roksmith

I don't think anybody really appreciated the job the Coach Tress did in holding his team together. It's obvious that the Buckeye offense is completely and utterly horrible. The defense might be able to lock down and make it into an entertaining game, but I don't look for the game to be that close. I never thought I'd resign myself to a 10+ point loss to anybody, but I believe you guys probably will enjoy this night more than those of us in Ohio. Good luck folks.. Here's to a good game and no serious injuries.

Thanks for the entertainment.. This is some good stuff.

Don't hope for that scenario. Everybody knows the top SEC team gets to play for the national championship. Your only chance is OU getting beat and you guys running the table. Not saying it's right, but it is a fact of life in NCAA football.

First of all, I don't think you guys have to worry about Bo getting the call from OSU if Tressel does leave. There are a handful of coaches that would get tapped first. And secondly, I don't know.. but I don't think it will come to that. Providing that there is nothing else that hasn't already come out, I can't see Jim leaving. He's already come clean about what happened and the university is standing behind him. The NCAA doesn't have any real authority to get rid of a coach, and a "Show Cause" penalty can't force OSU to fire him, it can only highly discourage other institutions from hiring him should he leave Columbus. The one thing they can do... and I think it would be a major abuse of their power.. would be to issue an extremely harsh penalty against Ohio State and word it such that the penalty sticks unless "major changes" occur at the University (fire the coach). I think that would be petty of the NCAA and show that they are mad and got their feelings hurt.. and that's no way for a sanctioning body to act. Here's my best guess as to what will happen: Best case for OSU - The NCAA issues a stern warning and upholds the self imposed sanctions. Worst case for OSU - Vacate all of the 2010 season except for the Sugar bowl (since the players had their eligibility revoked and reinstated prior to the game), Suspends Tressel for the entire year, and slaps OSU with 2 years of probation. Of course post season participation could also be imposed, but I suspect the final results will fall in between my best and worse case scenarios. I don't think Tressel will get fired, but if the NCAA imposes extremely harsh penalties, he will step down. I hope it doesn't happen because I think the good he has done over the years far outweighs the bad.

The two toughest places to play night games (for us) has always been Happy Valley and Camp Randle. So if you guys play Wisky at night your first go-round it will be something to see for sure. The atmosphere will be not unlike a BCS game. Wouldn't miss it for the world. I'll be rooting for Nebraska, but not because of my dislike for Wisconsin, but because I want my Buckeyes to hang your first L on the board. Welcome to the Big 10 and be ready for some seriously fun football this year.

There is a little flawed logic in the smaller back theory. The difference in speed between the fastest and slowest running back in a 5 yard dash is virtually immeasurable. Why 5 yards? Because that's about the distance a back gets from the time they get the ball until they end up face to face with a linebacker. I'll take a 240 lb back that runs. 5 second 40 over a 190 lb back that runs a 4.3 every single time when you are running between the tackles. Bring all the 190 pound backs you can find at my linebackers..all day long. You do..and it will be a very long day for you.

I guess I'm in the minority then.. Only takes me 5 minutes of watching a FSU or Miami game to think the taunting rule might be a good thing. It's simple.. teach the kids that when they make a great play or get into the endzone to act like they've been there before and like they'll get there again. I don't mind a little celebration, but when you score, toss the ball to the refs and celebrate with your team mates while you run back to the sidelines. Don't stand there showboating or rub it in to the other team. It's called showing a little class.

I beg to differ. Florida was a spread formation with a power runner taking the snaps. Tebow had no real quarterback skills, but he was one tough SOB who could put his head down and run between the tackles.

Nope, not unless they utilize them that way. But, if you do have a big back that can break tackles and you don't have a power running game, it's probably because you have lineman that can't move people off the line. If you have both of those and you can make the defense bring the safeties up to stop the run, you've just beaten 99% of the teams in college or pro football.

Yes they did, as did Florida with Tebow and to some extent Auburn with Scam Newton. May be a spread formation, but power running is still power running. The Buckeyes won the NC with a true I formation power running game in 02, and to look for a recently successful Power I running game, Wisconsin put 70 or more points in a few games last year with nothing but a pure power running game. You are looking for 30 wins over 3 years, Wisky has been close.. 28 wins or so. It makes it tough because for a true power running game to work, you have to have a true power back starting all 3 years. And if you're looking for 60 wins in 4 years.. I could be mistaking, but I think you'll have to go play an NFL schedule. Nobody plays 15 game schedules in college. Power football is far from gone in college football. Doesn't matter how fast your defense is... if it takes 3 guys to get a ball carrier down, it's gonna be a long day. Trust me.. we experienced it against Wisky last year.

blasted_imposter, What in the world are you smoking... and can I have some? Having confidence in your team is cool and all, but um how 'bout a touch of reality?

Oh yea.. I almost forgot about that.. prepare yourselves to be dissed by ESPN and the rest of the national media. By joining the Big Ten you will lose all credibility as a team and Mark May will pick against you on principle. You may get a pass for the first year or two until they remember you are now a part of the Big Ten. It gets comical at times

True, and you kind of made my point. I assume you are talking about 2009 when Nebraska's offense was terrible and Texas came in with one of the nation's highest scoring offense and you played them to a virtual tie... losing on a last second field goal. Texas was scoring over 40 points a game that year... Had they played a third of their season in cold weather, they would not have done so well. Nebraska's style should be less affected.

Team speed is a tricky beast to master in the Big Ten. You must maintain a power game at the same time. In order to win the Big Ten, you have to be able to play, not only in September, but also survive the November games in Michigan and Minnesota.(not against the teams, but the elements) Nebraska should be able to handle the cold better than most of the Big12 schools, but bring Texas or Oklahoma's high flying offense into the Big Ten and let their 190 lb receivers get hit by a 240 lb linebacker a few times in 20 degree weather and they start to have alligator arms. To survive the Big Ten schedule you have got to be able to pound the ball up the middle consistently to grind out games in November otherwise the Outback Bowl is where you will be headed. The biggest issue the Big Ten has with big bowl games is that in order to compete with the southern and western schools, you usually have to sacrifice power for speed. Warm weather schools tend to have a different type of athlete. Perhaps more speed, but less power and toughness. Play the bowl games in 3 inches of snow and look for a different outcome. John Cooper tried that for several years and got his butt fired for it. Nobody cares if you can beat California or Florida schools if you can't beat Michigan and Wisconsin. I think Nebraska is a good fit for the Big Ten and will definitely be a boost for the conference. I also think the Big Ten was probably a slightly tougher conference before.. surely it is now.

My opinion of the Big12 recently has been a high powered offense with little to no defense.. but that's from someone who didn't watch many games.. just caught the scores. The Big10 is more of a defense first conference.. hold the other guys to under 3 TDs and win sort of thing. Here is a primer for you on the Big Ten schools for those of you who haven't seen much Big10 football: Indiana - Don't expect much year in and year out, sometimes they sneak in a decent athlete that can cause concern, but generally the doormat of the conference. Usually rely on a passing game which doesn't work well in the conference. Minnesota - A little better than Indiana because they usually have a decent running game, but generally no passing game to even things out. Purdue - They are a little tricky because they have some up years. Generally they will be sub .500 in the conference.. but they do pull off the upset occasionally. Northwestern - Generally not going to win a lot of conference games, but they always play tougher than you expect them to. Experimented with the stupid spread which caught a few teams off guard for a bit, but never works long term in the Big10. Michigan - Expect them to take a year or two to get back.. but now that they finally got rid of Rich-Rod, expect them to regain elite status at some point. Usually a good combination of power and speed, but their recent experiment was a huge failure and will take some time to recover from. Penn State - Down a bit recently, but don't ever count them out. JoPa knows how to recruit and they always have the ability to beat anyone. Illinois - One word for them.. sneaky. They usually have a mobile quarterback and that always causes issue. They can jump up and bite you when you aren't paying attention. Iowa - The consummate under achiever. For some reason they just can't ever live up to expectations. But they are always a tough game. Michigan State - The mid-season collapse team. Better in recent years, but always seem to start like world beaters then perform patented Sparty Choke at some point in the season and self destruct. Wisconsin - Expect to come out of this game beat up. Probably the most physical team in the league... and least classy fans IMHO. Ohio State - Don't expect any wins here All kidding aside, we'll see how this Tressel thing works out.. but I think you probably know what to expect from OSU. Mobile Quarterback (in recent years and near future). Decent, but not overpowering backs, and just enough team speed to make most teams underestimate. Always a top ranked defense.