Jealousy or Legitimate?
It’s getting to be a joke now… a joke no one finds funny. James Patrick Tressel, former National Coach of the Year and the man who’s led his Buckeyes to 5 consecutive Big Ten championships, cannot win the support of media voters to be named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Never has, and I’m wondering if he ever will. It’s just wrong… and maybe it reveals something.
People always talk about the tremendous support Ohio State has, with its fan base, recruting edges and resources. Why, a trained monkey could coach the Buckeyes to 9 or 10 wins, right? Apparently that’s not far off. The award typically goes to the coach who leads a moderate, humble program to a successful season (see Kirk Ferentz, who won this year and also won in 2002, the same year Tressel’s Buckeyes won a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP). What I like best about Tressel, though, is that he could not care less about that award. He doesn’t need it, and probably doesn’t want it. He’s talked about his ego in the past when it comes to play calling, but I doubt his ego extends to meaningless pats on the back.
Now… onto the players.
Good lord, who’s voting for this stuff? Oh yah, us media losers… and the coaches, of course. But you know what? Take a closer look at who made the teams and tell me who did not deserve the honor… as I look through I don’t see any players I thought were terrible—far from it. Voting Mike Kafka as the 2nd team QB made me chuckle a little, but that’s ok. Here’s the difference between Ohio State and those other teams. The Buckeyes work like a machine of numerous working parts—likeyour car engine. Teams like Michigan State and Northwestern run like a hamster in a wheel—one force doing and getting credit for most of the work. Ohio State’s defense ranks among the finest in the nation, yet not one of the front 7 of that defense, including it’s uber-talented front 4, was worthy of 1st team status. Why? Because they play the defense. They play assignment football, which only works for players willing to take on blockers so another guy can make the play. I’d take any Buckeye over nearly any other defender in the conference (Greg Jones is good at MSU and Clayborn at Iowa to be fair), yet their statistics suffer because of their willingness to make plays for others.
But that’s the beauty of unselfish football——it creates credit for the team, not the individual, and usually leads to winning. Certainly more consistent winning, and no one really remembers who was 1st team or 2nd team or no team all conference.
So should Buckeye fans get all worked up because so few players and coaches are earning public respect? I say no—-because the Buckeyes themselves don’t seem to care. BTW-I’m sure Iowa would trade their 6 1st team talents for that 1 big trophy that now rests at the Woody.
PS-fun fact. I’d bet OSU leads the Big Ten in current NFL players not voted all conference. I’d look it up, but dude, that would take forever.
