Next Title Up
42-20
For so many in Buckeye Nation, we’ve always felt like the permanent underdogs, as well as singled out for excessive criticism by the national media. However, we’ve always risen above it and have always gotten stronger no matter the obstacles. That’s what we do and will continue to do. And now, we even have a new mantra beyond the traditional Buckeye chants:
“Ohio Against The World.”
It feels right (especially in the t-shirt I’m wearing with those letters on it).
In addition, Nike gets it.
(Nike)
2002 was an unforgettably amazing year and equally amazing national championship. I remember being on a family vacation in London at the time and my parents coaxing an employee of a bar that was showing the game between The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Miami Hurricanes to let us in from the cold to see it (FYI – we were literally watching the game from the outside window).
OH-
How about an IO for relentless dedication?
The reason why this was a problem was because yours truly was underage by a few years…But once they understood the importance of the “other” football, they seated my family in front of the big screen inside. They put us there partly to be accommodating (though there were some obnoxious Miami fans behind us) and partly to keep an eye on me and my beverage being held in my right hand.
All I’ll say is that Coca-Cola really hit the spot.
The Buckeyes shocked the world that night and won the national championship in double overtime against the Goliath of college football. It was an instant classic for its sensational back-and-forth nature, intense drama and moments that nearly resulted in a heart attack. But they did it and Ohio State were the kings of college football.
Fast forward to the 2014 season and the 2015 championship game between Ohio State and Oregon in Arlington, Texas at the coliseum-like AT&T Stadium. This was a battle of speed, flash and something shiny and new versus strength, speed and tradition. In thrilling fashion, the Buckeyes won with relentless determination and skill. Cardale Jones was incredible (despite a couple understandable bobbles). The receivers made athletic catches and speedy getaways, the offensive line was dominant, the secondary players contained their marks, the linebackers were flying, the special teams did their job and the defensive line made life uncomfortable enough for Mariota and Co. for the Buckeyes to stall a late game comeback.
Oh, and this running back named Ezekiel Elliott ran through the parted Scarlet Sea with dynamism, toughness and a 4th-gear drive for a bowl record 246 yards. He was hungry and he proved to be the ideal complement to Jones in the backfield against the aggressive, speedy Ducks defense.
Once again, in true Buckeye fashion, Ohio State shocked the college football world with a dominant 42-20 win against Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and the Mighty Ducks of Oregon in the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship…as the fourth seed.
While a breakdown of the key stats could be highlighted, it seems a little more fitting to shine a light on what this season and championship game means in the micro, as well as the macro:
- Ohio State is now 9-0 against Oregon, including the last two wins against the high-flying Ducks squad everyone knows today (played in California and Texas)
- The Big Ten representative won the National Championship for the first time since the 2002 season, signifying a conference comeback. Also, the bowl season became a national statement thanks to key wins against tough opponents (and remember that Jim Harbaugh was recently hired by That State Up North and Penn State is coming back)
- Therefore, the myth of “Big Ten Inferiority” is (finally) coming to an end and a bright future awaits the conference
- The Buckeyes beat the #1 team in the country in the SEC (the best conference for the past several years) in Alabama in the heart of SEC country
- Urban Meyer and his coaching staff are motivating and strategic gurus
- The talent level in Columbus is stellar and the top recruits will continue to make Ohio State their collegiate home for the foreseeable future
- “Ohio State’s victory in the first championship game of the College Football Playoff produced ESPN’s highest overnight rating ever” (AP)
- The Buckeyes have risen from the abyss from a few years ago and are officially entering an era of golden success under Ohio-native Urban Meyer
- Plus, there is serious strength and serious speed in the Midwest, the Big Ten and, specifically, in Columbus, Ohio
The Ohio State Buckeyes are THE National Champions for the 8th time in school history!
Right now, Ohio St8 is number 1 in college football.
Happy Duck Hunting!
Dear 12-Gauge,
There will be a superfluous amount of quacking, football playing ducks at AT&T Stadium in Texas tonight. In the purely metaphorical sense, please take care of that. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Buckeye Nation
The Ohio State Buckeyes are playing for the National Championship against the formidable Ducks from Oregon this evening at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. These two teams are similarly fast, creative and talented. However, these two teams’ identities are different in that one program is built on strength and the other on flash. Urban Meyer will be competing for his 3rd national title, while Oregon’s head coach Mark Helfrich is hoping to hoist up his first national championship trophy.
Style wise, it’s tradition v. new school.
Offensively, it’s expected that both teams will have a great amount of success, especially after their respective Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl performances. Starting quarterback (and yes, 3rd stringer) Cardale Jones will lead the Buckeyes behind a strong offensive line with the dynamic and explosive Ezekiel Elliott, along with a tremendous wide receivers corps. The Ducks will rely on the deserving Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota and his electrically-charged high-tempo offense.
Predicting a bit of an offensive shootout, the key to this game will likely be in each squad’s defense. Which team can force that game-changing turnover(s), limit 3rd down conversions and sack the quarterback? For the Buckeyes, they will need to make sure that their defensive line is relevant throughout the entire game. Their front line is the strength of their defense and they will need to stop the run game and consistently pressure Mariota into sacks and/or poor throwing decisions if they want to win.
Plus, long OSU drives will help. Mariota can’t hurt you if he doesn’t have the ball.
And, for all those Buckeye fans, here’s a cool video to get ready for tonight…
Go Buckeyes and OH-IO!!!
Sand’s Chilling Effect
Just one more homage to Frozen and then we can ‘let it go.’
Okay, we’re never going to let go of this movie and its soundtrack.
Well played Disney, well played…
The Goldbergs Have “The Right Stuff”
Spoiler Alert: The following content is featured in the January 7, 2015 episode of The Goldbergs
At some point or another, we all feel like ‘the new kid on the block.’ Whether we’re a Jonathan, Jordan, Joey, Donnie or Danny (I consider myself a Joey), the world can seem unfair and too big to cope in. That’s where sweet tunes and rad dance moves come into play.
Plus, we can’t forget the cut-off jean jacket and cool black hat.
As the youngest boy in the family, having two older sisters was awesome, stressful, rewarding and chaotic growing up. In fact, it still is awesome-stressful-rewarding-chaotic with the same continuous stream of zings and playful jokes. Truthfully, this sibling dynamic is not all that different than Adam and Barry’s relationship with their older sister Erica. Pranks were plentiful and we always tried try to top each other. All in good fun, of course, we are relentless to get that perfect jest. In the case of the Goldberg household, a cardboard avalanche revealed a secret from Erica’s past that would publicly humiliate her…and strangely possess Adam and Barry.
While a long-lost VHS tape sparked a gathering of Adam and Barry’s friends for a personal showing of Erica’s eternal love for the boy band New Kids on the Block (NKOTB), Murray was shoulders deep in a battle with wife Beverly over the priceless/overvalued (depending on who you ask) works of art drawn and glued together by their children…as in literally every single thing ever made by their three delicious children packed in boxes stacked throughout their garage. It got to the point where parking their one car was no longer an easy guarantee.
We all know Einstein glued jelly beans to a colored piece of paper…
After saving a trunk’s worth of his children’s art for Beverly, accidentally giving it to the trash man, rummaging through a mountain of trash and recovering and framing a random Spanish family’s drawings to pass as original Goldberg masterpieces, Murray finally discovered the truth, thanks to the wisest of them all: Pops. Yes, Beverly had paid the trash people to deliver all of the boxes to a storage unit. After this revelation was disclosed, an argument ensued. Surprisingly, a glaring spelling error melted Murray’s heart to a puddle of babby love. Now understanding (and seeing) Beverly’s point about the art, he succumbed to her outrageous behavior once again and re-stacked their garage from wall-wall and floor-ceiling because he finally saw that priceless writing on the wall/painted paper.
We’ll see how long this moment lasts once spring arrives (March 20th, March 20th!) and that annual cleaning fever hits.
Back to those new kids on the block and speaking of a specific type of fever…
In a golden Goldbergs sequence of events, Adam and Barry (after making fun of Erica’s obsession with NKOTB) hilariously embraced and embodied that famous boy band from the 1980s. They dressed like them, danced like them, sang like them (well, the right lyrics anyways) and thankfully filmed and choreographed a homemade tribute video. It was, quite honestly, the right stuff! Accordingly, Erica found their hidden video and proceeded to make fun of them with a private showing of her own with a VHS video premiere. Payback was served: ’80s style. The table had been tilt back in her favor. But it was only then, with a heart-to-heart exchange of describing their love for that boy band they shouldn’t love, when Erica realized her true place amongst her siblings.
Growing up with two older sisters, it was sometimes difficult to relate to them beyond our perfectly-timed jokes at home and on vacation. However, just as Erica did last night, I had a sister who loved a boy band. It was/is Backstreet Boys. Specifically, Nick Carter. Once when we were in New York, we visited the NBA store and Nick and his brother Aaron were shooting hoops. True story: after getting his autograph, my sister stole his used Powerade bottle. She still has it to this day. So, I understand what that love for a boy band looks like…and possibly even sounds like.
(FYI – Anyone who says that, “I Want it That Way” isn’t a great song is lying!)
Anyways, my sister brought herself to go to a concert (or two) with her goofy younger brother because she knew how important it was to him, all joking aside. Back then, it was The All-American Rejects and Hoobastank in Indianapolis. She even went backstage with me to meet the latter group. They were better known then as Doug, Dan, Chris and Markku. I’m definitely a Doug.
It’s amazing how a show based in 1980-something can so perfectly kick-off the new year in 2015. The Goldbergs: Beverly, Murray, Erica, Barry and Adam.
Which one are you?
Jimmy's Daily Planet 