Yahtzee

I also do not think Nebraska's schedule just got any easier going forward as I think they will struggle to win thier division year in and year out just like they did in the Big 12. The Big 10 did give them a break though by putting them in clearly the easier of the two divisions right now, however it is only a matter of time before Michigan rises back to National prominance again, most likely soon after Rich Rod is fired and the divisions will evan out a little. Nebraska most likely came to the Big 10 for the MONEY and larger exposure the Big 10 will give them, not because they thought it would be an easier confernence. Once the Big 10 adds another member in the next few years, likely in the northeast, their geographic coverage especially from a TV market perspective, will be enourmous. This will be even more profitable for all the members and much more so than staying in the Big 12 would have been for Nebraska.

As I said above I do agree that the SEC is the best conference overall during the past 10 years, but I believe you are going a little over the top with an automaitc bid to the Championship Game every year and that they would win it every year with a playoff. That may be your opinion, but it is neither unbiased or a fact. We simply do not know without them actually playing the games. I think they would be favored many years, but just like the undefeated 2007 NFL Patriots found out, that is no guarantee of winning it all. As to saying that the BIG 10 areas do not produce talent and that these schools only can be successful going to the south to steal players, I would ask then why does the State of Ohio rank 5th overall and Pensylvania 7th in players drafted over the past 20 years, with Ohio State 4th overall sending players to the NFL( with a large majority from the midwest), ahead of all but one SEC team, so there clearly is some talent here. Finally, as to the shots at Tressel, that perplexes me probably the most, as even though he is fallible like everyone else (coaches or anyone else for that matter) he is a very honest and reputable man who does try to do the best for the kids in his program. I know this first hand over many years from kids I have known and mentored at YSU through the current time from coaches I know who have worked with him, be it at camps or charitable organizations. There are many coaches at the Div 1 level that are not so Universally respected as he is as far as character, and I would guess that there is much more to the current story then any of us are aware. But I would venture to say that it was probably his personal preference to suspend them for the bowl game (as he has done in the past), but the other outside influences affected the decision. I would also venture a guess that he received some personal assurances from these players that they would appologize publically, as they did, and that they will return to serve thier suspensions. I would not be surprised in the least if they all reurned next year as from what I know he does try to use mistakes as learning experiences for the parties involved.

One thing tOSU fans are really good at is leaving out analysis about their team. While it is true all of the above is a fact, let's have a closer look...... GP1, Although I can certainly understand why someone might have the point of view that because the Buckeyes have underperformed in the National Championship games they are in fact inferior as a football program to the top-level SEC teams over the past 5 years, to say blanketedly that the BIG 10 conference is second tier, and in the next sentence say the BIG 12 and PAC 10 are first tier, is more than a little suspect. As a conference I would certainly put the SEC as the top one over the past decade, but after that the Big 10 is at least the equal of the PAC 10 and the BIG 12. The PAC 10 has realistically had one top program in football over the past decade, USC. The rest have been very mediocre with Oregon the past two seasons being maybe the next best( with their lone BCS appearance spoiled by a Big 10 team) and the BIG 12 has had Texas and Oklahoma and everyone else, with Oklahoma having lost their last 5 bowl games. In fact their next best program is leaving them for the Big 10 this year. I actually think that Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State over the past ten years, and this year Michigan State, would hold thier own in either of these conferences so I do not get the second tier reference to the Big 10 if you are not also counitng the Big 12 and PAC 10 in the second tier as well. Also, I hope you are not saying that Miami in 2002-2003 was a washed up program already when Ohio State beat them for the National Championship, because that would be laughable at best as they were clearly the best program over that 3 or 4 year period and that team in particular was arguably the best, or at least most talented of any team in either the BCS era or the decade prior. (Note- I do not think that is what you were saying as I think your meaning was that now they are down, correct?) Lastly, I am by no means an Ohio State homer as I am a Zips fan and University of Akron Alumni first, but I would certainly root for Ohio State over anyone else they are playing as they are my home states biggest school, and in most regards best chance for a nationally competitive team. I do enjoy reading all of these posts and can appreciate everyones differing perspectives, but I do not understand the strong hatred displayed for Ohio State and the Big 10 on this board. Have a great day. +1 (minus the whole "I root for them because they are the state's biggest school" part) Believe it or not, many OSU fans were rooting on the UA soccer team in the tourney too. The hate doesn't go both ways even in the sports UA is superior in. Buckzip, Sometimes I actually intently listen to what you have to say. Other times, I see you as the typical delusional OSWho fan. This comment from you would fall into the latter category. I'd like to introduce you to some people I know, who have done nothing since December 14th but say, "Enjoy your title in a Euro-sport that nobody cares about while we keep kicking your tails in football". And, "You guys keep talking about your soccer title because you aren't good in a REAL sport". I'm seeing a concerted effort to discredit our title that I didn't even expect. Have you seen the footage of the OSWho player kicking Nagbe in the head this year? You don't think that's frustration and a blatant lack of sportsmanship from not being able to beat us? And did you hear the comments from their coach? You don't think that's yet another example of them displaying their arrogance and self-perceived superiority over Akron? I can also introduce you to at least a dozen Zips fans that will tell you that when we go to road games, the games at OSWho are unquestionably the games where we get harrassed the worst by the home fans. Although I wouldn't believe you, you could possibly try to convince someone that these are "isolated incidents". But to flat-out say that there is NO hatred towards Akron coming from OSWho is simply ridiculous and untrue. The highlighted part is the only part I will respond to because the rest is garbage. Yes, I saw it. I also mentioned it was BS and the coach was a complete jackass for saying the red card was harsh. I also posted that clip on the OSU board to see what type of reaction it would get. With the exception of a couple of "who cares about soccer types", which by the way, we actually have here too, everyone attacked the OSU player. Not one defended him. I actually posted that when it was being discussed too. My point was that your statement indicated that there is NO hate coming from OSWho towards Akron. I see none. I can guarantee you that I know many, many, many more OSU people than you do. I can also point you to sites to prove it. All you have is your supposed friends that act that way. I also would bet that you started most of the crap with your supposed friends. This remeinds me of Cincy last year. Most OSU fans were happy that Cincy was doing well. Then the Concy fans started coming to OSU sites and saying they were the best in Ohio and OSU wanted no part of them and being complete jerks. Then of coruse the OSU fans changed their tune. I feel this is you. I have stated many times that there are bad apples everywhere. When you have as big of a fanbase as OSU does there are going to be a decent amount of jerks.. However, your thoughts that most or many are that way is completely incorrect. Again, you indicated that hatred does not exist from OSWho's side. And you'd be incredibly naive if you think that is true. We could debate the magnitude of the hatred all day long and not accomplish anything. That wasn't part of my response. SkipZip, I understand your point if you are interpreting Buckzips response EXACTLY as written in the one response above, but I think we can all agree, especially based on some of his follow up comments, that he agrees that just like all sports fanbases there are some good and bad amongst Ohio State followers. There seems no reason left to argue except for the sake of arguing, but I will say with my personal observations that the great majority of Ohio State fans I have met are just like the great majority of University of Akron fans I know, they support thier team and usually are supportive of other Ohio teams as long as they are not playing the one they support first. I also agree that other than a few obnoxious fans that say "soccer is not a real sport" the majority i know have been complimentery of the zips soccer success. Lastly, the wording of the title of this thread alone certainly does not speak well of us Zips fans and also lends credibility to the argment that the reason some Ohio State fans get riled up and accusatory is partly in response to our actions as well.

One thing tOSU fans are really good at is leaving out analysis about their team. While it is true all of the above is a fact, let's have a closer look. Of course they have played in more BCS games than anyone else. If they don't, there is something really wrong with their program. Their conference is a cakewalk and they don't play anyone ooc so of course they are going to end up in a BCS game. Even if they come in second in the Big Ten, they are a darling of the pollsters and will have a high enough ranking to land in a BCS game...this year for example. It's smoke and mirrors. They also do have a winning record in those games. The BCS started in 1998 and tOSU played and beat Texas A&M....sort of a big time program, but not really. In their next two BCS games, they beat Miami and K-State in 2002 and 2003.....Miami was once a big time program, but not now.....If they played in the Big Ten, Miami would probably be in the Legends Division as like the Big Ten they are living off of the past and the past is better than today. K-State had a good run, but not exactly a historically great program and would probably be in the Leaders Division. In 2005, tOSU beat ND. ND has not been good in 15 years. This game does not count. Now we move on to the really big boys. Florida, LSU and Texas.....loss, losss and loss.....SEC, SEC and Big 12. The SEC, Big 12 and PAC 10 are the top tier of conferences. tOSU really doesn't compete well against top tier teams. Throw in a 1-3 record against USC and Texas during this time period and the program looks even worse. They did do well against the MAC in the BCS years though going undefeated. Oregon was the best BCS win tOSU had since beating K-State in 2003. Too bad it takes them six years between big wins in bowl games. The analysis that a lot of people don't pay much attention to is the fact that Tressel has not been very good once his team was loaded with his players and not Cooper leftovers. He has been terrible in recent years. He is a smart guy though. You are an idiot if you thing Tressel is anything other than smart and savvy about how to schedule his games and how to make himself and the program look better than it really is. He knows the secret to his success is loading up the ooc schedule with MAC schools and teams from the Legends Divisions whose greatness has long passed....They play Miami next year. Miami hasn't been good for years, but everyone still thinks they are good. Tressel can't do anything about the Big Ten. It is what it is....the top second tier conference. That doesn't mean beating Big Ten teams shouldn't be laughed at though. It was once a leader, but now a legend of a conference. The intellectual masturbation even an average tOSU fan can perform upon themselves is art. BuckZip is more than your average fan, he is a honk. His level of intellectual masturbation about the program could be sold in art galleries in Ohio. I'll also say this. If tOSU doesn't beat Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, there is really something wrong with tOSU. This is a second level SEC program they are playing. They didn't even win their division. Tressel has to be as nervous as the Wizard of Oz was when Dorthy et al were standing outside of the curtain. It will be interesting to see how tOSU responds to the recent events. My guess is it will not affect them as most of the players could really care less about off the field problems. If tOSU wins, fans around Ohio will be twitterpated. They won't understand it was no different than beating K-Stat or A&M, but who are we to throw cold water on anyone masturbating. Anyhow, I'm going to Hilton Head for a couple of days. Have a nice week. GP1, Although I can certainly understand why someone might have the point of view that because the Buckeyes have underperformed in the National Championship games they are in fact inferior as a football program to the top-level SEC teams over the past 5 years, to say blanketedly that the BIG 10 conference is second tier, and in the next sentence say the BIG 12 and PAC 10 are first tier, is more than a little suspect. As a conference I would certainly put the SEC as the top one over the past decade, but after that the Big 10 is at least the equal of the PAC 10 and the BIG 12. The PAC 10 has realistically had one top program in football over the past decade, USC. The rest have been very mediocre with Oregon the past two seasons being maybe the next best( with their lone BCS appearance spoiled by a Big 10 team) and the BIG 12 has had Texas and Oklahoma and everyone else, with Oklahoma having lost their last 5 bowl games. In fact their next best program is leaving them for the Big 10 this year. I actually think that Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State over the past ten years, and this year Michigan State, would hold thier own in either of these conferences so I do not get the second tier reference to the Big 10 if you are not also counitng the Big 12 and PAC 10 in the second tier as well. Also, I hope you are not saying that Miami in 2002-2003 was a washed up program already when Ohio State beat them for the National Championship, because that would be laughable at best as they were clearly the best program over that 3 or 4 year period and that team in particular was arguably the best, or at least most talented of any team in either the BCS era or the decade prior. (Note- I do not think that is what you were saying as I think your meaning was that now they are down, correct?) Lastly, I am by no means an Ohio State homer as I am a Zips fan and University of Akron Alumni first, but I would certainly root for Ohio State over anyone else they are playing as they are my home states biggest school, and in most regards best chance for a nationally competitive team. I do enjoy reading all of these posts and can appreciate everyones differing perspectives, but I do not understand the strong hatred displayed for Ohio State and the Big 10 on this board. Have a great day.