OSU owes me an apology

FOOTBALL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

Last week, in a column for the National Sports Review, I stuck up for Ohio State and the Big Ten. I said that with a great defense, an experienced QB, and a wild card in backup Terrelle0 Pryor, the Buckeyes could challenge USC Saturday night. And even though star running back Beanie Wells went from probable to doubtful to out after the column was written, I stood by my pick.

How did OSU repay me? By stinking up the joint on Saturday evening. Ohio State scored the first three points of the game, and then watched the Trojans score the next 35. USC seemed fasters, seemed more confidant, seemed to be having more fun out there, seemed-better coached, and most obvious, just seemed to have the far superior team. When Pryor was on the field for the Buckeyes, there was a little bit of energy on the side of the scarlet and grey. But for some reason, coach Jim Tressel chose to alternate QB’s every play, meaning the downright horrendous Todd Boeckman immediately removed all the momentum built up by Pryor. It didn’t help of course that the Buckeye defense couldn’t keep USC receivers in front of them or bring down Trojan running back Joe McKnight.

But I believe Tressel blew this game by his QB switches. It was all right at the beginning, when his freshmen star was trying to get a feel for the game. But when it became obvious that Pryor was having more success than Boeckman, he should have cut the cord and given Pryor a chance to make some plays. I’m not mad because I picked OSU, because I realize now that even if Wells had played, the Trojans would have probably won. I’m mad because as a college football fan, I felt I deserved a better game, and once again, Ohio State let me down.