loss? Whoa, step away from the ledge, my friend.

Yeah, Braxton did carry it a lot on Saturday, but that's what happens in this kind of offense. Besides, I'd rather him run through tackles as opposed to getting blind-sided in the backfield. Besides, he is OSU's best player. Who else would you rather carry the ball? Either way, the coaching staff will correct his workload with a lot more Philly Brown and the eventual return of Hall and Hyde. Hall should be back this week and I suspect Dunn gets more carries.

Honestly, I feel better than I have in...well...forever about our backup situation. Can you remember a full-time backup QB at Ohio State in which you had this much confidence? I can't. The only times I can think of was when Pryor and Miller were backing up ineffective Senior passers. Even then, the coaching staff had it backwards. I have a lot of trust the Guiton would lead the offense like no other backup has done at OSU.

I'm also not worried about the competition down the road. After this past weekend, Ohio State may have already played two of the top-5 teams on their schedule. At the very least, UCF is the third-best team they'll play all season and Miami's QB might be the best they'll play. (Denard doesn't count.)

Miller's passing is vastly improved from last year. You have to admit this. He completed 75% of his passes this past week. He throws a good ball when his feet are set. Plus, he has an actual QB coach this season. The deep-ball will come with practice and game reps. There are two games in a row with suspect defensive backfields which should give him plenty of practice.

The wideouts have been great. I'm surprised you didn't bring up all the drops against Miami. With improved play from the receiving corps, Miller's timing can only improve. Philly Brown looks like the real deal and the others are fitting into their roles nicely.

I'm not worried about the injuries at running back. That's why it was so great the team entered the season with so much depth. They have bodies who can perform. Really, for this week, they have Dunn, Smith, Boren(!), and Brown to fill that role. Plus, there's a good chance we see Hall in for a handful of plays. The depth will be there by the time they roll into East Lansing.

The secondary doesn't worry me in the least. In two weeks, they've managed five interceptions. Plus, both quarterbacks they've faced might be the best QB's they'll see all season. And besides, we're in an era where everyone can pass (sans Joe Bauserman). Teams are rolling up huge yardage through the air on everyone. QB's enter the NFL as ready-to-perform entities. Teams are going to pass with success like we've never seen before and at a greater rate. More on that in a bit.

You and every other Buckeye fan is worrying about the defensive line. I guess I don't understand. They're giving up around 50 yards a game on the ground. There has been only three sacks, but when they've provided pressure, it's typically ended in an incomplete pass or interception. Plus, the schemes and personnel they've faced in the first two weeks are designed to counter the D-Line's strength. Miami threw quick passes. UCF did much of the same only with a strong run game (a la a former 5-star running back). Ask  George Joseph O'Leary what he thought of the defensive line. He left impressed to say the least.

A new aspect we are going to have to get used to is that the speed of the offense is going to have a definite affect on the defense. The reason OSU's defense has been so strong for so long is that Tressel teams controlled the clock, requiring the defense to be on the field for shorter amounts of time. Think about the games that got away from OSU or when the defense couldn't finish because they were gassed. The offense couldn't maintain any kind of drives. There will be an adjustment period for Fickell and Whithers in regards to scheme and rotating players. So, from what I can tell, they're running a pretty vanilla defensive scheme until they figure all of this out. Once they do put all the pieces together, I suspect we'll see the Silver Bullets we've come to expect, especially from the front four.

Our Picks for this Week:

Me: OSU 84 Cal 3

John: OSU 27 Cal 21 (not really, but I bet this is what he'd say)

We Buckeye fans are a conflicted lot. We see our glasses as half-full or half-empty, rarely exhibiting a nuanced, even sensible perspective on our football team’s chances of winning a game. Sometimes, we even see things both half-full and half-empty at the same time. That’s why I’ve decided to predict every game this season with this mindset so as to not get too high or too low heading into the weekend.

What's really interesting is how one's perspective can be tempered a bit after one week, even with a 56-10 thrashing of Miami on Saturday. Last Week, my glass half-full projections for Miami's passing yardage (~300) was spot-on, but I only thought they would muster -74 yards on the ground. My numbers for Braxton Miller were pretty close (200 yards passing on 17/23, 100 yards rushing), but I was ten off in sacks for the Buckeye defense. Cory Brown ad Carlos Hyde both led in their respective categories, but I was way off in yardage. (Oddly enough, I predicted Hyde would get the 17 carries he actually had on Saturday.) Thankfully, I was way off in the glass half-empty department.

This week’s opponent: University of Southern Northern Key West Central Florida Knights

Half-Full Perspective: Buckeyes 52 Knights 6
The Buckeyes don't suffer a slow start this week and jump out to a 28-0 lead after one quarter. Braxton Miller notches five touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing) on 200 yards passing and another 100 on the ground by halftime. Leading Meyer to call on equipment manager Lewis VanHoose to hide Braxton's helmet for the entire second half so that he doesn't see the field again.

Still, the offense puts up fifty again as they build on last week's slaughtering of the RedHawks. Hyde gets his 100 yards with a 150-yard performance to go along with two short yardage touchdowns, both on fourth-and-goal. The receiving corps continues their ascension as they make the UCF secondary look silly all day long. Not to be outdone by Devin Smith's amazing one-handed grab, Cory Brown and Jake Stoneburner both haul in one-handed touchdowns of their own. Stoneburner's just seems unnecessary as he is completely wide-open and Miller's pass is perfect.

With UCF's starting running back out with a shoulder injury, the Silver Bullets pin their ears back and destroy the Knight offense, recording six sacks in the process, two more by freshmen Spence and Washington. John Simon records five TFL and Ryan "Damn" Shazier corals Knight runners ten times himself. Trevor Howard gathers two more interceptions while Roby gets his first. The rest of the defensive backfield shows that they have learned from last week's mistakes and mean to make amends.

Meyer concludes that it was a good win, but he needs the team to compete more on both sides of the ball.

Half-Empty Perspective: Buckeyes 12 Knights 21
After watching the game tape from last week's game, UCF QB Blake Bortles comes out chucking it all over the field. They don't even run a play on the ground until their third possession when Latavius Murray takes in a draw play for a long touchdown, giving the Knights a 14-9 lead they carry into halftime.

In the meantime, the hangover from last week's first quarter struggles seem to linger a bit longer as the offense never can get on-track. Continually, the Buckeyes have to settle for field goals. Hyde is completely ineffective, only managing 40 yards on 17 carries. Miller is convinced Devin Smith can make unbelievable one-handed catches on every play and throws several Bauser-bombs into C-deck. On the day, Miller goes 6/25, completing all six passes to Zach Boren. He does rush for over 100 yards, but it equates to 50 after lost yards on sacks is figured-in.

Somehow, the Buckeyes make it close in the fourth quarter as they pull within two, but all hope is lost when the Knights run out the remaining ten minutes of game time on a drive where they run it on every down, catching a tired defensive line on their heels. The final blow comes as Murray breaks a Sabino arm-tackle and trucks Christian Bryant for the final score of the game.

Game of the Week that’s not a Buckeyes game: Georgia vs. Missouri
The second week's slate is a little weak. So, I figured I'd predict the game happening just down the street from where I currently live while trying to put a Buckeye-centric slant on the outcomes. Missouri enters its first-ever SEC game with a strong cast of returners from last year's squad, including the second-best QB in the conference in James Franklin. He'll be throwing to all-world #1 recruit Dorial Green-Beckham who plays a slot position in maybe the deepest receiving corps in the SEC. The defense is anchored by defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson who could start on any team in the country.

Missouri has two players from Ohio to Georgia's none. One of those players is Maty Mauk of Kenton. Mauk set several national passing records while at Kenton. Last fall, Mauk recorded 5,413 yards yards and 68 touchdowns while running for 1,768 yards and 24 touchdowns. Those are real numbers, not video game statistics.

Half-Full Perspective: Georgia 24 Missouri 37
Missouri confuses Georgia with its creative spread passing attack and squadron of receivers. SEC speed is present, but it's the newcomer Tigers who run circles around Georgia. DGB has his breakout performance with a 10-catch, 200-yard, 3-TD performance, continually taking advantage of slower Bulldog linebackers matched up with him in the slot. Basically, Mark Richt loses control of an 18-year-old from Springfield, MO.

Half-Empty Perspective: Georgia 42 Missouri 13
Georgia dispatches of Missouri the way in which the rest of the SEC expects to dominate all Midwestern, land-grant universities. Maty Mauk takes a break from riding scooters with girls to play some meaningless minutes at the end of the game, registering two sacks, a fumble and an incomplete pass.

We Buckeye fans are a conflicted lot. We see our glasses as half-full or half-empty, rarely exhibiting a nuanced, even sensible perspective on our football team’s chances of winning a game. Sometimes, we even see things both half-full and half-empty at the same time. That’s why I’ve decided to predict every game this season with this mindset so as to not get too high or too low heading into the weekend.

This week’s opponent: University of Miami University Redskins RedHawks (of Ohio)

Half-Full Perspective: Buckeyes 73 RedHawks 0
Urban Renewal™ commences Saturday, y’all!

Johnny Simon and the defense crush a few popped collars en route to a shutout. Bros Fickell and Vrabel get so amped they rip off their coaches shirts to reveal matching Affliction t’s and fresh tribal tats. The young pups all find their way onto to the field and each leave with at least a sack, forced fumble, or interception to their freshly-scribed resumes.

Despite passing for nearly 300 yards, Team Soc spends the entire game trying to make up for the record-tying 12 sacks the Bullets accumulate over the course of the afternoon. The RedHawks inverse last year’s rushing average with an unheard of -74 yards rushing. Both Roby and Howard score pick-sixes in the rout.

On offense, all cylinders are clicking as Braxton rolls up over 200 yards passing on 17/23 passing, 100 yards rushing on only seven carries, and five touchdowns overall (3 through the air and 2 the hard way). It could have been worse, but Urban sits the sophomore at halftime, making room for Kenny G to do more of the same in the second half. Carlos “El Guapo” Hyde turns in a serviceable 17 for 150 afternoon with two scores of his own, but he’s upstaged as freshman Bri’onte Dunn eclipses those numbers on four long touchdown runs covering 80, 64, 32, and 53 respectively.

The receivers even decide to show up. Corey Brown leads the way with 7/140 and two TD’s - one on a punt return and the other through the air. Stoney, Thomas, Smith all gather in four or more catches on the day and a touchdown each.

Oh, and there wasn’t one false start from the right tackle position. NOT ONE.

Half-Empty Perspective: Buckeyes 17 RedHawks 14
Urban Meyer is useless as the emotions of the day overwhelm him, making it impossible for him to coach or make any play calls. Every time the band bursts into “Hang On Sloopy”, he has to run back into the locker room to compose himself. He eventually decides to call it a day midway through the second quarter, leaving the rest of the game to his assistants...

After giving up a quick touchdown on a broken play by Braxton Miller, the RedHawks regain their poise, turning the Buckeye offense away for a field goal in which Ohio State botches good field position with sloppy play, including a dropped pass which Corey Brown would have surely walked into the end zone. For the game, Miller goes an abysmal 7/25 for 104 yards and 13 yards on the ground thanks in large part to five sacks.

The defense is clueless as to how to stop a team that passes every down. Preps are flying all around to the tune of 400 yards passing. Somehow, the defense holds on for a 10-7 halftime lead.

Devastated after Nathan Williams is carted off the field with a reaggravated knee injury, the defense gives up a long touchdown on a wide receiver screen late in the third quarter. Ryan Shazier completely over-pursues as he has done all day and Miami looks to pull off their biggest upset since Ben Roethlisberger almost beat Iowa in 2003.

Luckily, Miami quarterback Zac Dysert throws it one-too-many times at WR Nick Harwell (10 catches for 240 yards) and Bradley Roby picks off the pass for the game-winning touchdown, causing him to start a controversy as to why he finished the day with more touchdowns than the entire receiving corps and the coaches still won’t let him play offense.

Game of the Week that’s not a Buckeyes game: Michigan vs. Alabama

Half-Full Perspective: Alabama 42 Michigan 37
Alabama shows that its defense is less game-ready than they suspected as they let Denard and the Wolverines jump out to a 24-10 halftime lead. Robinson gets away with a jump-ball touchdown to Roundtree just before the half, giving Wolverine nation hope that...er...Hoke is their savior.

Then, it all comes crashing to earth.

Alabama begins to impose its will on the thin Michigan front seven, running on nearly every down, slowly chipping away at Michigan’s lead. Denard throws four second-half interceptions - all of the jump-ball variety - until the final one is returned for the deciding touchdown.

The game effectively ends Robinson’s Heisman campaign while simultaneously causing great doubt in Alabama’s ability to defend their national championship. Still, the game is an exciting, hot mess, sure to be replayed on ESPN for years to come.

Half-Empty Perspective: Michigan 17 Alabama 6
Alabama’s defense is playing lights out, but they grow weary chasing Denard all game long as he scores both of Michigan’s touchdowns with electrifying, Heisman-type ease. Robinson’s game-winning run where he reverses the field three times and leaps over two ‘Bama defenders at once is only overshadowed by a Michigan defense that stifles the Crimson Tide, making the game not as close as the score would indicate.

We are then made to listen to Michigan fans incessantly brag about this win for the rest of the season, regardless of the remaining outcomes.

(Image via Walt)

After reading junk like this and reading the onslaught of negativity on comment threads, I have to write something somewhere in response.

Luke Fickell is not a terrible coach. The job he has done is far from exceptional at this point, but to call him "terrible" even "inadequate" is not entirely fair. I'm not an apologist, but one should look at this season in its proper context, removing the scarlet and gray goggles for just a moment.

For one, he was thrust into a lose-lose situation. No one should have expected this team to win every game with the suspensions to key players. Yet, that's what we all did, expecting ten or more wins. Anything less was considered a failure. There was no plan-B for losing those key starters when the Buckeyes did. The plan was to have DeVier Posey, Boom Herron, Mike Adams, and even Terrelle Pryor for the entire 2011 season. Their backups would have another year under their belt to mature and grow into capable replacements for 2012. Instead, the replacements were thrust into the limelight, not ready for primetime. Even the illegitimate baby of Jim Tressel and Woody Hayes would have a hard time winning with those circumstances. If you think otherwise, you're kidding yourself.

That said, the offense is ridiculously bad and the blame falls squarely on the coach's shoulders. However, to be fair, this is not yet Luke Fickell's offense. Yes, I get the "he's the head coach and the buck stops there" or whatever your argument may be that Fickell is as much to blame as anyone for the offense's lack ineptitude. The problem with that thinking is that, like the replacement players, there was a long-term plan to ease Fick into the head coaching position. Like his players, Fickell has been thrown into a position he was not yet groomed to take over. I'm sure he can see as well as the rest of us blogging offensive coordinators and couch coaches that the offense sucks ass right now, but he has yet to receive the opportunity to put together his offense, his offensive staff (sans Bollman). I'd like to see Fick get the opportunity to clean house and start over, bring in some new talent from places like Boise, Houston, or any number of mid-major-to-major schools that score on anyone. Then, we can more adequately judge what kind of coach he will be.

This all brings me back to the inflated expectations of Buckeye Nation. I'm old enough to remember when folks were upset at losing a perpetual 9-win coach in Earl Bruce after one tough 6-5 season where they still received a bowl invite (that was promptly turned down). 9-3 was pretty good for a long time. However, since Tressel won the national championship in 2003, we're spoiled to think that it should happen every year. Yes, Ohio State brings in some fantastic recruiting classes, but I seem to remember that at least five other schools bring in better classes every year and they over-sign. So, there's a limit to the talent even at Ohio State. (Look at the lack of dept on the offensive line.) Also, believe it or not, it's not possible to win the national championship every year. That's why it's such a big deal. Some of you seem to forget the 30+ years between championships at Ohio State with what might be arguably the weakest national championship team ever. (Don't argue this. That team was lucky and were almost as offensively retarded as the current team.)

The largest missing component is Jim Tressel. It's absurd to think that a young defensive co-coordinator, coach of linebackers can simply step in and take the place of multi-national championship, veteran head coach in just one season. It's obvious now that Tressel had a lot more to do with the offense than previously suspected. Sure, the play-calling has usually been mind-numbingly boring, but there was always a plan beyond "two-straight runs and a sack." There was always something Tressel would set up throughout a game or even throughout a season. There was often that timely play-call that made the opposition look foolish. The screen to Boom at Michigan. The play-action over the top to Ginn in '06. Saine lining up at fullback and sneaking down the sideline against LSU. Pryor coming out slinging the ball all over the place in the Rose Bowl. The man used his years of experience to craft strategy that most of us are too dumb to recognize. He made first-round draft picks out of three-star recruits and Broyles Award candidates out of VCR operators...well, maybe not that last one.

It is much too early to judge Luke Fickell as a "terrible" coach at this point. It's not been good so far, but it's been far from what we should have expected. There is little plan on offense. Clock management is still an issue. (Ask Les Miles about clock management.) There has been indecision in regards to personnel. All of these issues should be expected when a new regime takes over. Typically, that regime comes in with his own guys and system already in-place. Fickell is playing with someone else's toys, in someone else's system. I suspect if he were to choose his staff, the DC would be more of the semi-competent yes-man, instead of the OC. (I say "semi-competent" as a yes-man, not a coordinator. There's no way Bollman is anything but incompetent as an OC.) The mistakes in this situation should be expected with a first-time coach taking over a staff that is not his own.

The strength of a Tressel team is that they pulled together when things became a bit rocky (and many of us were calling for his head) and improved down the stretch, emerging as victors over TSUN by the end of the season. I think Fick at least deserves that much time to figure things out. Even then, I think he deserves an offseason to put together his own coaching staff for one more go at it. Look at the splash he made with his lone hire. Imagine the equivalent of Mike Vrable running the offense. Next season could be much like we expected for this season with all the talent set to return, plus a head coach with at least one season under his belt. Then, maybe Coach Fickell will meet our lofty expectations. Until then, we will have adjust those expectations to something more reasonable.