Ohio State 58, Northwestern 7 (final)

[Dryden]

Originally Posted by shetuck

i realize that stats speak volumes; particularly in this case, given JT's style. and while i realize no loss is easy, particularly the opening loss in a difficult 2004 season (to northwestern no less) but... it still makes no sense that JT would continue to tear away at this ghost from what seems like such a long time ago.

in other words, why in the world would JT, the mr Hyde of college football, pick THIS annual meeting, from all the others with other teams, to bring out "Dr Jekyll"? there's gotta be something more in there than just an "intrinsic" hatred of the mildcats.

My guess is to get in the players' heads, on both sides. Northwestern's players endured pretty brutal beatdowns in both 2005 and 2006, and honestly looked like they didn't even want to be there this past Saturday. They had no heart. No emotion.

That game was over before Northwestern even stepped off the bus. I guess that's my point.

Why do it? Because he can. You use any edge you can get. Otherwise, what's the point of harping on the NU-upset angle in the locker room in Seattle, when about 80% of the current roster was playing high school football in 2004? Look at the 2005 and 2006 games. Both were the last game before Michigan - the trap game where OSU has historically struggled as Michigan week looms. In 2002 it was Illinois. In both 2003 and 2004 is was Purdue. That's two overtime wins and a last second loss. All of sudden, we're rolling by 40 routinely to kick off Michigan week?

I think there's more to it than simply discounting Northwestern as a bad football team. Of course, they are, but this is three straight seasons where the outcome wasn't in doubt after one quarter. All of sudden we're selling-out to block punts and going for it on 4th down up 35 in the 4th quarter?

That's just cold.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by shetuck

i realize that stats speak volumes; particularly in this case, given JT's style. and while i realize no loss is easy, particularly the opening loss in a difficult 2004 season (to northwestern no less) but... it still makes no sense that JT would continue to tear away at this ghost from what seems like such a long time ago.

in other words, why in the world would JT, the mr Hyde of college football, pick THIS annual meeting, from all the others with other teams, to bring out "Dr Jekyll"? there's gotta be something more in there than just an "intrinsic" hatred of the mildcats.

It's because Tressel doesn't like the idea of being the first coach to lose to Northwestern in 33 years, the first to lose at Evanston since in 43 years, and the one who let NW snap our 24-game win streak against them.

[jwinslow]

- Jay-WINS

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by shetuck

in other words, why in the world would JT, the mr Hyde of college football, pick THIS annual meeting, from all the others with other teams, to bring out "Dr Jekyll"? there's gotta be something more in there than just an "intrinsic" hatred of the mildcats.

Literary scholar, I am not.....but I believe JT would qualify as the "Dr. Jekyll" of college football rather than the "Mr. Hyde".

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by Dryden

I guess JT is sending a message to NW, post-2004. Mail it in. Don't even try. We're here to bury you ...

Some three year cumulative stats:

Game score: 160-24
# of NU punts blocked: 3
# of OSU punts: 5
# of OSU 4th down conversion attempts: 6
# of those conversion attempts while already up 35+ (5TDs) points, and in FG range (NU 33 or closer): 6

I think that last line qualifies as 'rubbing their nose in it.'

I believe this to be the case. I know Milli and others have discussed it before. You can see the difference in focus, attitude and execution between NU and other teams we know we are going to kill.

I think after 2004, JT has decided that every year he gets to let his hair down, pretend he's Ike Turner, put something on it for Tina/NU and make it sting.