For the better part of six weeks – as J.T. Barrett and the Ohio State offense rolled up big numbers against the likes of Army, UNLV, Rutgers, Maryland, and Nebraska, we heard the same thing over and over on social media: “Let's see Barrett do this against a good team.”
It was the retort of frustrated fans who had seen Barrett struggle in several recent big games, including the double-overtime win over Michigan, the thumping the Buckeyes took in the Fiesta Bowl at the hands of Clemson and the week two upset at home to Oklahoma.
The replies were so consistent and relentless that they felt engineered by bots at times.
Barrett named Davey O'Brien Award National Quarterback of the Week? “Get back to me when he plays a good defense,” they said.
Five-straight games of 500 yards or more in total offense and four games in-a-row hitting the 50-point mark? “Just wait until he plays Penn State,” came the retort.
Saturday night, in the finest game of his Ohio State career, Barrett emphatically answered all of his doubters, rolling to a school record 423 yards of total offense, and completing his final 16 passes – part of a 4th quarter that would see him go 13-13 for 170 yards and 3 touchdowns – in leading his Buckeyes back to a 39-38 win over Penn State.
It's dinner time and crow is on the menu. Thankfully, Ohio State fans, thrilled to see Death Star Barrett destroy the No. 2 team in the nation, were only too happy to share their crow-eatin' tales when we asked.
me: never left the JTB bandwagon.
— callie (@callienicolef) October 28, 2017
dad: totally did. pic.twitter.com/sNnifLgLma
Whoops. pic.twitter.com/P5WqkFraoO
— KP (@HandsDwnMansDwn) October 28, 2017
Never a bad thing ever about 16 again. Much respect #eatingcrow
— Howard Gladstone (@howardgladstone) October 28, 2017
I’m eating the crow tonight. JT fucking delivered. Go Bucks.
— Nathanael (@nateschmitz_) October 28, 2017
JT will u forgive me?!
— Von Wiedlstein (@Jwiedster) October 28, 2017
just 3 hours ago https://t.co/DErpcqfJfl
— dan (@D_Boogs) October 28, 2017
I said “he always chokes in big games” after that botched hand off. I guess there’s a reason I was watching at a bar instead of coaching.
— Ryan Strong (@ryancstrong) October 28, 2017
I was wrong. I doubted him and called for the bullpen. I am embarrassed. JT for heisman !
— Brett Shaw (@Buckshaw79) October 28, 2017
I tweeted he was overrated and thanked the lord he leaves this year after that 4th quarter fumble.
— Jon Snow (@safaristoner2) October 28, 2017
props to y’all for sticking with him, honestly. Everyone was against him including me.Hella props to 11W. You guys are great for OSU.
— Matthew Powell (@MatthewPowell24) October 28, 2017
I call drumstick!
— (((★Timurid★))) (@Muggle_e_Azam) October 28, 2017
Me after Oklahoma: "I feel so bad for JT, OSU ruined him."
— Jeffrey Book (@JeffreyBook3) October 28, 2017
Man do I love the taste of crow.
If you insist... pic.twitter.com/7XSdaSWGM5
— Brock Bishop (@bishop_brock) October 28, 2017
— Alex Young (@AlexYoung15) October 28, 2017
I said I would eat my own shit if he beat PSU.
— Neatperson_OG (@Neatperson_OG) October 28, 2017
This was me after the Oklahoma game. pic.twitter.com/pigZr1uznK
— Eric (@Esklen11) October 28, 2017
I’d tell you mine but I can’t get the foot out of my mouth I lodged it in SOO far :/
— Wade Guthrie (@wguthrie) October 29, 2017
— Bill Barak (@BillBarak) October 28, 2017
i am on our school broadcasting program and i said they may need to consider a change
— Jonathan Murray (@murrdog2000) October 28, 2017
He’s good. I suck.
— Jason Michael Boyce (@boycethechoice) October 28, 2017
— Joe Howdyshell (@Jhowdy54) October 29, 2017
I already deleted my tweet...I can’t even look at myself yet for what I was thinking. I LOVE JT! FORGIVE ME , JTB IV!!!
— Joe Pastorek (@JoePastorek83) October 29, 2017
At half time I thought to myself, “well it will be cool to see Burrows/Haskins next year!” ♂️
— Joel (@joelharrison84) October 29, 2017
I thought Haskins would make us better. I was 100% wrong. I am not good at evaluation.
— Ed Patriarca (@houseofed) October 29, 2017
I thought the game was too fast for him against the best teams, MY MISTAKE!!
— JoeFriday (@gerry_massey) October 29, 2017
I left the stadium before halftime... "then I saw his stats, now I'm a believer.. "
— Shawn C. Koser (@DC_Koser) October 28, 2017
I said we should give up on JT after last season because he was boring to watch.....that was not boring.
— Fez the Buckeye (@FezXuldrow) October 28, 2017
Im pretty sure I called him every name in the book against OU. I'm sorry Jt, you have proven me and my mouth wrong. #GoBucks #GoBucks
— Rob (@Zimmers45) October 28, 2017
I bought tickets for the Outback Bowl
— theamazing (@sofaseller) October 28, 2017
I texted a friend after his fumble, and said I'll be so happy when his eligibility is gone. I'm so sorry JT, can I buy you lunch?
— goldfixer (@ToddTheJeweler) October 29, 2017
After the fumble pic.twitter.com/g2gvt4xsHY
— Stew (@The_TruTru) October 28, 2017
I'm the idiot in green... pic.twitter.com/352Ut8fk4a
— Browns - 2031 (@jessenakron) October 28, 2017
I called him the Blake Bortles of the NCAA on 97.1 with @CommonManRadio and @DegenerateTBone. I apologize and eat Crow forever.
— Nick Zychowicz (@NJZychowicz) October 28, 2017
I wrote my apology to get this shit out of the way https://t.co/37wNjRl2X8
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) October 29, 2017
This is next level crow eating here:
Turned the TV off after his fumble. Driving for pizza heard play by play on radio, sat in Pizza hut parking lot 8 min listening to game.
— Rowan Box (@box_rowan) October 28, 2017
Alas, you can't convert them all:
What!? Finally won a big game!?? With all that talent!?? About time!! Don't jinx him by saying he's amazing. Let it be...awesome game
— AdamWes (@Awteeos) October 29, 2017
