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THE GAME:

"By my count if we fire one offensive coach a week we will be rid of them all be season's end. I actually believe that at this stage of the game having no offensive coaches is better than what we have."

I don't know where to start. I drove six hours to visit my nephew and niece and see a good Ohio State road win to tie a Big Ten record and instead saw the worst game of the Tressel era. In nine years Tressel has never had a good offense and doesn't seem to care to do anything about it. But this offense is an absolute train wreck. Pryor can't pass. And if he could, he wouldn't have time. And if he could and he had time, his receivers wouldn't be open. So what that leaves is running the ball from the same tired sets to the same tired spots. Every defense we play knows where the ball is going from every formation. Just put eight in the box and leave two guys to guard the ends from a Pryor run and it is check and mate. I've been a die hard Buckeye for over forty years and these are the worst offensive coaches I've ever seen. The wheels have come off and the train is sliding sideways down the track toward the big trestle over the deep gorge.

By my count if we fire one offensive coach a week we will be rid of them all be season's end. I actually believe that at this stage of the game having no offensive coaches is better than what we have. Hell, just let the players go out and draw up some plays in the dirt. It looks like that's what they're doing any way.

Jim Tressel gets paid 3.5 million dollars a year to put a quality, big time football team on the field. Not half a team but a team that includes a defense AND an offense. He gets paid the big bucks to make the big decisions. He does the hiring and the firing of the coaches as a part of those big decisions. The fans don't care if the running back's coach is his brother or the offensive line coach is his best friend. You brought them there, you take care of the problem or the fans will take care of you. And rightfully so. If they are only going to see half a team they should only have to pay half the price to get in. When gate receipts fall at Ohio State the head coach is sure to fall with them. And they will fall. People will not pay $64 to see that crap every week.

This week we regressed from opening the game with a three and out to opening it with a two and out on the first of many Pryor fumbles. I think Pryor is so competitive that when he screws up he just can't shake it. It's like when I top a seven wood. I am so pissed that it is all I can think about for at least three or four more holes. When Pryor fumbled on the first play of the third quarter he couldn't recover and compose himself for the rest of the quarter. All he could think of was that damn fumble. Then he had two interceptions and his psyche was fried like a Colonel Sanders chicken.

I played the third quarter again on my DVR when I got home just to see if it was as terrible as I remembered seeing it live. Here's what happened in the worst quarter of Tresselball, if not the worst quarter of Ohio State football ever:

Purdue takes the kickoff and marches down the field and scores to take a 16-7 lead. As they had the football last to score at the end of the half it has been at least a half an hour that our offensive coaches have had to settle the players down and come up with the adjustments needed to move the football.

On our first play of the third quarter Pryor pitches wide to the trailing tailback which results in a fumble that we recover for a ten yard loss. Second and twenty leads to three and out.

Next possession. First down, false start. Second and fifteen. Interception.

Next possession. First down, false start. Second down and fifteen, almost interception. Third down, interception.

Purdue then marches down and scores to make it 23-7.

We then muff the kickoff but finally pick it up and get hammered at the fourteen yard line.

First down sack for a loss of ten. Second and twenty leads to three and out. Purdue has the ball the rest of the quarter.

So how's that for a quarter? Where are the coaches? Our offensive linemen have been playing since the fifth grade and haven't learned how to go on the snap count yet. Then they can't block. That's coaching. The players will say, "Well, we didn't execute, the coaches didn't miss the block." But obviously the coaches didn't teach them how to make the block, who to make the block against or where to be to make the block. Pryor is under intense pressure every play and it is blatantly clear that he doesn't do well under pressure. He takes ten or twenty yard sacks when he should be throwing the ball away, he throws passes up for grabs when he has an open field to run, he can't hit a ten yard pass on the rare occasion that his receiver actually goes ten yards and is able to get open. That's all coaching folks. This is the first time in five years that Ohio State lost to a team that didn't end the year in the top 10. This game is down there with Earle Bruce's loss to Indiana and John Cooper's loss to Air Force.

I have been a Tressel supporter from the day he was hired. I've never liked his offenses but have learned to live with them because he does everything else so right. But at the end of this year if he doesn't do a total shake up of the offensive coaching staff then he has lost me and my support and I would imagine the support of most of the Ohio State fans.

THAT WHICH WAS:

Two more teams, Kansas and South Florida fell from the ranks of the undefeated. Florida stayed there because the SEC refs wanted to keep the number one ranking in the SEC. Texas stayed there because they reinjured Bradford's shoulder. Alabama, Iowa, and Cincinnati won against good competition and deserve to be there. Boise State and TCU continue to play a weak schedule that will keep them there.

Alabama beat S. Carolina 20-6. Spurrier VS Saban. Yuk.

Florida beat Arkansas 23-20. If you can't beat them square and fair, pay the refs.

Auburn dropped to 4-3. We may meet them in the Weed Eater Bowl.

Last week I asked how bad N.C. State was after losing to Duke. This week they lost to Boston College 52-20. I guess that answers that question.

Cal declawed the Bruins 45-26. The Bruin fans couldn't Bear to watch it.

Cincinnati traveled to South Florida and pounded the Bulls on their home field 34-17. I guess they were right, they are the best college football team in Ohio. Hell, they're probably better than the Browns and the Bengals too.

Colorado upset Kansas 34-30. This is the same team that lost to Colorado State and Toledo so that tells you how weak Kansas's schedule was that they were undefeated.

The East Carolina Pirates looked the Rice Owls right in the eyes and said, "Who?" "Who?" Arrrghhh

Georgia with a Tech beat Virginia with a Tech 28-23. Virginia Tech joined Ohio State in a free fall in the polls. They fell to 15th and we fell to 17th which is still much higher than I would have voted us. At least VT lost to a good team, we lost to a 1-5 armpit of the Big 10.

Iowa went on the road and beat Wisconsin 20-10. That's a tough place to win. They also beat Penn State in Happy Valley. I don't think their knees will be knocking when they enter the Horseshoe in four weeks.

meeeshitagin pounded poor division II Delaware State 63-6.

The Men of Troy beat up on Big Chuck and the Little Leprechauns of $Notre Dame 34-27. $ND almost pulled it off when the refs gave them one more second for one more play but Jimmy couldn't get it done. I'm thinking Charlie just can't take another loss but there is no one left on the schedule to beat them so it looks like a BSC bowl game and another contract extension for the big guy. Weis is now 1-11 against top 25 teams.

Texas beat Oklahoma 16-13 and Colt McCoy looked almost as inept as Terrelle Pryor. Well, maybe not THAT inept...... Oklahoma without Bradford is like Ohio State without a defense. Can't play.

Penn State beat Mini-soso 20-0 in six inches of snow. You would have thought the game was at Mini-soso.

Kansas State beat Texas A&M 62-14 to take the lead in the Big 12 North.

Clems-son took Wake Forest behind the wood shed and beat them like a Republican running for Mayor of Boston.

Washington State had a bye week and therefor didn't lose to anybody this week.

Mount Union traveled to Heidelberg and beat The Student Princes 44-14 and moved back into #1 in the division III polls. Also from the Ohio Athletic Conference in the top 25 is Otterbein, Capitol and Ohio Northern.

THAT WHICH WILL BE:

Tennessee travels to Alabama so that Lane Kiffin can find out what it's like to lose there too.

Arkansas travels to Mississippi where they hope to get the same SEC refs that they had against Florida because those refs definitely owe them one.

The Auburn Tigers go on the road to play The LSU Tigers. Grrrrrrrrrrrreattttt. Tony the Tiger is betting his stripes on LSU.

Boston College plays at $Notre Dame. Regardless of what BC just did to NC State they are a pretty crappy team and should lose. However, this is their season so Charlie Cheeseburger better be ready.

TCU at BYU. This is not just a bunch of letters here. BYU is 6-1 and TCU is 6-0. This should be one of the better games this weekend.

Clems-son at Criami. Should be a win for The Hurricanes but every once in a while Clems-son beats a good team to upset the ACC apple cart. I think they do it this week.

Florida gets a week off and a little vacation as they travel to the heart of what's hip, Starkville, Mississippi to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Tim Tebow will bless the stadium before the game.

Iowa at Michigan State. This is the most important game in the Big 10 this week as once again Iowa has to go on the road to prove themselves. The Spartans will be pumped, should be a good one down to the wire.

Penn State at meeeshitagin. Tater Tot faces his first real defense this week and may have his fragile little body broken in half. This should also be a game worth watching if there is such a thing in the Big 10.

Minni-soso at Ohio State. Who cares, the season is over. It's all about recruiting new offensive coaches for next year. Or, as I say in golf after my first double bogey, it's all about exercise now.

Oregon at Washington. This is just a warm up for USC the next week.

Oregon State at USC. The Beavers take on the Trojans. Wow, you can just make up your own headline for this game. Trojans Slip It To The Beavers. Beavers Engulf The Trojans.

Willmington travels to Alliance, Ohio to take on the Mount Union Purple Raiders. Willmington is 1-5 and will be down by 35 at the half.

The Coach

Tags: big 10 football, college football, jim tressel, ohio state football, terrelle pryor