Urban Meyer Now At The Hallowed Shoe

Love them or hate them, Urban Meyer has joined an elite group of men who have coached The Ohio State Buckeyes.  The group is illustrious and well-known in football circles.  Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce, John Cooper, Jim Tressel and now Urban Meyer.  Just ask John Cooper who has one of the best winning percentages of all time in college football.  Coop could not beat Michigan; was fired for not being able to win "The Game".  Earle Bruce, Hall of Fame Coach, was fired by the university.  Bruce had a good record against Michigan. 

Jim Tressel, the best of the best records against Michigan, was forced out because of NCAA violations which Meyer will now inherit.  Then, there's the legend of Woody Hayes.  Woody built the fierce rivalry with the team "up north" with his colleague and friend, Bo Schembechler.  Two national championships at Florida and great performances at both Bowling Green and Utah will not account for much if he can't match-up to the likes of Hayes, Brown, Bruce and Tressel.   

Soon, the other shoe will drop on Ohio State Football when the NCAA announces either acceptance of the self-imposed penalties for violations committed at Ohio State or adds to them.  Most believe there will at least be some additional  sanctions placed on the Buckeyes, perhaps losing additional scholarships and even a bowl game for the 2012 season.  It is believed that the announcement will come as early as December. 

In some ways this might be a break for Meyer.  Expectations will not be as high immediately given the sanctions.  He still will have to beat Michigan and beat them right away.  Losing the game this year was not only expected but not nearly the disappointment given all the talk of Meyer taking the Ohio State job.  Now that he has taken the job, beating Michigan will be an immediate expectation.  He will be given a year, perhaps two, before the expectation is winning the Big Ten Championship and the National Championship.  No matter what, beating Michigan outweights everything else he might want to accomplish. 

Fortunately for Meyer, the cupboard is not bare.  He has a quarterback that he can live with in Braxton Miller.  In fact, most Buckeyes are excited about Miller's future with Meyer in place.  Running a spread offense will fit nicely with Miller's skills and there is no question that Meyer will recruit the right quarterback coach to develop Miller's passing ability.  Recruiting will be priority one for Urban Meyer as he will do his best to erect a fence around the State of Ohio keeping every top prospect in state and in Scarlet and Gray. 

Most Buckeye faithful are hopeful too that his recruiting reach from his days as Coach of the Florida Gators will influence many of Florida's top prospects to brave the colder temperatures and choose Ohio State over Florida, Florida State and many of the other top-notch southern schools.  Meyer clearly understands what it means to be the Head Coach at The Ohio State University.  On paper, it's the perfect fit.  According to Meyer, it's his dream job.  Most Buckeye fans suffered all season with a bad case of indigestion thanks to the loss of Jim Tressel.  Those same fans feel today that Urban Meyer is just what the doctor ordered.

The Big Game - A Dog For A Change

This Saturday in November has always filled my being with anxiety, joy, turmoil and absolute delight.  All year long I patiently wait for the arrival of this fourth Saturday in November when my Ohio State Buckeyes meet the Wolverines of Michigan for the "The Game".   Like many Buckeye fans, the evening before is a sleepless night as so much always rests on "The Game".  For seven consecutive years now, the Ohio State Buckeyes have had the upper hand.  We have won this game 9 out of last 10 times it has been played.  Today, the game is at "The Big House" in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  It is really tough to win at The Big House.

One walks through the tradition and storied past of this incredible rivalry and they will find some of the greatest college football games ever played.  They would see upset again and again where the rival Wolverines took away the Buckeyes national championship dreams.  Same goes for Michigan with Ohio State ruining more than just a few seasons for the vaulted Wolverines.  Today's game has the Wolverines significantly favored to win for the first time in years.  Ohio State has only had troubles this past year and Michigan has rebounded from three years of awful.  At the same time, the season goes out the window, favorites are cast aside, this is the "Big Game" and none of those things mean anything on this Saturday. 

Today's game is everything for these two programs.  No matter what the record, beating Michigan if you are Ohio State is the season.  It wasn't all that many years ago when Ohio State fired their head coach, John Cooper, for not being able to beat Michigan.  Cooper was able to beat everybody else and is still one of the most successful coaches in all of college football.   Wasn't good enough at Ohio State.  Rich Rodriguez was Michigan's coach for the last three years and he could not beat Ohio State even once.  He received his walking papers too.  It's just the way this game is.  You must win it and you must win it at least half of the time if not more to be considered among the greats. 

This has always been a tough day for me filling the clock until kick-off.  This year I have managed better than most as I have had other issues to contend with.  However, with only thirty minutes to kick-off, the butterflies are in full force as I prepare to take my seat and root on my Buckeyes.   It actually feels good today to be the underdog.  Maybe we will surprise everyone once again with a mighty upset and improve our recent record one more time.  If not, looks like we will have a new coach next week and I have a sneaky feeling that we won't be losing many more games to the Wolverines for years to come. 

Just received another text message from a fellow Buckeye.  He just said the same thing.  Urban Meyer is on his way to Buckeye Nation.  We just hope Luke Fickel's last game as the Ohio State Football coach is a great one.  Good Luck Luke. 

BEAT MICHIGAN-GREAT WIN; LOSE-WIN URBAN MEYER

"The Big Game", as it is known to everyone in Michigan and Ohio, pits the improving and favored Wolverines against the sanctioned and struggling Buckeyes this Saturday. The Buckeyes visit the Big House with seven straight wins and nine out of last ten. For the Buckeyes, beating Michigan is like a season unto itself. This Saturday's game unlike most "Big Games" does not feature either program as the prominent football team vying for a Rosel Bowl berth or one of the other BCS games. This year's game may come down to Ohio State wanting to hire a new football coach.

It's a foregone conclusion that Urban Meyer is going to be the next Ohio State football coach. The question is, when will they ink the deal? If Ohio State loses to Michigan, all bets are on a deal being signed by Sunday with an announcement as early as Monday. However, if Ohio State defeats Michigan, they most certainly will accept a bowl invitation and play on into December. If that happens, this will push back Urban Meyer's hiring.

So the real question becomes, beat Michigan this Saturday and end up in a lesser bowl game or lose Saturday and hire Urban Meyer on Sunday. The advantage of hiring Meyer so quickly is all about recruiting and not missing out on even one prospect. Arguably, the 2012 season will be all about installing his own system and 2013 will be his run for the national championship.

So there it is Buckeye nation, take the win over Michigan on Saturday and a lesser known bowl game in December or lose to Michigan, hire Meyer on Sunday and play for a national championship in 2013. Although no Buckeye fan would ever admit to wanting to lose a game to Michigan, I suspect there are many who are thinking that way. Give up a loss to Michigan in order to play for a national championship in 2013. An option worth consideration.

More To Come At Penn State

It seems impossible to believe that the Penn State story of alleged sexual abuse by Jerry Sandusky could get worse but I'm afraid we're only at the beginning of this terrible tragedy.  So far, Penn State's President has been fired, Joe Paterno has been fired as well as several others.  There will be more names that we won't be as familiar with getting gone in the days, weeks and perhaps months ahead.  There are so many unanswered questions and only a thorough, transparent investigation will reveal them

How many more victims will come forward?  How many more folks on staff at Happy Valley will be found to be part of the group that stood idly by while young boys were being violated.  Questions around the football team and Joe Paterno are many and answers will be found out.  Why did Jerry Sandusky, one of the most successful defensive coordinators in the nation,  resign from the program in 1998?  Was there a coverup with his resignation?  Was there an agreement?  Did the university settle any kind of issue with a family of an abused child? 

Was there any complicity on the part of the administration?  Questions abound and as each one gets an aswerd, there will be ten more. That's how these stories unfold.  We are only at the beginning of the process and State College is now filled with reporters, investigative reporters who know how to ask questions, solicit answers and dig for the truth. 

One must also ask why Jerry Sandusky was allowed to continue to use Penn State facilities and be involved with a youth program that utilized Penn State facilities when there were questions about his pedophia-type behavior all the way back to 1998?  None of it makes any sense. 

I suspect that the soon to be had answers to all of these questions and many more will become apparent in the days ahead.  The trustees obviously hope to kill the story or at least get it off the front page with the firings of the key administrative staff and coaching legend.  This story will not go away and will be reported on day in and day out going forward.  It's being reported the FBI is now involved on some level and they bring a whole new level of investigating to this terrible crime. 

This tragedy will overshadow all the other storylines of 2011 college football.  As it should.  Not reporting this type of criminal behavior when you are in a position of authority and respect is indeed a serious matter and needs to be brought forth in a significant fashion. It isn't hard to believe that more criminal charges will be filed against Jerry Sandusky and just maybe some other Penn State faculty. 

Penn State University needs to wrap it's arms around this in a big fashion and be forthwright, transparent and communicative.  Ultimately, how they respond to the issue now is largely going to determine how quickly the university can regain some of its credibility with the people of the nation.  They do not want to fail this part of the process.  It will determine how much long term damage the university will suffer.  Not so much even with athletics but also with academics.

The university needs to make sure that their internal investigation is as independent as possible.  A statewide well-respected leader would be a great starting point.  Maybe even a few former Penn State football players to help restore the football program through the creation of some type of charitable foundation that supports and helps sexually abused children.  All of this of course will be caught-up in the university trying to protect its flank as well.  Civil suits will certainly be coming their way.  Penn State needs to get in front of this story and work it hard. 

For now, we only have questions that we expect answers to.  How could this go on for all these years and no one took it seriously enough to stop it.     

Rumors Have It

The Ohio State Buckeyes once again lost a close one at home to the Penn State Nittany Lions today.  It was a good game to watch as both teams actually had some offense to go with their stubborn defenses.  However, the talk in Buckeye nation is not so much about this year's team as it is about Urban Meyer becomming the next Ohio State football coach.  Rumors starting flying earlier in the week when word leaked out that there had been some discussions. 

Both Meyer and Gene Smith, Athletic Director of Ohio State, deny that there have been any talks or job offered.  On both counts, both Meyer and Smith did not emphatically deny anything.  Generally, when you hear this type of narrative between two parties, expecially coaches and universities, experience tells us that a deal is coming.  There is still one more game to play on this year's schedule plus the potential for a lesser bowl for the Buckeyes.  Of course that game is "The Game" next Saturday against the Wolverines of Michigan. 

Everyone in Columbus knew the opportunity was there for Meyer to take the Buckeye job when he relocated to the greater Columbus area over a year ago.  Although an Ohio native, by all accounts, it seems strange that he move would into an area of Ohio without potential interest in taking the job. 

Some Buckeye fans may be relunctant to see Meyer hired for the prestigious position as he was the Florida coach who defeated the Troy Smith-led Buckeyes in their second championship game in the early 2000's.  Others are chomping at the bit thinking that an Urban Meyer-led Buckeye team would light it up for a change with a whole brand new way of playing football in Columbus. 

Urban Meyer would make them forget about Woody Hayes and his three yards and a cloud of dust.  Urban Meyer would make them forget about Jim Tressel and his defensive, field position style of play.   Meyer would actually have the team go offensive in a big way which most Buckeye fans would love to see. 

The timing is right.  Only a week left and "The Game".  They could have him signed, sealed and delivered in plenty of time to be able to hit the ground running with recruitment.  Eager Ohio State fans can only think of what he might be able to land out of the State of Florida where speed is king. 

Others are concerned that Urban Meyer will refuse the position because the Buckeyes are going to be sanctioned in some fashion or another by the NCAA for the infractions of this year.  The self-imposed penalties may be added to including non-appearance in a bowl game for 2012.  That actually might work to Meyer's advantage being able to build, shape and mold a team in his own fashion not having to worry about being competitive right away for a national title shot. 

My guess is that Ohio State will bid farewell to Luke Fickel and welcome in Urban Meyer as early as a week from Sunday, the day after the Buckeyes beat Michigan.  It's a shame for Fickel as he has done a credible job in a very difficult situation.  However, the Buckeyes expect to win the Big Ten every year; compete for the national title every year.  They know with Urban Meyer, they have a far better shot at doing both.   

No Joy At State College

 No one will forget the 2011 College Football season now.  One can fondly remember how College Football not all that long ago was about the games, the kids playing them, the rivalries and the great coaches.  This year has revealed that College Football is subject to the same deep, dark and ugly realities of life in the 21st Century.  The weekend revelations of Jerry Sandusky and his alleged sexual abuse of young boys is as troubling as it gets.  The game's most revered coach, Joe Paterno, finds himself in the incredibly unsustainable position of having to explain away why he didn't take one, two or three additional steps to protect these young boys.  Clearly, he reported as required under the law.  However, this is Joe Paterno, a man beyond reproach and undeniably holder of the highest ground that any man can stand on.

Later this morning, Joe Paterno will take center stage at Penn State University and have to explain to a world watching why he felt it was enough to report the potential abuse to his employer.  Why, when no actions were taken on Jerry Sandusky, he did not follow-up with other reporting to additional university leaders or the legal authorities.  The 84-year old iconic coach won't be answering questions about spreads, linebacker play or how he feels about coaching from the sky box.  These will be questions unlike any he has ever been asked in his 47-year coaching career. 

What does Joe Paterno say to those young men who were victims of these crimes.  To their families.  These stories of our leaders falling and failing have happened throughout all of time.  It should never come as a surprise as each and every person is but a moment away from making a right or wrong decision.  This year has seen two great leaders of our young men in College Football make bad decisions.  Joe Paterno of Penn State and Jim Tressel of Ohio State, two leaders at great universities with storied football programs.  It is true, they are held to much higher standards than the likes of you and me. 

We expect only the best from our leaders.  We expect them to win and win with honor always.  When they fail us, for some of us, it feels like we have failed.  We placed our belief and loyalty in these individuals of honor.  We use words like character, integrity and class to describe them.  Others chime in with ugly words of joy that these respected men have fallen from their pedestals and places of high-standing.  There is no joy for me in this.  There is no joy in State College, Pennsylvania in this.  There is no joy for Joe Paterno in this. 

Hopefully, we learn from this.  We learn to be balanced in our respect and love of our leaders.  We recognize the human condition for what it is.  Fragile and unforgiving.  This will be the end of Joe Paterno's career at Penn State University.  There are no words that he can communicate to recover the moment.  There are no trick plays, no Hail Mary's  and no review flags to throw.  His career at Penn State is now over. 

He will be remembered as one of true champions of College Football.  His fans, the alumni of Penn State and many of us throughout the nation will remember him as a truly great leader of young men.  Unfortunately, like the great Woody Hayes of Ohio State who made one wrong decision, there will always be an asterisk to his accomplishments.  The fanfare, the celebration and all the accolades for an incredible career will forever be tarnished by this one failure on his part.   Watching Joe Paterno for 45 years now, being the man of character that he is, he would not wish for the anonymity of his players and their nameless jerseys when he steps on stage this morning.