Friday, September 09, 2005
Texas Football: Screw the 'Shoe!
I don't like Ohio State.
I don't like those goofy pot leaf stickers they wear on their helmet (a practice that really should cease after high school). I don't like those goofy sweater vests that Jim Tressell wears. And I don't like that goofy "t" they put before their initials, as if there aren't a ton of other schools that are "The..." university of wherever (including the one they play tomorrow night), who don't feel the need to highlight it.
I think The Horseshoe is an overrated venue. I think Woody Hayes was a bastard. And I think that Ohio State is the Notre Dame of the 2000's (getting every luck break, as they did en route to their most recent national title), though ND never lost four games during their heyday as the Bucks did in 2004.
I think there's probably some OSU fan somewhere that hates Texas just as much, and I don't like that guy either.
You've heard a lot about Teddy Ginn, Jr., this week. You've also heard a lot about Vince Young. Which guy is going to make the bigger difference tomorrow night? I don't know, but if I had to bet, it'd be on the guy that's going to touch the ball 50 times, not the guy that's going to touch it 15.
You've heard a lot about AJ Hawk and the OSU linebackers this week. They're good. You know who else is pretty damn good? Aaron Harris. The only reason you haven't heard more about him is because he's spent three years in the shadow of a guy named Derrick Johnson. Maybe you've heard of him. He's about to make a run at NFL Rookie of the Year.
You've heard a lot about Ohio State's team speed this week. Yeah, they're fast. Texas has a few guys that can run, too. One of them is Michael Huff, who may just be the best damn DB in college football. Another one of them is Ramonce Taylor, who seems to score almost every time he gets the ball. Then there's that guy named Young. Ask Michigan how fast he is. No, ask them how quick he is. Hold on, I think he just scored on their asses again.
You've heard a lot about The Horseshoe this week. Ohio State is 6-0 all time at night in the 'Shoe. They haven't lost a home non-conference game since 1990. Hell, let's qualify things and see what kind of accolades Texas can come up with to match. We haven't lost a regular season night game on the road since, uh, 1998. Yeah, that must mean we're going to win. It's no less retarded than omitting conference home games. Maybe OSU is undefeated under the lights. But they've never played Texas in those games. And we've played in plenty of hostile environments before. Try wearing burnt orange in Fayetteville, Ark., and come back and tell me about a raucous atmosphere. Pack 25K more into the 'Shoe and Ohio State still couldn't muster the hatred and passion for beating Texas that Arkansas brought. And if you don't believe me after that, then go ask Nebraska what kind of regard Texas shows for long home win streaks (and they were countin every game when texas beat them in 1998, and again in 2002).
Here are the facts going into tomorrow:
- Ohio State is fast. Texas is fast.
- Teddy Ginn makes plays. Vince Young makes plays.
- Ohio State has a great defense. Texas has a great defense.
- Ohio State beat a cupcake last weekend. Texas beat a cupcake last weekend.
- Ohio State has questions at QB. Texas has questions at RB.
- Ohio State's LBs and DBs are among the nation's best. Texas' DL and DBs are among the nations's best.
- Ohio State returns almost everyone from a team that lost four games in 2004. Texas returns almost everyone from a team that lost one game in 2004.
- Only one team will win this game.
- No one can say with any certainty who that team is right now.
I'm not making a prediction on this one, except to say that college football fans are in for a treat. Actually I will make a prediction: one of these teams is headed to Pasadena. But which one?
Ahhh, screw it.
Texas 20, Ohio State 16
Screw the 'Shoe.
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I don't like those goofy pot leaf stickers they wear on their helmet (a practice that really should cease after high school). I don't like those goofy sweater vests that Jim Tressell wears. And I don't like that goofy "t" they put before their initials, as if there aren't a ton of other schools that are "The..." university of wherever (including the one they play tomorrow night), who don't feel the need to highlight it.
I think The Horseshoe is an overrated venue. I think Woody Hayes was a bastard. And I think that Ohio State is the Notre Dame of the 2000's (getting every luck break, as they did en route to their most recent national title), though ND never lost four games during their heyday as the Bucks did in 2004.
I think there's probably some OSU fan somewhere that hates Texas just as much, and I don't like that guy either.
You've heard a lot about Teddy Ginn, Jr., this week. You've also heard a lot about Vince Young. Which guy is going to make the bigger difference tomorrow night? I don't know, but if I had to bet, it'd be on the guy that's going to touch the ball 50 times, not the guy that's going to touch it 15.
You've heard a lot about AJ Hawk and the OSU linebackers this week. They're good. You know who else is pretty damn good? Aaron Harris. The only reason you haven't heard more about him is because he's spent three years in the shadow of a guy named Derrick Johnson. Maybe you've heard of him. He's about to make a run at NFL Rookie of the Year.
You've heard a lot about Ohio State's team speed this week. Yeah, they're fast. Texas has a few guys that can run, too. One of them is Michael Huff, who may just be the best damn DB in college football. Another one of them is Ramonce Taylor, who seems to score almost every time he gets the ball. Then there's that guy named Young. Ask Michigan how fast he is. No, ask them how quick he is. Hold on, I think he just scored on their asses again.
You've heard a lot about The Horseshoe this week. Ohio State is 6-0 all time at night in the 'Shoe. They haven't lost a home non-conference game since 1990. Hell, let's qualify things and see what kind of accolades Texas can come up with to match. We haven't lost a regular season night game on the road since, uh, 1998. Yeah, that must mean we're going to win. It's no less retarded than omitting conference home games. Maybe OSU is undefeated under the lights. But they've never played Texas in those games. And we've played in plenty of hostile environments before. Try wearing burnt orange in Fayetteville, Ark., and come back and tell me about a raucous atmosphere. Pack 25K more into the 'Shoe and Ohio State still couldn't muster the hatred and passion for beating Texas that Arkansas brought. And if you don't believe me after that, then go ask Nebraska what kind of regard Texas shows for long home win streaks (and they were countin every game when texas beat them in 1998, and again in 2002).
Here are the facts going into tomorrow:
- Ohio State is fast. Texas is fast.
- Teddy Ginn makes plays. Vince Young makes plays.
- Ohio State has a great defense. Texas has a great defense.
- Ohio State beat a cupcake last weekend. Texas beat a cupcake last weekend.
- Ohio State has questions at QB. Texas has questions at RB.
- Ohio State's LBs and DBs are among the nation's best. Texas' DL and DBs are among the nations's best.
- Ohio State returns almost everyone from a team that lost four games in 2004. Texas returns almost everyone from a team that lost one game in 2004.
- Only one team will win this game.
- No one can say with any certainty who that team is right now.
I'm not making a prediction on this one, except to say that college football fans are in for a treat. Actually I will make a prediction: one of these teams is headed to Pasadena. But which one?
Ahhh, screw it.
Texas 20, Ohio State 16
Screw the 'Shoe.
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