Our newest addition chimes in on football
Right: Senator Sweater Vest is on the hot seat? File Photo
Ronnie went to his first Ohio State football game in 1955 with his father and meet none other than head coach Woody Hayes. Ronnie has not only played the game, but has coached it on the high school level as well. He also has been at several national championship bowl games, and his passion is college sports, especially Ohio State football and basketball. A professional writer, Ronnie is BuckeyeBanter.com’s newest contributor. Here’s his first installment:
I have been reading the 2008 college football addition of Phil Steele’s extensive coverage of all college teams. For 11 straight years, his magazine has been far more accurate in picking bowl game matchups, winners, champs, Heisman’s, and All-American’s than any other publication.
He picks Florida No. 1 - though he admits they have the least experience of any top team.
Ohio State comes in at No. 2 - and he rates them as the most experienced team.
Since he picks Florida to beat Ohio State for the national championship, it is obvious that he feels that Ohio State’s Jim Tressel is good, but not a great coach. And yes, he picks OSU to beat USC and to go into that BCS Championship game undefeated.
I agree with everything he says including his take on Tressel EXCEPT I do not think Florida has the offense to score enough points on this Buckeye defense to beat them. That will be everyone’s problem this year including USC.
I actually believe this team is the year that Ohio State recovers from its two straight humiliations and upsets Florida (and if not Florida then Georgia, I think) and Tressel gets his second national title for several reasons. Too much experience. Too much depth. Too many team leaders. And a squad that obviously is on a mission. The extra work done by the team on its own without coaches is impressive.
I predict a smothering defense that may lead the nation in every key stat. I predict amazing running stats with Wells just being obviously the dominant back in college football. And, watch out. The Ohio State QB is laughed at nation wide. A lot of people are going to be flabbergasted by the poise and execution of team leadership that this 2008 OSU team has. Troy Smith is gone thank God. OSU’s QB will not report for a national title game this season 35 pounds over weight and full of himself.
Now what about Tressel. Is he good or great? We all are going to find out. If he goes for the third straight time into the national title game and gets terribly out coached and loses once again, I predict he will be fired. HUH??? Tressel fired??? I believe he knows that. Tressel had better learn that the old adage, “you win with what got your here” is BUNK!!!
You win national games with four things. Your players are inspired to play the greatest game of their lives. You figure out the other teams worst players and you attack them. You figure out the other teams best players and you adapt to take away some element of their success. And you have 2 - 3 wrinkles, tricks up your sleeve to keep drives alive in 3rd and 8 situations, and in 3rd and goal situations. You must have a few surprises that the other team never anticipates. You catch them in the wrong defense to exploit them with what your about to run at them.
There is a fifth thing actually. Tressel showed it against Miami. He did not the last two years. Your coach must be a dominant presence on the sidelines. His players must believe that he has an answer for anything. This is a great OSU squad of players. One of the best collection of athletes Ohio State has ever had. Ohio State must go undefeated. They must win. This is a slightly down year for everybody else nationally. If Tressel can’t win this year he will never win another title at Ohio State.
Ohio State has an athletic director who knows this. Tressel’s job is on the line.
Here is Steele’s Top Team List in order.
1. Florida
2. Ohio St.
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Georgia
6. Missouri
7. Clemson
8. Auburn
9. LSU
10. Texas
11. Texas Tech
12. West Virginia
13. South Florida
14. Penn State
15. South Carolina
16. Tennessee
17. Oregon
18. BYU
19. Wisconsin
20. Virginia Tech
21. Florida State
22. Kansas
23. Utah
24. Notre Dame
25. Alabama
First of all, hi Ronnie! Good article.
I agree with pretty much everything you said, and I would be swept away in excitement, except for one thing: Boeckman. I mean, he hands out balls like soup in a homeless shelter. I tried convincing myself that that was only last year and this year he’d have it together but, after the Scarlet and Gray game I’m not all too hopeful. And I don’t think Tressel’s going to be inclined to give one of our other QB’s a decent shot.
The team is stacked this year and I’m really excited for a great season, but none of that’s going to matter if Boeckman’s handing out free balls again. Hopefully, he proves me wrong.