Standing Strong

Well it didn’t take long for my sport’s team mojo to die out. Thankfully, I had the good sense to become a Yankee’s fan a few weeks back. Even though I kept forgetting I am a Yankee fan, and was rooting against them, they along with the Blue Jackets pretty much saved my weekend.
This could be looked at two ways. Both of my football teams got stomped, in games they should have won. However, the Bengals have won 3 games that I had counted on them losing, and only lost 2 I counted on them winning, so they are ahead of the pace I need for them to be to win 9 games. Besides, they are not a playoff team. They can get there, but they are not Indianapolis, or New England. Sure I am hoping they make it, but it would be like the proverbial dog who finally ran down the car…now what? With my Bengals, I just need 9 wins to make some cash. Losing half of their defensive front, and most of their pass rush will slow this pace, but we’re still ahead of the game. Thankfully, CBS in Columbus was nice enough to not air that game anyway, so I didn’t have to watch it.
As far as the Buckeyes go, yeah they tripped up big time, and really embarrassed themselves, but what did this really change? Like the Bengals, they had no shot at a title, they aren’t ready. Defensively, they are as good as anyone, maybe even better, but come on, we’re right back to the dog who finally runs down that car again as far as a championship game goes. As much as my Buckeye brethren will hate to admit it, the Purdue game meant nothing. There was no way OSU would/should get into the BCS title game. As far as the Rose Bowl/Big Ten Championship, it’s still right there. OSU was granted a free loss, and this was it. Win out, and most importantly beat Iowa, Penn State, and Michigan, which I still think they should, and everything comes up Roses. This loss, really doesn’t hurt.
We should have seen this coming however. Every year, it’s the same thing. For the bulk of the early schedule, OSU faces nobody, and can do what they want. Then, even in defeat Wisconsin gives a blueprint for beating the Buckeyes. Short, quick passes, and enough of a run to keep them honest, dinking, and dunking down the field, and eating up clock. Limit your mistakes, and you might actually beat OSU.
On defense, take away the outside, get penetration with your front 4, and add in some blitzes, and the game is yours for the taking. It’s been this story for the better part of 4 years now. Wisconsin shows the way, then somebody else reaps the benefits. See the BCS game against Florida, or Illinois two seasons ago. It’s pretty simple.
If you try to beat them downfield, you’re gonna regret it. If you give them time to pass, or room to run around the corner, it’s gonna be a long day for you. OSU has a very simple game plan that works 90 percent of the time.
This past saturday, was obviously in the 10 percent category.
So despite the fact that everything that could go wrong did, and despite the fact that the path to beating both of my football teams has been laid out for all the world to see, I’m still feeling good.
Besides, the Jackets are rolling, and my High School team just won an unprecedented third game.
Top of the world baby!