Ohio State Football: What the Buckeyes Need to Do from Here

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) One aspect of living to be in my 50's is that I've seen a lot of things and lived through good and bad times.

Being a member of the Alabama Nation, it has been hard at times to be an objective reporter when things went bad at Alabama, like during our NCAA woes and scholarship reduction years.

So I can offer advice to the Ohio State administrators, athletes and fans from a perspective of "been there, done that" in this realm of what do we do from here.

1. Sit tight for now and just focus on getting everything in order

Sure your team is well aware of what's caused this problem, but you need to ask each of the members of your athletic teams to sit tight, not abandon the school and watch not only after your own affairs but help enforce good judgement over one another right now.

The last thing the school needs right now is another problem or scandal to come out.

Do rule enforcement 101 with all the players yet again and point out that just being right is just as important as looking like your doing everything right and not looking like you're doing anything wrong.

You can't control now what actions are forthcoming by the NCAA and don't get caught up in the speculation. Accept now that whatever happens is simply going to happen.

2. Tune out the distractions and simply focus on winning

There is going to months of trash talking, of name calling and speculation on what kind of penalties could be coming down. Tune all that out.

All that is stuff that happened in the past and you have no control over the past. Focus on the things that you do have control over, like walking the straight and narrow with the rules, building up your own bodies, sticking close together as a team and winning.

Nothing will help the situation more than winning.

People and the media will keep pounding on you, and your detractors will revel in your misfortune and laugh at you, but remember, you can always have the last laugh.

You have the talent there to win, so focus on your strengths and ignore all the distractions.

3. Accept the fact that this coaching staff will soon be gone

This is a stopgap group of coaches right now that are only minding the ship because of the late "retirement" of Jim Tressel. This collection of coaches won't be kept. They were part of the problem that turned a blind eye and couldn't see the mountain the OSU plane flew into.

OSU is bigger than any coach and any group of coaches. OSU will attract and hire a top coach, and he in turn will bring in a great staff.

Again, use this present staff for what they can offer you. Respect and follow them this season, but be ready to let them go at the end of the season. You are OSU, not the coaching staff.

4. Fans: Stay loyal to the team

This is a bump in the road for OSU. There is every reason to believe that this could be a great year for the Buckeyes and even if sanctions come down that make it harder in the future, it'll be easier for the team if they the fans are solidly behind them.

Nobody likes a fair-weather fan.

5. Be Proud, Stay Proud

No matter what happens, be proud and stay proud of the fact that your are an Ohio State Buckeye.

Twenty years from now, people won't remember the problems and bumps in the road you may have to endure during your tenure. They'll just know that you played for one of the most storied programs in all of college football.

So no matter what happens or how bad it may seem over the next few years, keep your head up.

6. Trust in one another

Sure, it was a few of your teammates and a coach with a bad judgement that got you in this mess, but you have to learn to trust in each other once again and yes, sometimes that is hard to do.

But beyond that, each member has to live a life that worthy of their brother's trust. Ask no more of your teammates and coaches than you are willing to bear yourself.

Remember that without respect and trust in another, there can never be a great team. The smallest crack can burst the largest dam.

7. Realize that you are part of the solution and redemption, not the problem

Sure, you are part of the class that created this mess and has to endure any future hardships that may come down from the NCAA, but those are from actions made in the past.

From this day forward, you are part of the solution to making Ohio State great again, you are part of the redemption now, not a part of the problem.

You have a chance to be remembered as the people who brought the team back up from despair, who held the program together and kept the ship afloat during the dark days. You are the foundation that Ohio State gets rebuilt on.

And it will be back. The things that made Ohio State great can make it great again, and it all starts with each person individually making that commitment for greatness.