Like most Ohio State fans, my cable provider doesn’t have the Big Ten Network. And no matter how many times I’ve said I hate it, when I do catch a glimpse, I like what I see. You will never see this kind of coverage on ESPN. Unlike the rest of the college sports world, the BTN understands that when it comes down to it, there is no football like Big Ten football, there are no fans like Big Ten fans, there is no tradition like Big Ten tradition. The BTN is the one media outlet that doesn’t continually drive the SEC or USC down my throat and I like it that way. All college football coverage should be so glorious.
Since my neighbor’s wife banned me from watching the BTN at her house early on, I have to catch it where I can. That’s why I was glad to see the video below on the Buckeye Commentary. I don’t know who the commentators they give an interesting breakdown of the Big Ten.
They both agree about Ohio State saying that, “They are loaded talent wise. There is a significant gap between their talent right now and everything else in the league.” They even go so far as to pick Beanie Wells as a top Heisman candidate.
When I first heard the prediction, I wanted to pump my fist in the air with a resounding “yeah” but then I realize that if you were to pull this comment out of the BTN and place it onto ESPN, it suddenly becomes our burden. In a world that believes in the myth of “SEC Speed” and the idea the USC will always deserve a shot at the national championship, the Big Ten has become our burden. If the Buckeyes romp through the Big Ten, in the eyes of the college football world, it will be due to a lack of quality in the Big Ten.
That basically means that we have one game this season to prove ourselves. We have one game to convince the rest of college football that Ohio State is here and belongs in the BCS championship for the third year in a row. That game of course is USC and an away game against USC at that. And to be honest, I’ve been dreaming of this game for years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to get a piece of USC. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted an opportunity to see Mark May stuttering through post game excuses for his beloved team as the slow motion shots linger on USC players sitting stunned on the bench, towels over their heads as they watch their preseason hopes go up in smoke.
And I can’t think of a better year for it to happen. The potential in this year’s Buckeyes is huge. If we “reloaded” last year than this year…well…I still need a metaphor but…wow.
Like the Texas/Ohio State series a couple of years ago, the USC/Ohio State game will establish the #1 ranking and it is the one game that can earn us the respect we deserve.
Oh, and did I hear him say that he thinks Michigan is going to be tough this year…naw, I must have misunderstood.
