The 2012 football team will be most remembered by their perfect record, Urban Meyer’s first season and the postseason ban. The perfect season shows how much this team bought into Meyer and his system from day one and it shows the leadership from the 21 seniors who have had three different head coaches in three seasons. These group of seniors went from a 12-1 2010 season that included a Sugar Bowl victory to losing their father figure head coach Jim Tressel and their starting quarterback Terrell Pryor who was supposed to lead them to another BCS berth in 2011. They had the look of a preseason top 3 team before the sanctions, suspensions and dismissals hit Columbus but instead, they were left in shambles.

The man that guided the Buckeyes to a National Championship in 2002, an 8-1 record versus Michigan, six Big Ten titles, 7 BCS bowl games and most importantly the father-type relationship that he had with his players, was gone in the blink of an eye. Terrell Pryor, probably the most heralded recruit to ever land in Columbus, who led his team to back to back BCS bowl wins and was one of the Heisman front-runners for 2011 was also gone. The other two stars on an offense that was just starting to really live up to its full potential, Dan Herron and DeVier Posey were suspended and before the 2011 season even started, it was essentially over.

When the sanctions hit, any of these seniors could easily packed their bags to go to a program that had a chance at a BCS National Championship and no one would have blamed them. Instead, they bought into the new coaching staff right away and wanted to leave their mark as seniors. Most probably dreamed of putting on the scarlet and gray from a young age and playing for a National Championship, especially after capturing a Rose Bowl victory as freshmen and a Sugar Bowl victory as sophomores. But their quest for a BCS National Championship was taken away from them in 2011 and they wanted to make their mark as a senior class in 2012.

No, this 2012 class will not be remembered nationally like the 2002 class that went to Tempe, Arizona and upset the University of Miami but in Columbus they will always be remembered for what they gave to this program. With a new coaching staff, new offense and coming off of a disappointing 6-7 season, no one really knew what to expect coming into this year. They answered by going 12-0 and achieving a perfect season for only the sixth time in program history.

We all know Meyer’s love for John Simon, the B1G Defensive Player of the Year, saying that he would go as far as to name a future son after him if he were to have another. Then there is a player like Zach Boren who was known as a bruising fullback in the past until his playing time diminished under Meyer’s spread offense. When the injury bug hit the linebacking corps, Boren stepped over to the other side of the ball and excelled, he led the team in tackles with 9 in his final game versus Michigan. This graduating class is not full of NFL stars like the past but it was full of players who committed to the program and that is what really matters.

When B1G Championships, BCS Bowl Appearances and  BCS National Championships start to pile up over the next couple of years, look back on the 2012 seniors as the stepping stone to future greatness. With next year’s schedule set up for another chance at perfection, look for the 2013 Buckeyes to extend this 12 game winning streak all the way to Pasadena, California for the 2014 Vizio BCS National Championship Game.

Thank you 2012 seniors.

EXPANSION IS BACK!

Remember when there was football season and then the off-season? And then there was football season and conference expansion season? Now there’s just constant expansion all the time, regardless of whether or not there are incredibly important games being played.

Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten last week, but I had some crucial HATING to do at the time. Before I could even welcome them, the ACC added Louisville, the Big East added Tulane and East Carolina and Conference USA added some teams dear GOD MAKE IT STOP!!!!!

Expansion used to fun, that’s what I’m saying. Although, maybe “expansion” is the wrong word for it. Sure, the conferences we care about are expanding, but what’s really going in is consolidation. Take a look at the Big East lineup back in 1998, the first season of the BCS era:

Syracuse
Miami
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Boston College
Rutgers
Temple
Pittsburgh

With the exception of Temple, who was booted from the conference in 2004 before returning this season, all of those teams will be in one of the other five so-called BCS conferences in the next few years. What’s really happening is consolidation, and maybe it stops with five conferences. The Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC are as solid as a conference can be right now. The Big 12 has a 13-year Grant of Rights shackling its teams together, and the ACC is prepping to aggressively defend its $50M exit fee as Maryland bolts.

But if the ACC loses, Florida State (the other school that voted against the exit fee) may get out before the conference becomes the New Big East (In 1998 terms, the 2014 lineup will be 57% ACC, 36% Big East and 7% Conference USA). And who knows what happens from there? The Big Ten may be interested in AAU buddies like Georgia Tech, Virginia and Jim Delany’s alma mater UNC. The SEC might like Virginia Tech and NC State to expand its footprint. And if geography goes completely out the window (and why wouldn’t it?), then four 16-team conferences are just the right size to hold the 1998 “BCS” teams (with a little room left for newbies like TCU and Boise State, or if Notre Dame is done with that independence nonsense).

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES!

Big East of Burden: The ACC’s Louisville and the Big Ten’s Rutgers play in the kind-of Big East championship game, although I don’t really understand or care to understand the logistics of who will win the Big East under various scenarios. Thursday, 7:30pm.

The Last MACtion Hero: Kent State takes on Northern Illinois in a game between two of the MAC’s best offenses and best defenses. GIVE US OUR POINTS!!! Friday, 7:00pm.

Isn’t This Where We Came In?: UCLA at Stanford will play for the second time in six days because I guess this is baseball or something. Friday, 8:00pm.

Why You Gotta Go and Make Things So Complicated?: There is no Big 12 title game, but Texas at Kansas State and Oklahoma at TCU will serve as the deciding contests for the conference’s BCS bid. Saturday, Noon (OU/TCU) and 8:00pm (UT/KSU).

Automatic for the People: For a while, it looked like the SEC champion might actually not make the BCS title game. “Suckers” – Fate. Alabama and Georgia will face off for a shot at Notre Dame, guaranteeing that 85% of Americans will hate everyone involved in the championship game. Saturday, 4:00pm.

You Wreck Me: Georgia Tech is 6-6 and playing Florida State for a BCS spot and it has nothing to do with sanctions. This conference is so stupid. Saturday, 8:00pm.

I Don’t Belong Here… ‘Cuz I’m A Creep: Brett Bielema’s Wisconsin Badgers beat only the worst teams in a not-that-good Big Ten and lost to both of the ineligible Leaders teams. Nevertheless, Nebraska only beat them by 3 the first time, so it might be a good game. And by “good” I mean “televised.” Saturday, 8:00pm.

In what was a relatively down year for the B1G Conference, I see the conference breaking down into a few interchangeable parts. Without a doubt, Ohio State and Nebraska were the two best teams in the conference. Spots 3-7 could beat each other any given week and their rankings were dictated by only a few marquee plays. Neither of those teams (ranked 3-7) had a win over Ohio State or Nebraska and that hurt them. Spots 8-11 were the bottom feeders, they played up to their opponents a few times (Purdue, Indiana) but for the most part, they did not upset any teams above them. This left Illinois, the clear cut worst team in the conference at the bottom of the pack.

1. Ohio State– Urban Meyer put the rest of the B1G on notice after running the table and capturing the Leaders Division title in a year that was seen as a warm up for the future.

2. Nebraska– The ‘Huskers squeaked past Iowa but will represent the Legends Division in the B1G Championship Game.

3. Michigan– The Denard Robinson era is finally over and Michigan showed why two quarterbacks equals no quarterbacks in the second half of The Game.

4. Northwestern– The Wildcats destroyed Illinois in their final game of the season and hope that their 9-3 record gives them an invitation to  a respectable bowl game.

5. Penn State– Bill O’Brien led the Nittany Lions to a respectable 8-4 season but who knows what the future will hold for the Penn State football team.

6. Wisconsin– Congratulations to the Wisconsin Badgers for a third place finish in the Leaders Division and a berth in the B1G Championship Game!

7. Michigan State- Disappointing season for the Spartans as they finish the year at .500. The offense has to improve next year for any chance of contending for a B1G Title.

8. Purdue– The Boilermakers outscored their in-state rival to become bowl eligible for the second straight year.

9. Minnesota– The Gophers will also be bowling, not sure if this is a good or bad thing for the conference.

10. Indiana– Indiana can build on a relatively competitive season as they showed that they could score with the best of them. A defensive improvement will be key to their success next year.

11. Iowa– Will be interesting to see how Kirk Ferentz bounces back after a real tough year.

12. Illinois– The Illini finish the season on a 9 game losing streak and can only hope for any type of improvement next season.

Agree or disagree with my assessment of the conference?

Before the 2012 season started I had several discussions with the man who runs this website. As is the case with our discussions no matter what we are discussing one of us always takes the “Devils Advocate” side of view. It may sound strange but it truly does help both of us both to understand our own points of view even better. Though sometimes one of us will take things to far and upset the other it is all good because we are always better off after the conversation then we were before we had it. Here is the jist of our conversation….

I came to the conclusion as soon as the bowl ban was placed that the news wasn’t horrible and in many ways was justified and would be helpful for OSU. I mean it wasn’t as if OSU was innocent or the NCAA didn’t have loads of proof for the crimes committed. But most importantly we have all heard the old wives tale that a coaches 2nd year in a program is always their best. I mean Tressel won a NC in his 2nd year as did Urban. I took the position that this 2012 year would be a growing year in a new offense and with a new staff. I also though said OSU would go 12-0 to the scoffs of many. I could see the schedule ahead of us and knew the kind of talent we had and that the B1G would be down this year with top teams replacing top QBs. In my opinion I felt like OSU should treat every game as if it was a preseason scrimmage and try and get as much playing time as possible for the guys who would return in 2013. Mix that in with the SRs who returned under such tough circumstances I thought we could have something special. Its not like I KNEW all these things could happen and was certain of my position but I felt good about it.

All year long we have heard the haters and naysayers. They would say things like OSU is ineligible and shouldn’t be allowed to be ranked or that the B1G is weak and therefore OSU is weak. Every week they would predict OSU would lose and then when they didn’t would find fault and things to complain about OSU as if every year the top 5 teams are perfect in every way and that’s why they are ranked so high every year.

This team is just that a team. I have very rarely seen offensive and defensive players supporting each other when outsiders are attacking their comrades in arms. This team wasn’t built by pre-madonna stars. They were a bunch of guys put together under tough circumstances and they played hard for their coaches and their teammates and their fans. They should be glorified and not vilified. But in todays day and age in CFB if you don’t fit societies picture of a great team then you aren’t great. So the haters are still hating. The Naysayers are still naysaying.

To the AP voters who I had one time hoped would treat this years OSU team as it should be champions who have instead proven to be hacks and writers with an agenda. SCREW YOU

To the talking heads who continue to talk smack about this 12-0 OSU team. SCREW YOU

To the award voters who wont honor the players who had amazing seasons because they are on probation. SCREW YOU

To the writers who write negative stories still about a team that went 12-0. SCREW YOU

To those B1G writers and coaches who most likely wont honor the team that dominated the entire league. SCREW YOU

Finally to those who don’t vote OSU top 3 teams next year pre-season. SCREW YOU

I wish I could say I could care less about what people think about OSU and its coaches and its players but I cant. I wish it didn’t bother me that some AP voters are still ranking OSU outside the top 10 teams in the country but it does. I wish that it didn’t bother me that Heisman voters never really gave Braxton the credit he deserves. I am bitter and angry but not at OSU for not banning themselves from a bowl game last year it was a calculated decision that I don’t fully understand. I am angry because the AP says being ineligible doesn’t matter to them but their voters sure aren’t acting that way.

This year is over for OSU and it is clear they won’t get an AP title and that Braxton will be lucky just to be invited to NYC for the Heisman trophy ceremony. The team had an amazing year going 12-0 and beat TTUN and that is wonderful. They took full advantage of what I considered a 12 game pre-season. The build up for what this team can do next year is within its grasp. The coaches are on the road recruiting for 2013 and 2014 while other coaches are preparing for an unimportant Bowl Game. The players will be able to relax for a bit and enjoy the season they had before getting right back to work on what is sure to be a special year for them and OSU. So while this was the greatest pre-season ever in CFB history it is the stepping stone to a possible 14-0 season where OSU wins a B1G CCG title and a NCG title. That sounds pretty awesome to me.

St. John Arena has been an icon for decades and while many fans have never experienced a sporting event in it most have at least been to a skull session or a dozen. In reality SJA has been used for minor sports and tournaments ever since the Mens Bball team moved to Value City Arena. SJA is oversized for the events it holds often looking empty and the is falling apart at its seems with costs to repair it in the 30-40 million dollars. Even if they did fix it for that cost it would be underutilized and too expensive for upkeep. So it will be tore down sooner rather then later. Thankfully OSU has a huge fan in the Covelli family which own a huge amount of Paneras and has recently made a 10 million dollar donation to build a new arena.

Covelli Arena will be a 4000 seat state of the art arena that will be home to seven olympic sports like gymnastics, wrestling, fencing, and volleyball. It also will occasionally host womens Bball games and high school tournaments. You can view the entire article from the Columbus Dispatch here.

It took one overtime, but the Buckeyes defeated Wisconsin for first place in the  Leaders Division. Michigan State continued their home woes versus Northwestern and Nebraska took care of Minnesota to secure the drivers seat in the Legends Division. As a result of last weekend, Northwestern and Wisconsin flip-flopped positions.

1. Ohio State– After locking up the Leaders Division, it’s all about finishing the season undefeated and destroying TTUN.

2. Nebraska– Nebraska has all but sealed up the Legends Division, needing a win versus a pitiful Iowa team or a Michigan loss at Ohio State. Expect both to happen as the ‘Huskers will square off against Wisconsin in the B1G Championship Game.

3. Michigan– It will be weird to see Devin Gardner lined up behind center this week with Denard Robinson at RB/WR/QB after Fitzgerald Toussaint’s gruesome leg injury last week.

4. Northwestern– The Wildcats went on the road and beat Michigan State last week in another close game, look for them to handle Illinois and cap a very successful season at 9-3.

5. Wisconsin– The Badgers must feel worthy representing the Leaders Division as a third place team.

6. Penn State– Bill O’Brien hopes his squad can finish off a surprisingly successful season with a win at home versus Wisconsin. It will be very interesting to see how the Nittany Lions build after this season.

7. Michigan State– Another home loss for the Spartans, this time versus Northwestern. At this point, the end of this disappointing season cannot come soon enough for Sparty.

8. Minnesota– The Gophers are bowl eligible and will look for a marquee win in their season finale versus Michigan State.

9. Purdue– Purdue welcomes in state rival Indiana to West Lafayette in what should be a high scoring affair.

10. Indiana– Indiana looks to finish off a successful season in Hoosier terms with a win over Purdue.

11. Iowa– The Hawkeyes could do their part to shake up the Legends Division with a win over Nebraska on Friday night, unlikely though.

12. Illinois– The Illini have been outscored 231- 80 in the B1G this year.

Check back on last week’s rankings and feel free to comment.

If this was any other week, I would spend most of this post talking about today’s addition of Maryland to the Big Ten and the rumored addition of Rutgers supposedly coming tomorrow. I would then discuss the shocking upsets of this past weekend that essentially guaranteed at least one SEC team will be playing for the national title. Then I would make jokes about games that I’ll end up watching anyway.

But this is HATE WEEK. And HATE WEEK is for the HATE.

Some people don’t understand the HATE. They say things like, “I want both teams to be good when they play!” and “I don’t like them, but I respect them!” and “Durrrrrrrrrrr!” These people cheered for Michigan to beat Alabama, because they have fallen for the media-driven conference-unity narrative that has completely consumed the SEC. Does it make sense that a Mississippi State fan would ridicule an Ohio State fan because the Buckeyes lost a bowl game to Florida? Does it make sense that a Mississippi State fan would ridicule an Ohio State fan for any reason?

But cheering for M!c#!g@n? I’d rather be the one team shut out of a 123-team playoff than cheer for M!c#!g@n to “help boost our strength of schedule.” I want them to be 0-11 every year when we play. I want to see about a hundred more of these! Every three years, I want them to fire their coach the day after The Game.

And speaking of coaches…

There really couldn’t be a better M!c#!g@n coach for Ohio State fans. He’s a walking punchline. Are fat jokes cheap and sophomoric? Yes, but all is forgiven because Hoke set himself up for every single one of them a long time ago and not just by promising to never not super-size. But by doing this:

That’s right, Hoke married a Homberger. Say it out loud. Say it in your best Hoke voice. Never stop laughing. But, more importantly, never stop HATING.