“Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster; and if you gaze into the abyss the abyss gazes into you.” – Frederick Nietzche
After Saturday’s game against Illinois, it’s safe to say that there’s not a Buckeye fan out there who hasn’t stared deep into that dark abyss. Who hasn’t spent the better part of the weekend battling with their own monsters and demons. Who hasn’t felt the chilling gaze of the abyss gazing directly back at them searing the very depths of their soul. As the tender scar tissue of memories still too painful to discuss was being clawed back into our conscious, we all caught of glimpse of a future we’d thought we’d put aside.
But there it was. Terrell Pryor could barely step back out of the snap, passing was unthinkable and it was all he could do to hand the ball to the running back of the moment in hopes of gaining a couple more yards. On the sidelines, Coach Tressel had retreated into his shell trying to run out the clock on a four point lead and escape with enough left to return another day.
In a matter of moments, the high powered Ohio State attack had been reduced to a one dimensional, highly predictable offense.
But it wasn’t just Pryor. On the other side of the ball, Tyler Moeller was out and it’s possible he may not return all season. Fortunately, the defense continued on without him shutting down the Illinois offense in the second half.
So the question becomes, how long until Pryor is back to full strength and just as important, at what point will Tressel have the confidence needed to turn him lose again? Indiana is watching the films as I write this and chances are, they will bring as much pressure as they possibly can. What do they have to lose? If they come within 15 points, they’ve achieved the “moral victory” that everyone looks for in games like this.
Earlier this season, I was pretty positive about Bauserman. Sorry about that folks. I take it back. Hopefully, the Buckeyes can get out to a quick lead next Sat. so Pryor can continue to heal and Bauserman can work in some much needed reps.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Has anyone else noticed that over the last three weeks the Buckeyes have been dropping points in the rankings and losing first place points? Sept 19: 5 (first place points) / 1435 (total points) ….. Sept 26: 2/1431 ……. Oct 3: 1/1401.
That’s because, in part, other teams have been playing higher caliber opposition: Bama over Florida, Oregon over Stanford, etc.
It will all work out in the end… since we’re quoting Nietzche, I’ll follow up with this-
“If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up?” Gen 4:7 ASV
If the Buckeyes control what they can, the other stuff will take care of itself.
Wow…found the perfect quote there Mali.
Oregon can creep up all they want Tony, the only way they’re going to jump over the Buckeyes is if the Buckeyes lose. I started to write about Oregon’s jump over Boise but figured I’d save it for tomorrow.
And you haven’t even played Purdue yet…
seriously though. I wish my Boilers were in the position to bitch about an 11 point road conference win. Just relax. Keep winning and you’ll be fine.
I never liked Bauserman as a back-up. All he can do is hand off. Real scarry if we have to play a game with him as our Quarterback. Better be Oregan, thats the only team he could beat. I think TP will be just fine. He played all last year with a bad knee.
I like the fact that the running game and offensive line came alive when we needed them. I have confidence they will get better as the year progresses.
One more point, how come the only team that does not get HOME OOKING is the Buckeyes.
Penn State, Michigan for sure get it. Oh! I can end my blurb without mentioning the helmet to helmet hit in the Oregan-Stanford game that knocked the player out for abot 15 minutes. I guess I was the only one that saw. That play was a HOME COOKING game changer. the whole game changed on that call, or lack of a call.
We are not here to talk about the Ducks, this is the BUCKEYE BLOG. Sorry I got of track. It’s time to let my homerism come out and say the Buckeyes have a few wrinkles to iron out, but Tress will get the job done. If you look at the history of Ohio State-Illinois game they are always close games. Don’t lose heart or listen to those from the other coast that are new to the winning football. The Big Ten and Buckeyes will rule at the end.
KENNY GUITON FOR BACKUP!!!
Golfcartcarl, HOME COOKING??? I can’t believe you are complaining about HOME COOKING!!! Seriously??? tOSU plays 8 home games this year and only 4 away games!!! HOME COOKING?!? I think you Buckeyes get enough home cooking. We all know …. playing a home game is an “advantage” and it is a lot tougher to win a conference game on the road. I just so happened to watch the Oregon/Stanford game that you are refering to. It looked like the Oregon player had a clean hit on the running back. Game changer?? Oregon was down early in the game 21-3. At the time of the fumble ….. the score was 31-31. Oregon was on a 28-10 run …… This was not a “Game changer”… just a good defensive play that created a fumble.
As a side note …… I hope Pyror is okay.
I hope Pryor is OK, too TIB! He has to play for us so we can tangle in the desert in Jan.
TPB-I do wonder why Guiton hasn’t seen any action early on. Hopefully that will happen this weekend if we can pad a lead. I though he looked great in the Spring game and seemed to be more accurate than TP.
Coach Tressel? Might we see Guiton in action this weekend? Maybe that could be a question you have one of the guys (or gals) that doesn’t generally know how their high school teams did last week?
Not Alan,
He actually played a few snaps in the Eastern Michigan game, even scored the last touchdown of the game. I think he’s intelligent enough to run a zone read offense from what I’ve seen as far as decision making goes. I don’t know the strength of his arm, however.