My grandfather is the reason I am the fanatic sports nut that I am. He taught me that passion was something that you should spread throughout all areas of life, including sports. Playing, officiating or just enjoying sports as a fan he always had a blast and that showed me how enjoyable sports can be. He watched games differently, probably because he played everything and then coached long after he played. He taught me so many life lessons by using sports as an illustration. Hustle, will, mental and physical preparedness, perseverance, team work, unity, equality and I'm sure 100 more. The man's hero's were Woddy Hayes and Bob Knight (they were both from Orville/Massilon) so imagine the lessons there!
I always listened and tried to take the things he said to heart. As an adult I now realize how many of the values and ethics he instilled me that are now the basis of my daily life. And a lot of the examples for those lessons were from the Buckeye teams of Coach Hayes. That's why I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my grandfather would have loved this 2014 National Championship team!
First off he loved winners. He always told me to do my best in trying to win and that winning was a worthy goal. This team won in so many different fashions during the regular season it was exciting and nerve racking at the same time. "The grinders win games" he used to say, and this team had its share of grind-it-out wins. Penn State comes to mind quickly as does the Minnesota game. In both of those games units like the O line, special teams, and red zone D made the difference. And while no team can be successful without the grinders, the flash and big plays of this Buckeye team were equally important.
I prefer the excitement of a big play, a game changer! Offensively this years Buckeyes had their share of fireworks, From the likes of Zeke or JT breaking big run's during the regular season to Elliot's big time success and Cardale's spirit breaking third down conversions in the post season the run game was throat stomping in effect! My grandfather would have broken down the blocking schemes and play calling. He would have pointed out how everything came into place for he big play to develop. I love that he gave that to me. It makes watching quality athletics so much more fun.
He was still alive for much of the Jim Tressel era of Ohio State football, although he had Alzheimer's pretty severely by then. To me "The Senator" is my Coach Hayes. I respect and revere Coach Tressel immensely yet I used to complain all the time about the play calling being too conservative and not having a good passing game. Grandpa would always remind me that it wasn't about stats or flash, it was about W's. "It's college football, not the NFL where ego's get in the way". He was right. Yet I am sure he would have loved this team and the prolific passing attack the an Urban Meyer offense is capable of.
Spencer, Smith, Thomas, Vannett and Heuerman are one of the better receiving and blocking groups in Buckeye history. Barrett and Jones made the receivers look good and vice versa. When combined with the explosive run game the pass game was unstoppable at times. And back breaking as well with big pass plays seeming to deflate defenses at crucial points in games this year. This kind of production in the air is what made this team complete and dominate and is attributable to Coach Meyer. Grandpa would have loved the downfield blocking, route running, and precision. Oh, and the flash too!
Now that I have two sons I too have been watching games differently, more like my grandfather did. I now realize why he taught me so many lessons through sports and Ohio State football. You have to reach boys differently if you want to instill or teach them something and he saw that sports was the way into my conscience. I see that in my boys too and I can only hope and pray to impact them like my grandfather did for me. I catch myself pointing out the little things to my son simply because Ohio State football keeps his attention long enough for that to be possible.
My grandfather Earl David Stauffer passed away in 2004. My oldest son Truett Stauffer Divelbiss was born in 2009. I pray daily for what I hope my sons become and I hope to be the kind of dad who can use the fun and competition of sports to help teach my boys to be good men. I was given the example to follow and the love of Ohio State Football by my grandfather and am so thankful for that in my life. I'm confident that Buckeye football will be a teaching tool that will bring fun, joy, excitement and memories for the years to come for my boys and me.
I shed a tear as time ran off the clock in the championship game. A tear of joy, yes. A tear of sadness too, I wish I could have watched and analyzed and talked about this season with him. Mostly, though, a tear of thanksgiving. Thankful for my Buckeye roots and this families Buckeye future! Not sappy, just... well maybe you know.
I would love to hear your Buckeye family tree stories! Hit me up on Twitter @BlueBooya or comment on here! GO BUCKS!
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Sunday, January 25, 2015
#DeflateGate Week 2
The wrinkles on Bill Belichick's forehead are screaming "you've got to be kidding me"! His brain is smoldering inside knowing he is again in front of the media talking footballs and air or the lack there of. His teeth are gnashed as he rugurgitates some blah blah about conditions of the room where the balls were inflated as opposed to the... WHO CARES! Billy doesn't. And he is stone cold TICKED he has to keep talking about this garbage. But he should look on the bright side, and so should the NFL.
If Bill Belichick presser about the pre-game handling of balls is leading my Sunday morning Sportscenter ONE WEEK after the Patriots serial murdered the Colts imagine for a second what the sports landscape would be like this week leading up to the Superbowl if the Colts had actually showed up. What furor would hang over this week had the Colts lost by 3, or 4, or 7. What if the narrative was that this level of cheating had actually had changed the outcome of the game? How would the NFL deal with yet another colossal black eye in this season? How would Belichick fare through a scandal like this if it mattered?
There is already a percentage of the football watching public that will not be convinced that the Patriots were not intentionally cheating, AGAIN! With just cause the number of people who believe that New England's success, at least in some part, is due to video tape and grippable balls and what ever myriad of other ways to cheat that they haven't been caught at yet is increasing daily. In this era of social media and fan involvement the Patriots legacy has already been tainted in a way that won't ever go away. Imagine the venom if it was perceived that the evil dynasty had actually stolen an AFC Championship Game.
"The Patriot Way" would be an immense national punch line, even more so that it is already (see Aaron Hernandez). It is already defined as doing anything, and they mean anything, necessary to win. Sort of the embodiment of what much of the nation views the northeast to be: ultra greedy, ultra powerful, dynastic, big business types that love to chomp up and spit out inferior "little guys". Tom Brady, your thrown in there too. Everyone knows the QB's fondle all the balls pre-game and pick out their 12 best. Had this scandal truly blown up Brady might not have gone down as the orchestra leader but he'd be first chair violin I guarantee you. "Poor helpless Colts" America would bemoan.
King Belichick and his wizardry would truly come into question. And those questions would come from all media. Is this guy really the coach we all thought he was or is he truly just a mastermind of cheating and ill gotten advantages? The chant of "they haven't won anything since they quit video taping their opponents walk through's" has become "now they'll even tamper with the balls to win"? That cry is loud enough now. If the Colts had a head coach and a game plan capable of winning last Sunday and had made it close this would be the biggest story in all media, not just the sports world. Even Bill wouldn't be able to "Sling Blade" his way through a press conference like that.
But the luckiest entity in this whole mess is a tie between the NFL and its' fearless leader. League HQ should find some secret loophole to give the Colts an extra draft pick or something. If the Colts do not lose that game in a blowout, if somehow they hang with the Pats, yet came up short in the end and it is subsequently discovered that New England had doctored balls to their advantage to decrease the effects of the weather on their offense the social media verse would have exploded! That explosion would reverberate through the glass entrance of the NFL offices down the halls and right into Roger Godell's office yet again. This little deflated ball bruise on the cheek of the NFL could easily have been the knockout blow that Godell couldn't get up from. Sure Rog would have come down hard on somebody, but how much clear and complete incompetence can the commissioner of the most powerful sport in the country take before the other owners ask him to disappear? The most sacred week of the year on the NFL's corporate calendar would have been COMPLETELY sabotaged, the whole thing. All the media would be pre-gathered to toss gas on the fire. A redi-made BBQ of the Pats, Bill, Brady and the ineptness of the league. Like leadership had set up their own funeral.
Oh what this week of Super coverage and Super hype could have been. It would have been fun for a lot of us, and sheer torture for some others. In fairness the Colts pathetic showing in the AFC Championship has helped reduce this story to what it probably should have been all along, a story that will fade away because it really doesn't mean much. It had no noticeable effect on the outcome of the NE vs. Indy game. But in my opinion Bill Belichick and a lot of other folks running the show in the NFL should shut up, answer questions cheerfully and just be happy #DeflateGate isn't completely out of control. Oh, and be sure to thank the Colts.
If Bill Belichick presser about the pre-game handling of balls is leading my Sunday morning Sportscenter ONE WEEK after the Patriots serial murdered the Colts imagine for a second what the sports landscape would be like this week leading up to the Superbowl if the Colts had actually showed up. What furor would hang over this week had the Colts lost by 3, or 4, or 7. What if the narrative was that this level of cheating had actually had changed the outcome of the game? How would the NFL deal with yet another colossal black eye in this season? How would Belichick fare through a scandal like this if it mattered?
There is already a percentage of the football watching public that will not be convinced that the Patriots were not intentionally cheating, AGAIN! With just cause the number of people who believe that New England's success, at least in some part, is due to video tape and grippable balls and what ever myriad of other ways to cheat that they haven't been caught at yet is increasing daily. In this era of social media and fan involvement the Patriots legacy has already been tainted in a way that won't ever go away. Imagine the venom if it was perceived that the evil dynasty had actually stolen an AFC Championship Game.
"The Patriot Way" would be an immense national punch line, even more so that it is already (see Aaron Hernandez). It is already defined as doing anything, and they mean anything, necessary to win. Sort of the embodiment of what much of the nation views the northeast to be: ultra greedy, ultra powerful, dynastic, big business types that love to chomp up and spit out inferior "little guys". Tom Brady, your thrown in there too. Everyone knows the QB's fondle all the balls pre-game and pick out their 12 best. Had this scandal truly blown up Brady might not have gone down as the orchestra leader but he'd be first chair violin I guarantee you. "Poor helpless Colts" America would bemoan.
King Belichick and his wizardry would truly come into question. And those questions would come from all media. Is this guy really the coach we all thought he was or is he truly just a mastermind of cheating and ill gotten advantages? The chant of "they haven't won anything since they quit video taping their opponents walk through's" has become "now they'll even tamper with the balls to win"? That cry is loud enough now. If the Colts had a head coach and a game plan capable of winning last Sunday and had made it close this would be the biggest story in all media, not just the sports world. Even Bill wouldn't be able to "Sling Blade" his way through a press conference like that.
But the luckiest entity in this whole mess is a tie between the NFL and its' fearless leader. League HQ should find some secret loophole to give the Colts an extra draft pick or something. If the Colts do not lose that game in a blowout, if somehow they hang with the Pats, yet came up short in the end and it is subsequently discovered that New England had doctored balls to their advantage to decrease the effects of the weather on their offense the social media verse would have exploded! That explosion would reverberate through the glass entrance of the NFL offices down the halls and right into Roger Godell's office yet again. This little deflated ball bruise on the cheek of the NFL could easily have been the knockout blow that Godell couldn't get up from. Sure Rog would have come down hard on somebody, but how much clear and complete incompetence can the commissioner of the most powerful sport in the country take before the other owners ask him to disappear? The most sacred week of the year on the NFL's corporate calendar would have been COMPLETELY sabotaged, the whole thing. All the media would be pre-gathered to toss gas on the fire. A redi-made BBQ of the Pats, Bill, Brady and the ineptness of the league. Like leadership had set up their own funeral.
Oh what this week of Super coverage and Super hype could have been. It would have been fun for a lot of us, and sheer torture for some others. In fairness the Colts pathetic showing in the AFC Championship has helped reduce this story to what it probably should have been all along, a story that will fade away because it really doesn't mean much. It had no noticeable effect on the outcome of the NE vs. Indy game. But in my opinion Bill Belichick and a lot of other folks running the show in the NFL should shut up, answer questions cheerfully and just be happy #DeflateGate isn't completely out of control. Oh, and be sure to thank the Colts.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Tick. Tick. Tick.
I think the clock is slow, gimmie something to write on man! Legendary lyrics from Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" describe the tick tick ticking clock in my head. Ever creeping toward game day at a snails pace. For fans ten days is a long time to wait for a Championship Game after the high of beating Alabama. Coaches may disagree. I assume players are split on the wait, but one thing is for sure, this game will be an event never seen before! As long as my brain doesn't explode from all the media coverage it should be great.
Speaking of the media...wow. I'm not sure how many on air personalities just ESPN has in Fort Worth but it seems like anyone that has ever appeared on screen mentioning college football gets at least one hour on air a day. I have seen and heard so much analysis, so many analysts, so many stats, and so many graphics illustrating said stats and analysis that my Vizio just SAP's itself, slaps "No Mas" on the screen and shuts itself off.
A lot of the stats and analysis say Oregon is good. An equal amount of stats and analysis say Ohio State is good. Surprise! Two good teams are playing for a National Championship and that's the way it should be. Yet one thing that I feel is a big reason that The Buckeyes are in this game seems to have been largely overlooked by the paid talkers. I wonder if there has ever been a team more filled with 5 star, 4 star, 3 star recruits that has embraced a "Blue Collar" attitude more than these Buckeyes.
All teams work hard to win, this is nothing new. All teams have many personalities to mesh together during a season. Many teams even take on the personality of their head coach. But this team from Columbus is something different. Maybe because the teams biggest star went down without ever seeing the field any cockiness that may have existed never came to life. But Braxton was never a prima donna. I can't put my finger on it without actually having been around the team, but from a fans perspective I can't remember seeing any sign of a "me" attitude from a player on this team all year.
This group of guys are sold out for each other in every way. Maybe the passing of Kosta Kerageorge cemented the bond between these players. If that's the case then that is a small sparkle of positivity form a horribly sad situation. On a side note, I hope Kosta's parents are in attendance in Ft. Worth if they wish to be. He is still a member of this team.
Watch the Sugar Bowl again (I know you have it DVR'd like I do). Watch the defense jumping up and down on the sideline watching the offense roll! Watch JT support Cardale. It seemed like every single player slapped Jalin Marshall on the ass for his masterful TD pass and mobbed Thomas after possibly the catch of the year before the half. Watch the entire sideline erupt with every defensive stop or turnover. Players not dressed for the game constantly led cheers of the massive Buckeye base in the crowd and those maniac Ohio State fans proved without a doubt that truly EVERY game is a home game!
Fans are united around this group as much as always. Opposing teams sometimes still don't get how we roll into "away" games and take over the scene. At Maryland this year we fans completely took over entire parking lots to tailgate before the game. I remember how taken back the Terps were on their first offensive possession by the crowd noise in their stadium! Their O couldn't hear the check downs and they were the home team! I personally saw the same deal last year at Northwestern. The Cats were pumped to play the Buckeyes in Prime Time but looking into the crowd of Scarlet and Grey and hearing the deafening roar of Buckeye Nation deflated that enthusiasm early in that game!
Dosen't it feel great to know you make a difference in your devotion? This game should be no different. If your lucky enough to be going to this game be loud like never before. Oregon has no idea what you are about Nation, LET THEM KNOW! Jerry's World shall be known as "The Shoe South + Bigscreen" Monday!
I have no desire to add the the stats you have been inundated with these last few days but I will pass on one interested thing I learned this week. Coaches Meyer and Herman but spent ten days with former Oregon coach Chip Kelley this past offseason. Coach Meyer also spent a week with the Ducks program during his "offseason" between leaving Florida and taking The Ohio State job. That makes me feel good knowing that our staff knows Oregon's offensive style as good as anybody who is not around it everyday!
I feel good enough about these "Blue Collar" Buckeyes to turn my attention to the NFL for the rest of this weekend. I don't expect any players to do or say anything crazy from now until Monday. They are too focused for that. I'm confident Ohio State football is going to be champions again this year and I am absolutely HYPED for the future of Urban Meyer's program! I hope we all are dancing Monday night and freezing our butts off on Wednesday at the parade! See you there Buckeye Nation!
Speaking of the media...wow. I'm not sure how many on air personalities just ESPN has in Fort Worth but it seems like anyone that has ever appeared on screen mentioning college football gets at least one hour on air a day. I have seen and heard so much analysis, so many analysts, so many stats, and so many graphics illustrating said stats and analysis that my Vizio just SAP's itself, slaps "No Mas" on the screen and shuts itself off.
A lot of the stats and analysis say Oregon is good. An equal amount of stats and analysis say Ohio State is good. Surprise! Two good teams are playing for a National Championship and that's the way it should be. Yet one thing that I feel is a big reason that The Buckeyes are in this game seems to have been largely overlooked by the paid talkers. I wonder if there has ever been a team more filled with 5 star, 4 star, 3 star recruits that has embraced a "Blue Collar" attitude more than these Buckeyes.
All teams work hard to win, this is nothing new. All teams have many personalities to mesh together during a season. Many teams even take on the personality of their head coach. But this team from Columbus is something different. Maybe because the teams biggest star went down without ever seeing the field any cockiness that may have existed never came to life. But Braxton was never a prima donna. I can't put my finger on it without actually having been around the team, but from a fans perspective I can't remember seeing any sign of a "me" attitude from a player on this team all year.
This group of guys are sold out for each other in every way. Maybe the passing of Kosta Kerageorge cemented the bond between these players. If that's the case then that is a small sparkle of positivity form a horribly sad situation. On a side note, I hope Kosta's parents are in attendance in Ft. Worth if they wish to be. He is still a member of this team.
Watch the Sugar Bowl again (I know you have it DVR'd like I do). Watch the defense jumping up and down on the sideline watching the offense roll! Watch JT support Cardale. It seemed like every single player slapped Jalin Marshall on the ass for his masterful TD pass and mobbed Thomas after possibly the catch of the year before the half. Watch the entire sideline erupt with every defensive stop or turnover. Players not dressed for the game constantly led cheers of the massive Buckeye base in the crowd and those maniac Ohio State fans proved without a doubt that truly EVERY game is a home game!
Fans are united around this group as much as always. Opposing teams sometimes still don't get how we roll into "away" games and take over the scene. At Maryland this year we fans completely took over entire parking lots to tailgate before the game. I remember how taken back the Terps were on their first offensive possession by the crowd noise in their stadium! Their O couldn't hear the check downs and they were the home team! I personally saw the same deal last year at Northwestern. The Cats were pumped to play the Buckeyes in Prime Time but looking into the crowd of Scarlet and Grey and hearing the deafening roar of Buckeye Nation deflated that enthusiasm early in that game!
Dosen't it feel great to know you make a difference in your devotion? This game should be no different. If your lucky enough to be going to this game be loud like never before. Oregon has no idea what you are about Nation, LET THEM KNOW! Jerry's World shall be known as "The Shoe South + Bigscreen" Monday!
I have no desire to add the the stats you have been inundated with these last few days but I will pass on one interested thing I learned this week. Coaches Meyer and Herman but spent ten days with former Oregon coach Chip Kelley this past offseason. Coach Meyer also spent a week with the Ducks program during his "offseason" between leaving Florida and taking The Ohio State job. That makes me feel good knowing that our staff knows Oregon's offensive style as good as anybody who is not around it everyday!
I feel good enough about these "Blue Collar" Buckeyes to turn my attention to the NFL for the rest of this weekend. I don't expect any players to do or say anything crazy from now until Monday. They are too focused for that. I'm confident Ohio State football is going to be champions again this year and I am absolutely HYPED for the future of Urban Meyer's program! I hope we all are dancing Monday night and freezing our butts off on Wednesday at the parade! See you there Buckeye Nation!
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Ohio State Should Rejoice Over Harbaugh
Good news Buckeye fans! Jimmy Mess-eyea has ridden his white horse into the Big House, reached his chivalrous hand down and plucked Ann Arbor out of the gutter the last two Um coaches left her in, and sworn to her his unconditional love for the next five or six years (or until that "too good to pass up" NFL job comes open). And all of this should make Ohio State fans happy!
Look, we all know this will end in less than reached potential, goals, and general disappointment (just being at the University ensures as much, see John Beilein) which will be satisfying enough, but lets look at the short term. Harbaugh coming home will instantly make Um valid in the talent luring game again. If he has success with the bottom of the barrel talent he has been left with and can manage a bowl game in year one the long term recruiting will also benefit.
Recruiting is the most important thing to Big Ten football programs and Harbaugh will help give the league a new respectability to recruits. He helps everybody's recruiting. More talent in the Big the better for OSU. The new college football rankings are geared to reward those who play and win against tough teams. Add Michigan to the list of improving programs like Penn State, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Rutgers. If the added interest that the Harbaugh circus will bring can help these teams get a few kids they may not have before then great! Talent infusion is the first step in raising the Big Ten into a super conference.
Day after day Harbaugh will draw added media attention to the school yes, but also to the conference. His "brand" is popular among any demographic and he is a branded winner. All of which makes The Ohio State domination of the league and "The Game" more impressive.
I have no doubt that Coach Meyer will welcome the competition Harbaugh will bring. I also have no doubt the Buckeyes will continue to dominate the Big Ten. Nothing suggests that Michigan or anyone else for that matter will have the talent that Ohio State continually has or be able to coach it up the way Meyer can. But, it would be nice to have a rival again
Look, we all know this will end in less than reached potential, goals, and general disappointment (just being at the University ensures as much, see John Beilein) which will be satisfying enough, but lets look at the short term. Harbaugh coming home will instantly make Um valid in the talent luring game again. If he has success with the bottom of the barrel talent he has been left with and can manage a bowl game in year one the long term recruiting will also benefit.
Recruiting is the most important thing to Big Ten football programs and Harbaugh will help give the league a new respectability to recruits. He helps everybody's recruiting. More talent in the Big the better for OSU. The new college football rankings are geared to reward those who play and win against tough teams. Add Michigan to the list of improving programs like Penn State, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Rutgers. If the added interest that the Harbaugh circus will bring can help these teams get a few kids they may not have before then great! Talent infusion is the first step in raising the Big Ten into a super conference.
Day after day Harbaugh will draw added media attention to the school yes, but also to the conference. His "brand" is popular among any demographic and he is a branded winner. All of which makes The Ohio State domination of the league and "The Game" more impressive.
I have no doubt that Coach Meyer will welcome the competition Harbaugh will bring. I also have no doubt the Buckeyes will continue to dominate the Big Ten. Nothing suggests that Michigan or anyone else for that matter will have the talent that Ohio State continually has or be able to coach it up the way Meyer can. But, it would be nice to have a rival again
What Did You Expect Buckeye Fans?
Tell the Truth. You might need a second to remember exactly what you thought when you heard Braxton Miller was carted off the practice field with a shoulder injury, but tell the truth. How did you see this season turning out? If you said the Buckeyes were going to be playing for a National Championship even I would have called you a homer. Or made you pee in a cup.
I know I was completely upset when I heard the Heisman candidate QB wouldn't play this season. I quickly brought up JT Barrett on my phone to see what I had forgotten about him since recruiting. I checked out Cardale Jones also but mainly remembered his unfortunate Tweet about class and school. I checked the schedule. I picked out where our rookie QB would struggle and cost us games. I was disappointed OSU wouldn't get to play in the first ever college playoffs. I had us losing 2 games, one early and one late that cost us that shot.
Staying positive I imagined Miller back and great in 15 and mystery QB strong and experienced in 16 and beyond. I figured Urban Meyers' plan for the program to contend for titles really kicked in next year anyway. I KNEW this would just make OSU Football more dominate for the foreseeable future! But I didn't see this.
I didn't understand fully the power of team will, team mindset, team camaraderie, TEAM. After Va.Tech fingers could have been pointed, factions formed, but that didn't happen. The coaching staff pulled guys together, the quality leadership on the team helped teach and motivate, and Coach Meyer stayed calm. The leadership and aura coming from the HC filtered throughout the team, campus, and fan base.
That leadership bred team wide confidence. A team that got better and knew it. A team confident that if they could win handily at Michigan State they could win anywhere. A team that never faltered when JT Barrett was carted off against Michigan and took HIS Heisman worthy stats and ability with him. A confidence that allowed Cardale Jones to seamlessly step in and run an offensive SHOW at the Big Ten Championship. That game marked the most complete game I can remember in recent Oho State football history. Offense, defense and special teams all displayed the confidence that has been Urban Meyer.
And then the Sugar Bowl. The confident, prepared and properly motivated Buckeyes never felt the pressure of being down to the great SEC king Alabama. They never lost their head like Florida State had done earlier in the day. They never let nerves, crowd noise or questionable refereeing get n the way of execution. They outplayed a supposedly better team in ever facet because they KNEW they could.
This Buckeye team has no limits. To think any different would be foolish at this point. This should have been what I expected when Braxton Miller went down. I should have remembered instantly what I know to be true, that this is Ohio State football and greatness is always within reach.
Win or lose against Oregon it has been a very memorable season that starts a tradition of being in these playoffs. And for years to come that, Buckeyes fan, is what you can expect.
I know I was completely upset when I heard the Heisman candidate QB wouldn't play this season. I quickly brought up JT Barrett on my phone to see what I had forgotten about him since recruiting. I checked out Cardale Jones also but mainly remembered his unfortunate Tweet about class and school. I checked the schedule. I picked out where our rookie QB would struggle and cost us games. I was disappointed OSU wouldn't get to play in the first ever college playoffs. I had us losing 2 games, one early and one late that cost us that shot.
Staying positive I imagined Miller back and great in 15 and mystery QB strong and experienced in 16 and beyond. I figured Urban Meyers' plan for the program to contend for titles really kicked in next year anyway. I KNEW this would just make OSU Football more dominate for the foreseeable future! But I didn't see this.
I didn't understand fully the power of team will, team mindset, team camaraderie, TEAM. After Va.Tech fingers could have been pointed, factions formed, but that didn't happen. The coaching staff pulled guys together, the quality leadership on the team helped teach and motivate, and Coach Meyer stayed calm. The leadership and aura coming from the HC filtered throughout the team, campus, and fan base.
That leadership bred team wide confidence. A team that got better and knew it. A team confident that if they could win handily at Michigan State they could win anywhere. A team that never faltered when JT Barrett was carted off against Michigan and took HIS Heisman worthy stats and ability with him. A confidence that allowed Cardale Jones to seamlessly step in and run an offensive SHOW at the Big Ten Championship. That game marked the most complete game I can remember in recent Oho State football history. Offense, defense and special teams all displayed the confidence that has been Urban Meyer.
And then the Sugar Bowl. The confident, prepared and properly motivated Buckeyes never felt the pressure of being down to the great SEC king Alabama. They never lost their head like Florida State had done earlier in the day. They never let nerves, crowd noise or questionable refereeing get n the way of execution. They outplayed a supposedly better team in ever facet because they KNEW they could.
This Buckeye team has no limits. To think any different would be foolish at this point. This should have been what I expected when Braxton Miller went down. I should have remembered instantly what I know to be true, that this is Ohio State football and greatness is always within reach.
Win or lose against Oregon it has been a very memorable season that starts a tradition of being in these playoffs. And for years to come that, Buckeyes fan, is what you can expect.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Why the Buckeyes Should Look at Leaving The Big 10
Why the #Buckeyes Should Look at Leaving The Big 10
Yeah, I said it, and I am well aware it is not a popular statement. But sometimes the truth is the least popular thing the masses want to hear. I deal in reality here and, quite simply, the reality is this: the Big 10 is a conference soaked in mediocrity when it comes to the football programs. The reasons Ohio State should change their status to "single" are starting to pile up.
First, a lack of viable in conference opponents does not make it easy to climb the rankings in this day and age. Saying your the best team from the Big 10 is like pimping yourself as the valedictorian of your senior class when everyone knows there were only 6 other seniors. Every time the Buckeyes go on the road in conference play a tough game and come away with anything but a blowout victory the rest of the country, led by the south-biased media, scream about "weak competition". They are right. Aside from Michigan State playing down to your competition is an issue every week for The Bucks in The Big.
Sure Penn State has a new coach who HOPEFULLY rebuilds that program into a power again, but it will be tough to bring them back to national prevalence. Wisconsin absolutely refuses to pay their coaches therefore they will always be in flux and have a even harder time recruiting. Who wants to winter in Wisconsin already? Nebraska will never be the Cornhuskers of old and the recruits of today don't care about the programs' history. Mike Reilly is a good coach, not a great coach. Mid grade talent will continue to flow through Lincoln. Minnesota? See Wisconsin. Illinois and Iowa? Not worth mentioning. Purdue? Indiana? Just give football up already.
Which brings us to Michigan. Ohio State desperately needs Michigan to be a legitimate rival again, not an under achieving, under manned shell of itself. Without UM the Bucks have only State to test them in the Big and to highlight to the national media. I am not at all convinced that Michigan will be able to make the splash that they hope for in their search for a head coach. If Jim Harbaugh turns them down watch the tailspin ensue. Right now every egg UM has seems like its in Jimmy's basket. If he takes his basket and stays in the NFL somebody better have the storm drains clean at the Big House so the place doesn't flood from all the tears flowing in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh might actually be Ohio State's saving grace as far as the Big 10 is concerned. He could recruit the resurrection of the University and combined with legendary recruiter Urban Meyer could salvage a league out of this mess.
The smart guys running the show didn't help either. In my opinion the Big 10 screwed themselves when they brought in Rutgers and Maryland for purely money/TV reasons. Apparently competitiveness and future possibility of competing mattered little to the moneygrabs in charge. So if the almighty dollar is so important to the conference then it might as well be at the forefront to The Ohio State also. Can you imagine who would come calling if the Buckeyes were "available" and the money they would bring? Picture The Ohio State as a part of the ACC with FSU, Notre Dame, Clemson etc. Or, even more intriguing, picture The SEC East with the Buckeyes in the mix! The possibilities are out there and if I'm thinking about the future you know somewhere some big wigs are too.
The ideas I've stated here will probably never come to fruition, but the Big 10 is nearing a tipping point and right now the only thing keeping the teeter totter balanced is Ohio State on one side and the rest of the conference on the other. If the Buckeyes leave the playground the whole thing slams to the ground in a spectacular crash.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
For True and Rekker
In case you don't know me, my sons, these are things I believe in.
First of all I believe the Bible. More importantly I believe EVERY WORD contained in the Bible is the truth delivered to many different writers from God himself. I encourage to research this book for yourself. I am confident you will come to the same conclusion as I have.
I love your mother so much it hurts sometimes. She is a gift from God especially for me just as you are. Your mother is the smartest person I know and I trust in her implectially. She will never lead you astray. I hope you are as full of love as she is.
Your family are some of the people that love you very much and that you can trust in life. It is ok to lead and it is also ok to follow. Remember to be very cautious in who you follow, however. Make sure if you are following someone that their values and beliefs match yours. If they don't, break ties with them. It is harder to be a good man than it is to be a bad man. But the rewards are great for the man who remains true to God and family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
