USC-OSU: Are Buckeye Fans Growing Tired of "Tressel-Ball?"

To put it simply, "Tressel-Ball" is a cautious, close-to-the-vest style of coaching football. Minimize risks. Attempt to control field position. Use old-fashioned methods on short-yardage situations.  

And, unfortunately for the Buckeyes of late when battling top 10 teams, Tressel-Ball equals losses.  

Even with a talented, hard-nosed defense, failing to take advantage of scoring opportunities can and will come back to haunt.  

(Admittedly a lifelong Buckeye fan, I am writing this article from an objective standpoint.)

Last night, Pete Carroll came to Ohio Stadium to win. Jim Tressel came to be a part of a long-standing rivalry.  

The first time the Trojans had the ball on offense, a 4th-and-goal from the two-yard line presented itself. Carroll went for the touchdown. After Stafon Johnson crossed the goal line, the score was 7-0.

Later in the half, the Buckeyes were presented with a 1st-and-goal inside the five in their home stadium. After a failed pass attempt, and two consecutive failed regular, up-the-middle, obvious, boring, uncreative, typical run attempts right up the gut, what does Jim Tressel do? Kicks the field goal. The Buckeyes score three points instead of seven.

The final margin of the game? Three points. There's your ballgame.  

Tressel has a wonderful winning percentage at Ohio State, placing seventh among active coaches. He has a national championship on his belt. He is 7-1 against Michigan. His coaching style works most of the time, mostly against teams with less physical talent and depth.

But against teams his equal or maybe slightly better, the style seems to be quite outdated.  

Were it not for a missed 30-yard field goal by the Illini in 2002, there would be no national championship. The victory over Miami (FL) in the BCS title game was impressive.  

But since then, where have the big victories been? OSU lost big in back-to-back title bouts, blew a home game to eventual national champion Texas and Vince Young, dropped both contests against USC (one of them by 32 points), took zero risks and eventually succumbed in a 13-6 home loss to Penn State last season.

The bottom line is this: Tressel either opens his mind and plays to win, or the Buckeyes continue to pile up the moral victories. It's his choice.