Buckeyes Lose to Penn State – What I Like and Don’t Like

While the rest of the college football world was busy running up scores that looked more like a basketball game, Ohio State and Penn State fans were presented with an old fashioned Big Ten slug fest and even though we lost, I liked it.

Yeah, it sucked to lose. It sucked to see this game turn on a fumble that bounced about 12 times and could easily have gone the other way. It sucked to see a history making third-straight Big Ten title slip away and it sucked to once and for all bury our BCS title hopes for this year. All that aside, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this was a good game and in the end, good for the Big Ten.

First, what I don’t like:

I don’t like that Pryor fumbled the ball but it happens. Yeah, Pryor should have just fallen forward, he had the first down, the drive would have continued and this would have been a different game. The Buckeyes were doing exactly what they needed to do at that point in the game. A long, slow, clock-eating drive could have put the game away and all be feeling a little better this morning.

But, if Pryor had held on to the ball, turned the corner to the outside and broke out for big yardage or even a touchdown, we’d be singing his praises and he would have been carried off the field. He saw open field, his eyes got big and it didn’t work out. You pay your money and you take your chances. He’ll learn from this mistake and just get more and more dangerous.

Remember, he’s only 19 years old.

What I did Like:

• I liked seeing another Big Ten team step up and give the Buckeyes a game. It would be nice to add Michigan to the mix but until they find their way again, I’m glad Penn State is here. The tougher the games, the better it is for all of us.
• I liked seeing Pryor pass the ball. There was no question that Penn State was going to do everything they could to stop the Wells/Pryor running attack and they did. Pryor threw for 226 yards and for the first time this season, the Buckeyes showed some offensive variety. Yeah, it sucked to see the last pass intercepted in the end zone and yeah, he probably shouldn’t have thrown it but Pryor was putting together a great drive and it was good to see that he wasn’t about to give up.
• I liked the Ohio State defense. The college football world has been in love with the Penn State “balanced” offense. The Buckeyes managed them well.
• I Like the way this game readjusts priorities. For too long, we’ve been so focused on the BCS title that anything else equaled a loosing season. I wish Michigan was stronger this year but for the first time in a long time, we can look to beating Michigan for the sake of beating Michigan.
• I like the idea of a USC/Ohio State rematch in the Rose Bowl. If that doesn’t motivate the Buckeyes to pick themselves up and finish the season strong, nothing will.
• I like watching the Buckeyes during the holiday break. Bowl games should be over on New Year’s day. There is nothing, I repeat nothing worse than putting the national championship game on a Tuesday night, after the holiday break, as everyone is finally recoved from two week’s worth of bowl glutteny. I was in Pheonix two years ago for the Florida game and it was like we were in the way. People needed to get to work, not deal with tailgate traffic on a Tuesday morning (not to mention the Wednesday morning following a West Coast game).
• I like the fact that every Saturday in college football is an all or nothing proposition. Face it, if we had a playoff system, this game might not have meant as much. Instead, ever game is a big game. Once slip and you’re out. All a play off would do is give everyone a second chance. We lost, Penn State earned it. It’s there turn to give it a shot.
• I like the way ABC showed still shots of Joe Paterno, complete with somber music, as if he’d died. If they hadn’t shown him getting out of his golf cart and going to the press box, I might be calling a conspiracy theory here. To tell the truth, I’m still not so sure. Is it possible they know something we don’t.
• Finally, I like the fact that Penn State has a shot at the BCS title. Win or lose, their fans will get all gooey with excitement and it will just be that much more fun when we beat them in their own house next year.

So yeah, it sucked to lose but I’m not ready to give up the season yet.