"Winning isn't everything .... it's the only thing"
This is a well-known quote in sports. It exemplifies a form of relentless competitiveness that has permeated American sports, particularly the game of football. Its assertion about the importance of winning has been touted as a basic tenet of the American sports creed. It is attributed to UCLA Bruins football coach Henry Russell ("Red") Sanders, who spoke two different versions of the quote. In 1950, at a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo physical education workshop, Sanders told his group: "Men, I'll be honest. Winning isn't everything. (Long pause.) Men, it's the only thing!" In 1955, in a Sports Illustrated article preceding the 1956 Rose Bowl, he was quoted as saying "Sure, winning isn't every thing, It's the only thing.
Coach Jim Tressel believes winning is important, but he also values character, doing well in school, and learning life lessons while playing football. He is one that prefers the sentiment of sports journalist Grantland Rice, who said it's “not that you won or lost but how you played the game"
I guess the question I have for Coach Tressel is this, "Is he satisfied with how he played the game?" No one is every happy about losing, but is he truly content with the outcome of the USC game?
It appears that Buckeye Nation has begun to believe that we should be getting more for our team than we are, particularly in the big games. I tend to agree, and believe the time for excuses is over. We need a change, or we will continue to get the same results. I am done with the 'coachspeak', because in reality, when all is said and done, it is not what is said, but what is done that matters.
No Excuses : Ohio Stadium is Sacred Ground - What has happened to defending our turf? Last year Jim Stillwagon, Lombardi Award winner, Outland Trophy winner, two-time All-American, College Football Hall-of-Fame member, was interviewed in support of recognizing the 40th anniversary of the 1968 National Championship. He commented on what a great stadium OSU football has and what great fans fill it. In his three seasons, 1968-70 the Buckeyes never lost a game in the Horseshoe. He commented 'I don't know how you can possibly lose a game played there'. Back then, only 86,000 fans filled the stadium, today's coaching staff has 105,000 fans every game. Believe me, the fans did their part Saturday night, it is time for the team on the field to finish the job. For the 2005 Texas game, the 2008 Penn State game and now the 2009 USC game, the Scarlet and Gray were underdogs at home, yet they were leading the game deep into the 4th quarter. In all three games, they came up short. Two games into his ninth season, Tressel has lost 7 games in the 'shoe. This trend needs to change moving forward.
No Excuses : The Big Ten is not so big anyone more - There was was a time when the Big Ten was one of the premiere conferences in the country. Not so much these days so it is not enough to beat up on the Indiana's and Minnesota's and Northwestern's of the world. There is a reason why Nick Saban is at Alabama and not MSU and there is a reason that we were able to get Ron Zook from Florida. Penn State was the best team in the Big Ten last year, and they were embarrassed in their bowl game. Everyone is aware of our poor performance in bowl games the last few years by the conference (just ask Mark May). So it doesn't mean quite as much that we have the best record in the conference the past three years. Ohio State is clearly a strong, competitive Big Ten team but we are not a strong National team. Yet all the tools seem to be in place, why can't we get over the hump?
No Excuses: We have to get the plays into the huddle quicker - Is not enough that the play calling is often predictable, but can we at least get that play called soon enough so that Pryor has a chance to get to the line and review the defense. The number of false starts are frustrating but there is no excuse for the number of delay of game penalties. Too often they are drive killers and an indication we don't know what we are doing.
No Excuses: The Bucks have Vegas fooled - Since he arrived in Columbus, Tressel is 62-51-1 against the spread. We are already 21 point favorites over Toledo. Do you remember many games that Ohio State has won by that many points, without the defense or special teams adding to that total for us? It just doesn't happen. The only other time we played Toledo was under Coach Cooper in 1998. Ohio State won 48-0, be honest is there ANYONE out there that thinks we will put up that score Saturday? Toledo was 7-5 in '98, will this year's squad be even that good, yet we will struggle to cover the 21 point spread. Don't get me wrong, we should not base any success or failure of a team based on Vegas odds, but there are a lot of people that make a lot of money sitting around trying to figure out how those games will play out. Why are they so often wrong about the Buckeye games? It is because we are not living up to the full potential of the program.
It is not all bad. We have won 4 straight Big Ten Championships, and 5 total under Coach Tressel. Ohio State has went to four consecutive BCS bowls, six total and have been to a January bowl every year but one. Remember when that would have been considered great accomplishments? We may be a victim of our own success. When you do this well, you are hungry for more. As fans, we want more, as fans, we will for more. And when it seems like we are so close to reaching that next level, it is perhaps more disappointing not reach our goals. We have the talent on the field to get to the next level. We need to start using it and start showing it, or risk losing on the best recruits every year.
We will not get to that next level just playing the way we are right now. The question now is will Coach Tressel take a page out of his own 'Winners Manual' and learn from our mistakes.
Gregg
* * * * * * * * * * READER COMMENTS * * * * * * * * * *
From Jeff F: (September 16th, 2009)
Gregg,
I honestly believe that most of the OSU fan base and local media who want to see major changes (particularly upgrading our coordinators) are missing the target for their outcry. Everyone continues to direct their outcry at Coach Tressel to change, but why the hell is everyone not focusing their dismay and outcry's at Gene Smith to be more involved with those changes ?!
Everyone in Columbus feels helpless because no one truly believes Tressel will make any significant changes,and for good reason, because he hasn't done so since the Florida game! Had Andy Geiger still been running the show, most fans would have expected him to have used his influence and sway with Coach T, and most likely we would have seen these necessary changes.
My point is: It is time for the fans and local media to start directing their outcrys for change at Coach Tressel's BOSS(Gene Smith). Again, if Geiger was in charge we would have expected this, but why are we not expecting Smith to take the responsibilities he is obligated to and be more involved with getting the football program back on track to winning more big games ?
Hopefully, you guys see some merit in this point and will start writing and arguing for this as well.
From Lanny E: (September 15th, 2009)
Gregg,
Living in Florida has not been pleasant the last few years,
There is NO excuse for the poor play calling and our coaches being outcoached in big games....At least try a pass to the tight ends, maybe a screen or a slant, never mind a QB sneak.
Pryor had open receivers all night.....
It may be a long season.
We still love you.
From Bill D: (September 15th, 2009)
Gregg,
Outstanding editorial. From us, out here in the hinterlands, we all agree that changes have to be made. Our Bucks are better than what we have been seeing and we, the fans, deserve more than what we have been getting. Whether we watch the games on TV, listen on radio or computer, we wait for the time that we take the next step.
Editorial: No More Excuses
By Gregg Watson
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September 14, 2009
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