My thinking on "sportsmanship" and running up the score has evolved over the years. I used to be an absolute purist on the subject, which you could cynically say was a result of me rooting for Jim Tressel teams that were largely incapable of running up the score on anybody anyway, so obviously I'd be against the practice.
But in my old (late 30's) age I've come to realize that literally the only consideration that I actually care about when it comes to late-game blowouts is the possibility of a star player getting potentially injured while doing a victory lap on the face of an opponent. It's one thing if the team getting stomped decides to pull its starters, meaning that any remaining time on the gameclock would just be slowly ticking off the seconds of a bully yelling "stop hitting yourself" to a pencil-necked nerd. But if said team decides to keep playing its ones, I'm absolutely OK with unilaterally assured destruction. There may be a few more games like this on the schedule.
THE TEAM
THE ALUMNI
TIM MAY, ASTRONOMER
THE REST
And that'll do it, next week is... nothing! Maybe I'll try to bake a loaf of bread.
- #3 Ohio State 49, Michigan State 20
- • Buckeyes Blow Out Spartans, 49-20
- • Have a Day, CJ: Pass Game Goes Off at MSU
- • Henderson Runs Hard, Fine After Early Exit
- • Harrison Breaks 3 Rec TD Record
- • Ohio State Postgame • Notebook • Quotebook • Photos
- • 3 Key Stats • Five Things • Social Reactions • Michigan State Postgame