Ohio State Football: Version 2010
It’s that time of the year once again! Long before the leaves turn or pumpkins ripen, football season beckons from sand lots to colossal college and pro stadiums. Hope springs eternal this evening and all things are possible for every team in college football. Along the banks of the Olentangy River, the Ohio State Buckeyes have checked into their team hotel in preparation for Marshall in their season opener Thursday night. After beating Oregon, the hottest team in college football last bowl season, expectations for the veteran laden Buckeyes couldn’t be higher. There isn’t much breathing room when anything short of a national championship won’t satisfy the coaches, players or fans. But for this team in this season of talent and expectation, it is truly all or nothing.
Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward’s decision to return set the table for Ohio State’s championship run. Heyward’s return to school for a senior season is a perfect example of how Jim Tressel has created a family atmosphere at Ohio State. Under John Cooper, Heyward would’ve been long gone after last season’s Rose Bowl victory and projection as a mid to late first round pick. His return speaks volumes about Tressel’s unusual soft-sell recruiting tactics that encourage prospects to take their time and visit other schools. Under Jim Tressel, as a general rule the players that sign a letter of intent to play college football at Ohio State don’t want their college experience to end prematurely. That is a refreshing change from the past.
Speaking of the past, just days ago I caught the 1997 Rose Bowl featuring the Buckeyes versus Jake Plummer and Arizona State. These were the years I attended Ohio State as a student and watching the game brought flooding back to me memories and factoids of the John Cooper era. First, I was astounded by the amount of talent (especially at skill positions) that Ohio State put on the field in 1997. The ’97 team featured Orlando Pace, Joe Germaine, David Boston, Mike Vrabel, Michael Wiley, Shawn Springs, Antoine Winfield and Andy Katzenmoyer. Springs and Winfield were unquestionably the greatest cornerback duo ever to play at Ohio State, both excelling in long NFL careers. Katzenmoyer was one of the greatest middle-linebackers ever to play at OSU before a freak neck injury ended his pro career before it really began. Germaine was a top-flight passer. Pace was the greatest offensive lineman of his era at OSU and maybe of all time. In truth, the individual talent that Cooper amassed during his tenure was amazing though it was just that—individual talent. Cooper also relied too heavily on massive but often immobile offensive lineman that couldn’t pass block well, most of whom were more like Brooks Burris than Orlando Pace or Korey Stringer.
I also notice and remembered the chaos and disorganization of the teams and games coached by John Cooper. In the ‘97 Rose Bowl, there were personal fouls, blocked field goals, side-line penalties on the coaching staff and of course John Cooper himself biting his nails nervously during the last drive. Remember the season opener against Miami in the Meadowlands under Coop where an attempted game winning drive ended in a most ridiculous turnover when a shot-gun snap hit the receiver in motion? And although Michigan was a much mightier program during the Cooper years, several of those games (1996, 1997) were just plain given away by Ohio state teams long on talent but short on “team.” John Cooper should be given his due. He elevated the program back to national prominence and improved recruiting and overall talent to an all-time high, scoring players from all across the country. The problem was, many of the players he missed in Ohio turned out to be world-beaters for Michigan (Grbac, Howard, Woodson) and the misses at home contributed to Coop’s demise. Coop’s tenure also taught us that while individual skill and accomplishment can be breathtaking, only a true team of players that get along and cooperate can get the job done consistently under pressure. That was a lesson learned from one heartbreaking failure after another. Would we ever beat Michigan again? Enter Jim Tressel.
Even a Rose Bowl victory like 1997 made me appreciate the way Jim Tressel unified the players and fans under his leadership immediately upon arriving in Columbus. Ohio State plays clean, unselfish ball with little to no showboating. And truth be told, Tressel’s wins and Michigan accomplishments in general have all been accomplished with a team first and individual second approach that turns off many of the best high school players around the country, seeking individual glory above all else. Jim Tressel’s Ohio State Buckeyes are a team worthy of your applause and deserving of your loyalty and appreciation. Like their head coach, however, they are not above reproach.
Coming Thursday– A position by position look at the 2010 Buckeyes…
Tags: buckeyes, college, football, jim tressel, ohio state, terrelle pryor
