RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (Arizona Cardinals)

[Onebuckfan]

If this was Jan 09 Beanie might play..this team has the ability to go down as a the only team to win three outright Big Ten Titles. JT knows the importance of this game...but still there is a title to win, etc. So he must make the best decision with all the info he has. I haven't given up on this game..neither has the team. In the 70's I remember being super-confident in Rose Bowl games and having it work out wrong. We have the talent to do this..Go Bucks!!

[OSUNorthCampus]

i disagree in how you downplayed the importance of this game. there is much more riding on this game than a national championship shot (which in itself is huge). the credibility of the big ten is on the line as well. OSU has been beating up on the big ten competition for a good portion of the 2000's now, but on so-called "national" scenes, we supposedly haven't been able to deliver (although you can point to 2002, notre dame, fiesta bowls...i disagree with the media on this). if we get blown out, i think this sets the big ten a few years back, and no one will take the entire conference seriously, much like the acc.

[Kurt Sexington]

Originally Posted by 02Buckeyes06

No one is saying that tressel is or will ever be a liar. Just very very strange how this saga came out.

I realize that. But let's just say that if Rich Rodriguez came out and said one of their players wasn't going to suit up, I'd take it with a grain of salt. When Jim Tressel says it, I believe him.

[ThirdGenBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Kurt Sexington

I realize that. But let's just say that if Rich Rodriguez came out and said one of their players wasn't going to suit up, I'd take it with a grain of salt. When Jim Tressel says it, I believe him.

It's things like that that make me really appreciate JT

[Kurt Sexington]

Originally Posted by ThirdGenBuckeye

It's things like that that make me really appreciate JT

I respect him as an opposing team's fan for the same reason. I think CFB needs more coaches like Tresell and less like Rich Rod or Nick Saban.

[ThirdGenBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Kurt Sexington

I respect him as an opposing team's fan for the same reason. I think CFB needs more coaches like Tresell and less like Rich Rod or Nick Saban.

Agree with you totally, homes.

[MaxBuck]

Originally Posted by OSUNorthCampus

... the credibility of the big ten is on the line as well. ... on so-called "national" scenes, we supposedly haven't been able to deliver ... if we get blown out, i think this sets the big ten a few years back, and no one will take the entire conference seriously...

Not to exaggerate, or anything ...

[OSUNorthCampus]

are you disagreeing that the big ten is not taken seriously already? it isn't, and a blow out of the supposed cream of the crop of the big ten would certainly not help.

[MaliBuckeye]

I know that this was a tough decision- JT sees these young men as sons, and want the best for them. That means success personally (playing and excelling) and for the team. But sometimes someone needs to say "I know you think you can, but I'm making a decision here with the bigger picture in mind."

If JT believes that to be true, then this is the best thing. He's one of the few current college coaches that both my wife and I would trust our children with- and she's not a Buckeye fan (comes from a long line of Cornhuskers)

AND, I will feel that way when all of the Monday Morning Quarterback/ledge jumpers start questioning this decision should we lose the game.

[Nicknam4]

Well, since Beanie won't be playing, maybe the players could come out with some of these:

YouTube - Laser Cats 3

[BearBuck27]

Originally Posted by OSUNorthCampus

are you disagreeing that the big ten is not taken seriously already? it isn't, and a blow out of the supposed cream of the crop of the big ten would certainly not help.

Well...a) everybody already thinks OSU will get blown out. b)everybody knows that we're without our best player. c) even if OSU wins, I don't think people will take the B11 seriously.

[Ratboy18]

Originally Posted by sepia5

I'm really confused by this as well. When a player is "medically cleared," doesn't that mean the doctors have determined that the player can't do any further harm to himself by playing? Maybe I'm wrong by that, but if that is the case, and Wells clearly wants to play, I don't understand not letting him at least try to play. Color me confused.

He may be medically cleared to play in the sense that "it can't get worse" but the caveat may be that it could get better and he'll be 100% for the conference season if he sits out this week and next.
Making the decision and announcing it on Friday makes it harder for assorted emotions to cloud the decision-making process on Saturday.

Maybe Keith Byars contributed his .02!

[Sportsbuck28]

Tressel won't risk a players future to win one game.

[martinss01]

as ratboy stated, being "medically cleared" doesn't automatically mean he should play. beanie has missed or seen limited action through 2 weeks worth of practice. putting him on the field against one of the best defenses in the nation when he's clearly less than 100%... while it may not hurt his foot, it does increase the odds of injuring something else. yeah, this is a huge game. once in a life time for some of these kids. but at the end of the day, you have to think about whats best for him. not whats best for you.

beanie is a young kid and he has a lot of years ahead of him. if you gave me the choice of playing beanie, winning and him getting a career ending injury because he isn't 100%. or sitting him out and loosing. sorry guys but im sitting him 10 times out of 10.

at the end of the day, this is week 3.

[Gatorubet]

Originally Posted by OSUNorthCampus

if we get blown out, i think this sets the big ten a few years back, and no one will take the entire conference seriously, much like the acc.

Penn State and Purdue disagree today.