Looking for consolation? Go to a different article because this one is going to hurt. Looking for an explanation? Read on, because not to be arrogant about it, but I will define exactly what happened, why and where the responsibility rests.
This game reminded me exactly of the opening boxing match in Rocky III. In it, Rocky Balboa takes his opponent, Clubber Lang (played by Mr. T), too lightly. While Mr. T. is training like his life depended upon it, Rocky Balboa was preparing like it was just merely his next regular fight, his next regular opponent. In the movie, Rocky’s manager however saw the danger in Clubber Lang and tried desperately to convince Rocky to take his training and preparation more seriously. Rocky assured him he knew what he was doing (obviously he didn’t).
Rocky started the fight with a brief flurry after which Clubber Lang came after him with a wrath the likes of which Rocky had never seen and certainly didn’t anticipate. By the time Rocky realized what was going on Clubber Lang had too much momentum and had done too much damage for Rocky to recover and win. Sound familiar?
WHAT exactly happened Monday has struck every team, in every sport and almost every individual athlete. It unfortunately WILL also happen again, for it is inevitable even for the most diligent. So what is this, “It?” “It” is taking your opponent too lightly and/or over estimating your capabilities/underestimating and opponent. Yes, I certainly believe it is that simple, for their coaches are not better than ours. Nor are their players better than ours. The difference was emotional, mental and it all started with the preparation to play in this game.
From the minute I saw Florida literally burst out of the tunnel prior to the opening kick off and Ohio State casually walking out, I knew there was going to be trouble. I didn’t expect to see what subsequently unfolded, but suspected trouble nonetheless.
Ohio State can take perhaps SOME consolation in the fact they we were not the only ones to fall victim to this problem this year. Michigan no more wanted to be in the Rose Bowl than we would have wanted to be in the GMAC bowl. AND, it showed. USC certainly wanted to be there, prepared for it accordingly, felt they had something to prove and played with desperation, focus, purpose and determination. For, they too had just fallen victim to the same problem against UCLA a few weeks prior. USC underestimated UCLA, while UCLA was ready for combat – ready for maximum effort with something to prove. Michigan felt it had nothing to prove or nothing to gain by being there. They merely went through the motions.
I think most of the players felt deep down the same as I did; that Florida was totally beatable because they already had lost a game and won 2-3 others by narrow margins. I felt Florida was a team that just wasn’t going to present a serious threat, and if they did it would only be fleeting and we would certainly find a way to deal with it during the game. I more than strongly suspect many other fans, our players and coaches, if being truly honest, deep down felt something similar.
I think Teddy’s opening kick off return probably further confirmed our thoughts. The problem was, Florida was playing with nothing to lose so the opening kick off was seen as virtually irrelevant by them. In short, they were unimpressed. They proceeded to get superior positioning on the first two opening kickoffs and scored. When they scored for the third time (mighty easily at that), they evolved from playing with nothing to lose into playing with extreme confidence and purpose. They also knew at that point they could at least for a while, dictate the game which is always dangerous even in an obviously mismatched situation. Truth be known, we started to panic as we saw emotion and purpose move into an arena no OSU player had experienced this year and we were totally unfamiliar with how to respond. This goes equally for the entire coaching staff as well. I mean, why did we abandon the running game so early in the first half when we were having success with it (I think Pittman was averaging over 6 yds. per carry in the first half)?
For me personally, I have little problem with the decision to go for it on fourth down as I think it had at that point little to do with the outcome of the game. Sure, it was a gamble by Tressel but had it paid off (and who really knows), it could have significantly changed the momentum of the game. Had momentum changed at that time, it could likely have been critical. It also only meant three points, not seven.
If I had to be negatively critical of anything, I think it would be our defensive coaching philosophy under Heacock and Fickell. Their defensive scheming worked the last two years, seemingly. However, if you take a closer look at the Michigan game and Florida, we gave up over 80 points in these two games. We took the same conservative, vanilla approach both times. Both times we just waited for an opponent’s offense to make a mistake, or throw an interception directly to one of our players. For heavens sake; in the Texas game, Laurinaitis had to either catch Colt McCoy’s pass or he would have had his head severed! The attacking style and attitude while Mark Dantonio was here needs resurrected because Dantonio’s philosophy is going to work against excellent opponents, while our current philosophy I think will break down against a really, really good offense and offensive game plan.
Sadly, the seeds for this performance were sown many weeks previous to this. But, if I look in the rear view mirror, here is what I see; we finish #2 in the country with a 12-1 record, were outright Big Ten Champions, beat Michigan in a game that will never be equaled in my life time, all done in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year where we had to almost completely replace the entire starting defense from 2005 (9 of 11 starters were gone).
In my rearview mirror, I also see a final game that didn’t have to end the way it did. I saw a game where every one of our players compromised the opponent, where every coach missed numerous opportunities to keep the players up. I also saw a pathetic and uninspired game plan on both sides of the ball that by itself would have been tough to win with. I saw a coaching staff uncharacteristically panic and make rookie, high school coaching game mistakes (rushing 3 down linemen while in a zone that Florida had picked apart earlier?). I also saw a Buckeye team that was rusty and slow from the long lay off. Did the lay off cause the performance? Absolutely not. But it was another contributing factor in a long list of factors and mistakes that hopefully will make this the worst defeat EVER in school history, because I hope I never see the day we play and look worse than we looked against Florida.
Florida did everything right; on the field, off the field, preparation, development of game plan, scouting, attitude – EVERYTHING. Hats off to them and give them all the credit in the world, for they didn’t show up - THEY CAME TO WIN. Something, we clearly didn’t do.
I see absolutely nothing positive or constructive to take away from this game other than to acquire the resolve to NEVER underestimate an opponent EVER again. I was ashamed of our team’s performance against Florida. Buckeye pride is all about giving it your best and letting the chips fall where they may. It looked like we weren’t trying and caring until it was way too late. I am also ashamed of the job our coaches did before and during the game. They lost it.
All this said, this is, and always will be, my school. These guys will always be my team. I want Jim Tressel to coach here forever. Okay, he goofed, it happens. Let’s get over it, because it is over and there’s nothing that can be done now. I have been proud of Jim Tressel, the rest of the coaches and players 99% of the time. I am not about to change my feelings for this one percent, no matter how bad it was.
Jim Tressel has made the Buckeye nation proud again. This game, while a complete breakdown, was only one ugly game in an otherwise glorious time he has been here. Make no mistake – I am not surrendering to this defeat, as I think Buckeyes should all remember this and have it stick in our crawl forever so we don’t go down this road again.
Football, like most sports, is a game of emotion. Very simply, last Monday, Florida had it, we didn’t. Unfortunately, it is that simple.
Rest assured, Jim Tressel will make us all proud again.
Pat
This page was last updated: October 19, 2010
Click Logo to return to Home Page
B50 Editorial -
What Happened?
