Yes, New Year’s Eve was deflating.  But, now that I’m in my 70s, I think I am perhaps better able to keep things in perspective.  

For example, when Tress was hired, if you had asked me whether I would be happy if Ohio State were to win 3 national championships in the next quarter of a century—and do so in spectacular and entertaining fashion—and have a sustained run of remarkable success against Michigan, my truthful answer would have been “no.”

My answer would have been “no” only because “happy” would not have accurately captured my emotions.  I would have said “ecstatic!” would be more appropriate—and that’s exactly how I felt at the conclusion of the 2002, 2014, and 2024 seasons.

Equally significant—and this helps keep things in perspective for me—I try to keep in mind that Ohio State is in second place with three undisputed national championships since the start of the BCS/CFP era.  (Yes, LSU also has three but one was shared.)  

And this second place standing in the BCS/CFP era will not change at the conclusion of this edition of the CFP.  

Again, after a 30+-year natty drought, this is indeed something to be very appreciative of.

So, yeah, overall I feel very fortunate to have witnessed what we have seen in the past quarter century notwithstanding the disappointments along the way.