No Joy In Columbus - Penalty Flag Finally Flies

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The long awaited and dreaded penalty flag was finally thrown at the Buckeyes today as the NCAA striped official  announced that all self-imposed penalties by Ohio State have been accepted.  Added on for good measure by the NCAA is a post-season bowl ban for the 2012 season along with additional loss of scholarships.  The review flag has not been tossed in Columbus and by most estimates Ohio State will not appeal the penalties. 

Also announced was that Jim Tressel, former Ohio State coach, will carry with him a boat load of baggage for any school that might be thinking of employing him.  He will carry with him to any future employment, sanctions that would be onerous to any program of note.  Good thing that Tressel latched on to the Indianapolis Colts as his days of coaching college football are long gone.  What a pity.  Part of me feels sorry for Coach Tressel but then I think of the players of Ohio State who will be unable to fully participate in 2012 and my sorrow ebbs. 

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As I have written before, I really believe the right penalty for any school violating NCAA rules should be a stiff monetary fine.  Had Ohio State received a $5,000,000 fine for the infractions, you get bet the farm that President Gordon Gee would make sure nothing of the sort would happen again.  Coaches must be getting the message by now as the severe penalty for Tressel all but ends his coaching career.  Why should next year's players be penalized for the mistakes of former players.  I still don't get that. 

Who will succumb to NCAA violations in 2012?  It is anyone's guess but rest assured, some team will.  Every year, year in and year out, a program is singled out and finds itself under the NCAA microscope.  My best guess is that LSU and Alabama will see their programs investigated by somebody.  Hope they are clean.  If not them, some other school will have a disgruntled employee, a malcontent non-playing student athlete or a booster who didn't get what he wanted, report some type of rule violation.  All it takes is one person who has a case of "sour grapes" and the whole bubble bursts. 

I continue to believe that penalizing players for past violations is not a fair way to penalize schools.  My hope for 2012 is simply that Ohio State runs the table.  We beat everybody but can't play in the Big Ten Championship nor the National Championship Game.  Had USC had their act together early in the year, they might have done it this year.  I would not be surprised at all if Ohio State makes a run next year.  They'll be playing for experience and pride next year.  I can't imagine anyone who would like to have them on their schedule. 

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I keep thinking about "The Game".  I sure hope Michigan savors their recent victory because next year, Ohio State has nothing to look forward to other than "The Game".  I do not envy the Wolverines.         

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.