Not sure that OL chart is all that meaningful. Notice A&M near the bottom, but no one is complaining about our OL performance... #MaroonGoons
Coaching and developing is 1/2 the battle. Have to have some clay to mould but you also have to know how to mold it.
I think with OL it's more like 80% of the battle. Those guys are the least developed in high school. Some come out big, but very few come out technically competent. You never know which is at his apex then, or if they will mature into something else.
I am satisfied that we do have some COVID issues here at Ohio State prior to the game. No names or numbers. I will not be surprised is the game is postponed, just a gut feeling. You can not trust the news anymore, so it is difficult to establish the actual stage of events. I hope we can play but I seriously doubt we can beat Alabama especially if we are missing some key players.
While I would rather both teams are healthy, I don't think the game should be postponed for Fields to have another week to heal. As far as Covid numbers, every team including Ohio State has had to deal with that all year, so as long as they meet the requirements and I think CFP committee has set requirements for a team to play, they should play. As kp keeps saying...* season.
Terry, I too would like to see the game played, my biggest concern is not Fields, but a major fallout for certain total positions, that would make it impossible to compete on a level playing field.
it would certainly put a big * on the game if Ohio State has to play with a lot of players missing. But if they contracted Covid since last Friday, when would they even be available? Then what happens if in the meantime Alabama has a problem pop up and can't play on the 18th?
I would agree, which ever school wins will celebrate it like it was a normal year, as well they should. But it's not a normal year and if Ohio State at say 65 scholarship players available plays Alabama at say 80+ Scholarship players available, it won't get an asterisk but it's not a normal championship game.
Don, I respectfully disagree. My only point of reference is the NBA and MLB. Both seasons clearly were * seasons, but the conditions were the same for every team, so the teams in the finals earned their way. Ohio State erased any question of its eligibility for the playoff with its drubbing of Clemson. While we'll remember the season as perhaps the oddest in the last 100 years, I, for one, will honor the winner as the non * national champ.
Sid, I hope you're right for everyone else, but I think you already see the disclaimers. No, at this point, I don't think Alabama can conceivably come out of this as a "normal" National Champion should they win. If Ohio State should win, they at least would have won even though they had all of the Covid losses. One thing though, I really am proud of the Alabama team for buying in and apparently doing what was necessary to avoid spreading the virus within the team. At least so far. *
I guess we will have to see how things play out. As Kp has stated early on the asterisk is always going to be there. I am looking forward to the game and I believe both squads will make us all proud of their accomplishments as well. Hopefully we will not have to experience something like this again in the years that follow. Sid, I really do follow your thinking and level head approach.
Asterisk, schmasterisk.....it is what it is. The season was all jacked up from the get go, bfd, let's go. Coach Day says game on, he'll play with whoever he's got. Sources who have proven to be accurate in the past are indicating we're down a few DLinemen, one of who may be Togiai. He would be a massive loss but Bama recently lost their starting center, **** happens, it's football. Our squad arrives in Miami this afternoon, it's gonna be a good one. If Fields is serviceable, I think we match up well. If he's not up to it, I'll be looking for Cardale Jones.....Good luck to KP and the Bama kids
AJ, there was an old George Carlin bit where he was a sports announcer on the evening news. He's says "and now a partial score from the Alabama Ohio State game .....Alabama 24....! " That's kind of.like your post.