Big 10 Stodginess and Cowardice?

Discussion in 'Sports Board' started by Stu Ryckman, Nov 16, 2009.

  1. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

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    http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20091116/SPORTS/911160313/1006/SPORTS/Spencer--OSU-s-image-takes-a-hit-in-Iowa-victory
    My own thoughts; it's hard to criticize too much when he usually gets away with it...but Tresselball seems to be coming closer and closer to biting him in the butt.
     
  2. BuckeyeT

    BuckeyeT Well-Known Member

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    Flavor of the day....just win baby. I think he's earned - at a minimum - our trust and the benefit of the doubt. Just win baby.....
     
  3. Terry O'Keefe

    Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Yeah pretty hard to take somebody serious when they criticize a guy like Tressel for not winning in a spectacular fashion.

    Famous (to ND fans at least) Lou Holtz Quote.


    "The expectations here at Notre Dame can change a little bit as you go along. When I first started, everybody said they just wanted us to be competitive. That first season in 1986 we went 5-6 and lost five games by a total of 14 points. But people said, 'No, when we said competitive, we meant we want you to win.' So the next year we went 8-4 and played in a New Year's Day bowl. But they said, 'No, when we said we want you to win, we meant win them all.' So the next year we did win them all. We went 12-0 and won the national championship. But they said, 'No, you don't understand, we meant we want you to win big.' That's the way it goes at Notre Dame."

    Moral: Alumni are never satisfied.
     
  4. Don Ballard

    Don Ballard Well-Known Member

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    I think Lou was right on track with that bit if information. This applies to most fan bases.

    Don
     
  5. Motorcity Gator

    Motorcity Gator Well-Known Member

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    Florida has won 20 straight games and some fans probably are frustrated with the nature of the wins.

    Me....I'll take each and every one of those sorry wins..... :wink: :D
     
  6. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Dumb article and only a dumb person would think that way.

    Then there is the portion of the fan base that would complain if you tried to win in regulation and ended up losing.

    I'll take an ugly win any day as opposed to a beautiful loss. Of course there is no such thing as a beautiful loss.

    Like MCG says there is a noisy contingent on GatorCountry that is complaining week after week about our offense. Never mind that we have won 20 in a row for the first time ever and are 10-0 for the second time ever.

    Dumb.

    Oh well congratulations on the win from someone who thinks there is nothing wrong with winning that way.
     
  7. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

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    Plenty of room to disagree, Bill, but I don't think it's that dumb...Spencer's a pretty level-headed writer, and I think he's pretty fair.

    I am very happy with my coach, thank you very much, but I don't mind somebody bringing up legitimate questions.

    Actually I agree with all the concepts of Tresselball...but I do think he has a tendency to play, uh, "close to the vest" just a tad too soon...but I'll live with it.
     
  8. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Stu, Ohio State is not my team, however I do think it's dumb to be questioning a coach with a track record like Tressel. If I read BT right above he's fully behind Tressel.

    I have become so annoyed with writers who seem to have nothing better to do than write negative articles. If Ohio State fans like this guy that's fine by me, but I would be annoyed if he was writing that about the Gators.
     
  9. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

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    Well, I guess if you only want fluff pieces written... :wink:
     
  10. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

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    It's not that I want only fluff pieces written, but fair pieces. Ohio State just wins the Big 10 and someone writes an article like that. Not fluff for sure.

    But what was the purpose?

    But like I said if Ohio State fans are happy with the article then it's fine by me. I'm glad the writer is in Ohio and not Florida.

    However he may be better than some we have in Florida. :)
     
  11. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

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    Didn't say I was "happy" with it.

    Does everything around here have to be so black and white? Does everything have to be all gushy and rosy or contentious and angry?

    Just because I think he raises a couple of interesting and legitimate questions does not mean I am in 100% agreement with him.

    I think Jim Tressel is one of the best 4 or 5 coaches in the country (and may be one of the best of that group)...I think Jim Tressel has his warts...I think we are allowed to discuss them, even after a big win, without any disrespect for him or the things he's accomplished.
     
  12. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

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    Here is an article the same guy wrote just the day before (after the same game)...hardly a hatchet job.

    http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20091115/SPORTS/911150321/-1/NEWS17/Spencer-s-View--An-unlikely-hero

    He isn't some big name sports writer...just a local small town guy.
     
  13. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Stu, let me just say this, that if you are happy with him then that makes it fine with me.

    I just find it a bit strange that on a day when Ohio State cinches the Big 10 for who knows how many times in a row he finds fault with how it was done.

    I guess it reminds me of way to many Gator fans that have to find something to be unhappy with.

    But I'll take your word and move on.
     
  14. Don Ballard

    Don Ballard Well-Known Member

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    It seems at times writers take pot shots at Ohio State. Whether it is more than other schools I can not verify.

    However, its a free country for people to express themselves. We can agree or disagree, but I do not ever get too upset over the articles.

    Probably my age! :lol:

    Don
     
  15. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

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    Sometimes folks confuse me;

    Bill: "But like I said if Ohio State fans are happy with the article then it's fine by me."

    Stu: "Didn't say I was "happy" with it. "

    Followed by Bill: "Stu, let me just say this, that if you are happy with him then that makes it fine with me."

    I posted that article 'cause I thought maybe there was a little bit of something worth discussing in the content...obviously not...

    I only got a discussion about hatchet jobs vs. fluff pieces...

    Fair enough...but I don't post things that I think are only hatchet jobs...Go Bucks.

    Probably MY age, Don.
     
  16. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

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    Stu, I apologize.

    First I guess my age has not mellowed me like Don, I take issue with all the negative articles out there about the Gators and other teams. I saw the big headlines and think the premise of Ohio State's image taking a hit and yes thought it was another hit job.

    I don't think Ohio State's image took a hit by playing this game not to lose.

    However after reading the article again and if I take the point about the brand of football in the Big Ten being in need of some shaking up then yes I agree.

    I heard this week, but did not see a quote, about a reporter asking Rich Rod about why was he was not playing Michigan football. If I understood right he said something along the lines that the Big 10 was not having a lot of success in bowl games.

    So my opinion as an outsider is that he has a point. If the goal is to only win the Big 10 then fine. But if it's to be competitive with the S. Cal's, the Gators, the Alabama's, the LSU tigers and others as well as win the Big 10 then I think Rich Rod is right.

    The SEC went though that in the 90's when a brash young Spurrier burst on the scene with his high octane offense. A lot of SEC coaches and writers said he would never win with it that the SEC defenses would get the better of his offense. It not only never happened, but the rest of the SEC ended up changing andafter not winning a National Championship in the conference for over 10 years won three in the 90's and now 3 in the 2000's.

    So again I apologize ane will say this, I am still tired of reading negative articles all the time but think this guy probably does have a point in the bigger picture than winning that game.
     
  17. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

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    LOL...now I feel like a crybaby...I'll get over it (sniff)...

    As I mentioned to you in private email, even Kirk H., Earl Bruce, and Paul Kiels (sp?) were alluding some of the same things this week.

    Gotta go...big day today.
     
  18. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

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    He made some good points Stu. Unfortunately I didn't get by the impression the headline left me with.

    I don't think Ohio State took a hit in the Iowa game but I do agree with a lot of what he said about stodginess.

    And we went through it in the SEC and as all these things have cycles, probably will again.
     
  19. Stu Ryckman

    Stu Ryckman Well-Known Member

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    As you probably know, the headline writer isn't usually the author of the article...

    With Gerry now...kegs and eggs!!
     
  20. Gator Bill

    Gator Bill Well-Known Member Administrator

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