Ohio State's expectations are championship or bust every year. Or at least win the conference and go to the Rose Bowl.
That can't happen this year. So I'm asking would a loss this season be a blessing in disguise?
I think a loss this season (except the last game) would be 100x better than a loss next season.
Having an undefeated season this year would bring up to many "what ifs" and "coulda beens"
Winning the AP championship will be almost impossible with games like last night.
Losing a game would show Meyer what kind of team he has. Can the players bounce back the next week? Can the coaches keep it together?
It would also show the fans how Urban reacts and responds. I think Urban would make the week of practice following a loss so intense, the team won't ever consider being down by even a point.
I never want Ohio State to lose. But the longer they go undefeated, the more pressure builds on Meyer to stay undefeated. So I think a loss this season might actually help in the long run.
I'm an old homer, a loss is never good.
Uuuuhhh Nooo!!
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
I see what you are saying here. Losses are usually a good way to get a reality check. There has been many questions about the defense, like why we cant wrap up or why our corners are always playing 5-7 yards off the line of scrimmage, but the D coaches seem to dismiss the claims because we are still winning. Maybe a loss will get them to actually change the philosophy a bit?
Seven games into the season, it's pretty clear what kind of team Urban has on his hand. A loss brings no greater clarity and certainly no help. Nevertheless, it appears that one is coming.
I don't think you ever need a loss. Did you see the post game press conference last night? Braxton wasn't happy. Urban definitely didn't have much good to say. In my eyes to the team, last night was a loss. I do think a night like last night was good for the team though. It gives Urban plenty of ammo to work with, and Bloody Tuesday is going to suck this week I'm sure.
There was a lot of blame to go around last night. At times the line sucked, Braxton threw some bad balls and had a bad INT, Rod Smith Dropped a ball without any contact, and Devin Smith dropped 2 sure TD passes. Those are some takeaways from the offense. The D, well there were too many problems to list honestly.
Last time I checked, Meyer is not stupid, dumb or an idiot. He knows what kind of team he has this year. Just because we are undefeated doesn't mean he is oblivious to problems on the team that need to be fixed. I would much rather be undefeated fixing problems then lose a game in the terrible BiG schedule to teach a lesson. Anyways, if us fans can see what our problems are while being undefeated, do you think that Urbz and the staff are morons and don't see what us fans see???
Purple Raider
At this point, there is no way we're getting voted #1 in the AP poll if we go undefeated, because the defense ain't fooling anyone. The Big Ten is abhorrent this year, and we gave up 49 points to possibly the worst team. So, yes, an undefeated season would be salt in the wound, because if we WERE bowl eligible, the coaches would vote us #1 or #2, and we'd be going to the national championship.
But it'd still be funny to be undefeated and have college football explode.
I don't think there was any way Ohio State would get ranked number 1 in the AP poll this year, even if they went undefeated. It's awfully hard to give them a title when they don't get to play in a conference championship game or a bowl game.
I've been thinking it might be good for us to lose a game ever since we beat Michigan State & all the undefeated talk really got heated up. Since the season began I've been thinking that we would go undefeated, but now I'm sorta cautious about that. It's kindof like that old superstition that if we keep winning games, then we're do for a loss at some point. I'd like to see us beat Michigan, but I feel like it's better to get that loss out of the way so we don't head into next season over confident, & end up losing a game that puts us out of the National Championship picture. Even Woody Hayes wasn't all into the mindset a team develops if they win too many games in a row, like they would let their gaurd down thinking they're invincible & not play as hard. We'll probably lose to Wisconsin
It's 5 o'clock somewhere, & Michigan still sucks
I understand where people who make this argument come from, but I don't buy that a team ever NEEDS to lose a game. There are plenty of lessons to be learned in an unsatisfying victory, assuming the people involved don't blow off the issues just because they won.
Class of 2010.
As several others have said, and I can speak from personal experience, it is never needed to lose a game. A close victory that shouldn't have been close (i.e. Indiana) is all that is needed to get the players heads back on straight. If you take an undefeated team flying on cloud 9, and rip everything out from under them by giving them a loss to a team they should beat, one of two things could happen.
1) They play incredibly motivated to finish the year without another loss
2) They get down on themselves, realize their dreams of going undefeated have been crushed, and pack it in for the season, adding potentially another loss.
A close victory can show a team they can't look past anyone, but also keeps their undefeated dreams alive. Losing a game when you are undefeated late in a season is the worst feeling in the world. Happened to by basketball team in high school. Started 15-0, lost game 16. Our main goal was to go undefeated and we lost that, and we just never played with the same passion again. We finished 18-2.
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
Most of these players got to experience a significant amount of losing last year. They fell short several times and failed to make plays when they needed to most. This year they always seem to come up with a big play when they need one most. The shame that 7 losses brought last year is still fresh in the minds of these guys.
I think they do lose a game, but I would really like for these seniors to go out undefeated. Guys like Simon, Boren, Fragel, and Stoneburner deserve it.
No.
I think it would send a big message to recruits to get on board with something special. Even if we are sloppy in a lot of the games a lot of recruits nationally don't get to watch all of our games and will just see the record. This is a team that was supposed to be down. Not only are we "back" but we're winning every game. I think it could be very good for us when it comes to the 2014 recruits and we're in on a ton of the big name recruits. I think it'll add to the UFM reputation as being one of the two or three best coaches in the country.
Giving up 49 to IU almost feels like a loss if you ask me. Our D has to feel the same way.....I know they will after Bloody Tuesday.
"I'm One Bad Buckeye, and I approve this message."
A loss is NEVER good and I will never understand this thinking...goofy
shortbus20
We don't need to lose a game, but a loss won't be the end of the world either. We are building for the future and the future so's bright I gotta wear shades.......I gotta wear shades.
They don't need to lose, but I disagree with everyone that thinks all of these close games are bad. The team needs to struggle so they know they have more to work on. Stuggles and close games build a team that doesn't get scared in a dogfight. Look at the NC team that had more than their share of tight ones. They stood up over and over again and then in the bright lights against Miami, they didn't fold.
Yea losing sucks. I think the Bucks have a great chance going undefeated this year and an even better chance next year. I think the Big Ten will be even weaker next year. Think about all the star players leaving their team. DR Burkhead Ball Mcgloin haha . Ohio State could be the undisputed power house of the conference next year.
Im just saying losing this season won't mean much and a loss next year could be devastating. I guess you won't have to be undefeated in a couple years when the playoffs start. Just make it to the top 4.
Plus removng the pressure to go undefeated would allow more freshman to be played.
A loss is not necessary. The players and coaches know their areas of deficiency after each game and are continually working to improve them. I can't imagine many are walking around with their heads high after that win last night. You don't need to lose a game to gain the motivation to want to be better. Urban will get these guys going!
In a weird sort of way, I do want to lose a game this year (just absolutely not the TSUN game). I think we have a very good chance of a title run next year, and I think it would be damn near impossible to go undefeated two years in a row. Therefore, I would prefer that undefeated season be next year.
That said, with all of this negativity surrounded this past Indiana game, I think we as BuckeyeNation need to take a different outlook on that game. Two things happened, both of them are VERY good for us.
1. We got the W. We are still perfect
2. We got embarrassed. Time for some changes* to occur with the defense.
Usually, it takes a Loss before those changes occur. But getting embarrassed (while still getting a W) might do the trick.
*I'm not even going to try to tell our salaried coaching staff what those changes are. I just know something needs to change.
That win was the best loss they could have. Still undefeated and yet they know theres room for improvment and they have alot of work to do everywhere.
A loss would also punish an offense that has made much improvement
sorry but i cant wish that on them
GO BUCKS
O H I O is the Buckeye State
I don't think they need a loss....... Just have them watch the Indiana tape a couple times and they will see that they are not very good defensively right now.
Didn't we get enough losses last year? Most of our starters aren't Freshman and our guys shouldn't forget the feeling from the previous year regardless of who the head coach was. I vote no to losses.
......and how good could this team be if they had a shutdown D and a couple WR's that could catch? WOW
Could happen...I hope it doesn't.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
Indiana was the perfect team to teach us some things. They are ranked the #1 offense in our conference and ranked VERY highly in the country too. They taught us a lot about where we are. I doubt they are the worst team in our conference, that title goes to Illinois by a longshot. That will soon be seen, too.
GO BUCKS!!! URBAN RENEWAL!
I think these people who come up with these "is it better to lose a game" posts have never played a sport in their life. I was a part of 2 different win streaks at Mount Union (53freshman year and 54 or 55 senior year) and only lost 2 games in my career. Believe me we didn't need a loss to understand what we needed to do to get better as a team.
Purple Raider
We lost enough last year to last me a lifetime. I'll never wish for a loss.
DEB II