A wise man once said (actually, it was Coach Tressel), “All those cliché’s
you always hear…well they are true.” During interviews in all different
sports, athletes and coaches often turn off fans and media by spouting off a
line like, “We didn’t make plays” or “We made too many mistakes” or
“Our opponent did a great job executing their game plan.” Why didn’t Tiger
win that tournament? Maybe we should believe him when he says he felt pretty
good but the putts just weren’t falling. So this is my chance to be the master
of the obvious.
Many people ask, “Is this the season for the Buckeyes?” It will be
the season instead of a season if…
They win the turnover battle. The offensive poetry of Smith, Ginn,
and Holmes won’t mean a whole lot if they fumble the ball in the Longhorn’s
red zone. Three touchdown passes won’t mean a whole lot if they throw four
picks which set up a short field for an Iowa offense. Youboty and Hawk need to
score touchdowns or set up touchdowns if the Buckeyes hope to put up many points
under the lights in Happy Valley. Sacking Henne is one thing. Sacking Henne and
knocking the ball the loose will probably mean a win or a loss in Ann Arbor.
They play with energy. Energy and momentum can get a team through
some tough times. When Ginn takes a reverse in for a score, the linemen had
better look and act like they just scored. When Pitcock lays out Vince Young,
the safety that is covering the deep third of the field had better sprint up to
the big man and give him a bear hug. “Act like you have been there before”
is baloney. Act like you are trying to win the national championship and you
just made a big play that could win you a ball game. Flat teams don’t reach
their potential.
They win the games they are supposed to win. Yeah, Texas, Iowa, and
Michigan had better be “W’s” if the Buckeyes are going to the Rose Bowl.
What about Minnesota? What about Michigan State? What about Penn State? Those
games you are supposed to win, but the Buckeyes had better show up after a great
week of practice and actually win them. We have all watched the 12:00 Ohio State
game only to turn on the 3:30 game in our living room or tailgate and watch a
Big Ten upset take place in October or November. The Buckeyes can’t let it
happen to them.
They stay healthy. One injury won’t ruin Ohio State. However, too
many pulled hamstrings, stingers, high ankle sprains, and hip pointers could
cost them a game. What if Ginn was missing in East Lansing last year? What if
Smith was out for Michigan last November? I think Hawk kept some 25-yard gains
to 5-yard gains. Injuries don’t always mean so-and-so blows out their ACL and
ends their post-season award campaign. An injury could simply mean a second- or
third-teamer is put in a situation they don’t win. The Buckeyes would have won
at Purdue last year if their defensive backs were healthy.
Please excuse the generalities, but I can’t start the season if I don’t
get them off my chest. Is this the season for the Buckeyes? It could be
if they take care of those things Coach Tressel talks about at his press
conferences.