College Football Questions & Answers: Week 3

Subtitled: Post-Mortem on the “Horror in the Hood”

Post-titled: “Busted Nut”

Week 3 of the college football season delivered loads of drama and devastation, leaving me to believe that 2008 might just be a continuation of 2007. I was on hand to witness first-person USC’s beatdown of the Buckeyes. Unfortunately, that left me watching snippets of most other games while tailgating, but I’m not complaining. If I had the means and the time, that’s how I’d spend every Saturday (minus the butt-kicking).

Unfortunately for Buckeye nation, much of my words of caution leading up to USC-OSU materialized. On Thursday I wrote about how the Buckeyes had managed only 6 touchdowns against 8 field goal attempts through the first two games. Ohio State would have been happy with that ratio on Saturday night. Unfortunately for them they managed 0 touchdowns vs. 2 field goal attempts (only one made).

In order for Ohio State to have won on Saturday evening, I said two things must happen: first they needed to disrupt Mark Sanchez. Second, they needed to use creative play-calling in passing situations to protect the offensive line (and QB Todd Boeckman). On Friday I further stated “The pocket will not hold up against the USC pass rush for more than a second or two. Quick hits will be a necessity or the USC defense will dominate the Buckeyes.” The Buckeyes did neither Saturday night. Sanchez for the most part was able to do whatever he wanted to and OSU’s offensive line, particularly in the second half, was dreadful. I give credit to Tressel and the rest of the staff for using Terrelle Pryor early and often and greatly varying a typically vanilla offense, especially in the absence of Beanie Wells.

The Buckeyes played well in the first half yet trailed 21-3. OSU actually had a yardage lead through two quarters but key mistakes and penalties (3 turnovers, 11 penalties) kept them from staying in the game. By the time a couple minutes had elapsed in the third quarter, the drama was over and the collective will of the Buckeye players had been sufficiently beaten down. And Trojan fan was gleefully rubbing it in the face of any Buckeye fan within shouting distance.

Incidentally, I also said the team that got to 300 yards of offense would win. USC finished the game with 348 yards to Ohio State’s 207.

A disturbing trend is developing for the Buckeyes that could be the central conflict for the remainder of the season. The trend is Todd Boeckman struggling in big games, and there’s enough data to support the yelps of many Buckeye fans I heard in the Coliseum Saturday to “get Boeckman out of the ****ing game”. Consider if you will:

Saturday vs. the Trojans- 14/21 passing for 84 yards, no touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 34.7 passer rating

National Championship game vs. LSU- 15/26 passing for 208 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 77.1 passer rating

Michigan game 11/17/07- 7/13 passing for 50 yards, no touchdowns, 1 interception (sloppy weather game), 30.9 passer rating

Illinois game 11/10/07- 13/23 for 156 yards, no touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 37.9 passer rating

In the four most important games Ohio State has played in the last two seasons, Boeckman’s average passer rating is 40.15.

The void left by Troy Smith is gaping wide. Smith will forever be a legend in Buckeye lore for putting the team on his back and leading them to victory in game after game, the lone exception being the National Championship loss to Florida. Boeckman on the other hand has yet to prove he can perform such heroics, or even that he’s capable of “managing the game” when the stakes are the highest. You can certainly argue that when it matters the most, Boeckman struggles.

Boeckman doesn’t deserve all the blame. There is a serious sub-trend in the inability of the OSU offensive line to handle fast athletic defensive lines. Again reference Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and the mauling Saturday night at USC. At some point (that time is now) the coaching has to be called into question. Ohio State recruits players that everybody else wants. They landed three of the most highly recruited offensive lineman in this year’s recruiting class. And yet, the O-line looked helpless against the Trojan d-line and the wizardry of Pete Carroll. So either the players are being asked to “think too much” or they’re simply not getting the instruction that they need.

When the clock ran down and as the USC fans were throwing out their final obscenities, the Buckeyes had added about ten more feet of depth to their “public perception” hole, and further damaged the near-basement reputation nationally of the Big Ten. Though I’ve spent a lot of time and effort refuting the characterization of Ohio State as the tallest midget, I can no longer do so in good conscience, despite most writers and talk show hosts nationally still using reckless commentary.

Before I move on to other games around the country, just a couple notes on the atmosphere and my first time in the Coliseum. The stadium itself is rich with history but is desperate need of some upgrades. The electronics are embarrassing- two mini-trons and two tiny time clocks that look like they’ve been there since the early 80’s. There’s no other information anywhere in the stadium- no screens showing yardage or scores from other games. Nothing.

The USC band is amplified which probably doesn’t matter to most fans, but as a former musician, this is unforgivable, and very, very weak. The performance of the band was horrible too- I’ve seen better middle school bands, and this is surprising considering USC has a very good music program.

The stadium does get a thumbs up for having mostly seat-back seats and not benches that leave you numb by the third quarter. The lighting of the Olympic torch in the 4th quarter is also a really cool touch. Variety of food was strong as well- the usual stadium fare plus several other options including kettle corn, pulled pork, and espresso. The concessions areas surrounding the stadium very much had a county fair feel to it (and I mean that in a good sense and not in a “wow look at all these mullets” sense).

The tailgate scene was fun with lots of light-hearted banter between RV’s. Once the game started, there was a pretty even split between drunk assholes and knowledgeable football fans (on both sides) but I do think there’s a palpable degree of arrogance to the USC fan base. Not sure if it’s personal insecurity or over-confidence, but it was pretty distasteful Saturday night. I could tell you stories about “bad fans” like the dude that yelled “F*** Ohio State” as I walked by or the dudes that taunted women and children (not making that up) as they got up to get food, but that happens at most stadiums unfortunately, and particularly for night games. College football would be a much better place if the idiots stayed home to watch the game with their parole officer.

One more note on the horror in the hood- memo to Pete Carroll: going for it on 4th down in the 4th quarter after the Buckeyes had already been spayed and neutered (some of the players are chicks) is Busch-league and very unclassy. Sidebar- also evidence of how bad a place Ohio State is in that they should have gotten mercy-ruled if Carroll had stayed classy (stay classy Pete!)

On to the rest of the college football world…

I questioned whether South Carolina could beat Georgia for a second year in a row and I state that anything less than a ten-point win for Georgia should drop them in the polls. Georgia won by 7 and the Bulldogs lost 1st place votes in both polls (also due to how well USC played). Georgia continues to look underwhelming as the # 2 team and don’t give me any of the “SEC’s the toughest….garbage.” Georgia Southern isn’t in the SEC.

I completely whiffed on my Michigan-Notre Dame prediction. I predicted Michigan would win on the performance of their defense. Unfortunately for the Michigan D, the inept Michigan offense is now losing games for them with their six turnover performance. I don’t know when rock bottom is going to happen for Michigan this season but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to see it. And Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis further demonstrated how far out of touch with reality his by this quote “We definitely showed up against a good opponent and it’s sweet.” I’m not sure what tape Weis is watching but for the 2008 Wolverines, the adjective “good” does not apply. “Average” is a stretch. If Weis had said “We definitely showed up against a below average opponent that’s rebuilding like New Orleans after Katrina”, than yes, I’m on board.

On Friday I questioned if this was the game that would get Greg Robinson fired at Syracuse. I have checked the Syracuse papers yet but a 55-13 steamroll at the hands of Penn State is sure to get an “emergency board of trustees meeting” on the calendar. And a memo to the Big Ten- forget about Wisconsin or Michigan State or Illinois, Penn State is the team to look out for in the Big Ten this year. The old coot’s finally done it. Almost.

I questioned whether Rick Neuheisel and the UCLA Bruins could keep the magic going after their win over Tennessee. Nope. The Bruins got Rickrolled to the tune of 59-0 at the hands of BYU. I guess the football dynasty is officially over there…in Provo, Utah.

I questioned whether this would be the game to get Washington Head Coach Ty Willingham fired? Haven’t checked the Washington papers yet either but a 55-14 loss to Oklahoma isn’t going to get a contract extension (unless you’re Charlie Weis, which clearly Willingham isn’t). And if you’re keeping track at home I said OU would more than cover the 21-point spread, and they did. Which proves I can both a.) state the obvious and b.) prove that I know what I’m doing some of the time.

Wisconsin nearly did get burned against Fresno State pulling out a three-point thriller 13-10. The spread was 2 points which absolutely amazes me that oddsmakers can get that close.

Finally, I questioned whether or not Clemson could get their season back on track against NC State. They surely did with a very uninspiring 27-9 victory. The Big Ten must be thankful that the ACC is laying down so much cover fire in the form of horrible football. Splendid diversionary tactics by two bad conferences.

You’re welcome.