Tressels, Fickells, Urbans, Days, Johnsons and Days,

My youngest son, Jake, was two when Urban first took over as head coach. 

I planned on having Jake as a "guest columnist" for the Ohio State Rose Bowl match-up against Washington back in 2018.  That was the last time these two teams met. I had been using Jake's score predictions for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, so I thought I would start incorporating him a little more now that he was a sage 9-year old. 

But, this was all I could get from him when I asked for his prognostication: 

"Dwayne Haskins throws for 10 touchdowns."  - Jake, age 9

He actually knew a lot about college football even as a young kid, so he chuckled to himself after offering this "pearl"...and essentially was telling me "write your own prediction, Dad."

I thought about Jake's perspective.  At that point, Jake only knew Ohio State as the machine Coach Urban created. After the 10-touchdown "prediction," I remember saying to Jake that it will be interesting to see if his Ohio State football experience continues at the current pace into late elementary, middle school and possibly even high school while driving back from his basketball game.  With that thought, he screamed from the backseat, "Oh, it will!" 

I remember being the same age when I was a kid and Ohio State football was in the thick of the Earl Bruce years. It was a given that Ohio State would go 9-3...and there was a 50-50 chance the Buckeyes would beat Michigan.  As a grade school kid, I thought the Buckeyes were the best team in college football...they could do no wrong....and today a 9-3 record is unacceptable.  Fans have heartburn when Ohio State goes 12-2 or 11-2.  In my mind's eye, I still perceive Keith Byers ran for 300 yards every time he took the field (I must have been continually replaying the 1984 games vs Illinois) and Cris Carter caught 3 touchdowns each game (even though he topped out at 11 in a season).

If that was my perceived reality when I was Jake's age despite the OSU football reality of the early to mid 80s, maybe school kids today really do think the OSU QB will throw for 10 touchdowns every game.  Why not?  

Because of the state of Ohio State football, today's reality is that anything is possible...the potential reaches outlandish heights.  I love Jake's perception and earliest Ohio State football memories when he was 9 years old in the backseat of my car. That Ohio State football experience continues today as Jake is now old enough to drive himself.   

...and I still think Keith Byers could rush for 300 yards, Cris Carter could catch 3 touchdowns and Julian Sayin could throw 10 touchdowns every game.  Why not?     
 

Touchdowns:  Max Klare, Jeremiah Smith, Jelani Thurman, Bo Jackson, Carnell Tate

OSU 35 Washington 17

Go Bucks!  Beat Washington!  Harry Miller and Eddrick Houston for Heisman!

Stout Pops