Great Teams Are Not Dynasties

This debate should end quickly. The success of this Buckeyes team has brought some to look at Ohio State in a different light. That light is starting to shift from successful and sustainable to dynasty, which is a totally different subject. Successful and sustainable was Ohio State under Jim Tressel, where Ohio State was always in the BCS Bowl games, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Rose Bowl. These Bowl games brought joy and sorrow to the hearts of Buckeye Nation. Tressel was never a prominent figure in the recruiting game enough to satisfy a top 3 ranking. However, Tressel enjoyed success with the players he found, which is an undervalued asset to any program.

Under Tressel, the Buckeyes could count on BCS Bowl games nearly every year, with the notion of letting the game slip away. We beat Miami in 2002 and took home the title. The next few years saw Sugar Bowl and Fiesta Bowl appearances with losses to Florida, LSU, and Texas. It was not until the Rose Bowl against Oregon that we won, then a year later against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. Even with this success, Tressel was considered to be a great coach in charge of a great team, but not a dynasty. The scandal takes place and all of the sudden Tressel resigns and in steps Urban Meyer. With Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes have had top 5, if not top 3, recruiting classes, and immediate success. Three loses in 3 years is an amazing goal to accomplish. However, this team is not yet a dynasty. Unfortunately, there are not many dynasties in college football. For me, a dynasty is very difficult to accomplish considering there are multiple areas that have to be top notch if not perfect.

Perfection will never be accomplished, but near perfection can be obtainable. For Ohio State to become a dynasty they will need to unseat Alabama or become a bona fide #2 recruiting class year in and year out. They will need to go undefeated and repeat Big Ten Champs every year, then consistently win the Playoffs or their bowl games, if for some reason they do not get in. These are my requirements, but not necessarily THE requirements. I am sure we have our own, but if you take a look at Alabama's dynasty, it is not much different. Once a team has become a dynasty a different kind of excuse becomes the only needed for losing a game or bowl. For example, last year Alabama lost the Iron Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The reasoning was that Alabama lost the Iron Bowl because they were looking ahead to Florida State for the Title. Once that was no longer the case, the reasoning for losing the Sugar Bowl was that Alabama did not want to be there. It was beneath them to play for a lesser bowl than the Title. At the beginning of this season, Alabama was thought to be out of contention because of the quarterback situation. That reasoning was, the Tide was in their transition phase. I find it funny that Alabama loses and it's not because the other team was better, it was because Alabama's head was not in the game. That is the excuse that I am talking about. Analysts and announcers automatically assume that The Tide will be at the top where they should be year in and year out.

Will Ohio State ever be a Dynasty? I think our opportunity has arrived. Meyer has said that he did not think they would be where they are considering the circumstances. However, we are here and we have nothing to lose. If Ohio State does take it all, I think this year could be the beginning considering our coaching staff is in pursuit of something that is impossible, perfection. Our recruiting classes have been getting better each year, and Meyer will always find the best assistant coaches to fill vacancies. Ohio State did more then they could have imagined by signing Meyer and Buckeye Nation will see those dividends.

The Scare and Not The Kind You Think

 

It seems that the standards for journalism has decreased quite a bit. This is never more evident than in multiple news websites siting that, Tom Herman's last game as a coach at Ohio State would be finished after the Sugar Bowl. Hours later, Herman's wife tweeted that she knew nothing about the topic, leaving the faithful to breathe a sigh of relief. As Buckeye fans we must face the fact that there is a real possibility that our coaching staff may not be together forever. Last year, offensive line coach Ed Warinner interviewed for the Army Head Coach vacancy. This year, the University of Houston interviewed Herman, but all indication point to Herman staying at Ohio State until Herman says otherwise. Which brings me to my next point.

Urban Meyer assembled his coaching staff knowing that two things would happen: National Championships would be won and other Universities would be looking at his staff for head coach vacancies. I cannot say that I blame other programs for wanting our coaches, however, if I were Meyer I would be telling Gene Smith to give out raises or lose great coaches. I get that it is not fair to not want great assistant coaches to leave, but they do deserve a promotion if they chose to pursue one. On the opposite side though, Ohio State is and will always be a top tier program with the ability to compete on a yearly basis, leaving Buckeye Nation with the assumption that Ohio State should be able to pay coaches enough to not look anywhere else. We have seen coaching changes take place that offered reasoning behind the assumption that Athletic Directors were not willing to spend to keep. Take for instance Gary Andersen, whom received a raise after taking the vacancy at Oregon State from Wisconsin. One would assume that Wisconsin would be more enticing, considering Oregon State is not on the same level as Oregon, but still a good program. However, sometimes upper management can make a great program seem unbearable.

The battle of coaching styles and programs that were built based upon a philosophy will always rage on. Wisconsin was built upon the premise of a dominant running game established by a huge offensive line and huge running back. Under Coach Andersen, the Badgers produced multiple thousand yards backs, and a version of a spread throwing scheme. Therefore, the Badgers veered slightly away from the notion of running the ball down the opponents throat for 6o minutes. Another example, under Tressel the Buckeyes were anything but a spread offense scheme, like we are now. Under Tressel, the Buckeyes were a traditional under center, power running game, traditional throwing scheme that paid its dividend only partial time. However, under Meyer the team is totally different, with a modified running game, and shotgun formation only. This type of offense has paid its dividends for Buckeye Nation.

In the end, money and the lure of a top tier program is not always enough to satisfy a coach that is still seeking something more. As Buckeye Fans we have greatness to look forward too, but also coaching changes as other programs look at the most successful teams, than go after assistants. Tis the season to be thankful for what we have, so we should as such.