This football question was posed on CFN back on March 22nd and it is actually now appropriate for BB as well. My feeling is that although coming in second...twice....may sting a little....especially to the same school.....how can you call it a bad season when you own your biggest rival (TUN) in both sports and you win your conference in both sports and you have a Heisman Trophy winner and you have one of the best all around players in college BB in Oden? From CFN: "Do you think that Ohio State will have a very bad year this coming season? The reason I ask is that in your last Ask CFN article you didn't have a BCS placement for Ohio State. With their quarterback situation being cloudy, I know it's hard to put a lot of stock in the Buckeyes, but I'm wondering if you think they will be so bad to miss out on a BCS Bowl Game? - The ByrdMan A: A “very bad year” is totally relative. I’ve talked to a few Buckeye fans who consider 2006 a “very bad year” after the way things ended, and in a warped way, they’re sort of right. Of course, there are a scattered few who’d say 1-11 would make for a brilliant year as long as that one win was over Michigan. When you’ve been spoiled by the success that tOSU fans have enjoyed under the Jim Tressel era, it’s BCS or bust." From MCG: I may agree that BCS Bowl games have to be the fan's and coach's target for both UF and OSU at this stage of the game and anything less will be disappointing. That said I'm sure both sides would be watching a CapOne conference runner-up bowl between the two most intently and the winner of that one would feel pretty good about themselves at say 11-2 and ranked in the top 5.
What has always been kind of a pet peeve of mine is the win it all or you're not good line of thought. Any number of football teams had very good years, the Gators had a great year and I would have to say Ohio State had a great year also. Only two teams make it to the finals of the BCS or NCAA. To get there means you are elite in my opinion. Some fans get spoiled to the point they think they are entitled to National Championships or Conference Championships. I remember when I went to Florida the joy of going to a Saturday game at Florida field. We were not in competetion for championships at that point but the home games were an event, full of fun, parties, just one of the big reasons I enjoyed my college time at UF. Gator Bill
Ohio State fans do not like to lose! I think sometimes we are a bit too rabid, but that seems to be the nature of the beast. Personally I think we had a great year. The loss to Florida was a big disappointment, but they were clearly the best team on the field that evening. What type of year we will have depends a great deal on how our QB's perform. We definitely will miss Troy Smith. I think you will see more of a running game this fall with Beanie Wells and a new frosh speedster. Defense should be pretty good this year as well. That can win a lot of games. I will be happy with two losses. Our schedule is not that difficult. I would be tickled pink to make a BCS Bowl. Don
This is a very good question and an interesting one... It is hard to not feel that it was a really great season when you go undefeated, win a #1 vs. #2 game twice (playing in three), and play for the national title. But making such a poor showing when the title is on the line leaves a sour feeling on the season, whether it was because of the coaches being out-coached, the team failing to prepare itself properly, or the vast superiority of Florida. It's not all about whether you win or lose...If we had lost a game in which I was sure that we had acquitted ourselves well, then it would have been a no-doubter that it was a great season...nobody remembers but I was the Ohio State fan who truly felt prior to the game that Fla. was good enough to beat us. What will make next season great? The same as pretty much any season...win the games you're supposed to win...play well in the games against the better teams...play well enough win or lose that I continue to look forward to the next game. You certainly don't have to win a championship to have a great year.
Stu, No doubt I know how you feel because UF went 12-0 in 1995 only to get lambasted by Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl/NC game. It did cast a big doubt heading into the next season but it also served to motivate UF to destroy FSU in the Sugar Bowl/NC game the following year. I think if and when Tressel gets 'em back to the NC game that this year's disappointment vs. Fla will be a huge factor in preparation and the Bucks are sure to do much better.
Heh, Heh... If we should be fortunate enough to be in that situation, I would bet that Coach Tressel will have plenty of motivational ideas.