OSU Fans Grandstanding; Why?
by Adam Jacobi on Jan 3, 2009 3:39 AM CST
in Iowa Hawkeyes Football
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PrintIt is worth disclosing that we were rooting for Utah to beat Alabama tonight. Not only do we find Nick Saban particularly loathsome, but we appreciate any chance for the BCS as a staff, label and as a motherfuckin' crew to get clowned, and this was far more decisive than any number of trick plays for Boise vs. Oklahoma. Boise was an upset. Utah was an ass-kicking. And the Orange Bowl was an abortion.
But one curious aspect of the situation has been the Ohio State fans' reaction. They seem absolutely delighted by Alabama's predicament, and for the life of me, I can't imagine why.
Imagine, if you will, this scenario. BCS Conference team makes a habit of winning more games than most figured they would, especially with some uncertainty at the quarterback position. When faced with a game against the top team in the conference, they lose a tough, close game (in which they led in the 4th quarter, mind you), but their overall record of dominance was enough to land them a BCS spot.
Am I talking about Alabama? Or Ohio State?
Aha! Nobody will deny Bama's worthiness in this fucked-up 10-team system and doomed-to-failure two-team playoff. But then there's Ohio State, who limped in so feebly to the BCS that you'd think they'd protect every avenue they used to get in.
Those thoughts would be wrong, however; here are the only three OSU sites we saw tonight, titles and content complelely within the implied context. As if it were debatable anyway. Try to find the common theme:
Our Honor Defend: LOL Tide LOL
Eleven Warriors: Come Delight With Us In Bama's Misfortunes
Men of the Scarlet and Grey: aLOLbama
Yeah, it's obvious. And it doesn't make any sense in the big picture.
Look, in this whack, fucked up, unfair setup of a BCS system, Ohio State walked into the last BCS spot (and got all that BCS cheddar) over Boise State. The reasoning was that 1) Ohio State will sell more tickets (true, we'll assume, until any shred of evidence suggests otherwise) and that 2) the Buckeyes would present a better fight than Boise State, who was 12-0 before losing a profoundly entertaining 17-16 fight against TCU.
While #1 is probably more pertinent, it's less enjoyable to gloat on; if bowl selections were purely football-related, jNW would have beaten out Iowa for the Outback and we really couldn't have protested much. Resorting to ticket sales is an admission that your team doesn't win on the merits, and arguing pocketbooks is a strictly joyless venture after that. So Ohio State should have wanted every reason to be picked over the Broncos because, well, Ohio State earned it, right? Is that not the CW?
So, then, why in god's name would a team like OSU not root like hell for Alabama? Why in the HELL would OSU fans rather root for an undefeated mid-major team to knock off a 2nd place, completely-at-large BCS conference team when they're about to be on the other side of the seesaw and they've engendered even less goodwill than the Tide? How is a fandom that short-sighted?! Look, if you guys really wanted to be taken seriously in the BCS (which when facing the first alternate for the tile is not exactly easy), the absolute LAST advisable course of action is rooting for a mid-major with impeccable accomplishments over a BCS team whose resume is much more like the Buckeyes'.
Or, put most simply, if you are an at-large BCS Conference team selected over a mid-major conference champion for the last BCS Bowl bid, you should really, really reconsider rooting for a mid-major conference champion to beat an at-large BCS Conference opponent. No surprise to those most familiar with OSU fans, but you're just embarrassing yourselves otherwise.
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I get the feeling
that in preparation of their yearly pantsing, they are simply trying to find whatever joy they can at the expense of anybody else.
Let me explain
1) Yes, I do find joy in the suffering of others.
2) I’m sick of hearing how the Buckeyes “embarrass” themselves in the big games (nevermind the 4-2 BCS record and that little undefeated National Championship season just a few years ago). Yeah, I get it, people love to hate the Bucks for numerous reasons, but it would be nice if these folks started pleasuring themselves over other traditional powerhouses’ recent misfortunes. Or perhaps they will notice what Oklahoma has done and polish their joysticks while thinking of Bob “Big Game” Stoops.
3) So what if Utah’s victory somehow reduces OSU’s chances to sneak in for an at-large bid in the future? Bob Delaney isn’t sending any of that BCS cash to me, so if it’s not the NC game, I don’t give a rat’s ass what bowl selects them—as long as it’s a warm destination. Perhaps one of these days the Hawkeyes will earn a trip to one of these BCS games you’ve heard of—you know, once you figure out how to overcome those pesky jNU boys—then you’ll understand.
Perhaps one of these days the Hawkeyes will earn a trip to one of these BCS games you’ve heard of…then you’ll understand.
This is one of my favorite things about the smug fans from schools like Florida and OSU, but this is one particularly fun because he added this lil gem, “nevermind…that little undefeated National Championship season just a few years ago.”
If you recall, Marbles, during that year, when OSU upset Miami in the National Championship game, Iowa was playing in the game that was referred to as Rose Bowl East. Yes, the Hawks lost, and the Trojans began their dominance over BigTen opponents, but the Hawkeyes have been to a BCS bowl game. And I’d like to remind you that it was not so long ago that the Bucks were competing with the Hawks for Conference Championships. OSU simply does a better job of reloading, while the Hawkeyes are forced to rebuild every few years.
I don’t think OPS was knocking Ohio State’s overall BCS record, but rather the fact that this year they have been less than deserving of their bid, and that the Utes pasting Alabama may lead some credence to that argument.
I, for one, pray that Ohio State can find a way to show Texas what a real defense looks like. However, that is simply because I am absolutely sick of everyone assuming that the BigTen is worthless.
¿Quieres chiclets?
by The Mexican't on Jan 3, 2009 9:25 AM CST up reply actions
There was very little smugness in my comments...
…I just had to work Northwestern in there somehow.
We all know the BCS is about entertainment value, not rewarding the most deserving teams. I think the majority of OSU fans agree that the Buckeyes don’t “deserve” a BCS game this year, but the Utah/Alabama result doesn’t give any credence to that argument.
Most fans like to root for the underdog rather then worrying how the outcome of a game involving 2 teams (both of which OSU hasn’t played in recent memory) from other conferences would reflect upon Ohio State’s credibility. Actually, since Utah beat Michigan this year, wouldn’t a Utah victory in a bowl game make the Big Ten look a little less terrible? The only thing you can conclude from that game is that Utah was the better team than Alabama. Ohio State’s BCS credibility will be tested Monday night.
Now, since I’ve already been labeled a “smug fan” , I’d like to conclude with a smug comment. I apologize for forgetting about the Orange Bowl appearance. I must have been so caught up in the National Championship hoopla that some of the other bowl games from that year slipped my mind.
Oh, and since you were courteous enough to refresh my memory, perhaps you can remind me which team beat Iowa that year. Was it Ohio State? Oh no, they didn’t play each other. Gee, I wish I could remember which big, bad team that was.
No, you're not smug
You’re just a prime example why everyone hates OSU.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
I beg to differ
This guy is a better example.
I don't think '08 Michigan
should be used as an example of “making the big ten look less terrible” in any context.
Looking for reasons to hate is a black hole.
You hate them just because. Stop looking for reasons.
And quite frankly, they’ve been the whipping boy for our shitty conference long enough. Let them eat their cake.
Amen
It’s because we hate the SEC so much. It’s just fandom. Can’t help it.
Maybe next we’ll write a post about how you guys were calling on Ferentz et al to exit, but five months and a Shon Greene later, you’re wetting yourself about him possibly going to the Browns.
And That Hippie Up North chiming in above? That’s priceless.
XOXO,
Buckeye Fans
Nice burn man
I mean, it’s not like that post was written before an independent investigation cleared Ferentz of any wrong doing in the sexual assault case or something.
Ooooooooh!
Please oh please let this be the beginning of a BHGP vs. tOSU Nation Blogwar. It will make 2009 so enjoyable!
by YouCanPutYourEddsInIt on Jan 3, 2009 12:34 PM CST reply actions
small correction
it’s no longer “the Ohio State University” – it “the University of Ohio State”
Just ask Terell Pryor.
Two reasons
1. Bitter about the last two beatdowns at the hands of the SEC champs
2. Shiggles. Most of the people who wrote blog posts about it (myself included) got their start commenting at 11W, who had an epic thread to basically celebrate the shaming.
We (or at least I) will shut up if Texas does what’s expected of them and drops a deuce all over Jim Tressel’s face tomorrow night.
apocb.blogspot.com
emotion isn't rational
To be fair to the Buckeyes, which is something I do about once a year, you’re expecting too much rational thought to go into fandom. As Mr. Marbles suggests, the OSU fans are just enjoying the fact that some other power school was embarassed before OSU could get theirs.
The really cerebral approach might be to celebrate Missouri’s near disaster against NW (or Texas Tech’s plight) by saying “looksee, the Big 12 really doesn’t play defense they couldn’t even do much against NW! Wait till Texas sees a real Big 10 defense.” One may also assume that as a Michigan fan I would hope OSU could stop the Big 10 bleeding. Obviously, I am going to hope for that as soon as I hope ND has a good season to prove 3-9 power teams can reach the promised land again. So, yeah, never. I instead choose to remember the Rose Bowl and a say, “there’s no good QBs in the Big 10 (which makes Big 10 defenses look good) so see what happens when…” I suspect the OSU secondary will burn down in less than 12 hours.
In this season of hideousness, one need only look at what Michigan did right to know the weaknesses. Michigan passed on PSU before the Grim Reaper played QB. So, mebbe PSU’s secondary was suspect. OSU… Well, Michigan scored a TD on them by running right over and over and over and then saying “it’s 4th and goal we intend to run right!” TD. So, mebbe there’s a weakness there also.
I'm getting the feeling
tOSU will be down 21-0 at the end of the first quarter tonight, at which point they’ll be reduced to kicking the UT players like bitches, ala the team with the catchy mascot named “cocky.” At one point I was conflicted about this game, wanting the big televen to show well. Now that’s done I’m figuring UT will shitstomp them to the tune of 55-10, tOSU players will pretty much quit by the 2nd quarter, and Mack Brown will whine afterword how they deserve a share of the NC. Other than Iowa beating the cocks (hahahaha – penis), this bowl season has been unsatisfying.
So you're saying
a good, old-fashioned Cock-beating has left you unsatisfied?
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Anthony Gonzalez
On a somewhat related note, did anyone see anyone see Anthony Gonzalez’s winding run against the Chargers this weekend? It was oh so reminiscent of his winding touchdown run in 2006 at Kinnick. I enjoyed watching the Colts until he did that. Too many painful memories.
GAMETHREADLIVESTUFFTHING
Looks like the Fiesta Bowl has the B Squad announcing. I don’t know their names nor do I feel like finding them out. That’s how boring this looks.’
Music on Geico commercials is awesome
Ooooooh, a semi liveblog? I'm in.
What the hell is Sweatervest thinking putting Boeckman at QB, EVER? And if he is playing, the only thing he should be allowed to do is turn around and hand the ball to Beanie.
¿Quieres chiclets?
by The Mexican't on Jan 5, 2009 7:51 PM CST up reply actions
Agreed
Boeckman hasn’t done anything great so far. Or good. Also, regardless if jtOSU’s offense manages to score more than 10 points, the first 3 quarters have shown that the Big 12 had no D this year. No D I say.
I caught that on the recap
And came back to admit my mistake. The Buckeyes gave Texas one hell of a game, and, even while losing, should regain some respect for the BigTen by hanging tough. Between jNU and OSU, the BigTen showed it could hang with 2 of the best QBs, and passing offenses, in the country.
¿Quieres chiclets?
by The Mexican't on Jan 5, 2009 11:49 PM CST up reply actions
Or conversely
2 of the most overrated QBs, and passing offenses, in the country. If Florida kicks the snot out of OU, I think we’ll have our answer.
by chitownhawkeye on Jan 6, 2009 12:39 AM CST up reply actions
Texas looked
kind of disinterested. I was shocked that Pryor looks so shitty throwing the balll. He’s incredibly elusive in the open field (although kind of mincing in the first half – what was that about?) although part of that may have had to do with UTs lackadaiscal defense. His throwing motion is horrrrrible. When UT got the ball back with 1+ minute, I never thought they wouldn’t score to win. And sweatervest should be dick slapped for his game mismanagement at the end of the first half – even after he was saved by an interception at the goal line. Finally, the parental McCoy’s need no more camera time – ever. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with them, it was fox’s fault for showing them after every offensive play. Jesus. Oh, and I watched the game with the sound off so I didn’t have to listen to those dickheads talk.
I hope OU wins
I want Shtoops to have some big game success and the SEC to look bad. The Big XI’s image couldn’t get much worse regardless of who wins so fuck Florida. We need to burn out other peoples candles so ours burn brighter.
It’s the only way.
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