The National Perception: LSU’s too much for the Bucks?
It was Saturday night after the Heisman Trophy ceremony. My dad and I were putting together a toy car for my little boy, Brady. And that’s when I heard one of the most amazing things I can remember from an ESPN Commentator.
Mark May was discussing the likelihood of LSU beating #1 Ohio State in the BCS Title Game---he ranked his assuredness in picking all 32 bowl games this season. Where did the LSU pick rank--#1! He’s more confident in LSU smokin’ OSU than he is in any other bowl game this season. It’s not a new line for May.
Most of the season, May repeatedly bashed OSU for a weak non-conference schedule, then a weak Big 10 Conference, then he picked (correctly) that Illinois would beat OSU. Picked Michigan to beat OSU, too. And you thought Trev Alberts was a Buckeye hater!
May seems like a highly intelligent man, and many others in his profession agree with his opinions (even on Ohio State). I just wonder why OSU fails to impress May and others like him. Is it because OSU plays a more traditional style of offense with a dropback quarterback and physical run game? Is it that OSU’s defense got torched by Florida in a game played nearly a year ago? Is it jealousy, considering OSU’s the biggest campus, and arguably the biggest football program in the country?
I just wonder what analysts see when they look at schools like Ohio State. Do they see a big bully or an over-hyped slowpoke. Isn’t that the key word with OSU: Speed. No one believes the Bucks can outrun an elephant, let alone LSU. As we all know, OSU can run, at every position.
As for May, I wonder if it runs deeper… maybe he wasn’t recruited by OSU out of school. Of course, May went on to an All-American and Super Bowl Champion career. But to say OSU has absolutely no chance against LSU is to take absolutely no thought in saying in it. May might be eating a massive humble pie Jan. 7th.
