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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.
The Bucks Stop Here
OH-NO.
In conference play, particularly in a conference as difficult top to bottom as the Big Ten, a streak of 3-games is either impressive or alarming.
Unfortunately for The Ohio State Buckeyes, the latter has proven true.
What’s wrong with Thad’s group?
After a stinging defeat in East Lansing to Michigan State in a top-5 battle (after an outstanding late second-half comeback) 72-68 in OT, a stunning home loss to Iowa 84-74 and last night’s collapse in The Barn at Minnesota 63-53, the Buckeyes need a new plan. Whatever is currently in place is not good enough and is not working. They can’t score, turnovers are happening in devastating bunches at critical points in games and there’s a lack of awareness and spontaneous creativity from a team with very talented athletes and players.
This is not Ohio State basketball.
Perhaps the most frustrating complaint from Buckeye Nation is that fans know the team is better than what they’ve seen the past three games on the hardwood.
What to do?
Here are a few suggestions for a mid-season comeback and identity resurrection for the 2013/2014 Ohio State Men’s Basketball Team:
- Design plays for C Amir Williams to score a solid 7-10 points a game (baskets and free throws) by establishing a post-presence with him for occasional spurts during the game
- Design and force more isolation plays for Q, Sam Thompson, Aaron Craft and Marc Loving. The athleticism, wingspans and/or quickness of all of them (a difficult 1 v. 1 match-up for most any player in America) could directly result in 2s and 3s or a pass inside for a 2 or a pass outside for a 3-point basket.
- To mask the fact they don’t have a solid 20-25 point scorer and a 10-15 point accomplice every game, the Buckeyes need to make more 3-pointers. Bottom line. Pure and simple. Making lots of 3s is a cornerstone of every successful Thad Matta team. As simplistic as this reads, it would go a long way to restoring overall confidence in the Buckeyes.
- Finally, they need to make steals and turnovers matter. Defense is an obvious strength of Ohio State and they need to maximize this supremacy in every outing with every turnover. They need to punish their opponents with points and momentum shifting dunks (Sam Thompson, anyone?) off of turnovers. Again, it’s become a necessity because of the team’s lack of reliable, quality offense.
Defense wins championships, but you need offense to win games.
The above suggestions would help Ohio State rebound for the second-half of the season. It will not solve all of their problems in the micro, but it’s a start.
Because as everyone’s seen in the last three games, it’s clear the Buckeyes need to go back to the beginning at square one.
Two Quarterbacks Walk onto the Field…
The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Berkeley, California this Saturday to battle the aerial arsenal that is the Cal Bears for an early season match-up between the Big Ten and the Pac-12 conferences.
It’s the Midwest vs. the West Coast.
Before the 2013 season, nearly all the hype for the Buckeyes was dedicated to their star quarterback, Braxton Miller. However, after a nasty hit in last week’s game against San Diego State that left Miller’s helmet on the field after just nine plays, head coach Urban Meyer has yet to definitively clear him to start this weekend. Miller is considered to be a game time decision.
And yet, this is, potentially, not even the biggest headline going into the game.
The most intriguing question is how much playing time will backup sensation Kenny Guiton receive? Guiton has proven to play with a style very close to that of Miller, which could open up the offensive playbook for some very fun, unusual play calls where two quarterbacks are lined up in a spread formation.
Sound familiar Buckeye fans?
The storylines for the game in Berkeley consist of many aspects, like:
- Cal’s passing offense vs. Ohio State’s active (or reactive) nature in the secondary
- Ohio State’s diverse rushing attack
- Will Braxton Miller start? If so, how much will he play? How effective will he be?
- Does Kenny Guiton start? If not, how much time might he see?
- Will Cal’s capable rusher deflect the young “Silver Bullets?”
- Will defense, ultimately, be a factor? Or will the Bears and Buckeyes engage in an old fashioned western shootout?
- How influential is Cal’s home field advantage?
Still, beyond the suspected pregame analysis, what would the Buckeyes look like with two athletic quarterbacks lined up in a spread formation? Imagine the possibilities…
Everyone is talking about Plan A (with Miller) or Plan B (with Guiton).
I’m thinking of a more dynamic formula. How about A + B?
Playing with the starting quarterback and backup quarterback in formations would be a very liberal approach to the offense and I can think of no better place to experiment with such an endeavor than Berkeley, California.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 