Now Available on DVD: Forgetting Todd Boeckman

Breakups are never easy. 

But for most people, it's a way of life.

You meet someone special and you muster up the confidence to speak to him or her. You start off slow, a couple of movies, dinner, and if you're lucky, a trip to the local Putt-Putt Golf course. 

Then things get serious.

You're talking on the phone more, sending flowers, thinking about each other day in and day out. It's perfect. Or as Marsha Brady might say: "dreamy."

Until you realize it's a nightmare.

Pleasant telephone conversations turn into shouting matches. The flowers you sent are in the dumpster, and when you do think of each other, you're thinking of how to just get away. 

Unfortunately, these breakups are not limited to our personal dating lives. They happen in our sporting lives as well. 

In fact, it happened to Ohio State fans just two weeks ago.

After Troy Smith left the campus with his Heisman Trophy in hand, the Buckeye nation was unsure who would succeed him at the quarterback position. Who was even capable of filling such large shoes?

Enter Todd Boeckman. A 6'4", 244 lb. junior out of St. Henry, Ohio. 

Most were unsure of Boeckman's ability to lead a Buckeye team coming off a 12-1 season, the only loss coming in the infamous National Championship game against the Florida Gators. But, the fans gave him the benefit of the doubt and got behind their new quarterback.

And Todd Boeckman shined.

In his first start, he was 17-of-23 for 225 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes beat Youngstown State 38-6.

We had ourselves a new quarterback.

In fact, Boeckman led the Buckeyes back to the No. 1 spot in the major polls by mid-October. Everything was "dreamy."

Enter the Illinois Fighting Illini. 

The Illini marched into Ohio Stadium that fateful November afternoon and handed the Buckeyes their first loss of the season, with one game left to play. The Buckeye nation was stunned.

Todd Boeckman went 13-of-23 for 156 yards and three interceptions. 

Needless to say, no one wearing scarlet and gray that day left happy.

But people make mistakes. Sometimes they do things out of character, and all they need is encouragement from the people they love to bring them back to their senses.

-sigh-

Boeckman comes back the next week and leads the team to a 14-3 victory over rival Michigan in Ann Arbor. All is forgotten.

Until Todd pulled a Boeckman in the National Championship game and throws two more interceptions in a 38-24 loss to the LSU Tigers.

What happened to the quarterback that we grew to love all season? We came to all his games, wore his jersey, and even made signs for all to see on College GameDay.

And as in dating life, when things start to sour, we begin to turn our heads the other way. And sometimes we see something we like.

Enter Terrelle Pryor.

The No. 1 rated high school player has just walked onto The Ohio State University campus and people are talking. 

Everyone knows that Pryor is the future of Buckeye football. We've seen the highlight reels, read his stats, and are amazed at the potential he has for himself and for the team.

But we're still dating Todd.

Todd who had us wrapped around his finger only to crush us. Todd, who after all our support, failed to match the same level of commitment. 

But if you play with a knife long enough, eventually you'll cut yourself.

September 13th, 2008. Los Angeles Coliseum. In the Buckeyes' much anticipated game against a high ranking USC Trojans team, Todd Boeckman throws two interceptions, and fumbles once to show the world that he just cannot win the big games. The Buckeyes get trounced 35-3. The laughing stock of college football.

And the breakup begins.

Fans are embarrassed, angry, and just fed up. They just can't deal with this relationship anymore. It's time to cut ties with Todd Boeckman.

The coaches agree and Terrelle Pryor starts the very next game against the Trojans from Troy University.

Breakups are never easy.

They are emotional times and the parties involved just need space. It's painful to remember the good times, and relive the bad. It's best to just come to grips with reality and just move on. 

Todd, I know it hurts, but can we still be friends?