Ohio State's Tressel Downplays Match With USC

At the Detroit Free Press' blog site, www.freep.com, they had this interesting take from the Big Ten's (Eleven actually) Media Day last week.

According to the report, when Tressel was asked about the importance of the early season match up against USC, a potential national champion and the last game of the season, Ohio State's rivalry game with the Michigan Wolverines (probably not a Big Ten contender this year), Tressel responded without hesitation.

"It’s a different type of thing," Tressel said. "Just like we felt going in to play Texas and Vince young and both teams were supposed to be pretty good. It’s September though and we didn’t win that game the first time we played them but we were still able to go on and have a pretty successful football team. It’s a little different in November because there are championship implications perhaps, bowl game implications that are immediate, like right after the game you’re going to know what’s going on. After a game in September, you may have some thoughts about what the future holds but it’s too early. You just go back to work. There’s something about the last regular season game where you want to be playing your best and you’re going to know the answer to a lot of questions."

So Michigan is more important?

"Absolutely," Tressel said.

A couple of questions for you college footbal fans out there.  1) Do you believe that Tressel really believes what he said?  2) Do you agree with Tressel or disagree?

And how do you USC fans feel about your match up with the Buckeyes being downplayed?  Has the target really dropped off the Trojans' back?  Is it lying somewhere on the sidelines of Howard Jones Field, getting trampled upon by media and faithful supporters hungry for a first-hand look at this year's versions of The Trojans Reloaded?

If the same kind of question were put to Pete Carroll regarding the importance of the Trojans' game with OSU and their annual season-ending rivalry with UCLA, how do you think he would respond?

Okay, let me give it a try.  Here's my version of Pete Carroll responding to the question: "Every game is a championship game.  They're all important.  The most important game on our schedule is always the next one, and right now that's Virginia."

So, Ohio State isn't more important than UCLA?

"Our goal every year is to win the PAC-10 Title and play in the Rose Bowl.  That's what's important at USC."

There!  How did I do?  Was I close?

Ohio State fans, you can weigh in on this, too. 

And one from the Silence Is Golden Department: Jim Harbaugh didn't have any breaking news this year on where Pete Carroll will be coaching next year. 

Good idea, Jim.  Former NFL quarterbacks should be seen and not heard unless, of course, they have something truthful to add.