Ohio State Football 2007

Not bad for a rebuilding year. The offense was given the uphill task of replacing two experienced quaterbacks (one Heisman award winner, Troy Smith), two NFL first round pick receivers (one of which was also the nations best return man Ted Ginn Jr), and a tailback who was also drafted into the NFL. At first glance you'd think the defense wasn't hurt too bad by graduation, until you take into account that OSU runs a 4-3 where the line is unequivocally the most important element. Three starting D-linemen left the team and impact-player Lawrence Wilson was injured. This is why sports prognosticators predicted OSU to finish third in the Big Ten. What does it say about a program that can make it to the national title game under these conditions?

Is the Big Ten inferior to the SEC? Let's take a look. Michigan (BigTen #3) beat Florida (SEC #3). Wisconsin (#4) barely lost to Tennessee (#2) in a thriller; meaning our fourth best almost beat their second best. LSU (#1) beat Ohio State (#1). In the last six years the Big Ten is 9-9 against the SEC. Recent history indicates the conferences may be equal. Personally, I assess the SEC to be slightly better at the present but "time and change" will take its toll eventually.

This year's team was very youthful; perhaps too youthful, as can be seen from the number of debilitating and untimely personal fouls in the title game, totaling more yards than I can count. So now I invoke the Cleveland sports fans mantra, "next year". Next year, our team's core will be more mature. Next year, there will be no doubt about strength of schedule because our third game is at USC. This year we don't care what the national media says. This year we'll let the SEC believe they are the best. This year we still will be coached by Jim Tressel, who is 6-1 against arch-rival Michigan.This year we need to never forget what it was like to lose to "the team up north" every year. Always remember that beating Michigan is the most important thing an Ohio State team can do and everything else is just steak sauce.

Oh...one more thing...Ohio boys have beaten the South before. We'll do it again!