Meadowdale H.S. graduation 2012
Middletown H.S. graduation 2012
Dunbar H.S. graduation 2012
Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2008 > September > 12
Friday, September 12, 2008
It’s official: Beanie’s not playing
It’s Jim Tressel’s decision, via the Columbus Dispatch:
“I’m not sure he’ll ever speak to me again (but) I think it’s the right thing to do,” Tressel said.
Tressel said the decision to not play Wells was his alone after talking the matter over with medical personnel. The coach said he is concerned that letting Wells play might expose him to further risk of injury.
And Buckeye hearts drop everywhere.
This doesn’t guarantee an OSU loss, mind you. It just nudges the assumption in that direction. Think of it this way, Ohio State fans. If the Buckeyes lose, there’s at least a good reason to point to: “Well, Beanie Wells didn’t play. Woulda been a different game if the big guy played.”
Because, even at full strength, it wasn’t looking so good.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment |
Don’t count the Buckeyes out
The Sporting News is hailing Southern Cal as the most talented college football team ever, and while that claim is a bit of a stretch, of course, the magazine does make a pretty convincing argument that the Trojans may be the most gifted team in the country this year.
Pete Carroll’s squad currently has 18 five-star recruits on the roster, while the other four schools ranked in the top-five — Ohio State (7), Oklahoma (6), Georgia (4) and LSU (4) — have just 21 combined.
But let’s not ship the national title trophy to L.A. just yet.
I was reading a piece by former Auburn coach Terry Bowden on Rivals.com today, and he pointed out that Phil Steele’s College Football Preview — perhaps the most respected publication of its kind — had Ohio State rated higher than USC at every position group on offense and defense before the season.
Yes, OSU will suffer a cruel blow if Beanie Wells can’t play — and I don’t see coach Jim Tressel putting his star at risk for just one game — but there’s talent galore at other positions.
Does that mean the Buckeyes have a shot Saturday night? Bowden thinks they do.
“Although I agree completely with where these teams are ranked right now, let me assure you of one thing: Come Saturday, these teams will be ready to play - except maybe an injured Chris Wells.
“This game will be as close and exciting as most of us thought it would be three weeks ago. It’s a toss-up that most likely will be decided at the end of the game by less than a field goal.
“So who is going to win? I picked Ohio State to win a few weeks ago, and in spite of Beanie Wells’ status I see no reason to change my mind now.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
USC is a strong favorite (lay the points)
USC is favored by 10 1/2 points in Saturday’s much-hyped football get-together with Ohio State. At least they were before Jim Tressel dropped the bombshell about Chris Wells’ “doubtful” status prior to boarding the plane for sunny California on Thursday.
This not good. A colleague joked (I think) about putting Terrelle Pryor at tailback. That sounds like desperation, and the Buckeyes could be a desperate bunch at halftime if they’re down by more than a touchdown (likely).
That, in a nutshell, is why I’d lay the points and put my money on the Trojans (even though I’m a Midwestern guy who prefers steak over Cali quiche). The Buckeyes’ heads will be spinning back to LSU and Florida if they fall behind. They’re damaged goods, folks.
Southern California is full of overpriced psychiatrists, and Tressel might want to look into a group session before his team takes the field at the L.A. Coliseum.
OSU’s plodding offense is not made to come from behind. USC’s offense is made to score at will. And do you really think Pete Carroll will let off the gas and let the Buckeyes score a couple late TDs to make things respectable? Don’t think so.
Here are two more stats that seal the deal, even if the spread balloons to 14:
— USC has won its last seven games against the Big Ten … by an average spread of 27.8 points.
— Ohio State is 21-6 vs. ranked teams since 2002, but USC is even better — 23-4 vs. the Top 25 in that same time span.
LAST WEEK: We advised our clients to take the 34 points and Ohio U. Cha-ching!
