Ohio State fans are heartbroken this morning, but for me, my heart breaks for Ohio State's seniors.
Seems eerily familiar to those playing their last game in the Scarlet and Gray—national spotlight, big-time opponent named Texas, epic battle, epic loss.
Move over Ryan Hamby—Anderson Russell will now be crowned "goat of the Texas game."
Ryan Hamby's dropped TD pass in the 2005 matchup of Ohio State and Texas (accusingly) cost OSU the game, and Anderson Russell's whiff on Quan Crosby did the same.
Doesn't matter that a 4th-and-3 play on the final drive should have been stopped. Or that Thaddeus Gibson shouldn't have tried to Mike Tyson Colt McCoy's head twice earlier in the game. Or that you can't tell me our defense as a whole couldn't have adjusted to stop the incessant three-step drop quick slants and stop routes.
Seriously, I'm going to have nightmares about three-step drops now. Just off the top of my head, I only remember one pass that was completed more than 15 yards downfield, a fly route to running back Ogbonnaya.
Yes, there were many completions of 15+ yards, but they were of the catch and run variety. Still deadly in the end, but it didn't allow Texas to get the big play they've killed teams on all season.
But I digress. Here are my quick hits on last night's game.
Random Thoughts
- For a season that started with as much hope and promise as any before it for Ohio State, it ended much the same way it started for this senior class: a last second loss to Texas. 28 returning seniors, eight of which started on the nation's top defense from last season, all walked out of University of Phoenix stadium last night with their bowl hopes defeated again. Let me be the one to stand up for them.
The 2005 edition of this matchup was the first big game witnessed by true freshmen James Laurinaitis, Donald Washington, Alex Boone, Brian Hartline, Brian Robiskie, and on down the line. Throw in redshirts Marcus Freeman, Todd Boeckman, Rory Nicol, Nader Abdallah, and others, and you have the majority of Ohio State's team from this season.
- Those seniors were able to compile a four-year record of 43-8 that ranks third in winning percentage in the history of Ohio State and ties for the most wins in a four-year span ever. The other two eras they rank with:
1995-1998: 43-7 (.860)
1972-1975: 40-5-1 (.870)
The laundry list of Ohio State greats on those teams reads like a who's who of Buckeye history. This group deserves to be held in the same regard.
A three-time award winner and All-American in Laurinaitis. A Thorpe Award winner in Malcolm Jenkins. All-Big Ten performers in Freeman, Robiskie, Boone, Russell, and Coleman. Throw into that the stiff-armed back who likely played his final game in Beanie Wells, and this group is as decorated as any before it and will challenge any after it.
- Team accomplishments for these seniors:
Four consecutive BCS bowl berths.
Back-to-back National Championship berths.
Four straight Big Ten Championships or Co-Championships.
A top 15 National ranking for four straight seasons (this season will be their lowest finish of the four, but no doubt still in the top 15).
A defense that ranked in the top 15 statistically each of the past four years, including two that finished top three.
- Ohio State fans: You lie to yourself when you say you'd be happier with a Capital One Bowl victory. And whether the Big Ten is down or not, four straight championships is a first in school history.
- To those calling for Tressel's or one of the coordinator's heads: Don't forget there's a coach on the other sideline paid just as much and with just as much talent on his team to beat Ohio State. Were there some questionable decisions made by the coaches? Yes indeed. Did Texas do the same? Yes indeed.
- Colt McCoy needs less than two seconds to complete a pass. If OSU was blitzing, it seems he found the hole every single time. OK, maybe just 41 of 59 times.
- I counted the number of times Alex Boone just got embarrassed by Brian Orakpo. I stopped counting when I was at five in the first half. Seriously, without Pryor's speed and mobility in the pocket, Orakpo could've set a Fiesta Bowl record for sacks easily.
- Thaddeus, please learn by next season to keep your damn hands down. You will be a force on that D-line next year, but it won't matter if you get clipped for 15-yard penalties at every sack.
- Buckeye Nation should send Beanie one giant "Please stay another year" card. Does Hallmark make those? They should.
- A breakdown of the final play: Anderson Russell looked like he got caught between swatting the ball and making the tackle. He chose wrong and got to Crosby a 10th of a second too late. That miss won't be forgotten too quickly.
- I don't believe in moral victories. I'm not lowering my standards because of the recent dry spell Ohio State has endured. The Buckeyes should have won that game, and I'm gonna get all Denny Green on you: "They were who we thought they were, and we let 'em off the hook."
Bitterness abounds in Columbus this Tuesday. But sometimes you just get outplayed. Sometimes your bend but don't break defense breaks.
16 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Andrew 6 months ago
Great article. I'm proud of my Buckeyes
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Ryan Stubbs 6 months ago
Thanks for the comment Andrew. 25 seconds away huh?
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Nate Brooks 6 months ago
4 straight Big 10 championships? WTF ... Didn't Penn State win the Big 10 this year? I know you can say ... but we have the same record, but Penn State beat Ohio State, they are your Big 10 Champions ... what is a co-champion ... there should be no such thing.
You don't see Texas or Texas Tech claming Big 12 Titles and they both had the same conference records as Oklahoma.
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Ryan Stubbs 6 months ago
Whether it's co-champions or not, it gets counted. Call the Big Ten to argue your point, but yes we lost to Penn State and they went to the Rose Bowl because of it. But under the column of "Big Ten Championships" in the record book, another one will be chalked up for OSU.
Here's a link directly from Texas Tech's website featuring a shirt proclaiming them as Big 12 South Champions:
http://texastech.cstv.com/store/?partner_id=13955
The Longhorns are more accepting of the fact they were "co-champions":
http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113008aac.html
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Nathan B 6 months ago
I agree w/ your point, but it's because the Big 12 has a conference champ. game and the Big Ten / Pac-10 doesn't. The Big Ten and Pac-10 (among others) have always listed those at the top with the same records as "co-champions".
Same thing goes for basketball conferences, regardless of head to head matchups in the ACC for example, if both Duke and UNC finish at 14-2, they are both "Regular Season Champions" and will hang a banner (or whatever Duke does).
It might seem ridiculous, but it's how it "officially" goes down in the books.
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Nate Brooks 6 months ago
I still don't agree with the co-champ thing ...
But nice burn with the Tech Shirt ... I had no clue they did that, that should bring about some type of NCAA investigation.
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Ryan Stubbs 6 months ago
I just find it funny that I found that within 5 seconds of being on Texas Tech's site and yet Texas wants nothing to do with claiming it. Kind of shows you where the two programs are coming from I guess.
I don't agree with the co-champ thing either, but it is what it is I guess. I don't agree with the BCS or Canadian football rules either.
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Chad Dinger 6 months ago
No, let's let Beanie go. He is injured too often. We can't have an offense built around a skill set that is irreplaceable only to have the sole person with those skills be so frail.
Let them build the '09 offense around Pryor and Boom, who is, on offense, a more replaceable running back.
I have to wonder if Beanie is even still a 1st round pick.
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Ryan Stubbs 6 months ago
I'm sorry but when I've got a back that is rolling at 9 yards per carry in a bowl game, I want him back, no matter what. Yes he's got the injury bug...don't know what it is about him with that. But you want me to turn down another season of one of the best backs in the country? When healthy of course...
I do however think you're right about the 1st rounder now. While I still think he'll be in there if he does declare, it's not as definite a statement as I thought it was before last night's 3rd quarter.
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Tom Grant 6 months ago
argeed with Chad, Wells has to go to the NFL with the injuries he has. He has got a narrow chance at going to the NFL and if he stays another year that window closes. RB isn't like WR or QB, maturity isn't as important as not having the wear of 4 years of college. Great RBs should leave at Jr year every time.
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Ryan Stubbs 6 months ago
Oh don't get me wrong, I absolutely think Beanie should go and completely agree with you about a running backs shelf life. In the end I think he'll leave.
But do I want him to leave...not a chance.
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Tim Pollock 6 months ago
Great read.
I've never been a fan of OSU, but I was pulling hard for them last night.
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Ryan Stubbs 6 months ago
Thanks for the comment Tim...such is life in buckeye nation.
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Cody Blubaugh 6 months ago
I'm sorry you stopped watching Boone get "embarrassed", because he controlled Orakpo the rest of the way, and Texas eventually had to move him to Browning's side. Early on in the first quarter? Yes, Boone had his struggles. As the game progressed, Boone did a pretty good job.
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Ryan Stubbs 6 months ago
I'm not going to go on the record but I know Orakpo was in the backfield at least five times in the last two drives and got a sack on the second to last play of the game. I want to say that Pryor's last huge scramble was to the right side because he was avoiding the pressure coming from his left too...I'd like to rewatch that to see again.
But hey, if Boone did pick it up, good for him.
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see dub 6 months ago
Buckeyes lost to a Texas team that was nowhere as good as advertised, you guys were fortunate to play a Big 12 team in the Fiesta or it could have been another humiliation. OSU won't do well until the team chemistry changes and you get a QB that can actually throw a spiral - it is funny to see how the 'greatest QB recruit' in the history of OSU football isn't able to throw a reliable spiral.
It's going to be a long season in 2009 for you guys.
Is all the excuse making and "we lost, they didn't beat us" crap we hear from you guys a midwest thing or just a Buckeye thing?
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