So upset was head coach Mike Leach by his Texas Tech Red Raiders’ performance and lack of focus in last week’s 52-30 drubbing by Texas A&M that he called out his players and their “fat little girlfriends” as culprits in his team’s demise. According to no sources, these “fat little girlfriends” are destroying team unity and focus by filling players’ heads with whispers of how “wonderful they are,” instead of Leach’s preferred screams of “how bad they suck.” In a stunning chain of events, it appears the 19-22 year old players prefer false praise from their “fat little girlfriends” to the constant criticisms of their “fat little football coach.” Members of the university are unsure whether the situation qualifies as a football problem or simply ’fat envy.’ Regardless, Leach’s days as top “fatty” within the program appeared numbered. And Texas Tech fans thought the fun would end when Bobby Knight left town!
The Influence of “Fat Little Girlfriends”
November 3, 2009 by todaysportsWhat He Really Meant…
November 3, 2009 by todaysportsGiven the paultry half-game ‘pat-on-the-back’…errrrr…suspension Florida’s Urban Meyer gave linebacker Takeo Spikes for intentionally eye-gouging Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in Saturday’s game, (a poke worthy of “Three Stooges” envy) Meyer’s passive tolerance seemed to unofficially declare Spikes the “Player of the Week.” There are conflicting but untrue reports that Meyer consulted with Bill Romanowski before deciding how to handle the situation. Apparently, despite no video evidence of spit or steriods being involved in the play, Romanowski yelled, “Good tackle,” with increasing ferocity after each of his 37 viewings of the incident. Don’t you just love those SEC values? Memo to Takeo, Urban and ‘Romo:’ BRAVO!
Jim Cooper?
September 14, 2009 by todaysportsI want to address this before Ohio State enters the deteriorating Big 10 and goes on a winning streak and everybody forgets the feeling they have right now. Jim Tressel is not only a good man and good coach, he is in 9 out of 10 categories, the perfect man for the job at OSU. You have to love the way he hired a defensive staff and stays out of their business. However, he is on the fast track to becoming the next Lloyd Carr or Phil Fulmer.
The college game is changing. 7 years ago, Tressel took Coop’s guys and won a National Championship using “Tresselball” and making it 5 National Championships for his career. Tressel was lauded as a “great coach,” and a “transformational figure at Ohio State,” and he was. But like everything in life, greatness is fluid and Jim Tressel hasn’t changed along with college football. Don’t believe me? Ten years ago, Steve Spurrier was winning National Championships and on his way to becoming an “all-time” coach in the NCAA at Florida. Ten years later, he’s a “has been”, a “never-will-be-again,” struggling at South Carolina using the same old offensive plays he scorched opponents with in years past. Tressel is willfully following the same course.
An incredible Michigan record against an incredibly weakening Michigan football program is all that really seperates Jim Tressel from John Cooper. Their winning percentage is nearly identical. Versus Top 25 teams Cooper was 8-12-1 while Tressel is 8-8. Coop was 3-8 against Top 5 teams. Tressel is currently, (gulp), 3-8. Nobody in the Columbus media or Ohio State administration has the gumption to stand up to Tressel. In truth, he’s running a monarchy, untouchable and minus the temper his tenure is starting to resemble the Bobby Knight decline at Indiana….slow but steady.
And after watching the Michigan offense beginning to blossom on Saturday, putting 38 on Notre Dame, the tides of college football are beginning to change again. In what is tremendous news for the Big 10, Michigan appears on its way “back.” In what is terrible news for Jim Tressel, Michigan appears on its way “back.” Turning off the television late Saturday night, I sat for a moment and pondered a very frightening thought– “Is it possible that true frosh QB Tate Forcier of Michigan is ahead of sophomore Terrelle Pryor in his quarterback development? The answer to that question is up for reasonable debate.
And just exactly who is in charge of the all-important quarterback development of Terrelle Pryor? The answer is Nick Siciliano– a young coach just promoted to quarterback coach at OSU this past season. If you said, “Nick who?” in response to that sentence, you probably aren’t alone. The hiring, coaching, and play calling decisions exercised by Jim Tressel on the offensive side of the ball at OSU have been atrocious, to be kind. Nepotism is not a good way to build an offensive staff, a company or a government. But there’s Doc Tressell, Jim’s brother out there coaching the running backs sporting a .500 career record as a longtime head coach of a small college program. What exactly qualifies Doc Tressel to be the running backs coach other than being Jim Tressel’s brother? Jim Bollman, on the other hand, has had 9 years to put together a quality offensive line and has failed to do it since the 2002 season. Although the line played well at times on Saturday night against USC, they couldn’t get any push in 4 downs from inside the 5 when it mattered most. It’s tradition to save the best or worst for last and I have–Jim Tressel as play caller.
Instead of going through several hideous Tressel decisions during the USC game or the appauling facts of his offensive statistics over the 9 years, I will ask a simple question for people to decide for themselves…Do you think Ohio State will continue to dominate Michigan and eventually start beating the SEC and the USC’s of the world with Tressel in continuing charge of the offense? I do not. I have not. I didn’t even when we were winning all those games in 2002 and benefitting from 5 Miami turnovers and more luck in one season than can reasonably be expected in a decade. It had been 34 years since Ohio State had won a National Championship when they upended Miami. With Tressel at the helm, stuck in his ways, refusing to step aside as play caller for the good of the program, you’d better get on a good exercise program and stay healthy if you wish to see another. Because unless Jim Tressel exercises true leadership and steps aside as play caller for the good of the program, things are going to get ugly in Columbus. Just picture a Michigan upset in the third week of November. After all, take Michigan dominance away from Tressel the next few years and if you strain your eyes, you just might see what appears to be John Cooper strolling the sidelines for OSU…wearing a sweatervest, of course.
A Big 10 Joke-By & For Big 10 People.
September 11, 2009 by todaysportsHow Many Big Ten Fans Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb at your School?
At Northwestern: It takes 2… one nerd to change the bulb while another gives an obnoxious yet complete oral history of the evolution of light bulbs.
At Illinois: It takes 3…one to change the bulb….another to long for the days of Jeff George and a third to accurately opinion that with Jeff George’s mullet, Ron Zook would look exactly like Joe Dirt’s dad.
At Iowa: It takes 4…one to change the bulb, a second to adjust his overalls, a third to long for the days of Chuck Long and Hayden Frye and a fourth to point out that given the state of the program, perhaps it’s time to paint the home locker room ‘pink.’
At Purdue: It takes 5…one engineering student to change the bulb… another engineering student to explain the mathematics behind electricity… a non-engineering student to dawn a t-shirt exclaiming, “Come to Purdue, Be a Virgin Forever,” aptly explaining why going to Purdue “sucks,”… and one more to announce he’s working on a 70’s “Chips” mustache because he’s heard that’s a prerequisite for becoming the head football coach.
At Minnesota: It takes 6…one to change the bulb… four to freeze to death and a sixth to wonder, “How did we ever win all those Big 10 titles?”
At Michigan State: It takes 7…one to change the bulb… two to long for “relevancy,”… a fourth to argue that Mark Dantonio has a “dynamic personality… and finally, three more to debate whether the most noteworthy event in Michigan State football since the late 80’s was Plaxico Burress shooting himself.
At Wisconsin: It takes 8…one to change the bulb…three rich kids to throw batteries at opposing players… two more to “jump around” thinking it’s the start of the 4th quarter… one to remark “Barry Alvarez looks a lot like Tony Soprano.” …And finally, one to remark that Tony Soprano would probably be a better coach than Brett Bielema.
At Penn State: It takes 9…one to screw in the bulb… another to assault a opposing fan…a third to “growl” like that lame electronic lion… a fourth to denigrate the winningest college coach of all time…claiming “they could coach better.” Two more to ask, what does the word, “denigrate” mean and “can you please use it in a sentence?” A seventh to ponder…“Who is older, Joepa or God?” ….an eighth to realize the last time Penn State won a national title Vinnie Testeverde was playing college football and the Dukes of Hazard were on T.V….And finally, a 9th to ask how so many players could get into trouble in a little, old nowhere town called “Happy Valley?”
At Ohio State: It takes 10…one to screw in the light bulb… a second to yell “Fuck Michigan” in front of his own, young children…a third to yell “O-H” but do the hand signals wrong…a fourth to hold up a home made sign at game day with at least 2 spelling errors… a fifth to wear a sweater vest in homage to Jim Tressel…a sixth to burn the sweater vest in front of the fifth and rightfully forbid him from ever wearing a sweater vest again…a 7th to scream, “It’s 2:34 and Michigan still sucks,” …An 8th to point out that it’s actually 4:30 and that the 7th is drunk…A 9th to pray for a bowl victory over the SEC…And finally, a 10th to announce in boat shoes, sporting a goatee and gold chain, that he couldn’t have imagined a better life than working at Nationwide Insurance, making 50 large, driving a grey Jeep Cherokee with scarlet trim, owning a dog named Brutus, living in the culturally diverse city of Columbus, beating Michigan 5 times in a row and worshiping the Holy Trinity of…The Father, The Son and Jim Tressel.
At Michigan: It takes 11…one to pontificate about all of Michigan’s past championships…a second to order the jcrew sweaters and wine for the tailgate party… a third to show up 2 quarters into the game and ask which team is Michigan then leave at the end of the third quarter…A fourth to discuss the recent discovery that Lloyd Carr has a twin brother named, Gargamel…A fifth to remark that “The Smurffs” was a good show and that they “missed the days of Lloyd Carr and Gargamel.” …A sixth to call an ill advised “timeout” and then second the part about missing Lloyd Carr….. A seventh to ask why in the hell Michigan hired a “Mountain Man” instead of a Michigan Man? …An 8th to remark, “Bo must be rolling over in his grave right now.” …A 9th to complain Rich Rodriguez made him sit in the bleachers longer than the maximum time allowed by the NCAA on game days last season….A 10th to sing “Hail to the Victors” after every turn of the light bulb…And finally, an 11th to ask if any of the others were alive the last time Michigan beat Ohio State?
At Indiana: It takes Zero…there is no football played at Indiana University and all the light bulbs at the university were broken by Bob Knight.
Ohio State vs. USC. Speak now….
September 11, 2009 by todaysportsTHE Ohio State Buckeyes vs. The Southern California Trojans
Table of Contents:
I. 35 “Who Is Better?” Questions are Answered
II. Statistical Comparison of the Teams
III. Conclusion Thoughts
IV. Predictions
V. Afterthoughts
I. 35 Questions:
KEY:
(+) means, “significantly better”
(-) means, “only a little better”
(no sign) means, “generally better”
SO, WHICH TEAM HAS THE BETTER….
1. Overall Talent / Athleticism? USC
USC- Best overall roster talent in college football
OSU-behind USC, UF, Texas & LSU
OSU- similar talent to OU, UGA, Alabama, Miami, FSU
2. Home field Advantage? Ohio State +
3. Athlete? Ohio State
Best Overall Athlete:
Terrelle Pryor, QB
Best USC Athlete:
Taylor Mays, SS
4. Offensive Talent? USC +
5. Offensive strategy / design? USC +
6. Play calling? USC +
USC’s aggression has produced a better combined turnover ratio past 7 yrs than OSU’s conservatism
7. Offensive Experience? Even
USC has the entire o-line back but a true Frosh QB
8. Overall Offense? USC +
9. Running Game? USC +
Biggest talent discrepancy on the field
10. Passing Game? USC
11. QB Experience? Ohio State +
12. Running QB? Ohio State +
Terrelle Pryor is the fastest Buckeye around 4.33
Aaron Corp (backup) (4.6) can run
13. Passing QB? USC +
1. Barkley 2. Corp 3. Mustain 4. Pryor
14. Overall QB? Ohio State -
Pryor is developing nicely… A breakout game is coming
Pryor has not yet ‘arrived’ as a complete QB
Barkley has Elway-like potential but is raw
15. Wide Receivers? USC +
Significant athleticism discrepancy
Best Overall Receiver:
1. Damian Williams- USC
2. Ronald Johnson- USC (out)
3. Devier Posey- Ohio State (injured but likely)
4. Dane Sanzenbacher- Ohio State (steady)
16. Running Backs? USC +
USC has 4 or 5 running backs that could potentially start for OSU
Best Overall Running Back:
1. Stafon Johnson
2. Joe McKnight
3. C.J. Gable
4. Daniel “Boom” Herron or Brandon Saine
17. Fullback? USC +
Stanley Havili is a monster
18. Offensive Line? USC +
USC regarded as best offensive line in college football
Best Offensive Lineman:
K. O’Dowd-C
Best OSU O-Lineman:
J. Boren-RG (Michigan Transfer)
19. Pass Blocking O-Line? USC +
USC O-line without much “fat”…they move well
20. Run blocking O-Line? USC
21. Tight-End? USC
Anthony McCoy & Blake Ayles
22. Overall Defensive Talent? Ohio State -
USC returns 3 starters but lots of game experience, talented secondary
23. Overall Defensive Experience? Ohio State +
Most experienced D-line since 2002
24. Defensive Line? Ohio State
Deepest D-line since 2002
25. Defensive Ends? Ohio State +
Thaddeus Gibson is a bad, bad man
Best Defensive Ends:
1. Thaddeus Gibson- Ohio State
2. Nathan Williams- Ohio State (pass rushing)
3. Everson Griffen- USC
26. Defensive Tackles? Ohio State
Dexter Larimore is the bell cow
27. Linebackers? Ohio State -
28. Overall Defensive Backfield? USC
Best Defensive Playmaker:
T. Mays, S, (USC)
Best OSU Defensive Playmaker:
K. Coleman, S
J. Hines replaces A. Russell as #1 FS
A. Russell will play in the “Nickel”
29. Overall Defense? Ohio State -
Ohio State has a better d-line
USC comes out ahead in overall db’s
30. Head Coach? USC
Nobody makes halftime adjustments like Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll plays, “to win”
Tressel plays, “not to lose”
31. Assistant Coaches? USC -
Heacock and Fickell are very well regarded
Bollman is running out of excuses for his 0-lines
Not sure how Dick Tressel is qualified to coach RB’s
32. Special Teams? Even
OSU must outplay USC here to win
33. Attitude? USC
OSU believes it can win. USC expects to win.
34. Intangibles? USC
23.8 pt margin of victory last 9 games vs. Big 10
Beaten OSU 6 straight, dating to mid-1970’s
35. Is Ohio State ready to rise to the top or sink once more?
Wildcards:
X-Factor: Pryor vs. Barkley- Who makes the biggest / most plays?
Adv: Pryor
Y-Factor: O-lines vs D-Lines- Who controls the trenches?
Adv: USC
Z-Factor: Turnovers- OSU must win this battle to win the war
Adv: TBD
SUMMARY: The Comparison:
USC Ahead: 20-12-2 in categories
II. Sub tallies
Defensive Experience:
DT: Ohio State
DE: Ohio State
Linebackers: Even
CB’s: USC
Safeties: Even
Ohio State: 2-1-2
Defensive Talent:
CB: USC
S: USC
LB: Even
DE: Ohio State
DT: Even
USC: 2-1-2
Defense (talent + experience)
Even 3-3-4
Offensive Experience:
QB: Ohio State
Backs: USC
Wide Receivers: USC
O-Line: USC
Tight Ends: Ohio State
USC: 3-2
Offensive Talent:
QB: Ohio State
RB: USC
FB: USC
TE: USC
OL: USC
WR: USC
USC: 5-1-0
Offense: (talent +experience):
USC: 8-3-0
Subtotal 1:
EVEN : 4-4-2 on experience
USC: 7-3-2 on talent
Overall: USC 11-7-4
Subtotal 2:
EVEN : 3-3-4 on Defense
USC: 8-3-0 on Offense
Overall: USC: 11-6-4
The Unquantifiable Factors….
1. These comparisons do not factor in the effect of the home crowd at Ohio Stadium
2. These comparison do not factor in coaching where USC is significantly better on the offensive side of the ball and in making half-time adjustments
3. These comparisons do not account for special teams play
4. These comparisons do not account for turnovers
5. These comparisons do not account for the possible effect of other true freshmen on the game
6. These comparisons do not account for productive and timely trick plays
III. CONCLUSION
In facing a defense that returns only 3 starters, a new offensive and defensive coordinator and a true Frosh QB making his first career road start, Ohio State absolutely, positively SHOULD win this football game. Still, after a series of disappointments, doubt about OSU’s ability to win “the big one’ is widespread throughout the college football world. And, this is USC. Ohio State must defeat a more talented team and aggressive coach by utilizing its defensive line depth and experience to neutralize the line of scrimmage. In turn, the young but talented linebackers must shed blocks, fill gaps and reasonably contain the SC running game. In addition to Larimore, Denlinger and Worthington, Rose and Freshman Johnny Simon will rep in a deep but unspectacular DT rotation. Wilson will play some DE, particularly in running situations, pushing Heyward, OSU’s most versatile d-lineman inside. On the edges, Gibson is a talented pass rusher who is improving against the run and Williams is a pure pass rusher. When Williams is at DE, the Buckeyes are expecting a pass and when Wilson is there, a run—none of this is a secret. In all, the defensive line is deep but after surrendering over 300 yards of total offense to Navy, one must worry about the unit’s ability to produce against a talented offensive line that dominated the line of scrimmage in last year’s game. There’s no time like the present for the Buckeye defensive line to again measure itself against the best offensive line in college football.
In addition, OSU must attend to details and attempt to beat SC in the margins. Offensively, OSU must put Pryor in the shotgun-spread and allow him to control the game. Through running Pryor, timely short passes, occasional deep passes and mixing-in runs with the backs, Ohio State must find a way to control the clock, control field position and win the turnover battle. Adding to the formula for OSU success, the Buckeyes must make a big play or two on special teams to neutralize at least a few big SC offensive plays. This formula is Jim Tressel’s house recipe. However, in the last five years, while Tressel’s teams have dominated the deteriorating Big 10 with such a plan, they have equally bombed against teams with comparable or better talent (1-5 versus Florida, LSU, USC & Texas). Considering OSU beat Texas in McCoy’s second career start and Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl when the Irish had beaten only 1 team with a winning record, there are some who feel the last big out-of-conference win under Jim Tressel came in January of 2003 against Miami. Folks, that was 7 seasons ago. That is, unless you consider Kansas State a “power.”
As always, under Tressel’s philosophy, the OSU defense inherits a great deal of responsibility and pressure. The defensive line must maintain lanes and neutralize the talented and athletic SC line. The linebackers must be sure tacklers in space and the DB’s cannot afford any lapses or mistakes in coverage. Inevitably, SC will make a few huge offensive plays, Ohio State can’t hand the Trojans a couple more. The focus of the OSU offense will be to stop the SC running game and force true frosh QB Matt Barkley to beat them on 3rd and long. To counter, early in the game, Pete Carroll will lean heavily on future first round draft picks, Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight, the former being the more complete back and the latter the more explosive and elusive, to run behind a tremendous offensive line in an effort to control the game. Carroll wants to take as much pressure off his talented true freshman quarterback as possible. If SC can run the ball effectively, then the passing lanes will open and SC will cruise to victory.
In the end, this game is a classic battle of aggressive football versus conservative football with the attitude of the each team mirroring that of its head coach. Barring huge mistakes, with equal talent, aggressive game plans usually win. When the aggressive team also has better talent, you get 35-3 like last year. Jim Tressel must coach like it’s Michigan and the season is on the line. While the season is not, the reputation of the program, the league and the head coach do hang in the balance. OSU will also be hosting over a dozen of the finest recruits from across America, including several from Florida and one from California all sizing up their desire to play for Ohio State. A good showing is needed.
In reality, Jim Tressel’s success at Ohio State depends on how it is measured. If dominating the Big 10, where the Buckeyes take the field with superior athletes in 9 of every 10 games, alone is the measure of success, then Jim Tressel is the second coming of Vince Lombardi. If matching equally and sometimes more talented teams from other conferences and beating them 50% of the time regardless of game location is the true measure of a championship-caliber program, then Jim Tressel needs a good mirror. And while you can’t win 5 National Championships without being a great coach, everything is fluid in college football—especially greatness. Tressel’s conservative approach was better suited for the college football game 9 years ago when he assumed the reigns as Ohio State’s head coach. Now, Spurrier is out at Florida, Meyer is in, Carr is gone at Michigan, replaced by Rodriguez. The college game is changing and second to talent, adaptability is the key ingredient for long term coaching success and longevity. Fortunately for Buckeye fans, Tressel has made adjustments in his recruiting philosophy, backing away from in-state “projects” on the offensive line and pursuing top rated lineman across the country as well as to his offensive schemes by implementing some spread and multiple receiver formations. However, despite all the changes, the passive offensive line play, the offensive line coach and the predictable play calling by down, distance, formation and field position all remain the same. In this day and age, Ohio State can dominate the Purdue’s and Michigan State’s all the way to rapture with such a straightforward strategy but without forcing 5 turnovers, it can’t beat the USC’s, the Florida’s or the LSU’s of the world playing not-to-lose on offense. Jim Tressel must realize this fact or he is doomed to follow the plight of other championship winning coaches who refused to change, a list containing names like Carr and Fulmer. Another embarrassing loss on the national stage and the canon will rightfully be pointed at Tressel and his staff. After all, Ohio State is putting as many players in the NFL as USC.
As for Saturday night, the weight of the offensive is on Pryor’s shoulders to make big plays and carry an offense lacking additional playmakers and a smash-mouth offensive line. The good news is, Pryor can handle the pressure, has improved as a leader and passer and should have throwing lanes open as the USC defense commits to stopping his running game. The potentially bad news is, the balance of the game rests with the Ohio State defensive line in its match up with the highly talented, highly athletic and highly acclaimed SC offensive line. Can the Buckeye defensive line control the line of scrimmage or at least neutralize it and utilize its depth and experience to allow the linebackers to contain the powerful USC running game all while getting pressure on the QB on passing plays? The answer to this question in all recent big out of conference games has been a resounding, “NO” for the Buckeyes. In the past 3 non-big 10 games against Top 10 BCS opponents, Ohio State’s defense yielded 326 yards to LSU, 348 yards to USC and 468 yards to Texas. At any level of football, those defensive numbers virtually guarantee a loss. Saturday night, anxious Buckeye fans will push into Ohio Stadium looking for something new while fearing more of the same.
IV. PREDICTIONS
IT’S About Time Prediction: OSU 26-USC 20
Ohio State moves the ball well out of the shotgun-spread with Pryor’s feet, taking a page from Texas and Vince Young by utilizing the ‘zone read’ repeatedly and effectively. Pryor’s legs open up the passing game and the Ohio State offense takes a big step forward. The Buckeye defense neutralizes the line of scrimmage, gets pressure on the QB and reasonably contains the talented SC running backs to 125 yards or less. The home crowd is a factor and the Buckeye defense gets a few key turnovers and OSU’s special teams make a big play. Barkley flashes his talent but also struggles to read coverages at times, makes a few forced mistakes and the Buckeye defense capitalizes and creates a short field for the offense. Tressel and company get the coveted elite, out-of-conference win they have been so criticized for missing the past few years.
Logical Prediction: USC 27- OSU 17
The Buckeye defense plays reasonably well for 3 quarters but gets little help from the OSU offense, wears down late in the game and surrenders a few big plays as well as consistent chunks of yardage on the ground. The defense gets little pressure on Barkley while SC pressures Pryor all night. The OSU passing game is frustrated by exceptional athletes in the SC defensive backfield and a defensive line beating OSU up front. The running game beyond Pryor is a non-factor. A key turnover thwarts any hope of an OSU comeback and USC controls the clock well with an effective running game and timely third down conversions. OSU settles for field goal attempts on several key possessions early in SC territory and regrets it later. Better overall talent and aggressive play calling carry the day against a Buckeye team that doesn’t appear to have a nasty streak and a coaching staff that appears to think it’s playing Purdue. Buckeye fans, we’ve seen this script before in big out-of-conference games. Tressel doesn’t change, neither does the result. And the ‘quality of coaching’ drum beats grow louder….
Counter thoughts:
I can count on one hand the number of times a team has been able to one dimensionally dismantle a Buckeye defense. Last season, Colt McCoy passed for 414 of Texas’ 468 yards of offense in squeezing by Ohio State. In 2007, Illinois ran the same play for the last 9 minutes controlling the clock and ball before walking out of Ohio Stadium a winner. In 1998, the Michigan State Spartans used 6’7” receiver Plaxico Burris and nearly 400 yards passing to defeat a heavily favored OSU team. Several years earlier, a Michigan tailback by the name of Tim Biakabatuka blitzed OSU’s defense to the tune of 300 yards as the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes on the ground. Ohio State has traditionally been stout against the run and okay against the pass. I wouldn’t say USC is one dimensional b/c Barkley has a great arm and talent and the receivers are terrific. But, Barkley will be making his second collegiate start, his first road game and he can’t have a full grasp of the entire SC playbook. A true Freshman QB has never beaten OSU in the Horseshoe. The OSU defense will be focused on the SC running game. With a true frosh QB, only 3 returning starters on defense and playing on the road, there is really no reason why USC should, in theory, be favored let alone win this game. That in itself speaks volumes about the public perception of the players and coaches at Ohio State.
Counter thought to my counter thought:
Then again, exactly how many dimensions does the Buckeye offense have? Let’s see. There’s Terrelle Pryor and ……???
