Ohio State Football: What Needs to Be Done

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

I've finally started to recover.

After September 12, I have to admit my faith was shaken. I walked out of the stadium with feelings that I never thought I had. I listened to the unrepeatable comments of people I've never met as I walked by. I witnessed two Buckeye fans nose-to-nose about to fight.

It was a terrible ending to a promising day.

Ever since, I've had a lot of radical thoughts regarding the future of Ohio State Football, and I really needed to wait and cool off for awhile.

As fate would have it, I was scheduled to go on a retreat with my school the week after, and 10 days later my thoughts and feelings have finally returned to a rational level.

But just because I'm rational, does not mean I think things are fine the way they are.

Ohio State could and should have beaten USC so many ways (yes, I'm still bitter), but one thing stood out above all.

This was the coaching, or as I should say, the head coaching.

Don't get me wrong, I love Jim Tressel, but as I said in my article, Jim Tressel: The Grace Period is Over, Jim Tressel cannot get a free pass anymore. It's time that we, as fans, hold him accountable when he messes up.

And yes, he did mess up.

There are a lot of things we can question, but one decision above all stuck out. And that was not kicking the field goal, but maybe not for the reasons you think.

It wasn't that it was a 53-yard field goal and Pettrey had kicked a 52-yarder the week before that would have been good from 60.

It wasn't that the field goal would have insured overtime at the very minimum.

And it wasn't that the defense was due to break.

No, it was all about the actions of Aaron Pettrey. I don't know if it was on TV, but I saw it as clear as day. When Tressel was deciding what to do, Pettrey was out on the field practicing kick after kick right in front of Tressel.

It was his way of saying, "Put me in, Coach. Give me a shot. I've been training for this my whole life. I'm ready."

And by putting in the punt team, Tressel said to his senior leader, "Nope. I'd rather play field position. Maybe next time."

Pettrey was ready and Tressel didn't even give him the chance.

This was just one of a bundle of errors, and in the midst of all my anger one thing became apparent.

Jim Tressel has taken Ohio State as far as he can take them. He's reached his peak, but unfortunately, even though our peak is high, Ohio State is still looking up at the peaks of USC, Florida, Texas, etc.

If Ohio State wants to catch up quick, a few things have to be done:

1. Jim Tressel must remain the head coach

Ohio State is still an elite program and Tressel has been an instrumental part in building that. Bringing in a new coach could have disastrous consequences and chances are, he wouldn't be better than Tressel.

2. Bring in an OC

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