Entering today's contest as a 31.5-point underdog sporting a 5-5 record, Greg Schiano had to know everything would have to break his way for the Scarlet Knights to have a chance pull off a miracle upset.
That said, his team fought hard and hung with the Buckeyes into the early part of the third quarter - trailing just 14-3 - before the Buckeyes scored touchdowns on four straight possessions to eventually post a 42-9 victory in Ohio Stadium.
Schiano was proud of his team's effort if not its execution.
Ohio State's got a really good football team. I'm proud of our guys but we just weren't good enough today. – Greg Schiano
Trailing by that 14-3 score midway through the third quarter could be seen as a moral victory for some but of course Schiano didn't see it quite like that.
We did some good things but made mistakes and we need to stop making them if we're going to have a chance to compete with a team like that. it's not just players, it's not just coaches, it's everybody starting with me. we've gotta get better - incremental improvement. – Greg Schiano
On the topic of mistakes, Rutgers committed some defensive penalties to keep alive three eventual Ohio State scoring drives.
we're off (stopped osu on 3rd down), we get a sack but we get a hold. and then the 4th down play, we're off, but we get a penalty. The third touchdown, i was proud of the guys. they (osu) started with the ball on the 1-yard line... we stuff 'em and cause them to commit a foul and move them back to the 11 and then that play you judge for yourself. I'm not real happy with that play.– Greg Schiano
To be clear, Schiano wasn't upset with his own team on the play in question - an 11-yard touchdown pass from Julian Sayin to Max Klare. He was, it's safe to assume, upset that the officials didn't flag OSU for a pick play that left Klare so wide open.
He mentioned there were a few other calls he wasn't happy with but he went out of his way to say that officiating is very difficult, he respects the job they do and coaches having iPads now is the worst thing for officials because they can be called out quickly and accurately by coaches on the sideline.
That said, he also knows his team was inferior to Ohio State.
we're not one or two plays away from winning this game, that i can tell you. would it have made it more interesting, sure, but we wore down a little bit and they are a good football team. – Greg Schiano
That good football team now gets ready for the regular season finale up in Ann Arbor next Saturday. You already know that one kicks off at noon and will be televised by FOX.
Hate Week is here.
