Behind The Box Score

After another loss in a big game against a top five team, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has now made it a habit for the Buckeyes to falter in these games. While many Buckeye fans will object to any such coaching change, after thinking thoroughly for the past five days, note zero posts in that time period, Jim Tressel may not have the superior job security he boasted only three years ago. Tressel’s predecessor, John Cooper, was fired because he couldn’t beat Michigan, something  Jim has made a habit in his nine year tenure. But with losses to primetime non conference foes in bowl games and early regular season matchups, Tressel’s fate may be going down the same path. Lacking a true play calling ability and an overly conservative gameplan in the games that matter most, the Baldwin-Wallace grad has upset many fans with his inability to coach and win the game the past three seasons. Now, I will go into why Tressel and Cooper may be similar with the end of their careers on the horizon.

Winning a national championship in what seemed ages ago,Jim Tressel hasn’t won a bowl game since 2005. The Buckeyes have struggled against anyone that had a bit of primetime talent and the national respectability has also faltered. Let’s go back to 2002, the year of Tressel. Storming out to an undefeated season with a roster full of Cooper recruits, with exceptions to Maurice Clarett and AJ Hawk, the Buckeyes experienced an unbelievable season capped off with an even more out of this world defeat of the Miami Hurricanes in the BCS Championship. After this victory, many fans, including myself, believed the Buckeyes had found their next great coach, in the same discussion as Paul Brown, Woody Hayes and the aforementioned Cooper. Taking Ohio State to BCS bowl games every year except 2004 in a weak Big Ten, one at first can’t possibly think of a reason why the “Sweater Vest,” would be on the hot seat, or at least be qualified for it. But here are the reasons:

 First, yes, Tressel has beaten Michigan nearly every season but the talent levels in the teams he has faced and the ones Cooper faced in the 90′s are strikingly different. Tressel has faced teams that have been decent, while the teams Cooper couldn’t beat featured players such as Tom Brady, Ty Law, Ian Gold and Tim Biakabutuka, just to name a few. The Wolverines of the 90′s were arguably the best team in the Big Ten, a conference that was as strong as any with teams such as Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Purdue making it to the Rose Bowl in that time period. Now, the conference is down, as only one team won a bowl game last season and the others were embarrassed in their matchups.

 Next, Cooper could win the big non conference game, something Tressel has struggled at doing. During the Cooper era, Ohio State went out and scheduled big time teams and beat them handily, along with going to bowl games and winning big BCS bowls such as the Rose Bowl victory over Arizona State and the Sugar Bowl win over Texas A&M, now its a major suprise if the Buckeyes can muster out a victory, with most of the more recent games serving as moral victories for Ohio State, if there is such a thing for the university that is proceeded with, “The.” The non conference foes the Tressel has lost to have been arguably the equivalent of the Michigan teams that Cooper lost to, something that should cause concern for Jim.

 Lastly, Tressel is overly loyal to his assistant coaches, something that can’t happen for a school that has an unsuccessful season if the players aren’t kissing the crystal ball at the end of the year. It’s no surprise the Buckeyes have been defeated in their big games, Tressel flat out can’t call plays and offensive coordinator Jim Bollman is no adventurist himself.  When college coordinator after coordinator have been jumping to the NFL for opportunites or even head coaching jobs, nothing can be said for the Buckeyes. Bollman has remained at the same position for all nine seasons, with no job opportunites hanging in the distance. That has to alarm somebody. Reeling in top recruiting classes each season, the Buckeyes have too much talent to be exposed every year on national TV.

 The perfect example is Terrelle Pryor. The loyality to the coaching staff has done nothing for the sophomore QB who hasn’t shown any mechanical improvement in his throwing and has not been used the correct way. At 6’6″ 235 lbs and running a 4.33 forty yard dash, Pryor should not be in the I formation, and neither should Boom Herron, the starting tailback who tops out at about 190. Spread things out, the Buckeyes have the receivers. Going eight deep at the position, Tressel is stupid if he doesn’t make a change and give Pryor more than two options to throw to when passing is eminent. USC exposed Tressel’s weaknesses on the offensive side of the ball as Pete Carroll showed confidence and a belief in his team, going for it multiple times on fourth down and running plays that made sense, not the options the Buckeyes tried to run when the average fan realized the Trojans had perfect containment all night.  Some have said Pryor could be the best runner in the Big Ten, why doesn’t he run more? All these questions should be answered by Tressel who today blamed youth for Pryor’s troubles at quarterback. Last time I checked, USC had a YOUNGER quarterback operating the system in front of the largest crowd in Ohio Stadium’s 87 year history. The conservative gig is up Tressel, hire some youth and learn the game, or relieve yourself of your duties as head coach of “the” Ohio State University. Like you said, the fan base is hurting, and you’re one of the main reasons for it.