Scarlet and Gray Kool Ade Anyone?

August is a brilliant time of year.  I remember the waning days of summer from my childhood- great weather, no school, ice cream trucks, riding bikes, and pitchers of ice cold Kool Ade. Summer is what we made it and there were endless possibilities. 

For college football fans, the approaching fall season can also be anything we would like it to be.  Plan, prepare, and execute.  The stars shine, the underachievers achieve, the ball will always bounce the right way and the new recruits work out perfectly.  We will atone for last year's loss, beat the teams we should, and find ways to beat everyone else.  All fans have dreams for the programs they support.  Anything can happen...in August.

For Ohio State fans, our August is no different. Whether we've been fans for decades or just a few seasons, our expectations are for nothing short of perfection from our Buckeyes.  A crystal ball and complete vindication should end the year if we have it our way. 

While nearly all programs in the country (SC, FLA, LSU, and OU you’re excused) would give anything to have the number of wins we have, and have played for three national titles this decade, we are victims of our own consistent success. Fueled by ESPN's drumbeat of obvious subjectivity, and several losses, we get no respect though you’d think we deserve some.  Buckeye fatigue…amazing how there’s no SC or Florida fatigue on ESPN.

Over the past 15 seasons we have won more games than any other program in Division I football.   In our lifetimes we lived through it all, Hayes, Bruce, Cooper, and now the Vest.  We know tears of joy and tears of sadness.  We have been several yards, several receptions, a banquet circuit, and several tackles short of multiple national titles over the past 30 years.  The one we did win is usually Googled with the words “Clarett and/or Flag”. 

We think every year is going to be THE year.  Last year even after Beanie’s toe, and a narrow Bobcat escape, I truly thought we were going to beat SC.  I wasn’t alone – many of us were drinking the Kool Ade that week.  In retrospect it seems silly - “the Vest is playing a mind game – Beanie is really healthy, and the O line has intentionally played like eighty year old cough syrup addicts to throw SC off.”  Our REAL playbook is still at the printers being transferred via invisible ink only Tressel can read. 

While last year ended in a respectable manner, and we are thankful for the contributions of departing players, the dream remained unfilled.  It wasn’t that elusive perfect season where we win it all – everyone agrees we are #1 (yes including Mark May and Urban Meyer), and there are no flags.   It was a great season, but not enough for the program and not enough for us Kool Ade drinkers.

Here we are in another August.  Beanie & Co. are off making money, and we have assembled an incredible array of talent on this team – young, hungry talent.  They all run a 4.2 and pass the ‘look test’.  Pryor is big enough to block for himself if needed, but he’s too fast to need blocking.  We have SC at home and Penn State needs payback.  Anything is possible and I really believe we can win it all, after all it’s August.

And yeah I believe.

Scarlet and Gray Kool Ade anyone?