MSU Game/Other Thoughts

Vintage, nice

Wow, what an awful game to watch. To start off, I am happy that the game mercifully came to an end. I am happy that the Buckeyes were not shutout for the first time since 1993 and for the first time at home since the early 1980s. I am happy that the Buckeyes bend don’t break defense made some very big plays to keep the team and our anemic offense in the game up until the very end. I am also very happy that the suspended players (those who are still part of the team, and those not named Herron or Posey) will be back this week. I am also happy that Ben Buchanan’s leg did not fall off. He was a very busy young man.

I am also sort of happy that one excuse (if excuses are allowed) of this offense pathetic play is that they are young. A good number of our skill players were either in high school this time last year or were red shirted and haven’t played a big time game like this in a long time. That is really all I am happy for from that game yesterday, because our Buckeyes looked bad. We looked so bad, I am not sure if an NCAA bowl ban will even effect this team, because I am not sure I can figure out 3 more wins for this team.

Then there is the other side. I am mad, angry, pissed, upset whatever you want to call it. I am so mad, I couldn’t even yell at my television Saturday. That might seem strange, but so rarely is a Buckeye offense so bad, you don’t even expect them to score, well that is what we have become, a pathetic offense, who needs luck to put the ball in the end zone. I understand these players are college kids, basically they are still learning the game, because of this, it is the coaching that catches most of my anger. The players looked uninspired, who are the leaders of this team? It is Fickell’s, Bollman’s, and Heacock’s job among others to have this team ready on game day. It looks like Heacock is doing his best, but how much can a defense do when the offense is almost always 3 and out? 

These players must be getting tired, the secondary can’t keep running, the large d-lineman can’t keep pushing and getting pushed, they are tired and rightfully so. Luke Fickell needs to make a decision. This past week against MSU when he was shown on the sidelines he looked confused, he did not look like a man in charge. He looked overwhelmed. Is Luke Fickell the head coach? Is he a caretaker? I can’t tell. Watching this game, it looks like Bollman is the head coach of the offense, Heacock and Fickell are the co-head coaches of the defense. 

He's a an angry Walrus

They looked completely discombobulated. They are separate heads and they don’t look to be talking to one another. The MSU game truly showed this team lacks leadership, I hoped with the return of Posey and Herron this week, our beloved Buckeyes would regain that lost leadership, but with the disheartening announcement of the increased suspension, we won’t be receiving that leadership, in fact I can only assume this team is more out of whack then ever.

In conclusion, I am mad, I am disappointed, but with that I am a Buckeye. I am a proud 1997 graduate of The Ohio State University. Like any true Buckeye I will sit back and watch every game that is on television, and I will cheer, I will boo the coaches (I have made a pledge not to boo a player, I just really can’t boo 18-21 year olds), and I will yell at the refs like any good Buckeye should do. Maybe I will go back to writing a little bit about the non-revenue sports like soccer, swimming and diving, or about the National Champion Men’s Volleyball team. We, they, whatever you want to call this will get through the Michigan State loss and beyond. Anyways, Go Bucks!!