OK....I can see you guys are just happier keeping your head in the sand on this one. I suggest you stay away from all media, college football preseason magazines, TV preseason football shows and especially ESPN Gameday because you just won't like what you hear on Ohio State when it comes to the USC game and what it means for the Buckeyes vs. what it means for USC. That way you can internalize still that it's just me...MCG... bashing Ohio State.. :lol:
I have to disagree with you here. I think this game is more exciting for college football than any game that has been played recently amongst nonconference foes. Yes, the Ohio State/Texas matchup was very nice. There are also some other nice nonconference games that take place every season. This game, on the other hand, gives college football fans a Rose Bowl during the regular season. On top of that, these two schools both have to be considered among the top 5 in this decade. I know there will be varying opinions on this but I think anyone's top 5 for this decade would go something like USC, LSU, OSU, Oklahoma, and Miami or something along those lines. You could also make a strong case for Texas as well. This game is enormous because of all the tradition and the current status of these two great programs. Like MCG said, you have to be excited about this game if you're a college football fan. Kudos to the athletic departments at both schools for making it happen.
Well let me see MCG, Athlon has Florida at number one and Ohio State at number 2. That certainly has to be a downer for the Ohio State fans. I'll bet that Ohio State is ranked at least top 10 by almost every magazine and ranking. That certainly has to be a downer for the Ohio State fans. Not many people can turn that kind of respect into a negative, but you continue to do that. Then you wonder why people say the things that seem to bother you.
Aquila, agreed that kudos should go out to both athletic depts for giving us this match up and I agree that it is asa big an early season match-up as any we've had in a while. Good stuff for sure..... However, it's title implications are no different than any other early season match-up of contenders. If we lose our title chances are less than they would be otherwise and if we win, SC's title chances are less than they would be otherwise - as of that point in the season. From that point on, the games will be played the season will play out and by Christmas, we'll know who the title game participants will be.....just like every other year.
Geez, I can't wait until Nebraska gets back on track so we can turn the channel to some real **** talking.
Gee Bill, give us some credit.....top 10???? :wink: I haven't seen us ranked any lower than 3rd and the experts from ESPN in the article linked below have us preseason 1! Gimme a freakin' break, you Gator fans are all alike! :wink: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3388100
Ok Terry, better than top 10!! 8) 8) 8) Actually at this point the most I would say about anyone, including the Gators, is top 10. :roll: :roll: I just picked up my first pre-season mag today. Lindy's. They have Georgia and USC in the Championship game with Ohio State, Oaklahoma, Missouri, Florida, LSU, Texas, W. Virginia and Clemson rounding out the top 10. But hey, who's keeping track??? 8) 8)
How's that sand taste BT? Can you see down there? 8) Read the ESPN article and while it says with a loss OSU "may" wind up in the BCS title game it also started out with a negative statement about who wants to see the Buckeyes there and not many raising their hands in the affirmative, etc. The key is the rest of the Big Ten. If they look mediocre as a whole and do nothing on a national scale to excel then OSU gets no style points for besting the conference and the conference only. THIS is not "bashing" for cryin out loud....its's the damned truth.
....the damned truth is that the facts would indicate that Big 10 has acquitted itself quite favorably on a national scale if one can make the assumption that SEC competition is a worthy standard. If one is of the opinion that the SEC is the strongest of the conferences, one cannot also at the same time question the worthiness of Ohio State's conference competition......there is no rational argument to that end and it simply does not compute. For an SEC fan to persist in that reminds me of a Monty Python movie....... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nL0dnrFbhtE&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nL0dnrFbhtE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Why would anyone be surprised that many don't want to see Ohio State in a 3rd consecutive title game. People also get tired of Tiger Woods winning majors and are thrilled with the curent struggles of the Yankees and Notre Dame....only you can put a negative spin on that article.
Last year the SEC won 7 bowl games....the most by any conference ever in one bowl season. They lost two. The Big Ten was 3-5... Ohio State lost at home to the only top 15 ranked team it played. Otherwise the Buckeyes did enough to win the Big Ten. Just remember I said when the season was over I was not impressed by those accomplishments and in light of the loss to LSU... 2007 Ohio State did not impress me. On that I find it unusual that I am not allowed to have my opinion on this board without tart rebuke. It is how I viewed the season last year for Ohio State plain and simple. I have been in a similar position on this board in years past with regard to Penn State one year and Notre Dame a couple of times and I was always proven to be right. My opinion of 2007 OSU is an opinion shared by many like it or not. If the Buckeyes go on and beat USC at their place this season that will be a much more impressive feat than anything they accomplished last year. Win the Big Ten after that and the resume is impressive enough to get back to the title game. It's pretty simple.
....as is the Black Knight, you are of course entitled to your opinion. There are also those of the opinion that the earth is flat and Elvis lives...... Sir Knight, surely there are those that salute the strength of your convictions......but my guess is that they are few and far between.
It seems to me Dave that you have adopted a stance where your premises are. 1. SEC is the best conference every year. 2. 11 out of the 12 SEC teams are very tough teams, no other conference has more than 2 tough teams. Therefore no team other than a SEC team really plays a difficult schedule. 3. Therefore all teams other than SEC teams who reach the BCS Championship games are doing so by playing weak schedules. They would never make it if they played a SEC schedule.
TOK, I don't have a problem with a guy thinking his conference or his team is the best.....however, as many others have noted, the problem is with the incessant, obsessive need to belittle the accomplishments of others in an effort to make their own seem more worthy. The guy's obsession with the need to undermine the accomplishments of Ohio State are truly borderline freaky......who in the hell wants to log on here and read that crap on a daily basis????? Surely not me and I can't imagine who else enjoys the constant drivel..... It is classless and reflects very poorly on those for whom it's a common practice whether or not they admit it.....surely there is a 12 step program that can help.
oh my <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> No it isn't. Its your opinion that is 'backed' by an opinion piece written for the ENTERTAINMENT sports PROGRAMMING NETWORK.<br/> <br/> Surely, you must see the holes in the strength of that contention?</r>
I'll translate Corey's response for MCG. Dude, you can't see the forest for all the trees in the way! 8) Dave, It has been pointed out that you formulate your opinions without regard for the thoughts and concerns of those to which you preach. If the preacher calls you a sinner with no chance of being saved, his collection plate will not support his next cup of coffee. For you to have meaningful conversations with the people of this board, you can not be the above mentioned preacher.
I stand by my conviction that while Ohio State has a great program with a lot of history that last season they had a weak resume to play for the national title and that was proven out in the NC game vs. LSU and by the Big Ten season record and bowl record. I also stand by my conviction that last year combined with two years in a row of losses in the NC game will make it mandatory to beat USC for OSU to play in a 3rd consecutive BCS title game. If you want to think that is obsessive "bashing" of Ohio State and a personal opinion of mine only and not one not held by many others then that is your conviction and we will agree to disagree. The upcoming season will bear out the facts.
Let's not take this too far...Dave hasn't posted anything that I find particularly untrue or offensive...and neither is he deliberately offensive to other posters. It just is frustrating to me that whenever somebody debates him, even when backed up by reasonable facts, we are either "shooting the messenger" or have our "heads in the sand." Even when you say "that isn't the point" it somehow comes back to the same point.