AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBuckeyes a real eye-opener
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What we learned over the weekend:
1. I was wrong about Ohio State. They are probably the best team in the country because quarterback Troy Smith has grown into a big-time passer with blazing speed. And the defense is much better than I thought. Could an SEC team beat Ohio State on a given night on a neutral site? Absolutely. But here’s the bottom line: The Buckeyes are No. 1 in both polls and if they don’t lose at Iowa on Sept. 30, I expect them to run the table and play for the BCS championship.
2. The team that would face Ohio State in Glendale, Ariz., could be determined on Nov. 25 when Notre Dame goes to USC. The only team I see in the Pac-10 with a chance to beat USC is Oregon, and that game is in the L.A. Coliseum. If Notre Dame gets by Michigan on Saturday, I expect the Irish to be unbeaten when they go to USC. How big will that game be?
3. So where does this leave the SEC, you ask? The SEC is so strong it’s just hard to see somebody going undefeated. A 12-1 SEC championship team might be able to jump over a 12-0 West Virginia, but not a 12-0 USC or Notre Dame. But if Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, or Tennessee or anybody goes 13-0 in this SEC, they deserve to be in Glendale, Ariz.
4. Florida State’s sloppy and uninspired performance against Troy could cost the Seminoles a shot at the national championship. After beating Miami, the Seminoles had the schedule set up to where they could go undefeated. But if there are more than two undefeated teams, the pollsters won’t forget last Saturday night in Tallahassee. Is that fair? Probably not but that’s the system.
5. The national media still isn’t giving Georgia Tech enough credit for their performance in a 14-10 loss to Notre Dame. All the stories of Notre Dame’s 41-14 win over Penn State talked about how bad the Irish offense played in Atlanta. Notre Dame scored 14 points because Jon Tenuta and the Tech defense thoroughly confused quarterback Brady Quinn and coach Charlie Weis.
Comments
By Roswell Ed
September 11, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this
Is there anything as queer in college football than “THE” Ohio State University? What is up with that? I know that there is an Ohio University and I know the difference. Maybe it’s the Ohio State fans that can’t remember where they went to school. This helps to remind them.
Do you think Larry Bird tells everyone that he went to “THE” Indiana State University? Quit saying it you sound DUMB!!
From a graduate of “THE” Georgia State University!!!!
By Jacket Dave
September 11, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Mr. Barnhart, for mentioning Tech’s performance vs. ND and the subsequent lack of recognition of just how good Tech’s “D” is. I saw the quotes from Quinn and Weiss as well speaking about how “badly” they played Sept. 2 and how they made “adjustments” before the PSU game. Horsebleep! Maybe everyone will realize just how dominant Tenuta’s unit is when the Jackets are playing in Jacksonville in December!
By Wozzo the Wonder Dog
September 11, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this
Credit where credit is due: Tech’s loss did look better this week than last (also the sign “We’re Calvinists” at the Notre Dame game was hilarious).
Tech is playing and recruiting well. Probation is really working out — Is Tech eligible to claim the ACC Champion if it comes out on top?
Having said that, this doesn’t appear to be the ACC’s year. Clempson lost. FSU struggled against Troy.
For those keeping track, 4 SEC teams in the top 10 versus 1 ACC (3 SEC teams ahead of the lone ACC team, but that will change after this weekend with LSU-Auburn & Florida-Tennessee). Tennessee lost 2 starters due to injuries in the Air Force game. I don’t see Florida losing, but I would not bet any money on LSU-Auburn.
By go_on_hut
September 11, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
the Ohio State University kind of rattles your cage does it? Well, it’s a form of english accentuation that those from lesser quality schools might not understand, or perhaps you missed that class. Can you say the Number 1 Ohio State Buckeyes - sound better?
By Vick SUCKS
September 11, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this
Ohio State should have a good team. They purchased the entire squad like the yankees do. Everytime you turn around that joke of a school is in the news for one bad thing or another. Just look at their products Maurice Clarrett. Just look at thier coach integrity “I voted for Texas”” then got called out. One recruiting violation after another. They BETTER have a good team after all the cheating that comes out of the THE biggest joke in the land.
By Vick SUCKS
September 11, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this
goonhut,
I am sure having gone to such a great college you would know that we capitalize the first letter in a sentence right???
By Jimbo
September 11, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this
Why the bitterness towards the Bucks?…sounds like a classic case of “football envy”. For the record OSU has 2 starters (Gonzales and White) smart enough to be Rhodes Scholar candidates and last year had more all-academic players (GPA greater than 3.0) than anyone else in the Big 10. The Bucks recruit both talent and character! Go Bucks!!
By Roswell Ed
September 11, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this
And in four years they’ll all be at THE Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown!!!!
Fulmer and Tressel two “PEES” in a POD!
By brewerfaninATL
September 11, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this
Jimbo,
Yeah, I agree, it is football envy. Some people don’t realize that football does exist north of the Mason/Dixon line. Truth of the matter is the Big Ten (esp. OSU) is neck and neck with the SEC as far as head-to-head confrontations are concerned and each have equally tough conference schedules…that is a FACT! I’m not a huge Ohio State fan but they are definately worthy of being #1, esp. after drop-kicking Texas in their own backyard! Go Big Ten!!
By Reggie
September 11, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this
“The Bucks recruit both talent and character! “
Excellent post!
Regards,
Maurice Clarrett
By mcdwag
September 11, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this
i think that USC deserves to be #1 until somebody beats them-OSU is good but not sure how good Texas is-Can’t wait for next weekend-i’m just glad UGA does not have a big game with all the other great football scheduled
By EEJAY
September 11, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this
I’m not so sure that the Big Ten and SEC are equal conferences. The big Ten only has OSU in the current Top Ten. The SEC is well represented. OSU should run the table for the balance of their schedule. I have a friend that is THE most obnoxious OSU fan. He used to remind me how dirty the Michigan fab five group was. When they hired Tressel I reminded him that he ran a suspect program at Youngstown. He told me that THE OSU would never hire anyone that would be under the table. When THE OSU won THE national championship Maurice Clarret was THE star. We all know what has happened since then. As long as THE coach keeps winning THE OSU will look the other way.
By Roswell Ed
September 11, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this
Just the facts ma’am: SEC now and traditionally very good- Auburn, Alabama, UGA, LSU, Fla and Tenn Mediocre- Arkansas and USC Horrible- Vandy, Miss, Miss St and Ken Slow 10 now and traditionally very good- PSU, Mich and OSU Decent- Iowa, Mischigan St, Wisconsin, Purdue Horrible- Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota
And the winner is: SEC Very Good- 6, Mediocre- 2, Horrible- 4 Slow 10 Very Good- 3, Decent 3, Horrible- 4 The bottom 6 in the Slow 10 are definitely better!
Envy? Florida plays AU, UGA,USC, LSU, Alabama, Tenn, and FSU out of conference. OSU plays Mich, Penn St??, Iowa, MSU?? and Texas out of conference.
As a football fan you can’t beat the UF schedule. As a football fan that OSU schedule is soft.
By brewerfaninATL
September 11, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this
Nice try Roswell Ed! OSU just played the #2 team in the nation in their backyard and still has to play Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa…hardly soft! Yes, the SEC is very tough, but the Big Ten is right with you! BTW, Iowa is in the same category as Mich, OSU, and PSU…and Wisconsin is on the verge of joining in, esp. after crushing Auburn in the bowl game!
By This gets old
September 11, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this
Tech not being credited for the outstanding game is Tech’s fault. Tech beat Miami and Auburn last year and they almost went into the game apologizing.
There should have been a bit more “Is Notre Dame better than Auburn and Miami?” Not the biggest Chan fan but they’ve had FL. State on the ropes.
You’re not going to belong with the big dogs if you believe if you don’t take advantage of the dogs whose ears you’ve already nipped.
Act like you belong there and you’ll belong there.
By Roswell Ed
September 11, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this
Billingsley’s All Time Top Programs lists 5 SEC schools in the top 14 all time and 3 Big Ten. UF isn’t even one of the ones that is ranked. MSU, Wisc, Ill, Iowa and Perdue come in at numbers 25-29. OSU schedule is soft compared to UF. Certainly it’s no Big 2(12)or PAC 1 schedule.
I don’t think anyone would have wanted to play in Barry’s swan song! AU beat Penn St in ‘02 and Wis in ‘03.
And at the end of the day The Ohio State University is still queer sounding.
By War Eagle
September 11, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this
I will agree, Ohio State looks potent. SEC will probably be left out again this year in BCS. I don`t see how any schol can go unbeaten. If any falters I believe it will be Southern Cal and a average QB, against Oregon or ND.
By The Man
September 11, 2006 02:51 PM | Link to this
Roswell Ed - I agree with you, but the truth is still evident: YOU LIKE MEN.
By Palmetto State Dawg
September 11, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this
The problem that I have here is the whole rating system is ridiculous. Every year, the best SEC team is only ranked like 3rd or 4th. It’s either USC, Texas, Oklahoma or someone like that who is ranked 1s or 2nd. That’s why the SEC keeps getting screwed in this thing. Ohio State or actually USC would be a better example because they play a much weaker schedule than Ohio State. Take last year, USC is ranked #1 all year. Obviously, they are able to hold onto that position week in & week out because they play very weak competition in the soft Pac-10. I mean come one, they destroyed every team that they played last year except for Texas. The SEC gets no respect in the polls, and it is by far the best conference. Why can’t they rank a SEC team first for once??? Why is Auburn only #3?? Why not #1?? The whole system makes no sense, when you have a team like USC or Ohio State ranked higher. My point is that teams like Texas & USC who have great teams, but play in weak conferences, and therefore are able to hold onto this #1 ranking or #2 ranking. Take 2004 as a prime example…..Auburn got screwed because USC was ranked higher in the preseason. Auburn played a much harder schedule & beat quality opponents like LSU, GA, Tenn and Alabama. Who did USC beat that year….Stanford, Oregon??? Gimme a break…They should rank these teams on strength of schedule. Lets say Auburn goes undefeated this year…I guarantee you that they will not be able to play for the natl Champ, which is crazy. Can you actually compare the Beg 12 to the SEC?? The whole thing is a joke.
By brewerfaninATL
September 11, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this
Palmetto, I agree with you, the ranking system is flawed, but it ALWAYS has been, and until they have a playoff system, someone is likely to get screwed. Hey, I agree, Auburn got hosed out of the BCS title game a few years ago. I still think USC would have won, but it would NOT have been the 55-19 thumping Oklahoma took in the title game!
Roswell Ed, yeah well, Michigan beat Auburn in either 2000 or 2001. And until last year, Florida has absolutely sucked against the Big Ten in bowls in recent history. Case in point, MSU beat them, Michigan beat them, and Iowa crushed them in 2003. Last year, the Gators finally beat Iowa, but other than that, it has been ugly! BTW, Minnesota has NOT been horrible! They’ve been to 5 straight bowls and 6 out of 7! In fact, they beat Arkansas and Alabama in their head to head meetings with the SEC in bowls in that span.
By Roswell Ed
September 11, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this
All right mediocre.
By Reality
September 11, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this
Tony….Strong Sec ? you are so full of S*…..SC,Miss.St,Vandy,Kentucky,Ole Miss..Thats strong…..And that crap that Georgia calls a schedule….WK,SC,Colo,UAB,Vandy,Ken….Win three games and you can be undefeated !
By brewerfaninATL
September 11, 2006 04:17 PM | Link to this
Yeah, well, about as mediocre as Alabama in the past 10 years! How do you figure Bama to be a recent power? That is what is pertinent here, RECENT history, past 10 years. Before that, we’re talking another generation. Yeah, they were good last year, but before that, you have to go back to 1992-93 for them to have been a power. Yes, historically under Bear Bryant they were the sh!t, but that was a LOOOOOONG time ago.
By Michael
September 11, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this
Everyone relax. The Ohio State University certainly has their punks but remember, 95% of Clarrett’s trouble came after he left the school and it has now been 4 years since he stepped foot on the University. For every Clarrett at The Ohio State University there is a Krendel, Hawk, Spielman, Gonzalez, and a whole host of other all-americans in things other than football. Just look at the past ten years and see Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee (Martin). I am sorry that you feel that the SEC is getting no respect but really, does anybody care?
By Scooter11
September 11, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this
UGA lost to Michigan in 1957 in its first game against a Big 10 team. Hasn’t lost since to a Big 10 team (7-0), including Michigan (at Ann Arbor), Ohio St., Michigan St., Purdue (twice), Wisconsin (twice). Except for Michigan, all fairly recent history. So there.
By steve
September 11, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this
OK… Originally, when I moved here nine years ago, all I heard is how slow Ohio State was and how they couldn’t compete with the SEC. There was some definite truth to the slowness argument, but they’ve adapted. To sum it up, they have changed in a way that alows them to compete for a national championship based on the rules and environment that are out there today (faster athletes, stronger pre-conference competition, etc.).
If your team(s) are not competing in the national championship then they are clearly not focused on the right goal so quit complaining about the Bucks.
To make an analogy, if a baseball umpire is calling a tight strike zone, it doesn’t do any good for a pitcher to complain. The good pitchers don’t make excuses instead, they adjust to the strike zone that the umpire is calling.
By brewerfaninATL
September 11, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this
Wow Scooter, thanks a bunch! Minnesota is undefeated against the SEC in recent history, too! Congrats to UGA for getting out unscathed, too bad for Auburn, LSU, Bama, Fla!
By VandyBeta
September 11, 2006 06:21 PM | Link to this
The big ten is absolutley horrible. Iowa almost loses to Syracuse, Purdue barley gets by Miami(OH), Minn gets crushed by an overrated Cal, and PSU looks like a high school team against ND. The big ten is the worst conference in CF! Second worst is probably the big 12 or the pac 10!
By brewerfaninATL
September 11, 2006 06:30 PM | Link to this
Oh okay VandyBeta, Tennessee barely gets by Air Force, Bama just ekes one out vs. pathetic Vandy, SC had to struggle one out vs. horrible Miss. St., Ole Miss got whacked by a mediocre at best Missouri team…what’s your point? Nice try!
By The Man
September 11, 2006 06:48 PM | Link to this
brewerfaninATL likes men.
By Roswell Ed
September 12, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this
Dr Coach Tressel, Thanks for giving me a second chance. Nothing can replace the HIGH that I get from playing football. Most coaches would have kicked me off the team but not you. All of the other guys had been worried about the withdrawls they would have had without me as their dealer- ‘er I mean kicker. Jonathon Skeete
By Roswell Ed
September 12, 2006 10:37 AM | Link to this
If the Big Ten is soooo tough why is all the media crowning them as a BCS title game shoo-in? I guess they don’t have much confidence in the other BIG 9.
By dawgsrulegatorsdrool
September 12, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this
Need I remind everyone of Ohio State’s record against the SEC in bowl games ????
That would be a big 0’fer Zippo Nada Nothing None
By Roswell Ed
September 12, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this
Regardless of who is the best conference. Which football would you rather watch? The SEC has at least one compelling matchup with an exciting brand of football. The Big Ten might have 7-8 all year.
By CarpetbagginBuckeye
September 12, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this
You SEC guys need to give it a rest. You get plenty of respect - there’s 4 SEC teams in the coaches’ top 10. Auburn’s not ranked #1, at least in part, because they looked bad against Wisconsin in their bowl game. OSU got bumped up because we destroyed Notre Dame. And whatever crap you want to say about guys in the NFL saying “THE Ohio State University” (yeah, it’s kinda dumb, but I’ve never heard our guys say that when they’re in college - and how about Miami players who just say “The U?” Are they queer, too?), how we pay our players and cheat academically (SEC programs would NEVER cheat and their boosters would NEVER give money to players - except when they do!), and/or Clarett (granted, he’s a bad seed, but again, you’re kidding yourself if you think your favorite team wouldn’t have taken the USA Today Offensive POY that year), the fact is that nobody has looked better against good competition so far. Ohio State deserves to be ranked #1 right now.
By jimbo
September 12, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this
Anyone noticed over their last 4 games, Ohio State has beaten Michigan, Notre Dame, and Texas? Any unbias fan of any conference has got to be impressed. Don’t they?
By Roswell Ed
September 12, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this
With the names yes I am. With Michigan and an ND team that beat no one last year I am not.
By brewerfaninATL
September 12, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this
You guys always use the Maurice Clarett thing to prove your point, but i seem to remember Aundray Bruce (from Auburn) was no saint either. I mean, the guy pulls a gun out on a pizza delivery boy, real angel he was!
BTW, I have always had great respect for the SEC, it is a great conference, I’m just saying the Big Ten is right there with you as far as head-to-head match-ups go. There is tremendous passion in all Big Ten venues (well, except Indiana, unless it’s basketball) and across the nation. For crying out loud, in the Capital One Bowl last year, Wisconsin fans heavily outnumbered Auburn’s…and it was in an SEC backyard! Even in our Rose Bowl’s vs. UCLA, our fans outnumbered theirs and that WAS/IS UCLA’s field!
By brewerfaninATL
September 12, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this
Hey Roswell Ed, Michigan happened to have ONE mediocre (for them) season last year, and it was still good enough for 7-4. Based on your dumb assumption, Fla. has one more easy victory this year because Tennessee sucks (based on their 5-6 record last year).
By gdawginkalamazoo
September 12, 2006 03:16 PM | Link to this
brewerfan, of course you guys travel well. I know that I get to the Peach Bowl every year. And when I get back I PRAY TO GOD that there isn’t three feet of snow in my driveway. I know how that travel thing works with you big ten guys. I agree with a lot of what you are saying but the Big Ten while it has its teams, is somewhat inconsistent from week to week and month to month. It seems one week MSU is whipping ND then the next getting crushed by NW. Same with Michigan. I cannot argue about OSU being #1 at this point because they have climbed the polls, haven’t lost yet, and do have some landmines in front of them. All you guys should lay off of OSU regarding Clarrett, lucky it isn’t UGA or your school. One other thing, that RB Chris Wells looks very impressive.
By brewerfaninATL
September 13, 2006 07:40 AM | Link to this
kalamazoo, the reason there are inconsistencies is because the Big Ten is ultra-competitive. You know Michigan and Ohio State will ALWAYS be there, but then you have very good if not great teams in Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State, and decent sometimes very good teams in Minnesota, Michigan State, Purdue, and Northwestern. Really, only Illinois and Indiana are the awful teams, and even Illinois is only 5 years removed from a BCS Bowl game. Basically, what you have are alot of very good teams lumped close to the great teams, making it much more competitive. To me, it makes for a more exciting year when there’s more competition throughout. I know Tenn. fans hated last year, but you, as a UGA fan had to smile somewhat when they struggled and SC rose from the ashes, right? That’s the sheer beauty of college football, it doesn’t get any better than that, esp. the NFL!
By gdawginkalamazoo
September 13, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this
Smile hell, LMAO. And still LMAO about UT last year. Worried as hell this year. Our D better be up on the passing game AND run game for UT. Good thing we got them at home. I think the reason the Big Ten is so competitive is because the teams always seem to be playing for some God forsaken trophy, like the “Paul Bunyan Axe”, the Old Spitoon” or some other p i s s bucket. (Just kidding). I have enjoyed the Big Ten for the past fews year and agree that ANY team can be ANY other most anyday kinda like the SEC (see Vandy v UT last year). But depth in a conference would go to the SEC for sure.