Ohio State and Alabama

Basically as soon as the Playoff Committee released their rankings there has been a constantly shackling of Ohio State, both by those who thought they should not have gotten in and those who are previewing the Sugar Bowl. Let me just say this to those who do not think we should have gotten in, "Get Over IT!" Now onto those who are saying the Sugar will be a shackling because of the dominate nature of Alabama and SEC, against the weak and laughable Ohio State and Big Ten. Every media clip I have seen has talked about the physical nature of Alabama and the preparation of Nick Saban. While Nick Saban is dominate, the same can be said about Urban Meyer. I have heard nothing but, with Nick Saban having more than a week to prepare, he is 42-7, which is fine. However, cannot the same thing be said about Urban Meyer? Look at how Cardale performed with a week of preparation. He was flawless!

Alabama's reputation stems from the fact that their National Championship runs are not few and far between, as in other conferences, but every year. Every year, the preseason polls have Alabama in the top 3, if not #1. And every year, they finish in the top 3 regardless of wins and losses. Ohio State on the other hand has a history of dominating or being stronger in more areas then they are weaker in, just to not finish the season strong. Is this season any different? One thing we can all agree on is this, Ohio State can play with any team in America. If you look at Alabama's schedule and Ohio State's play during the Championship, there is no doubt, that if the same effort is given, this will be a game. Alabama, as strong as they are, are weak as well. All someone has to do is watch Ole Miss, LSU, Mississippi State, and Auburn. These games show that Alabama, as good as they are, can be beaten.

To say Ohio State has the chance because the essence of Nick Saban alone, will destroy our team is ludicrous. Ohio State has just as much of a chance of beating Alabama, as any other team that did beat Alabama. Think about the last couple years, the last two games of last year, Alabama lost. They lost against Auburn and Oklahoma, then this year, Ole Miss. Both Auburn and Oklahoma have spread offenses and defenses that are difficult to defend against. Nick Saban is a man of habit. Urban Meyer is a man that is constantly molding his offense to stout and aggressive defenses. I cannot say that Ohio State will win this game because one game of dominance does not mean this is what we have to look forward to, however; I believe we have a chance. If Ohio State wins this game, the essence Nick Saban and the SEC will begin to fall. Ohio State, itself, will not prove Alabama is a paper tiger, but it will prove something everyone outside the Big 10 thinks, that Ohio State is the only dominate team in the conference. However, if the Big Ten in general does well during the Bowl season, than the reputation of the Big Ten will increase. The nail in the coffin of the SEC will be the next coach of Michigan. When push comes to shove, I would never underestimate the Ohio State Buckeyes.

I cannot say that Win or Lose, this team will have proved something against Alabama, because a loss means Alabama and the SEC are as dominate as they are perceived to be, and that the Big Ten is as weak as perceived to be. Lets face, the Big Ten will be judged by Ohio State, not the other bowl games. We are the face of the Big Ten. I do not see a reason why we would not win this game, however; a win speaks volumes about both conferences. The Big Ten will be back someday, hopefully it is this year.

O-H!!!

Why Ohio State Won And Became #4

 

I think we can all admit that we didn't see the Championship ending the way it did. However, I'm not at all surprised. Ohio State entered the game underdogs by 4 points. The elusive Melvin Gordon was supposed to run all over our dilapidated defense. Stave was supposed to throw against our young and inexperienced secondary as he chose. Ohio State was supposed to shrink inside itself with a third string quarterback and have our defense be handled by an experienced Wisconsin Offensive line. I don't think I saw or heard one person, that was unbiased, pick Ohio State, which is quite typical. Even during the Michigan State game, we were underdogs and still won by a couple touchdowns. If there is one thing Ohio State has shown Buckeye Nation and college football itself, do not underestimate us!

Well let's just say Wow! Absolute domination in all areas of the game. Ohio State did exactly what they needed to, score early, score often, and stop the Badgers. Cardale silenced the critics on the first drive of the game. Elliot proved his worth by running for over 200 yards, against a defensive that was supposed to overpower us.This team played with emotion that Wisconsin could never match. Wisconsin could not match our intensity, nor anything we threw at them. The war was over before it started. Wisconsin believed in the narrative the nation was spewing out and Ohio State never did. Our coaching staff showed the country, Bring It On! Ohio State became the team Buckeye Nation knew existed all along. 

Last year, this team had a chip on it's shoulder. That chip was this, we will run all over you because we can. We will run all over you to cover up our weaknesses at wide receiver, and the defense in general. We thought, we were going to take it all. Obviously the Spartans took that all away and gave us the greatest weapon of all, the feeling of not finishing because we thought we had it. We entered this season underdogs as soon as we took the field. No one gave us credit, just a ranking in the top 5. We treated every team as if they were better than us, as if they were champions and we had something to prove. Like Florida State, a win is a win and that's all that mattered. Through all the turmoil the Seminoles have been through, they are still undefeated after 29 games. Quite amazing when you think about. Out of all the game film an opponent can watch on Florida State, no one has yet to beat them. In Ohio State's instance, the Buckeyes are young, very young, are operating under a new defensive scheme, considering Larry Johnson and Chris Ash are first year coaches here. The majority of our offense is new and has very little experience. Our first Heisman Candidate Braxton Miller went down before the year started. Second Heisman Candidate, JT Barrett learned the offense as quickly as he could, then went down during the last game of the year. Our third and final quarterback, Cardale Jones, put the offense on his arm during his first start and took it to the Badgers defense. Needless to say no one saw this season happening like this, except for the faithful.

The Playoff Committee made it clear that each week the teams in the top 5 and 10 would be evaluated as if the last week did not happen, that conference championships would be honored, and wins and losses mattered. The first point, each week would be evaluated based upon a premise that the previous week did not exist explains the TCU and Baylor dilemma. The final week of the season ended a week early for TCU, but that is not the reason for their drop in the polls. TCU dropped three spots because of their final opponent, and had nothing to do with their brand name. TCU played Iowa State, and demolished them, like they should have. However, Baylor played a ranked Kansas State and Ohio State played a ranked Wisconsin. Baylor won, but did not blow out Kansas State, but also beat TCU at the beginning of the year. Ohio State destroyed Wisconsin with a blowout, which made a much stronger statement towards the coveted fourth spot. The final nail in the coffin for TCU and Baylor was no championship game and the manner, in which the Big 12 Commissioner handled the final week. First and foremost, to present Baylor and TCU as Champs is a slap in the face of Baylor, who beat them. If anything, Baylor should be the Champs of the Big 12, not TCU. Secondly, there is no championship game. Without a decisive winner and championship game, what is there to grade one conference on, that the others that do have a championship can not outright blow out of the water. I would recommend the Big 12 invite a couple teams from surrounding areas into their conference, in order to create a championship game. 

I would like to talk a little about what Kosta Karageorge ment to this team. Michael Bennett wore his number during the Championship. Elliot wrote something on his uniform, the entire team wore his number on their helmets, and twitter entry after entry paid homage to this young man. This young man felt like a failure even though he was anything but. His contribution to this team will never end because the memory of this young man will last forever. As a Buckeye Fan, his family has my condolences. 

Do Brand Names matter? Does playing for The Ohio State Buckeyes, The Alabama Crimson Tide, The Oregon Ducks, The Florida State Seminoles, or any other The ...... matter? To say Ohio State is #4 because they are Ohio State is stupid and ignorant. Ohio State is #4 because they are conference champions!Alabama is #1 because they beat the #1 team at the time and conference champions. Oregon is #2 because they are conference champions, so on and so forth. Having a title does not matter, it is up to the commissioners of each conference to put their teams in the best possible situation to play for it all, or fail and start again next year. TCU and Baylor should not be blaming Ohio State nor the Committee for their choices, but their commissioner for not having a championship game. Pundits and analysts should not be blaming Ohio State for being #4, nor the Committee, but instead the Commissioner of the Big 12. It is that simple! How is it a bad thing, to take on another team in a lower conference, and put them into a Power 5 Conference? Not only does your revenue increase because of all the profit one school brings to the mix, but also the television audience watching that team. Just look at the Big 10 taking on Maryland and Rutgers.

Leave a comment below answering the above?

Hello Committee, Is Anyone Home?

I am perplexed to say the least by the newest rankings. I understand your job is to put the best teams in the top 4, but we are down to the finish line and your latest rankings have me scratching my head. Why is TCU #3? I understand that Ohio State will be judged after the Big Ten Championship, as will the rest of the Conference Championships. However, why put TCU at #3 for one week? What sense does that make considering their loss is to Baylor? At what point does a head to head match up mean something? It's like the Committee is playing with the emotions of the Big 12 by doing this. It is safe to say Florida State should not be where they are, but then again they have not lost a game in nearly two years.

Here is what I think......the committee put TCU at #3 to show Florida State they are willing to drop them if they do not act as a defending national championship. Therefore, the way they are playing is deserving of the #4 spot. That way, if they lose to Georgia Tech then they rightfully drop from the #4 and the ACC is shown to be the weak conference they are. If Ohio State wins the Big Ten Championship, they will be in the playoff at #3 or #4. If Florida State wins, TCU will be jumped by both teams. The way I see it, the final rankings will be #1 Alabama, #2 Oregon, #3 Florida State, and #4 Ohio State (Florida and Ohio State are interchangeable). What better way to start the Semi Finals then two have two national powerhouses go at each other. The only thing better, would be the same match up in the Final.  As much as TCU is a good team, their conference is screwing them by not having a conference championship naming one champion. The Commissioner of the Big 12 released a statement saying, if at the end of season, both teams, Baylor and TCU, have identical records, they will be named co-champions, which directly contradicts the mission of the Committee and the Playoffs. The threat of having two SEC teams in the Playoffs has been put to rest, considering there will be an outright Champion.

TCU will not stay in the Playoffs unless Florida State loses, otherwise they will receive one week of glory. There is simply no way that, an ACC Champion (granted it is Florida State), a Big Ten Champion (granted its Ohio State), a PAC 12 Champion (granted its Oregon), and the SEC Champion (granted its Alabama) will not be granted a spot. TCU is simply out of its league simply because of their lack of Championship game. If these championship games go as they are stated above, there is no room for a co or non championship game.  TCU should not take this to mean they are for sure in, if they win their next game. Consider this, each week the Committee judges teams based upon the game they just played, then decides their rankings among the nation. In this aspect alone, TCU and Iowa State have no weight against Conference Championships of the Power 5.

If TCU wins and Florida State wins, then the fans of the Big 12 will be as disappointed in the Committee as Florida State fans are after dropping to the bottom of the todempole. Next Tuesday will be the final rankings, which will decide everything.

The Big Ten Will Be Back

Perception is only half the equation, in becoming a dominate conference. The other half is winning all of your games. The Big Ten, the way I see it could be one of the most dominate conferences in college football. Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes will bring great pride to Columbus and the Big Ten through scheduling, winning, and coaching styles. This is proven through press conferences with the players and coaches. Coaches and players constantly reiterate that they are never satisfied with their performances because they realize the only celebration that matters is at the end of the year: The Big Ten Championship and National Championship. The games leading up to those though, are stepping stones used to keep this team on their toes. Consider this, Braxton is injured less then two weeks before the season starts. The national perception is that Ohio State is nothing without him, and that their inevitable failure is imminent. Fast forward to the Virginia Tech game, where nothing seemed to go right on either side of the ball. We lose, then start on a rampage of winning games in a convincing manner. We are a hungry team, that is not satisfied with simple appetizers, but instead an entire 4 course meal. 

Ohio State will always be considered the most consistent team in the Big Ten. The problem, however, is that Big Ten teams have problems winning games against perceived big time opponents. For example, Week 2 of this years season was brutal. Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin all dropped their games against Oregon, LSU, and Virginia Tech. The problem as I stated before, is the perception of these games no matter the score. The perception of the Big Ten is that the conference is overall weak, therefore; even if these games were won the consensus would have been that these teams had a bad night, and the score was not a rational reason for the turnout. In other words, the Big Ten is still weak even though they beat good teams in great conferences. The only way to contradict the perception of the Big Ten is to win and constantly at that. 

This Buckeyes team is poised for greatness, that can only be described as relentless. Rising into the Final Four is nothing more than Ohio State being Ohio State. What do I mean by this? The rotation of players into the program, than to graduation is starting to show the end of the Tressel era, and transition into the Urban Era. Since Urban has taken the helm, the Buckeyes have sustained top 5 recruiting classes and Freshman are no strangers to the battle field. This team is young and poised. There is no question, this team will not be satisfied until there are many trophies at the Woody Hayes Facility. As Buckeye Fans, we cannot rely on other teams to hold up their end of the bargain, but we can expect this team to hold there's up, which they have done. 

I listen to radio shows, ESPN (for about 5 minutes), and other sports outlets to gain a feel for where all the attention is. I hear the discussion of whether SEC, Big 12, and PAC 12 teams should have to play in the colder north. The problem is that, until more Big Ten teams dominate their games, there is no reason for these conferences to prove themselves. They may be weak, but there is no way to prove so. In 2016 and 2017, Ohio State plays Oklahoma; in 2018 and 2019 Ohio State plays TCU; in 2020 and 2021 Ohio State plays Texas, and in 2022 and 2023, Ohio State plays Notre Dame. These up and coming series will help the Buckeyes tremendously, but the Big Ten has to do so as well. Having one strong team will do nothing but harm the conference. It has got to be a collective effort. Remember Buckeye Nation we have the super power of ESPN against us.

My final argument and remedy for perception is coaching staffs. Ohio State, as I stated in an earlier blog, took a huge step and slapped the Big Ten in the face by hiring Urban Meyer. I have not been to the facilities, only to the Horseshoe for games, but Ohio State has invested in its brand. Michigan has no choice but to open their bank accounts to a top notch coach. This coach will be on a time table much like Urbans was at Ohio State. Universities and coaches have to coach to win, and cut weak coaches. There is no other way to say it. Illinois gave Tim Beckman his two weeks notice, Michigan's weakest link is Brady Hoke. I understand the friendship is important, but winning is a job, not a hobby. We must act as such.